1. Pick your vehicle
2. Pick the job
3. Set your local shop labor rate
Default $140/hr is the midpoint of the $120–$159/hr range where about half of U.S. shops sit (2025 PartsTech survey of 752 shops, via AAA's 2026 analysis). Move the slider to match quotes in your area.
Savings Showdown: DIY vs. shop, all 10 jobs
Every job side by side. Move the labor-rate slider above to recalculate shop totals for your area.
| Job | DIY parts | Shop total | You save up to |
|---|
How the estimate is calculated
No black box. The math is printed on the page:
- DIY total = typical parts cost range. You buy the parts; your time is free.
- Shop total = parts range + (median labor hours × your shop's hourly rate).
- Parts ranges come from real parts prices sampled September 30, 2026 across RockAuto, AutoZone, O'Reilly, Advance Auto Parts, NAPA, FCP Euro, and PartsGeek — priced for a 2018 Honda CR-V 1.5T, 2018 Toyota Camry 2.5L, and 2018 Ford F-150 2.7L. Low end is reputable aftermarket; high end is OEM or top-tier aftermarket.
- Labor hours are derived from RepairPal and YourMechanic cost breakdowns (their parts-vs-labor splits) and dealer service-menu pricing — the same flat-rate basis shops use.
- Premium-brand adjustment — pick a premium brand (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus, etc.) and batteries, spark plugs, oil changes, alternators, and thermostats switch to a premium parts range sampled from real U.S. retailer prices (Sept 2026). For the other jobs our sampling showed no meaningful brand difference — BMW pads, filters, and belts price inside the mainstream band — so one range covers all cars.
- The $140/hr default is the midpoint of the $120–$159/hr range where about half of U.S. shops sit, per the 2025 PartsTech survey of 752 shops (via AAA's 2026 analysis). It is not a published national average — just a defensible default. Move the slider to match your area.
Data sources
- Parts price ranges: sampled September 30, 2026 from RockAuto, AutoZone, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Advance Auto Parts, NAPA, FCP Euro, and PartsGeek, plus dealer and OEM parts pages — priced for a 2018 Honda CR-V 1.5T, 2018 Toyota Camry 2.5L, and 2018 Ford F-150 2.7L (economy aftermarket → OEM).
- Labor hours: derived from RepairPal and YourMechanic parts-vs-labor cost splits and dealer service-menu pricing.
- Premium-brand parts ranges (sampled Sept 30, 2026, BMW X6 xDrive40i / X3): battery $250–$315 — AutoZone Duralast Platinum AGM / FCP Euro Bosch S6 AGM; spark plugs $110–$140 — NGK iridium ×6 (B58); oil change $105–$130 — FCP Euro Genuine BMW 7L kit ($123.08); alternator $300–$650; thermostat $60–$200.
- Default shop labor rate: $140/hr — midpoint of the $120–$159/hr bracket occupied by about half of U.S. shops (2025 PartsTech survey of 752 shops, via AAA's 2026 analysis; corroborated by AutoLeap's $137/hr shop-survey average).
Prices checked: September 30, 2026. We re-sample retail prices when we refresh this data.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there such a big range in the estimate?
Parts prices vary by brand (economy vs. OEM), your car's make, and where you buy. Labor varies by shop rate — a dealer in California can charge $200/hr while an independent shop in the Midwest charges $110. Move the rate slider to match your area.
Is the DIY number really just parts?
Yes. The DIY figure is what the parts typically cost. It assumes you have basic hand tools. If you need to buy tools for the job, add that to your first-time cost — our guides list every tool required.
Why would a shop quote be higher than your shop estimate?
Shops add diagnostic fees, shop-supply charges, tax, and sometimes a parts markup over retail. A quote can also grow if the mechanic finds worn related parts (for example, rotors with pads). Always ask for an itemized estimate.
How accurate is this estimator?
It's a planning tool, not a quote. Parts ranges come from real U.S. retailer prices sampled September 30, 2026, and labor hours from RepairPal and YourMechanic breakdowns — but your specific car, trim, and local market move the real number. Use it to spot an inflated quote, not to negotiate down to the penny.
Why does my BMW show the same price as a Honda for some jobs?
Because for many parts it genuinely costs the same. We sampled real U.S. prices for a 2018 Honda CR-V, 2018 Toyota Camry, 2018 Ford F-150, and a 2024 BMW X6: front brake pads, filters, and belts run nearly identical money. Where premium brands really do cost more — batteries (big AGMs), spark plugs (6–8 iridium plugs), oil changes (7+ liters of spec synthetic), alternators, and thermostats — the estimator switches to premium pricing automatically when you pick the brand.
Do you cover my exact car?
Pick your vehicle above and we'll link you straight to the step-by-step guide for your exact make, model, year, and job — free, with video.