How Much Does Catalytic Converter Replacement Cost?

Updated for 2026 — national average costs with state-by-state breakdowns

Low End
$1,000
Average
$2,000
High End
$3,500
per converter
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What Does Catalytic Converter Replacement Include?

Catalytic converter replacement is one of the most expensive exhaust system repairs. The converter contains precious metals (platinum, palladium, rhodium) that make it costly. It's required for emissions compliance.

The national average cost for catalytic converter replacement is $2,000 per converter. Most homeowners pay between $1,000 and $3,500, though costs can vary significantly based on your location, the scope of work, and other factors outlined below.

What Affects the Price?

Part Source

Aftermarket: $500-$1,500. OEM: $1,500-$3,500. CARB-compliant: $1,000-$2,500

Vehicle

Standard car: $1,000-$2,000. Truck/SUV: $1,500-$3,000. Luxury: $2,000-$4,000+

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Key Cost Factors

  • Vehicle make and model
  • OEM vs aftermarket
  • Number of converters
  • Direct-fit vs universal
  • State emissions requirements

💡 Tips to Save Money

  • 1.Aftermarket converters cost 40-60% less than OEM but may not be legal in all states (California requires CARB-compliant)
  • 2.Independent muffler shops charge less than dealerships
  • 3.Check if the repair is covered under your vehicle's emissions warranty (often 8 years/80K miles)
  • 4.Get multiple quotes — prices vary dramatically
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📈 Catalytic Converter Replacement Cost Trends (2020–2024)

Prices have increased +17.7% over the last 5 years

$1,699
2020
$1,770
2021
$1,885
2022
$1,938
2023
$2,000
2024
YearNational AvgYoY Change
2020$1,699
2021$1,770+4.2%
2022$1,885+6.5%
2023$1,938+2.8%
2024$2,000+3.2%

Based on national averages adjusted for annual inflation. Actual costs vary by location and project scope.

Catalytic Converter Replacement Cost by State

Costs vary significantly by state due to labor rates, cost of living, and local market conditions. Click any state for a detailed breakdown.

StateLowAverageHigh
Alabama$820$1,640$2,870
Alaska$1,280$2,560$4,480
Arizona$950$1,900$3,325
Arkansas$800$1,600$2,800
California$1,350$2,700$4,725
Colorado$1,080$2,160$3,780
Connecticut$1,220$2,440$4,270
Delaware$1,050$2,100$3,675
Florida$980$1,960$3,430
Georgia$900$1,800$3,150
Hawaii$1,420$2,840$4,970
Idaho$920$1,840$3,220
Illinois$1,050$2,100$3,675
Indiana$880$1,760$3,080
Iowa$860$1,720$3,010
Kansas$850$1,700$2,975
Kentucky$840$1,680$2,940
Louisiana$870$1,740$3,045
Maine$1,020$2,040$3,570
Maryland$1,150$2,300$4,025
Massachusetts$1,300$2,600$4,550
Michigan$920$1,840$3,220
Minnesota$1,020$2,040$3,570
Mississippi$780$1,560$2,730
Missouri$870$1,740$3,045
Montana$950$1,900$3,325
Nebraska$880$1,760$3,080
Nevada$1,020$2,040$3,570
New Hampshire$1,120$2,240$3,920
New Jersey$1,250$2,500$4,375
New Mexico$900$1,800$3,150
New York$1,320$2,640$4,620
North Carolina$900$1,800$3,150
North Dakota$900$1,800$3,150
Ohio$900$1,800$3,150
Oklahoma$830$1,660$2,905
Oregon$1,100$2,200$3,850
Pennsylvania$1,020$2,040$3,570
Rhode Island$1,150$2,300$4,025
South Carolina$870$1,740$3,045
South Dakota$850$1,700$2,975
Tennessee$860$1,720$3,010
Texas$930$1,860$3,255
Utah$950$1,900$3,325
Vermont$1,080$2,160$3,780
Virginia$1,050$2,100$3,675
Washington$1,150$2,300$4,025
West Virginia$800$1,600$2,800
Wisconsin$940$1,880$3,290
Wyoming$920$1,840$3,220
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my catalytic converter needs replacing?

