Head Gasket Repair Costs
Removal of the cylinder head and replacement of the failed head gasket that seals the combustion chamber from coolant and oil passages. One of the most expensive engine repairs. Signs include white exhaust smoke, coolant loss, and overheating.
Parts & Labor Breakdown
| Cost Component | Share | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parts | 45% | $97 | $124 | $152 |
| Labor | 55% | $118 | $152 | $186 |
* Estimated based on national averages for typical repairs. Parts/labor split varies by vehicle, repair type, and shop.
Cost Comparison by Location
418 locations with verified cost data
Cost Comparison — Head Gasket Repair
Low
$215
Typical
$277
High
$338
Low
$222
Typical
$286
High
$349
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$209
Typical
$268
High
$328
Low
$237
Typical
$305
High
$372
Low
$243
Typical
$312
High
$382
Low
$227
Typical
$292
High
$357
Low
$204
Typical
$262
High
$320
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$213
Typical
$274
High
$335
Low
$219
Typical
$281
High
$343
Low
$211
Typical
$272
High
$332
Low
$270
Typical
$348
High
$425
Low
$251
Typical
$323
High
$394
Low
$240
Typical
$309
High
$377
Low
$205
Typical
$263
High
$321
Low
$220
Typical
$283
High
$346
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$245
Typical
$315
High
$386
Low
$230
Typical
$295
High
$361
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$235
Typical
$303
High
$370
Low
$205
Typical
$263
High
$321
Low
$219
Typical
$281
High
$344
Low
$252
Typical
$324
High
$396
Low
$233
Typical
$300
High
$367
Low
$240
Typical
$309
High
$377
Low
$249
Typical
$320
High
$391
Low
$230
Typical
$295
High
$361
Low
$234
Typical
$301
High
$368
Low
$216
Typical
$278
High
$340
Low
$219
Typical
$281
High
$344
Low
$219
Typical
$281
High
$344
Low
$214
Typical
$276
High
$337
Low
$210
Typical
$270
High
$331
Low
$246
Typical
$316
High
$386
Low
$247
Typical
$317
High
$388
Low
$223
Typical
$286
High
$350
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
Low
$218
Typical
$280
High
$343
Low
$217
Typical
$279
High
$340
Low
$223
Typical
$286
High
$350
Low
$234
Typical
$301
High
$368
Low
$258
Typical
$331
High
$405
Low
$250
Typical
$322
High
$393
Low
$215
Typical
$276
High
$337
Low
$254
Typical
$327
High
$400
Low
$205
Typical
$263
High
$322
Low
$209
Typical
$268
High
$328
Low
$228
Typical
$293
High
$358
Low
$240
Typical
$309
High
$378
Low
$222
Typical
$285
High
$349
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$213
Typical
$274
High
$334
Low
$244
Typical
$313
High
$383
Low
$234
Typical
$300
High
$367
Low
$223
Typical
$287
High
$351
Low
$212
Typical
$272
High
$333
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
Low
$246
Typical
$316
High
$386
Low
$240
Typical
$309
High
$378
Low
$211
Typical
$271
High
$332
Low
$232
Typical
$298
High
$364
Low
$236
Typical
$303
High
$371
Low
$218
Typical
$280
High
$342
Low
$230
Typical
$295
High
$361
Low
$247
Typical
$317
High
$387
Low
$241
Typical
$310
High
$378
Low
$227
Typical
$292
High
$357
Low
$216
Typical
$278
High
$340
Low
$216
Typical
$278
High
$340
Low
$221
Typical
$285
High
$348
Low
$234
Typical
$301
High
$368
Low
$216
Typical
$278
High
$340
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$240
Typical
$308
High
$377
Low
$223
Typical
$287
High
$350
Low
$213
Typical
$274
High
$335
Low
$227
Typical
$292
High
$357
Low
$213
Typical
$273
High
$334
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
Low
$248
Typical
$318
High
$389
Low
$204
Typical
$263
High
$321
Low
$245
Typical
$315
High
$386
Low
$214
Typical
$275
High
$336
Low
$212
Typical
$273
High
$333
Low
$212
Typical
$272
High
$333
Low
$237
Typical
$304
High
$372
Low
$208
Typical
$267
High
$326
Low
$210
Typical
$271
High
$331
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$237
Typical
$304
High
$372
Low
$252
Typical
$324
High
$396
Low
$218
Typical
$281
High
$343
Low
$239
Typical
$307
High
$375
Low
$200
Typical
$257
High
$314
Low
$232
Typical
$298
High
$365
Low
$208
Typical
$267
High
$327
Low
$211
Typical
