Guitar Restringing Costs at a Shop

A professional restring at a guitar shop typically costs between $25 and $75, depending on the shop's location, the type of guitar, and whether you provide your own strings. Most shops charge a labor fee separate from the cost of the strings themselves. In a major city, expect the higher end of that range; in a smaller town, you may pay closer to $25 to $35.

The labor fee covers the time to remove old strings, clean the fretboard, install new strings, and tune the guitar. Some shops include a basic setup—adjusting the truss rod or bridge to account for the tension change—while others charge extra for that work. Ask what's included before you hand over your guitar.

Key Takeaways

  • Shop labor for a restring runs $25 to $75 depending on location and whether the shop provides strings or you bring your own.
  • New strings cost $5 to $30 per set depending on the string type and brand; acoustic strings are usually cheaper than electric.
  • Doing it yourself costs only the price of strings but requires wire cutters, a string winder (optional but helpful), and 20 to 45 minutes of your time.
  • A full setup—adjusting action, intonation, or the truss rod—costs $50 to $150 on top of the restring and is separate from basic restringing.
  • Bring your own strings to a shop if you have a preferred brand; most shops will install them for $15 to $30 in labor alone.

String Costs If You Buy Them Separately

Acoustic guitar strings cost $5 to $15 per set at a music store or online. Electric strings run $6 to $20 per set. Premium or specialty strings—coated strings that last longer, or strings made from unusual materials—can reach $25 to $30 per set. Budget brands are cheaper but wear out faster.

If you restring frequently, buying strings in bulk online saves money. A three-pack of acoustic strings might cost $12 to $18 total, bringing the per-set cost down to $4 to $6. Many players keep a spare set at home so they can restring when ready if a string breaks during a performance or practice.

Doing It Yourself at Home

Restringing your own guitar costs only the price of the strings—no labor fee. You will need wire cutters (most people already own these), and a string winder makes the job faster, though it is not required. A string winder costs $5 to $15 and speeds up the winding process from 10 minutes per string to about 2 minutes.

The full job takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on your experience and whether you clean the fretboard while the strings are off. Watch a video tutorial specific to your guitar type—acoustic and electric restringing differ slightly—before you start. The main risk is breaking a string while winding it too tight, which wastes one string but teaches you the feel of proper tension.

When a Shop Charges Extra

Some shops add fees for specific situations. If your guitar has a tremolo system (a whammy bar), restringing takes longer and may cost $10 to $20 extra. Guitars with locking tuners or bridge pins that are stuck may also incur additional labor. Always ask for a total price before leaving your guitar.

If the shop discovers rust on the tuning pegs, a cracked bridge, or frets that need leveling while your strings are off, they will tell you about it. These are separate repairs and cost extra, but catching them during a restring saves you from discovering the problem later when you are in the middle of playing.

Restringing Frequency and Long-Term Cost

How often you restring depends on how much you play. A casual player might restring every 3 to 6 months. Someone who plays daily might restring every 4 to 8 weeks. Strings lose brightness and become harder to tune as they age, so the frequency is partly about sound quality and partly about when they actually break.

If you restring at a shop four times a year at $50 per visit, that is $200 annually. If you do it yourself four times a year, you spend $20 to $60 on strings. The break-even point for learning to restring yourself is usually around your second or third time, after which you save money and gain the ability to restring in an emergency.

Factors That Change the Price

Location matters significantly. A shop in New York City or Los Angeles will charge more than one in a rural area. The type of guitar also affects cost—a 12-string acoustic takes longer to restring than a 6-string electric, and some shops charge accordingly. A few shops charge by the string rather than a flat fee, which can be cheaper for a 6-string but more expensive for a 12-string.

Whether you provide your own strings also changes the total. Bringing your own strings to a shop usually costs $15 to $30 in labor, while having the shop sell you strings and install them might cost $40 to $75 total because the shop marks up the string price. If you have a preferred brand, buying your own and bringing them in saves money.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do new strings last before they need replacing?

New strings sound bright for about 1 to 3 months with regular playing. They gradually lose brightness and become harder to keep in tune. Many players restring when the sound dulls noticeably or when a string breaks, rather than on a fixed schedule. Heavy players may notice the change after 4 weeks; casual players might not notice for 6 months.

Can I restring my guitar if I have never done it before?

Yes. Watch a tutorial video for your specific guitar type first—acoustic and electric are slightly different. The main skill is winding the string evenly around the tuning peg without overlapping the wraps. Take your time on the first one; after three or four strings, the motion becomes automatic. You will not damage the guitar if you wind too slowly.

What is the difference between a restring and a setup?

A restring replaces the strings and tunes the guitar. A setup adjusts the action (string height), intonation (whether the guitar plays in tune at every fret), and sometimes the truss rod (the rod inside the neck). A setup costs $50 to $150 and is separate from restringing. You can restring without a setup, but a setup usually includes a restring.

Do I need to bring my guitar to a shop or can they pick it up?

Most shops require you to bring the guitar in. A few shops in major cities offer pickup and delivery for an extra fee, usually $10 to $25 each way. For a straightforward restring, the extra cost usually is not worth it unless you have mobility issues or live very close to the shop.

What happens if a string breaks while the shop is restringing my guitar?

The shop will replace it with a new string at no extra charge. Breaking a string during installation is a normal part of the job, and shops budget for it. If a string breaks after you pick up the guitar, that is your responsibility, but a reputable shop will restring it for the standard labor fee if you bring it back within a few days.