How Much Does Head Gasket Repair Cost?
Updated for 2026 — national average costs with state-by-state breakdowns
Low End
$1,000
Average
$1,800
High End
$3,500
per repair
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What Does Head Gasket Repair Include?
Head gasket repair is one of the most expensive common engine repairs. The gasket itself is cheap ($40-$100), but the repair requires extensive engine disassembly, making labor the primary cost.
The national average cost for head gasket repair is $1,800 per repair. 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?
Engine
4-cylinder: $1,000-$2,000. V6: $1,500-$2,500. V8: $2,000-$3,500
Additional work
Head machining if warped: $150-$300. Timing belt replacement while apart: $100-$300 extra. Thermostat/water pump: $50-$200 extra
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Key Cost Factors
- ✓Engine type
- ✓Vehicle make
- ✓Damage extent
- ✓Head machining needed
- ✓Labor hours
💡 Tips to Save Money
- 1.For older vehicles, compare repair cost vs vehicle value — it may not be worth it
- 2.Independent mechanics charge significantly less than dealers for this job
- 3.Temporary sealant products ($30-$60) can buy time for minor leaks
- 4.Get at least 3 quotes — pricing varies widely for this repair
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📈 Head Gasket Repair Cost Trends (2020–2024)
Prices have increased +17.8% over the last 5 years
$1,528
2020
$1,592
2021
$1,696
2022
$1,744
2023
$1,800
2024
| Year | National Avg | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1,528 | — |
| 2021 | $1,592 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $1,696 | +6.5% |
| 2023 | $1,744 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $1,800 | +3.2% |
Based on national averages adjusted for annual inflation. Actual costs vary by location and project scope.
Head Gasket Repair 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.
| State | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $820 | $1,476 | $2,870 |
| Alaska | $1,280 | $2,304 | $4,480 |
| Arizona | $950 | $1,710 | $3,325 |
| Arkansas | $800 | $1,440 | $2,800 |
| California | $1,350 | $2,430 | $4,725 |
| Colorado | $1,080 | $1,944 | $3,780 |
| Connecticut | $1,220 | $2,196 | $4,270 |
| Delaware | $1,050 | $1,890 | $3,675 |
| Florida | $980 | $1,764 | $3,430 |
| Georgia | $900 | $1,620 | $3,150 |
| Hawaii | $1,420 | $2,556 | $4,970 |
| Idaho | $920 | $1,656 | $3,220 |
| Illinois | $1,050 | $1,890 | $3,675 |
| Indiana | $880 | $1,584 | $3,080 |
| Iowa | $860 | $1,548 | $3,010 |
| Kansas | $850 | $1,530 | $2,975 |
| Kentucky | $840 | $1,512 | $2,940 |
| Louisiana | $870 | $1,566 | $3,045 |
| Maine | $1,020 | $1,836 | $3,570 |
| Maryland | $1,150 | $2,070 | $4,025 |
| Massachusetts | $1,300 | $2,340 | $4,550 |
| Michigan | $920 | $1,656 | $3,220 |
| Minnesota | $1,020 | $1,836 | $3,570 |
| Mississippi | $780 | $1,404 | $2,730 |
| Missouri | $870 | $1,566 | $3,045 |
| Montana | $950 | $1,710 | $3,325 |
| Nebraska | $880 | $1,584 | $3,080 |
| Nevada | $1,020 | $1,836 | $3,570 |
| New Hampshire | $1,120 | $2,016 | $3,920 |
| New Jersey | $1,250 | $2,250 | $4,375 |
| New Mexico | $900 | $1,620 | $3,150 |
| New York | $1,320 | $2,376 | $4,620 |
| North Carolina | $900 | $1,620 | $3,150 |
| North Dakota | $900 | $1,620 | $3,150 |
| Ohio | $900 | $1,620 | $3,150 |
| Oklahoma | $830 | $1,494 | $2,905 |
| Oregon | $1,100 | $1,980 | $3,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,020 | $1,836 | $3,570 |
| Rhode Island | $1,150 | $2,070 | $4,025 |
| South Carolina | $870 | $1,566 | $3,045 |
| South Dakota | $850 | $1,530 | $2,975 |
| Tennessee | $860 | $1,548 | $3,010 |
| Texas | $930 | $1,674 | $3,255 |
| Utah | $950 | $1,710 | $3,325 |
| Vermont | $1,080 | $1,944 | $3,780 |
| Virginia | $1,050 | $1,890 | $3,675 |
| Washington | $1,150 | $2,070 | $4,025 |
| West Virginia | $800 | $1,440 | $2,800 |
| Wisconsin | $940 | $1,692 | $3,290 |
| Wyoming | $920 | $1,656 | $3,220 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my head gasket is blown?