$272
High
$332
Low
$232
Typical
$299
High
$365
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
Low
$227
Typical
$291
High
$356
Low
$214
Typical
$275
High
$336
Low
$216
Typical
$277
High
$339
Low
$225
Typical
$289
High
$353
Low
$216
Typical
$278
High
$340
Low
$242
Typical
$311
High
$380
Low
$218
Typical
$280
High
$342
Low
$246
Typical
$316
High
$386
Low
$216
Typical
$278
High
$340
Low
$209
Typical
$268
High
$328
Low
$217
Typical
$280
High
$342
Low
$219
Typical
$281
High
$344
Low
$239
Typical
$307
High
$375
Low
$221
Typical
$285
High
$348
Low
$207
Typical
$266
High
$325
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$218
Typical
$280
High
$343
Low
$241
Typical
$309
High
$378
Low
$272
Typical
$349
High
$427
Low
$204
Typical
$263
High
$321
Low
$220
Typical
$283
High
$346
Low
$245
Typical
$315
High
$386
Low
$243
Typical
$313
High
$382
Low
$230
Typical
$296
High
$362
Low
$230
Typical
$296
High
$362
Low
$245
Typical
$315
High
$386
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$246
Typical
$316
High
$386
Low
$226
Typical
$290
High
$355
Low
$211
Typical
$271
High
$331
Low
$206
Typical
$265
High
$324
Low
$206
Typical
$265
High
$324
Low
$227
Typical
$292
High
$357
Low
$227
Typical
$292
High
$357
Low
$206
Typical
$265
High
$324
Low
$231
Typical
$296
High
$362
Low
$238
Typical
$307
High
$375
Low
$222
Typical
$285
High
$348
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
Low
$222
Typical
$285
High
$349
Low
$214
Typical
$275
High
$337
Low
$224
Typical
$288
High
$352
Low
$201
Typical
$258
High
$316
Low
$242
Typical
$311
High
$380
Low
$235
Typical
$302
High
$369
Low
$226
Typical
$290
High
$355
Low
$245
Typical
$314
High
$384
Low
$209
Typical
$268
High
$328
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$239
Typical
$307
High
$375
Low
$272
Typical
$349
High
$427
Low
$211
Typical
$271
High
$331
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
Low
$233
Typical
$300
High
$367
Low
$264
Typical
$340
High
$415
Low
$204
Typical
$262
High
$321
Low
$203
Typical
$260
High
$318
Low
$235
Typical
$302
High
$369
Low
$210
Typical
$271
High
$331
Low
$210
Typical
$271
High
$331
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$225
Typical
$289
High
$353
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$228
Typical
$293
High
$358
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$218
Typical
$280
High
$342
Low
$270
Typical
$348
High
$425
Low
$212
Typical
$272
High
$333
Low
$204
Typical
$262
High
$320
Low
$237
Typical
$304
High
$372
Low
$219
Typical
$282
High
$344
Low
$223
Typical
$287
High
$350
Low
$209
Typical
$269
High
$329
Low
$268
Typical
$344
High
$421
Low
$209
Typical
$269
High
$329
Low
$205
Typical
$263
High
$321
Low
$204
Typical
$263
High
$321
Low
$204
Typical
$262
High
$321
Low
$226
Typical
$290
High
$355
Low
$229
Typical
$295
High
$361
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$220
Typical
$283
High
$346
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$217
Typical
$279
High
$341
Low
$206
Typical
$265
High
$323
Low
$240
Typical
$308
High
$377
Low
$220
Typical
$283
High
$346
Low
$218
Typical
$281
High
$343
Low
$222
Typical
$286
High
$349
Low
$208
Typical
$267
High
$326
Low
$204
Typical
$263
High
$321
Low
$224
Typical
$288
High
$352
Low
$231
Typical
$297
High
$363
Low
$234
Typical
$301
High
$367
Low
$226
Typical
$291
High
$355
Low
$207
Typical
$266
High
$325
Low
$215
Typical
$276
High
$337
Low
$239
Typical
$307
High
$375
Low
$215
Typical
$276
High
$338
Low
$205
Typical
$263
High
$321
Low
$217
Typical
$279
High
$341
Low
$225
Typical
$290
High
$354
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
Low
$213
Typical
$274
High
$335
Low
$218
Typical
$280
High
$343
Low
$213
Typical
$273
High
$334
Low
$228
Typical
$294
High
$359
Low
$270
Typical
$348
High
$425
Low
$213
Typical
$274
High
$335
Low
$232
Typical
$299
High
$365
Low
$270
Typical
$348
High
$425
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$222
Typical
$285
High
$348
Low
$217
Typical
$279
High
$342
Low
$213
Typical
$273
High
$334
Low
