Hip Replacement Private Cost Calculator

A private total hip replacement in the UK typically costs between £12,000 and £17,000 as a self-pay fixed-price package. These are estimates – the final bill depends on the hospital group, your region, the surgeon, the implant chosen and which extras (consultation, imaging, physiotherapy) sit outside the package. Use the calculator below to build a realistic total for your situation before you request written quotes.

How much does a private hip replacement cost in the UK?

For a standard total hip replacement (total hip arthroplasty), most UK private hospitals quote a self-pay fixed-price package of roughly £12,000 to £17,000. Independent regional hospitals often sit at the lower end, national hospital groups in the middle, and central London or flagship city units at the top. A handful of providers advertise packages a little below £12,000, and complex cases – revision surgery, unusual anatomy, premium implants – can exceed £17,000. Because every provider prices differently, treat all of these as estimates: prices vary by clinic and provider, and the only number that matters is the written quote you receive after a consultant has assessed you.

Four things drive most of the variation:

• Location. The same operation is frequently £2,000–£4,000 more expensive in central London than at a regional hospital, reflecting property and staffing costs rather than clinical quality.
• Surgeon and anaesthetist fees. Some packages bundle these; others let each consultant set their own fee, which changes the total.
• The implant. Standard cemented or uncemented implants are included in most package prices, but premium bearings or custom components can add to the bill.
• Length of stay. Packages usually assume one to three nights. Enhanced-recovery pathways discharging you sooner do not normally reduce the price, but a longer medically-necessary stay is usually covered by the fixed-price promise – check the terms.

What a fixed-price package usually includes – and excludes

“Fixed price” or “package price” means the hospital commits to one bill for a defined episode of care. A typical inclusion list covers:

• Surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees for the operation itself
• The hip implant (prosthesis) and theatre consumables
• Theatre time, nursing care and your hospital room, usually for one to three nights
• Medication, dressings and physiotherapy while you are an inpatient
• One or more routine follow-up appointments and often a defined aftercare window (commonly 30–90 days) for complications directly related to the surgery

Commonly excluded – and the reason two quotes for “the same operation” can differ by hundreds of pounds:

• The initial consultation (typically £150–£300) and any diagnostic appointments before you are accepted for surgery
• Pre-operative imaging – X-rays (roughly £80–£200) or an MRI scan (roughly £250–£500) if your existing NHS images are not recent enough
• Outpatient physiotherapy after discharge beyond any bundled sessions – private physio typically costs £45–£75 per session and a post-hip course of four to eight sessions is common
• Take-home equipment such as raised toilet seats, grabbers or crutch replacements
• Treatment of unrelated conditions discovered during pre-assessment, and personal costs such as travel or a companion’s accommodation

Always ask the hospital for the inclusion and exclusion list in writing, and ask specifically what happens financially if you need to stay longer, be readmitted, or return to theatre.

Worked example

Margaret, 68, has osteoarthritis and chooses a typical UK private hospital quoting a £12,000–£15,000 fixed-price package for a total hip replacement. Her initial consultation is billed separately at about £200, and the consultant asks for a fresh X-ray at around £120. After discharge she books four private physiotherapy sessions at roughly £55 each (≈£220). Her realistic all-in total is therefore about £12,540 to £15,720 – the calculator above shows the same build-up. Had she used private medical insurance instead, with a £250 excess and full pre-authorisation, her out-of-pocket cost would have been approximately £250 plus any physio sessions beyond her policy’s limit.

NHS or private? The waiting-list trade-off

Hip replacement is one of the most common NHS operations and is free at the point of use if surgery is clinically appropriate for you. The trade-off is time: orthopaedic waiting lists remain among the longest in the NHS, and many patients wait well beyond the 18-week referral-to-treatment standard, with waits varying widely between trusts. You can look up the current average wait at your local hospital on the NHS My Planned Care site before deciding whether paying privately is worth it for you.