Common signs: white smoke from exhaust, milky oil (coolant mixing with oil), overheating, coolant loss with no visible leak, and bubbling in the radiator overflow tank.
🏙️ Head Gasket Repair Cost by City
Compare head gasket repair costs in the most popular US cities:
New York City
NY
$2,610
Los Angeles
CA
$2,484
Chicago
IL
$2,070
Houston
TX
$1,710
Phoenix
AZ
$1,764
Philadelphia
PA
$2,016
San Antonio
TX
$1,584
San Diego
CA
$2,376
Dallas
TX
$1,836
San Jose
CA
$2,736
Austin
TX
$1,890
Jacksonville
FL
$1,656
Fort Worth
TX
$1,710
Columbus
OH
$1,620
Charlotte
NC
$1,710
Indianapolis
IN
$1,584
View all 219 cities →
San Francisco, CA
$2,790
Seattle, WA
$2,340
Denver, CO
$2,070
Washington D.C., DC
$2,430
Nashville, TN
$1,800
Oklahoma City, OK
$1,476
El Paso, TX
$1,476
Boston, MA
$2,520
Portland, OR
$2,124
Las Vegas, NV
$1,836
Memphis, TN
$1,476
Louisville, KY
$1,530
Baltimore, MD
$1,980
Milwaukee, WI
$1,656
Albuquerque, NM
$1,584
Tucson, AZ
$1,584
Fresno, CA
$1,890
Sacramento, CA
$2,124
Mesa, AZ
$1,710
Kansas City, MO
$1,620
Atlanta, GA
$1,890
Omaha, NE
$1,584
Colorado Springs, CO
$1,836
Raleigh, NC
$1,764
Long Beach, CA
$2,430
Virginia Beach, VA
$1,890
Miami, FL
$2,160
Oakland, CA
$2,610
Minneapolis, MN
$1,944
Tampa, FL
$1,836
Tulsa, OK
$1,476
Arlington, TX
$1,710
New Orleans, LA
$1,710
Pittsburgh, PA
$1,710
St. Louis, MO
$1,584
Bakersfield, CA
$1,836
Anaheim, CA
$2,430
Honolulu, HI
$2,700
Santa Ana, CA
$2,376
Riverside, CA
$2,070
Corpus Christi, TX
$1,530
Lexington, KY
$1,584
Stockton, CA
$1,980
Henderson, NV
$1,836
St. Paul, MN
$1,890
Cincinnati, OH
$1,584
Anchorage, AK
$2,304
Greensboro, NC
$1,584
Plano, TX
$1,890
Newark, NJ
$2,250
Lincoln, NE
$1,530
Orlando, FL
$1,836
Irvine, CA
$2,520
Durham, NC
$1,710
Chula Vista, CA
$2,304
Toledo, OH
$1,476
Fort Wayne, IN
$1,476
Jersey City, NJ
$2,430
St. Petersburg, FL
$1,836
Laredo, TX
$1,440
Madison, WI
$1,764
Chandler, AZ
$1,764
Buffalo, NY
$1,656
Lubbock, TX
$1,476
Scottsdale, AZ
$2,016
Reno, NV
$1,890
Glendale, AZ
$1,710
Gilbert, AZ
$1,836
Winston-Salem, NC
$1,530
North Las Vegas, NV
$1,764
Norfolk, VA
$1,764
Chesapeake, VA
$1,836
Irving, TX
$1,800
Fremont, CA
$2,610
Richmond, VA
$1,764
Boise, ID
$1,764
San Bernardino, CA
$1,944
Spokane, WA
$1,710
Des Moines, IA
$1,530
Tacoma, WA
$2,070
Modesto, CA
$1,890
Fontana, CA
$1,980
Moreno Valley, CA
$1,944
Fayetteville, NC
$1,530
Birmingham, AL
$1,476
Rochester, NY
$1,656
Salt Lake City, UT
$1,890
Oxnard, CA
$2,196
Knoxville, TN
$1,530
Worcester, MA
$2,070
Brownsville, TX
$1,404
Grand Rapids, MI
$1,620
Newport News, VA
$1,710
Huntsville, AL
$1,530
Amarillo, TX
$1,476
Little Rock, AR
$1,476
Montgomery, AL