$211
Typical
$271
High
$331
Low
$245
Typical
$315
High
$385
Low
$232
Typical
$298
High
$364
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$251
Typical
$323
High
$395
Low
$215
Typical
$276
High
$337
Low
$216
Typical
$278
High
$340
Low
$212
Typical
$272
High
$332
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$204
Typical
$263
High
$321
Low
$241
Typical
$310
High
$379
Low
$219
Typical
$282
High
$345
Low
$246
Typical
$316
High
$386
Low
$272
Typical
$349
High
$427
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$228
Typical
$293
High
$358
Low
$231
Typical
$297
High
$363
Low
$249
Typical
$321
High
$392
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$230
Typical
$295
High
$361
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$210
Typical
$270
High
$329
Low
$248
Typical
$319
High
$389
Low
$199
Typical
$256
High
$313
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$213
Typical
$274
High
$335
Low
$222
Typical
$286
High
$349
Low
$251
Typical
$323
High
$395
Low
$210
Typical
$270
High
$330
Low
$229
Typical
$295
High
$360
Low
$220
Typical
$283
High
$346
Low
$223
Typical
$287
High
$350
Low
$268
Typical
$344
High
$421
Low
$246
Typical
$316
High
$386
Low
$251
Typical
$323
High
$395
Low
$229
Typical
$295
High
$360
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$214
Typical
$275
High
$336
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$249
Typical
$320
High
$391
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$239
Typical
$307
High
$376
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$220
Typical
$283
High
$346
Low
$268
Typical
$344
High
$421
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$268
Typical
$344
High
$421
Low
$242
Typical
$311
High
$381
Low
$233
Typical
$300
High
$366
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$239
Typical
$307
High
$376
Low
$275
Typical
$354
High
$432
Low
$227
Typical
$291
High
$356
Low
$242
Typical
$311
High
$380
Low
$223
Typical
$287
High
$351
Low
$239
Typical
$307
High
$375
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$215
Typical
$277
High
$338
Low
$247
Typical
$317
High
$388
Low
$219
Typical
$281
High
$344
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$241
Typical
$310
High
$379
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$348
Low
$211
Typical
$271
High
$331
Low
$263
Typical
$338
High
$413
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$232
Typical
$298
High
$364
Low
$207
Typical
$266
High
$326
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$233
Typical
$299
High
$365
Low
$217
Typical
$279
High
$341
Low
$244
Typical
$314
High
$384
Low
$246
Typical
$316
High
$386
Low
$191
Typical
$246
High
$300
Low
$225
Typical
$290
High
$354
Low
$226
Typical
$291
High
$356
Low
$245
Typical
$315
High
$386
Low
$212
Typical
$272
High
$333
Low
$239
Typical
$307
High
$375
Low
$242
Typical
$312
High
$381
Low
$251
Typical
$323
High
$394
Low
$242
Typical
$311
High
$381
Low
$234
Typical
$301
High
$367
Low
$218
Typical
$281
High
$343
Low
$228
Typical
$294
High
$359
Low
$234
Typical
$300
High
$367
Low
$212
Typical
$273
High
$333
Low
$231
Typical
$297
High
$363
Low
$240
Typical
$308
High
$377
Low
$240
Typical
$309
High
$378
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$233
Typical
$299
High
$366
Low
$253
Typical
$326
High
$398
Low
$223
Typical
$286
High
$350
Low
$231
Typical
$297
High
$363
Low
$216
Typical
$278
High
$340
Low
$219
Typical
$282
High
$345
Low
$209
Typical
$269
High
$329
Low
$254
Typical
$326
High
$399
Low
$216
Typical
$278
High
$340
Low
$249
Typical
$321
High
$392
Low
$247
Typical
$317
High
$388
Low
$260
Typical
$334
High
$408
Low
$228
Typical
$293
High
$358
Low
$240
Typical
$309
High
$377
Low
$220
Typical
$283
High
$346
Low
$225
Typical
$290
High
$354
Low
$253
Typical
$326
High
$398
Low
$266
Typical
$342
High
$418
Low
$275
Typical
$354
High
$432
Low
$263
Typical
$338
High
$413
Low
$258
Typical
$332
High
$406
Low
$270
Typical
$348
High
$425
Low
$259
Typical
$333
High
$407
Low
$262
Typical
$336
High
$411
Low
$235
Typical