Symptoms include check engine light (P0420 code), rotten egg smell, reduced performance, and failed emissions test.

🏙️ Catalytic Converter Replacement Cost by City

Compare catalytic converter replacement costs in the most popular US cities:

View all 219 cities →
San Francisco, CA
$3,100
Seattle, WA
$2,600
Denver, CO
$2,300
Washington D.C., DC
$2,700
Nashville, TN
$2,000
Oklahoma City, OK
$1,640
El Paso, TX
$1,640
Boston, MA
$2,800
Portland, OR
$2,360
Las Vegas, NV
$2,040
Memphis, TN
$1,640
Louisville, KY
$1,700
Baltimore, MD
$2,200
Milwaukee, WI
$1,840
Albuquerque, NM
$1,760
Tucson, AZ
$1,760
Fresno, CA
$2,100
Sacramento, CA
$2,360
Mesa, AZ
$1,900
Kansas City, MO
$1,800
Atlanta, GA
$2,100
Omaha, NE
$1,760
Colorado Springs, CO
$2,040
Raleigh, NC
$1,960
Long Beach, CA
$2,700
Virginia Beach, VA
$2,100
Miami, FL
$2,400
Oakland, CA
$2,900
Minneapolis, MN
$2,160
Tampa, FL
$2,040
Tulsa, OK
$1,640
Arlington, TX
$1,900
New Orleans, LA
$1,900
Pittsburgh, PA
$1,900
St. Louis, MO
$1,760
Bakersfield, CA
$2,040
Anaheim, CA
$2,700
Honolulu, HI
$3,000
Santa Ana, CA
$2,640
Riverside, CA
$2,300
Corpus Christi, TX
$1,700
Lexington, KY
$1,760
Stockton, CA
$2,200
Henderson, NV
$2,040
St. Paul, MN
$2,100
Cincinnati, OH
$1,760
Anchorage, AK
$2,560
Greensboro, NC
$1,760
Plano, TX
$2,100
Newark, NJ
$2,500
Lincoln, NE
$1,700
Orlando, FL
$2,040
Irvine, CA
$2,800
Durham, NC
$1,900
Chula Vista, CA
$2,560
Toledo, OH
$1,640
Fort Wayne, IN
$1,640
Jersey City, NJ
$2,700
St. Petersburg, FL
$2,040
Laredo, TX
$1,600
Madison, WI
$1,960
Chandler, AZ
$1,960
Buffalo, NY
$1,840
Lubbock, TX
$1,640
Scottsdale, AZ
$2,240
Reno, NV
$2,100
Glendale, AZ
$1,900
Gilbert, AZ
$2,040
Winston-Salem, NC
$1,700
North Las Vegas, NV
$1,960
Norfolk, VA
$1,960
Chesapeake, VA
$2,040
Irving, TX
$2,000
Fremont, CA
$2,900
Richmond, VA
$1,960
Boise, ID
$1,960
San Bernardino, CA
$2,160
Spokane, WA
$1,900
Des Moines, IA
$1,700
Tacoma, WA
$2,300
Modesto, CA
$2,100
Fontana, CA
$2,200
Moreno Valley, CA
$2,160
Fayetteville, NC
$1,700
Birmingham, AL
$1,640
Rochester, NY
$1,840
Salt Lake City, UT
$2,100
Oxnard, CA
$2,440
Knoxville, TN
$1,700
Worcester, MA
$2,300
Brownsville, TX
$1,560
Grand Rapids, MI
$1,800
Newport News, VA
$1,900
Huntsville, AL
$1,700
Amarillo, TX
$1,640
Little Rock, AR
$1,640
Montgomery, AL
$1,600
Akron, OH
$1,640
Augusta, GA
$1,640
Baton Rouge, LA
$1,700
Mobile, AL
$1,600
Shreveport, LA
$1,600
Tallahassee, FL
$1,800
Hartford, CT
$2,300
Providence, RI
$2,240
Charleston, SC
