A crown caps a cracked or worn-down tooth to bring back its shape and strength. The material you pick moves the price the most, so choose one below and add a temporary crown if you need to wear one while the real one is made. You can also add insurance to see your share.
Your estimate
Updated 2026-07-06$1,300 typical ($800 to $3,000)
Medium confidenceBased on Authority Dental (all-ceramic/all-metal avg ~$1,300; PFM avg ~$1,100); Favdentistry ($950-$3,000, most patients $1,200-$1,800) (2026-01). Updated 2026-07-06.
What is included
- Dental crown$1,300
With insurance
Monthly payment example
About $108/mo over 12 months or $54/mo over 24 months. Just an example, based on a 0% promo plan and the typical estimate. This is not an offer, and the real terms and approval depend on the lender.
This is an estimate, not a quote or a treatment offer, and not medical or financial advice. The figures are modeled from public sources and shown as ranges with a date and a confidence level. For a real number, ask your dentist for a written treatment plan and check coverage with your own plan.
Dental crown costs
Dental crown cost in 2026
A dental crown usually costs about $1,300, with most landing between $1,000 and $2,000 depending on the material. Porcelain-fused-to-metal sits at the lower end, all-porcelain and zirconia run higher, and gold moves with the metal market. That price covers the crown itself: the shaping visit, the impression or scan, and the lab-made cap. Pick your material in the calculator to see your range.
Crown cost by material
Material is the biggest thing that moves the price, so it helps to know the tradeoffs. Porcelain-fused-to-metal is the budget workhorse: strong, but it can show a dark line at the gum over time. All-porcelain and zirconia look the most natural and are what most people pick for visible teeth, though they cost more. Gold lasts the longest and is easiest on the opposing tooth, but the look pretty much limits it to back teeth. There's no single right answer here, which is exactly why the calculator lets you compare.
How long a crown lasts
Usually 10 to 15 years, and often longer if you take care of it. The crown itself doesn't decay, but the tooth underneath still can, especially right at the gum edge, and that's the usual reason a crown has to be replaced. When you break it down per year, a crown is actually one of the better values in dentistry, which matters if the alternative is redoing a big filling every few years.
Crowns with insurance
Most plans help, at least partly. They count a crown as major work and pay around 50 percent after the deductible, as long as it's medically necessary and not just cosmetic. The catch is the annual maximum, since one crown can eat up most of a $1,500 yearly cap by itself. Turn on insurance in the calculator to see what your share would realistically be.
The root canal and crown bundle
Crowns often come right after root canals, and budgeting for one without the other is the most common surprise people run into. A molar root canal plus a crown usually runs north of $2,500, and if the tooth is badly damaged, it might need a core buildup first, which is a separate rebuild of the tooth's stump with its own fee. If that's your situation, price the root canal on its own page and add the two together, or use our save vs replace tool, which bundles them and stacks the total against pulling and replacing the tooth.
Ways to pay less for a crown
Here's what actually helps, roughly in order. Stay in network, since out-of-network fees aren't capped by your plan's allowed amounts. Ask whether a cheaper material would work, because a back molar rarely needs the premium option. Pay with pre-tax HSA or FSA money if you can. Grab a second itemized quote, since crown prices swing a lot even within one city. And if money's really tight, dental schools place crowns under supervision for a steep discount.
Common questions
How much is a crown with insurance?
At the usual 50 percent major-work rate, your share of a $1,300 crown comes to about $650 after the deductible, assuming your annual maximum still has room left.
Is a crown cheaper than an implant?
Yes, by a lot: about $1,300 versus roughly $4,000 all-in. They do different jobs, though. A crown saves a tooth that's damaged, while an implant replaces one that's already gone.
Why is my crown quote higher than the average?
It's usually the material, the prep the tooth needs like a core buildup, or just your local market. Ask for the quote itemized so you can see which one it is.