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How Much Does Head Gasket Replacement Cost?

Updated October 2026 By RepairCostLab Editorial Team

Expect to pay $810 to $2,740 at an independent shop for a typical car, and up to $3,720 at a dealership. A blown head gasket is one of the most expensive repairs on an older car, mostly because the top half of the engine has to come apart.

Parts$150–$500
Labor$660–$2,240
Shop time6–14 hours
DIY difficultyPro only (5/5)

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Vehicle type Where you'll get it fixed Your area

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Ranges cover aftermarket to OEM parts and typical book labor times. How we calculate this.

Head Gasket Replacement cost by vehicle type

Vehicle	Parts	Labor	Total
Compact / economy car e.g. Civic, Corolla, Elantra	$150–$500	$660–$2,240	$810–$2,740
Midsize sedan / crossover e.g. Camry, Accord, RAV4, CR-V	$175–$575	$725–$2,465	$900–$3,040
Truck / full-size SUV e.g. F-150, Silverado, Tahoe	$195–$650	$760–$2,575	$955–$3,225
Luxury / European e.g. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus	$270–$900	$860–$2,910	$1,130–$3,810

Independent shop, average US labor rates. Gasket set and head bolts. Cylinder head machining adds roughly $200–$500 if the head is warped.

Independent shop vs. dealer vs. chain

Where	Hourly rate	Typical total
Independent shop	$110–$160	$900–$3,040
Chain (Midas, Firestone…)	$120–$175	$965–$3,270
Dealership	$160–$230	$1,230–$4,115

Shown for a midsize sedan or crossover.

What does it do?

The head gasket seals the joint between the engine block and cylinder head, keeping combustion pressure, oil and coolant in their own passages.

Signs you need this repair

White exhaust smoke with a sweet smell
Coolant loss with no visible leak
Milky, light-brown oil on the dipstick
Overheating
Bubbles in the coolant reservoir

Can you do it yourself?

Difficulty: Pro only (5/5). Requires full disassembly of the top of the engine, torque sequences and often machining. A shop job.

Doing it yourself saves the labor portion, roughly $660–$2,240, so you would pay only for parts ($150–$500).

Is it worth fixing?

Only if the rest of the car is in good shape and worth more than about $4,000. Otherwise, a used engine or replacing the car may be the better use of money.

How to save money

Compare the repair cost against the car's value: on an older car a used engine may be cheaper.
Ask for a block test (combustion leak test) to confirm before committing.
Stop driving if overheating: continued heat warps the head and raises the bill.

Questions to ask your mechanic

Did you run a combustion leak (block) test to confirm it?
Will the cylinder head be checked for flatness and machined if needed?
What caused the overheating, and is that part included in the quote?

Asking for a written, itemized estimate (parts, labor hours and hourly rate) is your right in most states and makes quotes easy to compare.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth fixing a blown head gasket?

If the car is otherwise in good shape and worth more than about $4,000, usually yes. On a high-mileage car, a used engine or replacement car may be smarter.

Can a head gasket sealer fix it?

Sealers occasionally stop small leaks temporarily, but they are not a permanent fix.

What causes a blown head gasket?

Almost always overheating, from a coolant leak, failed water pump, thermostat or radiator.

Related repair costs

Sources and methodology

Estimates combine typical book labor times, current aftermarket and OEM parts prices, and 2026 US shop labor rates. See exactly how we calculate them.

Found a price that looks wrong for your area? Tell us: we review every correction.