Calcatrice cockatrice logoCalcatrice.
Est. 2026
The ledger for
expensive decisions
Menu
Calculate the cost before you commit

Car & Auto Repair

Shocks and struts replacement cost calculator

Work out what replacing shocks or struts will cost from the parts per corner, the labor, and the alignment. A strut is a bigger, pricier assembly than a shock because it is part of the structure holding the car up, and struts need a wheel alignment after. Replace in pairs so the car sits and handles evenly. The calculator adds it up.

§ 01 Your numbers

Change anything. The answer updates as you type.

How many wheels. Replace in pairs (both fronts or both rears) at minimum, so the car sits and handles evenly. All four if the whole suspension is worn.
The shock or strut per wheel. A plain shock is cheaper; a full strut assembly, which includes the spring and mount (a 'quick strut'), costs more but is far easier to fit.
Time for the corners you are doing. A pre-assembled quick strut is fast; a bare strut needs a spring compressor and more time; rusted-in hardware adds more.
The shop's hourly rate. Dealers charge more than independents.
Struts are part of the steering geometry, so replacing them requires an alignment after. Shocks alone usually do not. Zero if only rear shocks are done.
Estimated cost
$580

Typical range $493 – $754

  • Parts (corners × price)$240
  • Labor (hours × rate)$240
  • Wheel alignment$100
  • Total$580
See next steps →

Recommended next steps

Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Calcatrice may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only suggest tools that fit your result, and a company can't pay to show up here.

$500 to $1,100 is a pair of struts plus the alignment they require. Confirm the alignment is included.

What this assumes, and where it could be wrong

Every one of these is a place the number could be off. They are here because you should be able to check our working, not because we are hedging.

A STRUT IS NOT A SHOCK, AND IT COSTS MORE FOR A REASON.
A shock absorber only damps the bounce; a strut is a structural part that holds the car up and is built into the steering geometry, combining the shock, the spring, and a mount. So a strut assembly costs more than a shock, and replacing struts requires a wheel alignment after because it disturbs the geometry. Know which your car has at each corner, because it changes both the part price and whether you need the alignment

Replace in pairs, both sides of an axle at once. A new shock or strut on one side and a worn one on the other makes the car sit unevenly and pull or bounce differently side to side, which is unsafe and wears tires. Doing both fronts or both rears together, at minimum, is the standard, and it is why the calculator counts corners in pairs.

A 'quick strut' costs more in parts and saves in labor. A pre-assembled strut, with the spring and mount already fitted, costs more than a bare strut but skips the dangerous spring-compressor step and the extra labor, so on many cars the all-in price is similar and the job is safer and faster. For most owners it is the better buy.

Struts need an alignment; rear shocks usually do not. Because struts are part of the steering geometry, replacing them throws the alignment off, so an alignment after is part of the job, not an upsell. Plain rear shocks that are not part of the steering usually do not require one, which is why the alignment line can be zero for a rear-shock-only job.

The defaults are ours and are a starting point. The corners, the parts, and the alignment are yours, and the estimate turns on whether you are replacing shocks or struts and how many corners.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to replace shocks and struts?
It is the parts per corner, the labor, and an alignment for struts. A pair of shocks is a moderate job; a pair of struts costs more because the assemblies are pricier and an alignment is needed after. All four corners roughly doubles a pair. The calculator above adds it up from your numbers. Whether you have shocks or struts at each corner is the main driver.
What is the difference between shocks and struts?
A shock absorber only damps the suspension's bounce; a strut is a structural component that holds the car up and is built into the steering geometry, combining the shock, spring, and mount in one assembly. Struts cost more and require a wheel alignment when replaced; shocks are cheaper and usually do not. Many cars have struts in front and shocks in the rear.
Do I need to replace shocks and struts in pairs?
Yes, replace both sides of an axle together. A new unit on one side and a worn one on the other makes the car sit and handle unevenly, pulls under braking, and wears the tires oddly, which is unsafe. Doing both fronts or both rears at once is standard practice, which is why the cost is figured in pairs.
Do struts need an alignment after replacement?
Yes. Struts are part of the steering geometry, so replacing them disturbs the alignment, and a wheel alignment afterward is part of doing the job right, not an extra to skip. Plain rear shocks that are not part of the steering usually do not require an alignment, which is the one case the alignment line can be left at zero.

Related calculators

Tire replacement costYour numbers

The per-tire price is the sticker. Mounting, balancing, an alignment, and fees add a real amount per tire on top.

Open the calculator→
Brake replacement costYour numbers

Pads are cheap. The bill is decided by whether the rotors also need doing, and whether you are quoted one axle or two.

Open the calculator→