cat-back

Exhaust System Replacement Cost in 2026 (Cat-Back, Muffler, Full System)

Exhaust System Replacement Cost in 2026 A full exhaust system replacement costs $1,000 to $3,000+ in 2026 when the catalytic converter is included, while a cat-back system (everything behind the cat) runs $500 to $2,000 and a standalone muffler runs $150 to $600 installed. The catalytic converter is the swing factor: it alone accounts for $550 to $1,900 of the total because it holds platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Consider a full exhaust replacement on a rusted-out 2009 Honda Accord, down-pipe back. The cat-back portion — pipes, resonator, muffler, and tailpipe — ran $720 installed at a New Jersey muffler shop, and the catalytic converter added another $1,080. The all-in total was $1,800, almost exactly the midpoint of the estimated range. Use our Exhaust Repair Cost Calculator(/auto/exhaust-repair-cost-calculator) to price a job by repair scope, vehicle, and pipe material before you call a shop. This guide covers full system replacement — replacing...