Hood replacement cost
Updated 2026-10-07 · By the Car Repair Estimator team
Hood replacement typically costs about $750-$2,500 for the hood, labor and paint together, according to parts-retailer and shop guides. A steel aftermarket hood on a common car sits near the low end; aluminum, OEM and carbon fiber hoods can push the bill to $2,500 or more.
Hood replacement costs
A hood is one of the largest panels on a car, so the total depends on three things: the hood itself, the labor to swap it, and the paint to match it. The table combines the figures from the guides listed below.
| Item | Typical cost range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aftermarket hood, part only | $200-$500 | One guide says up to $700; steel is cheapest |
| OEM hood, part only | $600-$1,200+ | Another guide starts OEM at about $800 |
| Steel hood, part only | $150-$500 aftermarket, $400-$900 OEM | Common on mainstream cars and trucks |
| Aluminum hood, part only | $350-$1,200 aftermarket, $600-$1,800 OEM | Common on newer, performance and some luxury vehicles |
| Labor to swap the hood | $150-$600 | About 2-5 hours at $75-$150 per hour |
| Paint and color match | $300-$1,000+ | Metallic, pearl and tri-coat finishes cost more |
| Alignment and gap adjustment | $50-$150 | Hood-to-fender fit |
| Sensor recalibration, if needed | Add $100-$300 | Depends on how the car is equipped |
| Total, budget aftermarket hood | $650-$1,250 | Installed and painted |
| Total, mid-range aftermarket hood | $1,050-$1,800 | Installed and painted |
| Total, OEM hood | $1,600-$2,800 | Installed and painted |
| Total, steel hood | $700-$1,500 | Parts, labor and paint |
| Total, aluminum hood | $1,000-$2,000 | Parts, labor and paint |
| Total, carbon fiber or composite | $2,000-$4,000+ | Specialty and performance vehicles |
Sources disagree at the edges. One 2026 parts guide puts the overall range at $750-$2,500 and gives examples of about $800-$1,200 for a Honda Civic, $850-$1,300 for a Toyota Camry, $900-$1,500 for a Ford F-150 and $1,400-$2,200 for a BMW 3-Series. A 2025 collision shop guide lists hood replacement at $500-$1,000, and ThePricer, updated in 2024, puts a basic replacement at about $400-$1,200 and professional installation at a dealer or collision shop at $700-$1,900. Treat the low end as a plain steel hood on a common car with a simple color.
What drives the cost
Steel or aluminum
Material is the biggest lever. AutoPartEx notes that aluminum hoods are typically 30-50% lighter than steel ones and are used on performance cars, late-model vehicles and EVs, while steel hoods dominate mainstream sedans, SUVs and trucks. Aluminum costs more to buy and needs specialized tools to repair, and AutoPartEx says fewer shops are certified to handle it.
OEM, aftermarket or used
An OEM hood comes from the automaker and usually fits best, at roughly 2-4 times the price of an aftermarket hood according to ThePricer. PartsMax says aftermarket hoods can save 30-50%. Used OEM hoods are another option, which ThePricer puts at about $100-$700 for the part, though a used hood generally still needs paint.
Paint and blending
The new hood has to match the fenders next to it. Metallic, pearl and tri-coat colors need precise computer matching and often some blending into the neighboring panels, which is why paint ranges from about $300 to more than $1,000. See cost to repaint a car for panel paint prices.
Labor and extras
The swap itself takes roughly 2-5 hours depending on the vehicle. Ryan's Auto Care lists extra components such as hinges, the latch, sensors and weatherstripping among the cost drivers, so ask which of them are on the estimate. Hourly rates also vary by region and type of shop.
Repair or replace?
A few dents rarely justify a new hood. The Dent Dude, a mobile dent repair shop, lists typical prices for paintless repair against a body shop: about $100-$250 against $500-$900 for a small round dent, and $200-$450 against $700-$1,200 for a medium dent of 3-5 inches. See paintless dent repair cost for how that works. For hail damage of 20-40 dents across the hood, the same shop lists about $400-$900 for paintless repair against $1,500-$3,000 at a body shop; our hail damage repair cost guide covers the whole car.
Replacement becomes the better choice when the damage is structural. The Dent Dude lists a hood skin that stretches beyond about 1.25 inches, a bent inner reinforcement, paint cracked down to bare metal over 4 inches or more, or a hood that has deformed onto the engine bay structure. PartsMax suggests replacing a hood when more than half its surface is damaged or its structure is compromised. A hood that no longer latches or sits properly should be checked by a shop before you drive on it.
Insurance
How a hood claim is handled depends on your policy and what caused the damage, so ask your insurer. The Dent Dude notes that hail, falling branches and ice damage typically fall under comprehensive coverage, while a collision claim goes under collision coverage. A hood replaced after a front-end crash is usually part of a larger bill, since a collision shop guide puts front-end repairs overall at $2,500-$6,000, with the bumper, headlights, radiator or condenser and paint on the same estimate. Compare an itemized estimate with your deductible before deciding whether to file. For the bigger picture, see collision repair cost.
How to get an accurate hood estimate
Photograph the whole hood from the front, plus close-ups of each dent, and the gap between the hood and the fenders, since a front hit often bends the hinges and brackets behind it. Note whether your hood is steel or aluminum, since that changes the quote. With Car Repair Estimator Repair+ you can snap the damage and scan the VIN so the estimate matches your exact trim, then get an itemized estimate with the part, body labor and refinish hours listed separately. Then get quotes from 2-3 shops and ask whether each price is for an OEM or aftermarket hood, whether it includes paint and blending, and whether any sensors need recalibration. The app's estimate is informational, not a binding quote. Related guides: fender repair cost, bumper repair cost and headlight replacement cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a car hood?
A 2026 parts-retailer guide puts a full hood replacement, with the part, labor and paint, at about $750-$2,500, and a shop guide says $1,000-$2,500 is typical. A budget aftermarket steel hood can come in near $650-$1,250 installed and painted, while OEM parts run about $1,600-$2,800.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a hood?
For a few small dents, repair is usually cheaper. One 2026 parts guide suggests repair when the work stays under roughly $400-$700 for minor dents under 3 inches, and replacement when more than about half the hood surface is damaged or its structure is compromised.
Why is an aluminum hood more expensive?
Aluminum hood parts typically cost more than steel (about $350-$1,200 aftermarket and $600-$1,800 OEM, against $150-$500 and $400-$900 for steel, per one parts guide), and one PDR shop says dent repair on aluminum hoods runs 25 to 50 percent above steel ranges. Fewer shops are set up to work on aluminum.
Does insurance cover a hood replacement?
It depends on your policy and the cause. One PDR shop notes that hail, falling branches and ice damage are usually handled under comprehensive coverage rather than collision. Ask your insurer, and compare an itemized estimate with your deductible first.
Sources
- PartsMax - Hood replacement cost breakdown: labor, parts and paint (Jan 2026)
- ThePricer - Car hood replacement cost (Apr 2024)
- Ryan's Auto Care - How much does it cost to replace a car hood?
- AutoPartEx - Steel vs. aluminum hoods (Jun 2026)
- The Dent Dude - Hood dent repair cost (Jun 2026)
- Frank & Son Auto Body - What is the cost of collision repair (Jul 2025)
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