Guitar restringing costs between $25 and $75 at a shop, depending on the guitar type and whether you replace the strings yourself

If you take your guitar to a repair shop, expect to pay $25 to $50 for labor alone on an acoustic or electric guitar, or $40 to $75 on a classical guitar with nylon strings (which take longer to wind). Some shops charge a flat rate; others charge by the string. A few include new strings in the labor price, but most do not — you either bring your own strings or buy them there at retail markup, typically $8 to $20 per set.

The total bill depends on three things: whether the shop supplies the strings, what type of guitar you own, and whether the shop does any extra work while the strings are off (cleaning the fretboard, checking the truss rod, or adjusting the bridge). A basic restring with strings you provide costs less than a restring where the shop sells you strings and cleans the guitar at the same time.

Key Takeaways

  • Labor for restringing runs $25 to $50 on electric or acoustic guitars, or $40 to $75 on classical guitars with nylon strings.
  • Strings themselves cost $8 to $20 per set if you buy them at a shop, or $5 to $15 if you order them online beforehand.
  • Restringing yourself costs only the price of strings ($5 to $15) but requires wire cutters, a string winder, and about 30 minutes of practice.
  • Some shops bundle restringing with fretboard cleaning or truss rod checks; ask what is included before you hand over the guitar.

What shops charge for labor

Most guitar repair shops quote labor as a single price per guitar, not per string. An acoustic or electric guitar typically costs $25 to $40 in labor; a classical guitar with nylon strings costs $40 to $75 because each string must be wound individually and tied at the bridge instead of threaded through a bridge pin. A 12-string guitar costs more than a 6-string because the work takes longer.

A few shops charge by the string instead — usually $3 to $5 per string — which works out to $18 to $30 for a 6-string guitar. Ask on the phone before you visit. If the shop offers a price range ("$30 to $50"), the higher number usually means they will also clean the fretboard or check the neck while the strings are off.

The cost of strings themselves

If you buy strings at the shop where you have them installed, expect to pay $8 to $20 per set. This is retail markup — the same strings cost $5 to $15 online. Bring your own strings and most shops will install them for the labor price alone, with no string markup added.

The brand and gauge matter. A basic set of acoustic strings costs $6 to $10; a premium brand costs $12 to $20. Electric strings are usually cheaper ($5 to $12 per set) because they use less material. Classical nylon strings run $8 to $18 per set. If you do not know what gauge or type your guitar needs, the shop can tell you when you call, and you can order online before your appointment.

Doing it yourself: tools and time

Restringing your own guitar costs only the price of strings ($5 to $15 per set) if you already own the tools. You need wire cutters, a string winder (a hand-crank tool that speeds up winding, $8 to $15), and a tuner ($10 to $30 for a clip-on tuner). If you buy all three, the first restring costs $30 to $60 total; every restring after that costs only $5 to $15.

The process takes 20 to 40 minutes once you have done it once or twice. You remove the old strings (either all at once or one at a time), clean the fretboard while it is exposed, thread or wind the new strings onto the tuning pegs, and tune up. The hardest part is winding the strings evenly so they do not slip — a string winder makes this much easier and is worth buying if you plan to restring more than twice.

Watch a video for your specific guitar type (acoustic, electric, or classical) before you start. Classical guitars require tying the strings at the bridge, which is different from acoustic or electric guitars. If you make a mistake, you can always take it to a shop and pay the labor fee to have them fix it.

When to add extra services to your restring

While your strings are off, a shop can clean the fretboard, check the truss rod, or adjust the bridge — work that is harder to do with strings on. Some shops bundle one of these services into the restring price; others charge separately. A fretboard cleaning costs $10 to $20. A truss rod check or bridge adjustment costs $15 to $40 each.

If your guitar has not been serviced in a year or more, adding a fretboard cleaning ($10 to $20) is worth doing at the same time. A truss rod check is only necessary if the neck feels warped or the strings sit too high or too low. Ask the shop to inspect the neck while they have the strings off and tell you whether adjustment is needed — do not pay for it unless they find a problem.

How often you need to restring

Most players restring every 3 to 6 months, depending on how often they play and how hard they play. A casual player who practices twice a week might restring every 6 months. A daily player or someone who plays hard might restring every 3 months. Strings lose brightness and go flat faster the more you play.

You can tell strings are ready to replace when they sound dull, break easily, or feel rough instead of smooth. Rust spots on steel strings are a sign they are near the end. If you restring yourself, you will quickly learn how often your playing style wears them out.

Comparing shop prices in your area

Call three or four shops and ask their restring price for your guitar type. Tell them whether you will bring your own strings or buy them there. Ask what is included — some shops include a tuning or fretboard cleaning; others charge for everything separately. Write down the total out-of-pocket cost for each shop, not just the labor price.

The cheapest shop is not always the best choice. A shop that takes 10 minutes and leaves your bridge misaligned costs less than a shop that takes 30 minutes and sets everything up correctly, but you will hear the difference. Read reviews on Google or Yelp for shops in your area, or ask other guitar players where they go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I restring a guitar without a string winder?

Yes, but it takes longer and is harder on your hand. You wind the string by turning the tuning peg with your fingers, which works but is slow and tiring. A string winder costs $8 to $15 and cuts the winding time in half. If you plan to restring more than once, it is worth buying.

Do I need to replace all six strings at once?

You can replace them one at a time, but replacing all six at once is faster and lets you clean the fretboard. If one string breaks, you can replace just that one and restring the rest later. Most players do all six together every 3 to 6 months.

What if a string breaks while I am restringing?

Stop and buy a new set. A string that breaks during installation was probably defective or you wound it too tight. Do not try to tie it back together. A new set costs $5 to $20, which is cheaper than paying a shop to fix a botched restring.

Does the type of strings affect the restring cost?

Labor cost is the same whether you use cheap or expensive strings. If you buy strings at the shop, premium brands cost more ($12 to $20 instead of $8 to $12), but the labor is identical. If you bring your own strings, the shop charges the same labor fee regardless of brand.

How long does a restring take at a shop?

A basic restring takes 30 to 60 minutes. If the shop cleans the fretboard or checks the neck, add another 15 to 30 minutes. Call ahead and ask how long the wait is; some shops can do it while you wait, others need an appointment.