Three practical points people often miss:

• You can mix routes. A private initial consultation (£150–£300) can speed up diagnosis, after which you may join an NHS list – or vice versa. Under NHS Right to Choose, your GP can also refer you to any provider holding an NHS contract, including some private hospitals, at no cost to you.
• Self-funding does not remove NHS rights. If something goes wrong after private surgery you are still entitled to NHS emergency care.
• Surgery is a clinical decision. Whether and when a hip replacement is right for you depends on symptoms, imaging and your overall health – the NHS hip replacement guide explains the procedure and recovery, and you should always be guided by a qualified clinician rather than price alone.

Self-pay vs private medical insurance

If you already hold private medical insurance (PMI), an insured hip replacement usually costs you only your policy excess (commonly £100–£500): the insurer authorises treatment and settles the hospital directly. Watch for three catches – pre-existing condition exclusions (a hip problem you had before the policy started is normally not covered), consultant fee limits (if your chosen surgeon charges above the insurer’s schedule you pay the shortfall), and outpatient limits that may cap physiotherapy sessions. Taking out a new policy now to fund an operation you already need will not work, because the arthritis would be pre-existing.

For self-payers, most large hospital groups offer instalment finance through third-party lenders, subject to credit checks; interest may apply, so compare the total cost of credit against savings. Some people also use our private medical insurance calculator and health insurance calculator to weigh up whether ongoing cover makes sense for future needs, and our private hospital cost calculator for other procedures.

Five mistakes to avoid when pricing a hip replacement

• Comparing headline prices, not inclusion lists. A £12,500 quote excluding consultation, imaging and physio can cost more than a £13,200 all-inclusive one.
• Ignoring the aftercare window. Ask how long the fixed-price promise covers complications and readmission – 30, 60 and 90-day terms are all common.
• Forgetting rehabilitation. Recovery quality depends heavily on physiotherapy; budget £200–£500 for a post-discharge course if it is not bundled.
• Not asking about BMI and health thresholds. Some providers ask patients to reach a target BMI or manage conditions like diabetes before operating – check requirements early (our BMI calculator gives you the number to discuss).
• Booking the first quote. Prices for the identical operation genuinely differ by thousands of pounds between hospitals within travelling distance – get two or three written quotes.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private hip replacement cost in the UK?

Most self-pay total hip replacements at UK private hospitals are quoted at roughly £12,000 to £17,000 as a fixed-price package. Prices vary by hospital group, region, surgeon and the implant used, so treat any figure as an estimate until you have a written quote.

What does a fixed-price hip replacement package include?

A typical package covers the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees, the implant, theatre time, nursing care, a one-to-three night hospital stay, medication while admitted and routine post-operative follow-up. Inclusion lists differ between hospitals, so always check the written quote.

What is usually not included in the quoted price?

The initial consultation, pre-operative imaging such as X-rays or MRI, extended physiotherapy courses, take-home equipment and treatment of unrelated conditions are commonly billed separately. Care needed after the package’s aftercare window may also cost extra.

Can I have a hip replacement on the NHS instead?

Yes. Hip replacement is routinely provided by the NHS free at the point of use if you meet the clinical criteria. The trade-off is waiting time, which varies significantly between trusts – the NHS My Planned Care site publishes average waits for your local hospital.

Will private medical insurance pay for a hip replacement?

Usually yes, provided the hip problem is not a pre-existing or excluded condition and your policy covers orthopaedic surgery. The insurer normally settles the hospital bill directly and you pay only your policy excess plus anything outside the authorised treatment.

Can I spread the cost of private hip surgery?

Most large private hospital groups offer instalment or finance plans, usually through a third-party lender and subject to a credit check. Interest may apply, so compare the total cost of credit against paying up front or using savings.

Does my weight affect whether I can have surgery?

Some surgeons and hospitals ask patients to reach a BMI below a set threshold before joint replacement because higher BMI can raise anaesthetic and healing risks. Thresholds differ by provider, so discuss your individual situation with the consultant.

Sources: procedure and recovery information from NHS – Hip replacement; NHS waiting times by hospital from NHS My Planned Care. Price ranges are editorial estimates compiled from published UK private hospital self-pay guide prices in 2026 – prices vary by clinic and provider. This page is general information, not medical or financial advice; consult a qualified professional.