$302
High
$369
Low
$257
Typical
$330
High
$403
Low
$227
Typical
$291
High
$356
Low
$223
Typical
$286
High
$350
Low
$264
Typical
$340
High
$416
Low
$224
Typical
$288
High
$352
Low
$223
Typical
$287
High
$351
Low
$202
Typical
$259
High
$317
Low
$212
Typical
$273
High
$334
Low
$206
Typical
$265
High
$323
Low
$206
Typical
$265
High
$323
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$240
Typical
$309
High
$378
Low
$217
Typical
$279
High
$341
Low
$239
Typical
$307
High
$375
Low
$211
Typical
$271
High
$331
Low
$215
Typical
$277
High
$338
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
Low
$229
Typical
$294
High
$359
Low
$209
Typical
$268
High
$328
Low
$232
Typical
$298
High
$364
Low
$206
Typical
$264
High
$323
Low
$226
Typical
$291
High
$356
Low
$230
Typical
$296
High
$362
Low
$217
Typical
$279
High
$341
Low
$250
Typical
$322
High
$393
Low
$209
Typical
$269
High
$329
Low
$228
Typical
$293
High
$358
Low
$264
Typical
$340
High
$416
Low
$224
Typical
$287
High
$351
Low
$240
Typical
$309
High
$377
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$209
Typical
$269
High
$328
Low
$200
Typical
$257
High
$314
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$218
Typical
$280
High
$342
Low
$211
Typical
$272
High
$332
Low
$246
Typical
$316
High
$386
Low
$231
Typical
$297
High
$362
Low
$212
Typical
$273
High
$334
Low
$209
Typical
$268
High
$328
Low
$219
Typical
$282
High
$345
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
Low
$258
Typical
$332
High
$406
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$228
Typical
$294
High
$359
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$233
Typical
$300
High
$366
Low
$238
Typical
$305
High
$373
Low
$220
Typical
$283
High
$346
Low
$242
Typical
$311
High
$381
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$254
Typical
$327
High
$400
Low
$207
Typical
$266
High
$326
Low
$209
Typical
$268
High
$328
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
Low
$247
Typical
$318
High
$388
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$210
Typical
$270
High
$330
Low
$212
Typical
$272
High
$333
Low
$213
Typical
$274
High
$335
Low
$220
Typical
$283
High
$345
Low
$229
Typical
$295
High
$361
Low
$244
Typical
$314
High
$384
Low
$230
Typical
$295
High
$361
Low
$219
Typical
$282
High
$344
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$244
Typical
$314
High
$383
Low
$238
Typical
$306
High
$374
Low
$227
Typical
$292
High
$357
Low
$228
Typical
$294
High
$359
Low
$208
Typical
$267
High
$327
Low
$248
Typical
$319
High
$390
Low
$221
Typical
$284
High
$347
What Drives the Cost
About Head Gasket Repair Costs
Head gasket repair costs in Texas vary significantly based on vehicle complexity, parts sourcing decisions, and shop type. The range of $215.50 to $779.00 reflects differences in labor rates across independent shops versus dealerships, availability of OEM versus aftermarket parts, and the specific diagnostic requirements for different vehicle makes and models. Texas's competitive auto service market and varying regional labor costs contribute to this variation.
Questions to Ask Your Mechanic
- 1Will you use OEM parts or aftermarket parts, and what is the warranty coverage for each option?
- 2What is your labor rate per hour, and will you charge a flat rate or bill for actual time spent?
- 3Is there a separate diagnostic fee, and will it be credited toward the total repair cost?
- 4Do you recommend a dealership or independent shop for my specific vehicle make and model?
- 5What warranty coverage do you provide on the repair work itself?
- 6Will you provide a detailed written estimate before beginning work?
- 7How long will the repair take, and do you have my vehicle type in stock or need to order parts?
- 8Are there any additional repairs or fluid replacements recommended as part of this service?
- 9Do you offer any guarantees if the head gasket fails again within a certain timeframe?
- 10Can you explain the difference in cost between your shop and other quotes I've received?