$1,960
Savannah, GA
$1,760
Columbia, SC
$1,700
Chattanooga, TN
$1,700
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$2,360
Dayton, OH
$1,640
Sioux Falls, SD
$1,700
Springfield, MO
$1,600
Jackson, MS
$1,560
Palm Bay, FL
$1,900
Lakeland, FL
$1,840
Cape Coral, FL
$1,960
Pensacola, FL
$1,760
Port St. Lucie, FL
$1,960
Naperville, IL
$2,300
Tempe, AZ
$2,000
Overland Park, KS
$1,900
McKinney, TX
$2,040
Frisco, TX
$2,100
Cary, NC
$2,040
Clarksville, TN
$1,700
Cedar Rapids, IA
$1,640
Peoria, AZ
$1,960
Surprise, AZ
$1,900
Denton, TX
$1,960
Roseville, CA
$2,300
Gainesville, FL
$1,760
Bellevue, WA
$2,800
Murfreesboro, TN
$1,840
Round Rock, TX
$2,040
Columbia, MD
$2,300
Boulder, CO
$2,500
Ann Arbor, MI
$2,200
Santa Fe, NM
$2,100
Wilmington, NC
$1,840
Greenville, SC
$1,760
Fargo, ND
$1,700
Provo, UT
$1,960
Duluth, MN
$1,760
Billings, MT
$1,840
Missoula, MT
$1,960
Cheyenne, WY
$1,760
Burlington, VT
$2,160
Portland, ME
$2,160
Concord, NH
$2,100
Bismarck, ND
$1,700
Rapid City, SD
$1,700
Casper, WY
$1,760
Bangor, ME
$1,900
Charleston, WV
$1,600
Dover, DE
$1,960
Manchester, NH
$2,160
Bridgeport, CT
$2,400
Stamford, CT
$2,700
Wichita, KS
$1,640
Topeka, KS
$1,600
Springfield, IL
$1,700
Rockford, IL
$1,700
Erie, PA
$1,640
Scranton, PA
$1,700
Flint, MI
$1,560
Lansing, MI
$1,700
Syracuse, NY
$1,760
Albany, NY
$1,900
Eugene, OR
$2,100
Salem, OR
$2,040
Fort Collins, CO
$2,200
Pueblo, CO
$1,700
Aurora, CO
$2,160
Santa Barbara, CA
$2,800
Santa Rosa, CA
$2,560
Pasadena, CA
$2,760
Visalia, CA
$2,000
Pomona, CA
$2,360
Myrtle Beach, SC
$1,760
Daytona Beach, FL
$1,840
Sarasota, FL
$2,100
Naples, FL
$2,360
Ocala, FL
$1,700
Athens, GA
$1,700
Macon, GA
$1,600
Lexington, SC
$1,700
Asheville, NC
$2,040
Flagstaff, AZ
$2,160
Rochester, NY
$1,840
New Haven, CT
$2,160
Manchester, NH
$2,100
Augusta, GA
$1,640
Fort Myers, FL
$1,960
Wilmington, NC
$1,900
Arlington, VA
$2,600
Green Bay, WI
$1,700
South Bend, IN
$1,640
Bend, OR
$2,240
Bellingham, WA
$2,200
Midland, TX
$1,900
Waco, TX
$1,640
Newark, NJ
$2,400

Related Cost Guides

💬 What Did You Pay?

Real costs reported by homeowners for Catalytic Converter Replacement

$1,994
Avg Reported
$1,396
Lowest Reported
$2,891
Highest Reported

Recent Reports

$1,881
Dallas, TX · Jan 2024
★★★★
$2,066
Chicago, IL · Feb 2024
★★★☆☆
$1,783
Phoenix, AZ · Mar 2024
★★★★
$1,926
Denver, CO · Apr 2024
★★★★
$1,848
Atlanta, GA · May 2024
★★★★★
$2,765
Seattle, WA · Jun 2024
★★★★★

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