How Much Does a Dental Crown Cost? 2026 U.S. Prices With and Without Insurance

How much a dental crown costs, by material

A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers a weak, broken or decayed tooth. The material is the biggest price factor. Synchrony's 2024 cost study, run in all 50 states and D.C., gives these national averages (CareCredit):

• Porcelain: $1,399 on average (from $915 to $3,254).
• Porcelain fused to metal (non-gold): $1,114 (from $770 to $2,454).
• Metal: $1,211 (from $821 to $2,861).
• Resin or temporary: $697 (from $488 to $1,593).

Delta Dental's claims data point the same way: a permanent crown from a dentist outside its network costs $1,100 to $2,000 on average (Delta Dental). Tooth-colored materials such as porcelain, ceramic and resin are often used for teeth that show. Where the tooth sits matters too, especially if it takes a lot of chewing pressure, and crowns can also be made of gold or other metals (CareCredit).

Zirconia is not listed separately in either data set, so we do not give a national zirconia price here. Ask your dentist to quote it next to porcelain, and see our guide to zirconia crowns.

What the price includes

A crown price generally covers the temporary crown, the permanent crown, numbing, the dental lab and the dentist's time (Delta Dental). Synchrony's averages do not include the first office visit, an extraction or fees after the procedure (CareCredit).

A traditional crown usually takes two visits: one to shape the tooth and take an impression, and a second about two weeks later to fit the permanent crown. Some dentists mill same-day crowns in the office, in a single visit (Delta Dental).

Crown after a root canal

A root canal and a crown are billed separately. Delta Dental's out-of-network averages for a root canal are about $1,200 for a front tooth, $1,300 for a premolar and $1,500 for a molar, and they do not include the final restoration; a crown is frequently the preferred one (Delta Dental). At these averages, a molar that needs both comes to about $2,900 before insurance.

Crown cost by state

The table above gives Synchrony's average price of a porcelain crown in every state. The most expensive are California ($2,331), Hawaii ($2,296), Washington, D.C. ($1,921) and Maryland ($1,753). The cheapest are Alabama ($1,046), South Dakota ($1,051) and Arkansas ($1,109). Texas averages $1,250, Florida $1,372 and New York $1,425 (CareCredit).

How much is a crown with insurance?

Many dental plans help pay for crowns, but some do not (Delta Dental). Most plans follow a 100-80-50 pattern: 100% of cleanings and exams, 80% of basic work such as fillings and root canals, and 50% of major work such as crowns, bridges and implants (Delta Dental). For example, if your plan pays half of a $1,399 porcelain crown, your share would be about $700. Seeing an in-network dentist can lower your cost further (Delta Dental).

Three things can raise what you pay:

• Annual maximum. Plans stop paying after a yearly limit, usually $1,000 to $2,000. Several crowns in one year can use it up (Delta Dental).
• Waiting period. A 12-month wait is often standard for major services such as crowns on a new plan (Delta Dental).
• Cosmetic reasons. If the crown is only to cover a discolored tooth, insurance may not apply (CareCredit).

Ask your dentist for a pre-treatment estimate to see your exact share (Delta Dental).

Medicare and Medicaid

Original Medicare does not cover most dental care (Medicare.gov), and Delta Dental notes that Medicare and Medicaid do not cover crowns, though some Medicare Advantage plans may (Delta Dental).

HSA, FSA and financing

The IRS counts treatment of dental disease, such as fillings and other repairs, as a medical expense, but not teeth whitening (IRS Publication 502). A crown that restores a damaged tooth can generally be paid from an HSA, FSA or HRA; a purely cosmetic crown may not qualify, so check with your plan (Delta Dental). A medical credit card such as CareCredit is another option (CareCredit).

What changes if you get crowns abroad

The table above shows what clinics listed on xcuro quote for crowns abroad. Before you book, plan for:

• Trip length. A traditional crown needs a second visit about two weeks after the first (Delta Dental). Ask whether the clinic makes crowns in its own lab or mills them on site, and how many days you need to stay.
• Follow-up at home. A crown can last about 10 years with good care (CareCredit). If it chips or comes loose, a local dentist will have to see it, so ask for the material and lab details in writing. Care for problems back home can be costly and may not be covered (CDC).
• Records. Take your X-rays and treatment notes with you when you leave (CDC).

See our dental crowns in Mexico guide, is dental work in Mexico safe?, and veneers vs. crowns if the work is mainly cosmetic. For a crown on an implant, see our dental implant cost guide.

How to compare crown quotes

1. Ask which material the crown is (porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, metal, zirconia) and compare like with like.
2. Ask whether the price includes the temporary crown, X-rays and the lab fee.
3. Ask whether you also need a root canal or a buildup first, and what that costs.
4. Get a pre-treatment estimate from your dental plan and check your annual maximum.
5. Ask what happens if the crown breaks or falls off in the first years.