A thermostat replacement costs $390 to $726 in 2026

Thermostat replacement cost by car

RepairPal lists these ranges for the most common cars. Your year and engine move the price inside each range.

How common cars compare

Against the middle of the RepairPal national average, $666, the Ford F-150 is about the national middle; the Toyota Camry runs about 33 percent less; the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 runs about 32 percent less. The gap comes from where the part sits, how long it takes to reach, and the price of the part for that car.

What price guides say

We checked 3 price guides. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.

What pushes the quote up

How to tell you need it

• The engine takes a long time to warm up, or the heater blows cool air.
• The temperature gauge swings up and down, or the engine runs hot.
• A scan tool shows a code like P0128 for low coolant temperature, and a shop checks the thermostat.

What the price includes

The price includes a new thermostat, a gasket or seal, the labor, and a coolant refill. Ask if the housing and a system bleed are part of the quote. It does not include tax, shop supply fees, or other repairs the shop finds while the car is in.

How to judge your quote

1. Ask if the quote is for the thermostat only, or the thermostat and housing.
2. Ask if new coolant and a gasket are in the price.
3. Ask if the shop found a reason for the problem, like a bad sensor or a leak.
4. Ask about the warranty on parts and labor.
5. Compare the total with the range above: $390 to $726 for most cars.

Ways to pay less

• Ask if an aftermarket thermostat is a safe choice for your car.
• If your coolant is old, ask for a coolant service at the same visit so you do not pay labor twice.
• Fix it early. A stuck thermostat can cause overheating, and that costs far more.
• Compare quotes from an independent shop and a dealer.

Dealer or independent shop

RepairPal puts labor for a thermostat replacement at $195 to $286. At the typical independent shop rate of about $140 an hour, that is about 1.7 hours of work. A dealer charging $200 an hour would bill about $344 for the same labor, and a $100 an hour shop about $172. Parts cost about the same anywhere, so the shop rate is where you can save. See what mechanics charge an hour.

Why this costs more in 2026

Shop labor now runs about $100 to $250 an hour. Many car parts are imported, and freight costs went up after the oil shock that began with the Iran war in February 2026. Steel, copper, aluminum and resin prices are up too, and they go into almost every part. Many thermostats now come in plastic housings with electronic control and sensors, and these parts cost more to make.

How we got these numbers

The national range, the labor and parts split and the prices by car come from RepairPal's thermostat replacement estimate, last updated September 3, 2026. We checked them against Kelley Blue Book and YourMechanic, and read every number on the source page on October 7, 2026. These are planning ranges, not quotes. Your shop's written estimate is the real price.

Common questions

Related repair costs