How Much Do Headers Cost for a Car?

Expect to pay roughly $150–$2,500 for the headers themselves and about $200–$1,500 for installation, putting the typical total between $500 and $3,500 in the U.S., as of 2025. Prices vary widely by vehicle, material, design (shorty vs. long-tube), whether catalytic converters are included, and local labor rates; emissions-legal, coated stainless long-tubes for V8s sit at the higher end.

What Headers Are—and Why Their Price Varies

Exhaust headers replace a factory exhaust manifold to reduce backpressure and improve scavenging. They can boost power, alter sound, and change under-hood heat characteristics. Costs differ based on engineering complexity, materials (mild steel to premium stainless or specialty alloys), emissions equipment, and the labor difficulty of accessing and fitting them in tightly packaged engine bays.

Typical Price Ranges (Parts Only)

The following ranges reflect common retail pricing across mainstream vehicles and popular aftermarket brands. Materials, build quality, and inclusion of catalytic converters are the biggest price drivers.

• Budget mild-steel shorty headers: $150–$350
• Midrange stainless shorty headers: $300–$700
• Long-tube stainless headers (catless): $600–$1,500
• Premium/equal-length or ceramic-coated stainless: $900–$2,000
• Catted long-tube systems (with high-flow catalytic converters): $1,200–$2,500
• Turbo manifolds/headers for turbo vehicles: $400–$1,800 (vehicle-specific designs cost more)
• Specialty alloys (Inconel/titanium, motorsport-grade): $2,000+ (rare in street use)

Shorty headers are generally cheaper and easier to fit, while long-tubes deliver larger gains but cost more and often require additional exhaust components or tuning.

Installation Costs and What’s Included

Labor depends on engine layout, access, and corrosion. Shops typically quote flat-rate hours; urban and dealership rates skew higher. Extra parts like gaskets and O2 extensions add modest cost, and tunes may be required for optimal performance or to prevent warning lights.

• FWD 4-cyl (shorty): 2–5 labor hours, ~$200–$600
• RWD V8 long-tube: 5–12 labor hours, ~$500–$1,500
• AWD/turbo platforms (packaging complexity): 4–10 labor hours, ~$400–$1,200
• Ancillary parts: gaskets/hardware $20–$80; O2 extensions $20–$60; heat wrap or blankets $30–$150
• Tuning (if required/desired): $300–$800 for a quality dyno or remote tune
• Rust mitigation or broken studs: add $50–$300+ depending on complications

If your vehicle is older or from a rust-prone region, budget extra time for seized hardware. Some long-tube installations also require modifying or replacing mid-pipes.

Real-World Examples (2025)

These ballpark figures illustrate common setups and totals; exact pricing hinges on brand, vehicle year, emissions compliance, and local labor rates.

• Honda Civic/Corolla (shorty header): parts $200–$600; labor $200–$500; total $400–$1,100
• Ford Mustang GT (catted long-tubes): parts $1,200–$2,000; labor $600–$1,200; tune $300–$600; total $2,100–$3,800
• Chevy Camaro SS (long-tubes, often with mid-pipe): parts $1,000–$1,800; labor $600–$1,200; tune $300–$600; total $1,900–$3,600
• Subaru WRX (unequal/equal-length header): parts $450–$1,200; labor $300–$700; tune often recommended; total $1,050–$2,400
• Jeep Wrangler 3.8/3.6 (crack-prone manifolds replaced with headers): parts $400–$1,000; labor $400–$800; total $800–$1,800
• Half-ton truck V8 (catted long-tubes): parts $1,200–$2,200; labor $600–$1,200; tune $300–$600; total $2,100–$4,000

Performance-oriented V8s with long-tubes and high-flow cats tend to have the highest totals, while compact cars using shorty headers stay near the low to mid-range.

Key Factors Affecting Price

Several technical and regulatory elements determine how much you’ll pay for headers and the overall job.

• Material: mild steel (cheaper, may rust) vs. 304/409 stainless (more durable) vs. premium alloys (race-grade)
• Design: shorty vs. long-tube; equal-length primaries improve scavenging but cost more
• Vehicle-specific fitment: tight engine bays or AWD layouts add complexity and cost
• Emissions compliance: CARB EO-certified, 50-state-legal systems command a premium
• Coatings: ceramic coatings reduce heat; add ~$150–$400 depending on coverage
• Inclusion of catalytic converters: high-flow, EPA/CARB-compliant cats significantly raise price
• Brand reputation and warranty: established brands often price higher but offer better fit/support
• Supply chain and demand: popular platforms can have both competitive pricing and occasional markups

Balancing material, design, and legal compliance against your budget and goals is the fastest way to narrow the price range.