$1,440
Akron, OH
$1,476
Augusta, GA
$1,476
Baton Rouge, LA
$1,530
Mobile, AL
$1,440
Shreveport, LA
$1,440
Tallahassee, FL
$1,620
Hartford, CT
$2,070
Providence, RI
$2,016
Charleston, SC
$1,764
Savannah, GA
$1,584
Columbia, SC
$1,530
Chattanooga, TN
$1,530
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$2,124
Dayton, OH
$1,476
Sioux Falls, SD
$1,530
Springfield, MO
$1,440
Jackson, MS
$1,404
Palm Bay, FL
$1,710
Lakeland, FL
$1,656
Cape Coral, FL
$1,764
Pensacola, FL
$1,584
Port St. Lucie, FL
$1,764
Naperville, IL
$2,070
Tempe, AZ
$1,800
Overland Park, KS
$1,710
McKinney, TX
$1,836
Frisco, TX
$1,890
Cary, NC
$1,836
Clarksville, TN
$1,530
Cedar Rapids, IA
$1,476
Peoria, AZ
$1,764
Surprise, AZ
$1,710
Denton, TX
$1,764
Roseville, CA
$2,070
Gainesville, FL
$1,584
Bellevue, WA
$2,520
Murfreesboro, TN
$1,656
Round Rock, TX
$1,836
Columbia, MD
$2,070
Boulder, CO
$2,250
Ann Arbor, MI
$1,980
Santa Fe, NM
$1,890
Wilmington, NC
$1,656
Greenville, SC
$1,584
Fargo, ND
$1,530
Provo, UT
$1,764
Duluth, MN
$1,584
Billings, MT
$1,656
Missoula, MT
$1,764
Cheyenne, WY
$1,584
Burlington, VT
$1,944
Portland, ME
$1,944
Concord, NH
$1,890
Bismarck, ND
$1,530
Rapid City, SD
$1,530
Casper, WY
$1,584
Bangor, ME
$1,710
Charleston, WV
$1,440
Dover, DE
$1,764
Manchester, NH
$1,944
Bridgeport, CT
$2,160
Stamford, CT
$2,430
Wichita, KS
$1,476
Topeka, KS
$1,440
Springfield, IL
$1,530
Rockford, IL
$1,530
Erie, PA
$1,476
Scranton, PA
$1,530
Flint, MI
$1,404
Lansing, MI
$1,530
Syracuse, NY
$1,584
Albany, NY
$1,710
Eugene, OR
$1,890
Salem, OR
$1,836
Fort Collins, CO
$1,980
Pueblo, CO
$1,530
Aurora, CO
$1,944
Santa Barbara, CA
$2,520
Santa Rosa, CA
$2,304
Pasadena, CA
$2,484
Visalia, CA
$1,800
Pomona, CA
$2,124
Myrtle Beach, SC
$1,584
Daytona Beach, FL
$1,656
Sarasota, FL
$1,890
Naples, FL
$2,124
Ocala, FL
$1,530
Athens, GA
$1,530
Macon, GA
$1,440
Lexington, SC
$1,530
Asheville, NC
$1,836
Flagstaff, AZ
$1,944
Rochester, NY
$1,656
New Haven, CT
$1,944
Manchester, NH
$1,890
Augusta, GA
$1,476
Fort Myers, FL
$1,764
Wilmington, NC
$1,710
Arlington, VA
$2,340
Green Bay, WI
$1,530
South Bend, IN
$1,476
Bend, OR
$2,016
Bellingham, WA
$1,980
Midland, TX
$1,710
Waco, TX
$1,476
Newark, NJ
$2,160
Related Cost Guides
💬 What Did You Pay?
Real costs reported by homeowners for Head Gasket Repair
$1,924
Avg Reported
$1,347
Lowest Reported
$2,790
Highest Reported
Recent Reports
$1,763
Dallas, TX · Jan 2024
★★★★☆
$2,114
Chicago, IL · Feb 2024
★★★☆☆
$1,850
Phoenix, AZ · Mar 2024
★★★☆☆
$1,847
Denver, CO · Apr 2024
★★★★☆
$1,827
Atlanta, GA · May 2024
★★★☆☆
$2,456
Seattle, WA · Jun 2024
★★★★★
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