Total knee replacement: cost and price ranges
Total knee replacement. Total knee replacement (commonly DRG 470 without complications, CPT 27447) is a high-cost elective surgery, which makes price comparison especially valuable. The bundled facility charge covers the operating room, implant and stay, but surgeon and anesthesia fees are usually separate.
Source: FAIR Health (Cost of Giving Birth tracker & FH Consumer), Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, Sidecar Health cost guides, CMS/Medicare Procedure Price Lookup, and published hospital cash-price analyses. Data as of 2026-06-13.
What it is
An orthopedic surgeon removes damaged knee cartilage and bone and implants an artificial joint. It typically involves an operating-room procedure and a short inpatient or outpatient surgical stay, followed by physical therapy.
Why it is shoppable
It is elective and planned weeks or months ahead, so patients can request itemized estimates and bundled prices from competing facilities.
Estimated price ranges by metro
Price type: Typical published price estimate (facility/procedure cash price for imaging & outpatient; all-in total cost for inpatient), USD. Figures are estimates compiled from published price-transparency sources (see the notice above), not per-hospital quotes.
| Metro | Lower-cost est. | Typical est. | Higher-cost est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $16,000 | $28,000 | $49,000 |
| Houston, TX | $14,000 | $24,000 | $44,000 |
| Denver, CO | $14,000 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
Source: FAIR Health (Cost of Giving Birth tracker & FH Consumer), Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, Sidecar Health cost guides, CMS/Medicare Procedure Price Lookup, and published hospital cash-price analyses. Data as of 2026-06-13. See full per-metro detail:
- Knee replacement prices in New York, NY
- Knee replacement prices in Houston, TX
- Knee replacement prices in Denver, CO
What drives the cost
- The implant device itself, a significant share of the cost.
- Inpatient vs. outpatient/ambulatory setting (increasingly done same-day).
- Surgeon and anesthesia professional fees, usually billed separately.
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy after surgery.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is there a bundled (“package”) price covering the facility, implant and surgeon?
- Can this be done as an outpatient/same-day surgery to lower the cost?
- What is the estimated cost of post-surgery physical therapy?
Frequently asked questions
What is a knee replacement and why do prices vary so much?
An orthopedic surgeon removes damaged knee cartilage and bone and implants an artificial joint. It typically involves an operating-room procedure and a short inpatient or outpatient surgical stay, followed by physical therapy. It is elective and planned weeks or months ahead, so patients can request itemized estimates and bundled prices from competing facilities. Prices vary because each hospital sets its own charges and negotiates different rates with each insurer.
Is a knee replacement a shoppable procedure?
It is elective and planned weeks or months ahead, so patients can request itemized estimates and bundled prices from competing facilities.
How can I lower the cost of a knee replacement?
Compare several facilities, ask for the all-in self-pay (cash) price, and confirm which professional fees (such as anesthesia or the physician read) are billed separately. Is there a bundled (“package”) price covering the facility, implant and surgeon?
Medical and billing disclaimer
This explainer is general information, not medical, billing or financial advice. Procedure
coding (such as the CPT/DRG hints shown, e.g. MS-DRG 470 / CPT 27447) is simplified;
your actual bill depends on your clinician, insurer and clinical circumstances. See our full
disclaimer.
Related procedures
Browse prices by city · All procedure-by-metro pages
Last updated: 2026-06-13