Legal and Emissions Considerations (U.S.)

For 1996+ OBD-II vehicles, any modification affecting emissions equipment is regulated. Removing or relocating catalytic converters can violate federal law; many states conduct visual inspections and OBD checks. In California and states adopting similar standards, headers generally need a CARB Executive Order (EO) number to be sold and used on public roads. Catted systems with EO certification cost more but help avoid inspection failures and fines. Track-only “catless” setups are typically illegal on public roads.

Performance and Value Expectations

Gains vary: shorty headers often add about 3–10 horsepower on naturally aspirated engines, while long-tube systems on V8s can add 10–30+ horsepower, especially with supporting mods and tuning. Expect crisper throttle response and a louder, deeper exhaust note. Trade-offs can include more cabin drone, potential ground-clearance issues with long-tubes, additional under-hood heat, and the need for periodic hardware retorquing after heat cycles.

Buying and Budgeting Tips

These steps can help you choose the right headers and avoid surprise costs.

1. Define your goal: sound, modest gains (shorty) vs. maximum power (long-tube)
2. Check emissions rules first: seek CARB EO if you need 50-state legality
3. Set a total budget: include parts, install, possible tune, and incidentals
4. Research fitment: read platform-specific forums and shop reviews for install difficulty
5. Consider coatings or heat management to protect nearby components
6. Buy quality gaskets/hardware and plan a post-install retorque after heat cycling
7. Get two to three shop quotes, clarifying hours, included parts, and warranty
8. Plan for a tune if using long-tubes or making other airflow/fuel changes

Doing homework upfront minimizes rework and maximizes performance per dollar, especially on complex or tightly packaged vehicles.

Bottom Line

Headers can cost as little as $150 for basic shorty units and more than $2,000 for premium, emissions-legal long-tubes, with installed totals commonly landing between $500 and $3,500. Your exact number hinges on design, materials, legal requirements, and labor complexity—so verify emissions compliance, compare reputable brands, and budget for tuning where applicable.

Summary

Most drivers will spend $500–$1,800 installed for shorty headers and $1,800–$4,000 for premium long-tubes with high-flow cats and a tune. Factor in material, emissions legality, and installation difficulty to pinpoint your true cost and value.

What size headers for 500 hp?

1 3/4 to 2 inches
However, for a street car, Don recommends the following guidelines: 200-325 horsepower look for 1 1/2-inch primaries, 275-425 horsepower use 1 3/4-inches, 400-500 horsepower opt for 1 3/4 to 2 inches, and 500+ horsepower look for 2 inches or greater. Keep in mind, smaller pipes mean more low-to-mid-range torque.

How much HP will headers add?

Headers typically add 10 to 30 horsepower, though the exact gain varies based on the engine, type of headers, other modifications, and vehicle tuning. Long-tube headers generally offer more significant power gains than shorty headers by reducing exhaust restriction more effectively. For maximum benefit, headers should be combined with supporting modifications like a cold air intake or camshaft upgrade and should be followed by an engine tune to match the new exhaust system. 
Factors influencing horsepower gains:

• Header Type: Long-tube headers improve exhaust flow more than shorty headers, leading to greater power gains, particularly at higher RPMs. 
• Engine Type and Setup: Larger engines or those already tuned for performance will see more substantial gains. 
• Supporting Modifications: When combined with other parts like a cold air intake or a more aggressive camshaft, headers can provide much larger horsepower increases. 
• Engine Tuning: An engine tune (ECU remapping) is crucial to optimize performance with new headers, fully unlocking their potential and ensuring the engine runs efficiently. 

Expected gains by header type:

• Long-tube headers: Opens in new tabCan provide gains of 15 to 30 horsepower, sometimes even more, especially when supported by tuning and other mods. 
• Shorty headers: Opens in new tabOffer more modest gains, around 10 to 15 horsepower, and provide benefits in low-end torque and throttle response rather than large peak power increases. 

What to expect beyond peak horsepower:
Headers provide other benefits, such as improving the engine’s volumetric efficiency by allowing it to “work less hard” to expel exhaust gases. This leads to increased torque, better throttle response, and a more aggressive exhaust note.

Can you add headers to any car?

Exhaust Headers are designed to fit a specific combination of engine and vehicle. Just because a set of headers fit a similar vehicle with the same engine, doesn’t mean it will fit your car. The Header Flange must match the cylinder head bolt pattern. It also must accomodate the exhaust port size, shape, and location.

Are headers worth putting on?

Headers can benefit many components within your vehicle and help prolong their life to ensure you can enjoy your car for as long as possible. You can also see different performance boosts from each header type, so you can get the enhancements you want easily.