Haircut Cost: Current Prices & Fees

A haircut is one of the few services where two people can pay very different prices for what looks like the same thing. A quick clipper cut at a walk-in chain and a cut with a shampoo and blow-dry at an appointment-only salon are priced as separate services, even though both end with shorter hair.

This page lays out what haircuts cost in the United States, how prices differ by shop type and by who the haircut is for, and which extras show up on the bill. Tipping is normally paid on top of the listed price, so budget for it separately.

Men's haircuts are priced by the kind of shop more than by the style. A fade and a scissor cut can cost the same at one barbershop and noticeably different amounts at another, because the shop sets the rate for its chairs.

Discount chains such as Supercuts and Great Clips sit at the bottom of the scale. Local and chain barbershops cost more, and hair salons generally cost the most for a men's cut. Yelp notes that salons often have the most highly trained stylists, which can suit longer styles or men who also want color. Since many salons cater mostly to women, it helps to book with a stylist who regularly cuts short men's hair.

Prices also climb with the cost of living. Yelp reports the cheapest cuts in a handful of low-cost states and the most expensive in large coastal cities, so a figure from a national table may not match your town.

Women's haircuts are harder to pin to one number because the service varies so much. Length, thickness, and texture change how long the appointment takes, and many salons price a cut with a wash and blow-dry as one service.

The salon tier drives most of the difference. A value chain keeps prices low by moving quickly and using stylists early in their careers. Mid-priced national brands offer a wider menu. Independent salons and spas charge the most and usually work by appointment. Within the same salon, stylists are often ranked by experience, and senior or master stylists cost more than junior ones.

Always check what the quoted price covers. Some shops list a cut-only price and charge separately for a shampoo, a blow-dry, or styling. Others bundle everything. When you compare two shops, compare the same service on both menus.

Common extras and small services have their own prices:

A trim is much cheaper than a full cut because it takes little time and changes the shape very little. A clipper cut for hair that is already very short sits in between.

Children's cuts are usually listed below adult prices, and many shops also discount for seniors. The discount differs from one location to the next, so ask when you book. A blowout, listed in the table above, is a styling service. Some people book one on its own without a cut.

Published figures do not agree, and that is normal. Some sources average menu prices across hundreds of salons. Others summarize quotes sent through a marketplace, and others describe what a typical chain or barbershop charges. A chain-heavy sample pulls the range down, and a sample of salons with online booking pulls it up. None of them is a census of every shop in the country.

Use the overlap between sources as your planning range. If a quote is far outside it, the shop may be offering something different, such as a premium stylist or a bundled service, or it may simply be priced for a high-rent location.

• Compare shops of the same type. A barbershop quote tells you little about a salon quote.
• Ask whether a junior stylist is available at a lower rate.
• Ask whether the price includes a shampoo and style before you sit down.
• Look for new-client offers on a salon's website or social accounts. Tip on the full price, not the discounted one, if you choose to tip.
• Book regular visits with one stylist, since many shops reward repeat clients.