Full-Set Damper Cost
Shocks and Struts Replacement Cost
Replacing shocks and struts together costs $650 to $1,800 installed in 2026. What you pay depends on your suspension layout, how many corners use struts versus shocks, and whether the job needs an alignment.
Quick answer: A truck or SUV with front struts and rear shocks runs about $650 to $1,350 plus a front alignment. A sedan or compact SUV with struts on all four corners runs $800 to $1,800 including alignment. A body-on-frame truck that uses shocks at all four corners runs $400 to $900 with no alignment needed. Doing everything in one visit saves you a second alignment fee and a second shop trip.
Cost to replace shocks and struts by suspension layout
"Shocks and struts" is not one fixed job, because vehicles do not all use the same components at every corner. The single biggest factor in your total is how many corners use a strut (structural, needs alignment) versus a plain shock absorber (bolt-on, no alignment). Find your layout below.
| Suspension layout | Front | Rear | Full-set total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front struts + rear shocks Most full-size trucks and some SUVs (F-150, Silverado, RAM, Equinox, Explorer) | $450 - $900 (strut pair) | $200 - $450 (shock pair) | $650 - $1,350 + alignment |
| Struts on all four corners Most sedans and compact SUVs (Camry, Civic, Accord, Altima, RAV4, CR-V, Outback) | $450 - $900 (strut pair) | $400 - $850 (strut pair) | $800 - $1,800 incl. alignment |
| Shocks on all four corners Body-on-frame trucks and large SUVs with solid axle or double-wishbone rear | $200 - $450 (shock pair) | $200 - $450 (shock pair) | $400 - $900, no alignment |
Ranges are US market averages for parts and labor using quality aftermarket dampers (KYB, Monroe, Gabriel). OEM parts add 20 to 60 percent, and dealer labor rates add 30 to 50 percent over independent shops. Alignment, where required, is $80 to $120.
Why the layout decides the price
A strut is a structural part of the suspension: the wheel hub mounts to it, it carries the coil spring, and replacing it changes wheel angles, so an alignment is mandatory afterward. A shock absorber only dampens bounce, carries no weight, and bolts on without touching alignment. Struts therefore cost more per corner and add an alignment charge; shocks are cheaper and add none. Your total is simply the sum of the corners you are replacing, plus one alignment if any strut is involved.
Most drivers searching for a shocks-and-struts price actually want the cost of refreshing the whole suspension damping system at once, typically at 80,000 to 120,000 miles when the original units are all tired together. That is the "full set" figure in the table above.
Worked example: front struts and rear shocks
A Ford F-150 or Chevy Equinox uses MacPherson struts up front and shock absorbers at the rear. A front strut pair installed runs $450 to $900, a rear shock pair runs $200 to $450, and the front strut work triggers a $80 to $120 alignment. That puts the complete job at roughly $730 to $1,470. The rear shocks add no alignment cost of their own, which is why this layout is often cheaper to fully refresh than an all-strut car.
Worked example: struts on all four corners
A Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, or Toyota RAV4 uses struts at all four corners. A front pair runs $450 to $900 and a rear pair runs $400 to $850. Done in a single visit, most shops combine the alignment and trim labor for the second axle, landing the complete four-strut job at $800 to $1,800 including alignment, rather than the higher figure you would reach paying for each pair on separate visits.
How to save on a full shocks-and-struts job
- Do it in one visit. You pay for one alignment ($80 to $120), not two, and skip a second shop trip.
- Ask for quick-strut assemblies. Pre-assembled strut units cut roughly an hour of labor per axle versus compressing springs on bare struts.
- Match the part type to the corner. Never let a shop bill an alignment for a shock-only rear axle, shocks do not affect wheel angles.
- Replace in pairs, not fours-for-the-sake-of-it. If only one axle shows symptoms, do that pair; you do not need all four unless the wear and mileage justify it.
Not sure which corners on your vehicle use struts and which use shocks? See the struts vs shocks breakdown → or check front vs rear replacement costs.
Money-saving tip: If your vehicle is over 80,000 miles on original dampers, get one quote for the complete set rather than replacing an axle at a time. The single alignment and the labor overlap on the second axle typically save $150 to $300 versus two separate visits.
Prices last verified April 2026.