Knee Replacement Surgery Cost - Complete 2026 Price Guide

Updated September 24, 2026. Medicare figures are 2026 national averages from Medicare.gov, and the cash price example comes from the facility's own website, both checked on that date.

More than 700,000 total knee replacements are performed in the U.S. each year, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). The procedure replaces the damaged surfaces of the knee with metal components on the thigh bone and shin bone, a medical-grade plastic spacer between them, and often a plastic button on the kneecap.

Setting comparison: Medicare's national averages

Medicare's Procedure Price Lookup lists national averages for CPT 27447, total knee arthroplasty, in 2026. These are Medicare payment rates, not cash prices, but they show how much the setting changes the cost.

Cost component (CPT 27447, 2026 national average)	Ambulatory surgical center	Hospital outpatient department
Facility fee	$9,393	$13,116
Doctor fee	$1,159	$1,159
Total	$10,552	$14,275
Medicare pays	$8,441	$12,307
Patient pays (Medicare coinsurance)	$2,109	$1,967

In a hospital outpatient department, Original Medicare caps the copayment for a single procedure at $1,676 in 2026, and Medicare notes the cap likely applies to this procedure. Medicare also notes you may need more than one doctor, so anesthesia can add to these totals.

A published cash price example

Some surgical centers post all-inclusive self-pay prices. On September 24, 2026, the Surgery Center of Oklahoma listed Total Knee Arthroplasty at $17,679. The center says its quoted price is the complete price unless an exception is noted, and it asks patients traveling from outside the area to check eligibility requirements first. It lists a BMI limit of 50. We cite it as an example of a published price, not a recommendation.

What a complete knee replacement quote should include

• Surgeon fee
• Anesthesia
• Facility or operating room fee
• The implant itself
• Recovery room care, and any overnight stay
• Follow-up visits, and whether physical therapy is included or separate

How to choose where to have a knee replacement

1. Ask your surgeon which settings are safe for you. AAOS notes that same-day surgery is an option to discuss with your surgeon; others stay overnight or longer. Your health history decides this, not price.
2. Compare at least one surgical center with one hospital. Medicare's averages above show a gap of several thousand dollars in the facility fee alone.
3. Ask for a bundled price in writing that lists every item above, and ask what happens to the price if there is a complication or an extra night.
4. Request a Good Faith Estimate. Uninsured and self-pay patients who schedule at least 3 business days ahead are entitled to one, including facility fees. A bill at least $400 above it can be disputed within 120 days.
5. Check your own coverage first if insured. Compare your deductible and coinsurance against the cash price before you decide how to pay.
6. Weigh travel carefully. The CDC warns that surgery and air travel each raise the risk of blood clots, that infections are the most common complication for medical tourists, and that follow-up care can be harder to arrange after surgery abroad.

You can compare local prices on our knee replacement cost page and hip replacement cost page.

Sources

• Medicare.gov, Procedure Price Lookup, CPT 27447. 2026 national averages. Checked September 24, 2026.
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo, Total Knee Replacement. Checked September 24, 2026.
• Surgery Center of Oklahoma, Surgery Prices. Checked September 24, 2026.
• CMS, Good Faith Estimate guide and Dispute a medical bill. Checked September 24, 2026.
• CDC Yellow Book, Medical Tourism. Checked September 24, 2026.