How Much Does It Cost to Replace Guitar Strings? The Complete 2026 Price Breakdown

Look, if you're reading this, you probably already know strings wear out. But what does it actually cost to keep your guitars playing well? The answer depends on what you play, how often, and whether you're doing it yourself or paying someone else.

Let's break down the real numbers.

The Basic Numbers

A set of guitar strings costs anywhere from $5 to $18 if you're buying them yourself. Add professional installation and you're looking at $35 to $58 total. Full setups with new strings run $65 to $145, sometimes more if you've got something complicated like a Floyd Rose or a 12-string.

Budget electric strings start around $5-$7. Premium coated strings hit $15-$18. The difference? Mostly how long they last before they sound dead.

What Drives the Price

Three things determine what you'll pay: materials, coatings, and what type of guitar you're stringing up.

Materials matter more than you'd think. Nickel-plated steel for electrics runs $5-$15 per set. Phosphor bronze for acoustics costs $7-$16. Bass strings eat up more raw material, so they hit $20-$47 for a four-string set. Classical strings with quality nylon range from $6 all the way to $34 for something like Savarez Corum Alliance.

Coatings change the game entirely. Plain strings cost $5-$10 and die in 3-6 weeks. Coated strings like Elixir Nanoweb cost $13-$18 but last 12-24 weeks. That's not marketing talk—I've seen it play out across dozens of guitars. The math actually works in favor of coated strings if you play regularly.

Guitar type is obvious but worth stating. Standard 6-string electric sets cost $5-$18. Twelve-string sets cost $10-$31 because you're basically buying two sets. Bass strings cost more because the gauges are huge.

Breaking Down Costs by Guitar Type

Electric Guitars

The electric string market is crowded, which keeps prices competitive. Here's what you'll actually pay in 2026:

• Ernie Ball Regular Slinky: $5.49 (lasts 3-6 weeks)
• D'Addario XL Nickel: $6.99 (lasts 4-6 weeks)
• D'Addario NYXL: $9.49 (lasts 6-8 weeks, better tuning stability)
• Elixir Nanoweb: $12.99 (lasts 12-20 weeks)
• Ernie Ball Paradigm: $14.99 (lasts 8-12 weeks, won't break easily)
• D'Addario XS Coated: $18.00 (lasts 12-16 weeks)

Most players stick with the $6-$9 range and change them monthly. That's $70-$110 a year, which is manageable.

Acoustic Guitars

Acoustic strings cost a bit more because the gauges are heavier and bronze alloys cost more than nickel-plated steel. Phosphor bronze dominates here—probably 65% of what people buy.

Current pricing looks like this:

• D'Addario EJ16: $7.25 (4-6 weeks)
• Martin Marquis: $8.99 (6-10 weeks)
• Ernie Ball Earthwood: $12.49 (4-8 weeks)
• Elixir Polyweb: $13.49 (10-20 weeks)
• Martin Lifespan 2.0: $13.99 (10-16 weeks)
• Elixir Nanoweb: $15.99 (12-24 weeks)

Bass Guitars

Bass strings hurt the wallet. A four-string set averages $28, five-string sets hit $36. Here's the reality:

• Rotosound Swing Bass 66 (4-string): $27.95
• D'Addario EXL170 (4-string): $29.99
• DR Strings Hi-Beam (4-string): $34.99
• Rotosound Swing Bass 66 (5-string): $35.95
• Elixir Nanoweb Bass (4-string): $46.99 (but lasts 16-24 weeks)

The Elixir bass strings cost almost double, but they genuinely last three to four times longer. If you play bass regularly, they're worth it.

Professional Service Costs

Getting someone else to restring your guitar costs $30-$40 for basic service. That's just swapping strings and maybe wiping down the fretboard. No adjustments.

Full setups run $65-$145 and include truss rod adjustment, bridge height, intonation, everything. Here's the breakdown:

• Electric guitar: $65-$95
• Acoustic guitar: $75-$95
• Bass guitar: $75-$105
• 12-string guitar: $100-$150
• Floyd Rose tremolo: $100-$150

City shops charge more. If you're in New York, LA, or San Francisco, add 20-40% to these numbers. Rural shops tend to run cheaper.

