Head gasket replacement cost: shop vs. mobile mechanic
Head gasket replacement: estimated U.S. average labor cost at a repair shop and with a mobile mechanic. Labor only; parts not included. Estimates, not quotes.
Average shop cost
$1,135
Range $500–$1,945 (labor)
5.0–14.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$1,705
Range $750–$2,920 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimate for your state or city →
What the estimate covers
Labor only; the gasket set, head bolts, machine-shop work on the cylinder head, coolant and oil are extra. Inline 4-cylinder engines are at the low end; V6, V8 and boxer (Subaru) engines, which have two heads, take longer. Overheating damage found during the job (warped head, cracked block) can turn it into an engine replacement.
Labor hours used: 5–14 h, our own editorial estimate (not taken from a licensed labor guide).
Problem pages that use this estimate
Sourced owner-reported problems on Mechanic Notes where this is the usual repair:
- 2010 Subaru Forester: Blown head gaskets
- 2010 Subaru Outback: Head gasket failure
- 2010 Toyota Tacoma: Leaking head gasket
- 2014 Kia Sportage: Failed head gasket-exhaust gas in coolant
- 2016 Jeep Wrangler: Blown head gaskets
How these estimates work
- Labor hours (Mechanic Notes estimate): each job has our own editorial "typical labor hours" range. Real times depend on the vehicle, engine and condition, and are not taken from any licensed labor guide.
- Shop labor rate (assumption): $100–$139/hour, the band where about half of surveyed U.S. general repair shops put their average labor rate (PartsTech / OEC U.S. General Auto Repair Shop Survey (about 700 shops, Sept 2025), as reported by Ratchet+Wrench), scaled by your area's mean wage for automotive service technicians divided by the U.S. mean ($27.13/h; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-3023; verify on bls.gov). States and metros without wage data use the next-wider area.
- Average shop cost = typical hours × estimated shop rate. The headline number uses the middle of both ranges (or a job’s stated typical hours, where the usual job sits near the low end); the range uses low hours × low rate to high hours × high rate. Rounded to $5.
- Average mobile mechanic cost = shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium: travel and convenience are built in). This is a default assumption, not a survey result.
- Parts are not included. Parts prices vary too much by vehicle and brand to estimate honestly here; price parts separately.
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