DIY vs. Paying Someone

Most people can learn to change strings themselves. It's not complicated, just tedious the first few times.

You'll need:

• String winder: $8-$15
• String cutters: $10-$18
• Digital tuner: $15-$50 (if you don't have one)
• Polishing cloth: $5-$10

Total startup cost: $46-$105. You break even after 2-3 string changes compared to paying a shop $35 each time.

Let's say you change strings every three months for five years:

Paying a shop:

• Strings: $240 (4 sets/year × $12 × 5 years)
• Restring labor: $700 (20 times × $35)
• Annual setups: $425 (5 times × $85)
• Total: $1,365

Doing it yourself:

• Strings: $240
• Tools (one-time): $65
• Annual professional setups: $425
• Total: $730

You save $635 over five years. That's real money, especially if you own multiple guitars.

When to Change Strings

This depends on how much you play and what conditions you're playing in.

If you play daily (2+ hours), change uncoated strings every 2-3 weeks or coated strings every 6-8 weeks. Regular players (4-7 hours weekly) should swap uncoated strings every 4-6 weeks or coated every 8-12 weeks. Casual players can stretch it to 8-12 weeks for uncoated or 12-20 weeks for coated.

You'll know it's time when:

• Strings look discolored or corroded
• They feel rough or gritty
• The sound goes dull
• Intonation gets wonky
• Sustain drops off

Don't wait until a string breaks during a gig. Change them before that happens.

How to Save Money

Buy in bulk. A 10-pack of D'Addario EXL110 costs $59.99 instead of $69.90 if you bought them individually. That's 14% savings. Twenty-five packs hit 22% savings. If you know what you like, stock up.

Take care of your strings. Wash your hands before playing—extends life by 25-35%. Wipe strings after every session—adds another 20-30%. Use a string conditioner like Fast Fret—that's another 15-25%. Store guitars in cases with decent humidity control—this one's big, adds 30-40% to string life.

Consider coated strings if you play regularly. They cost more upfront but the math works out. A $16 Elixir Nanoweb set lasting 16 weeks costs 14 cents per day. A $6 uncoated set lasting 4 weeks costs 21 cents per day. That's 33% savings despite the higher price.

Common Questions

What should I budget annually?

Casual players spend $60-$120. Regular players hit $120-$240. Professionals using premium strings and quarterly setups spend $300-$600. If you own multiple guitars, multiply accordingly.

Are expensive strings worth it?

If you play 2+ hours weekly, yes. They last longer and the daily cost works out cheaper. If you play sporadically, stick with budget strings.

Should I change strings myself?

For routine changes on standard guitars, absolutely. For complex stuff like Floyd Rose systems or 12-strings, or if you need actual setup work beyond just stringing, pay someone who knows what they're doing.

Do bass strings really cost that much more?

Yes. The gauges are massive compared to guitar strings. More material means higher cost. This is why coated bass strings make even more sense financially.

Your 30-Day Plan

Week 1-2: Figure out what you're spending now. Track the last year if you can remember. Log how much you actually play each week.

Week 3-4: Pick 2-3 string brands to try. Buy your tools if you're going DIY. Look for bulk deals online.

Day 15-30: Change your strings yourself for the first time (or schedule a professional service). Start wiping your strings after playing. Order a bulk pack.

Most people save $150-$400 annually by thinking this through instead of just buying strings when they break.

The Real Answer

String costs vary wildly based on your choices. You can maintain guitars for $60-$100 yearly by buying bulk uncoated strings and changing them yourself. Or you can spend $300-$600 annually on premium coated strings and professional setups.

The sweet spot? Change strings yourself, get one professional setup per year, use coated strings if you play often, and buy in bulk when possible. This approach typically saves $200-$400 annually while keeping your guitars playing well.

Your mileage will vary depending on what you own and how you play. But now you know what the options actually cost.