Hip replacement cost in the UK: what you pay privately (2026)

A private total hip replacement swaps the worn ball and socket of the hip for an artificial joint, and is usually chosen for pain and stiffness from arthritis that has not been controlled by exercise, walking aids and painkillers.

Some private hospitals post guide prices for common procedures. For hip replacement the entries we found ran from £13,910 to £18,720. Each row below is a published figure from the named provider, and the label shows the exact variant it priced.

Hospitals update these lists, and a guide price is not a quote. Treat the figures as a way to see the scale of the bill, then compare against a written estimate for your own case.

You are assessed before surgery with blood tests and sometimes an ECG, then have the operation under spinal or general anaesthetic. The surgeon removes the damaged joint surfaces and fits the new ball and socket, with or without bone cement depending on implant choice.

Physiotherapists get you up quickly and teach you safe movement. Ask what follow-up is included and for how long, since an early check and physiotherapy are part of the cost that some providers fold into the price and others bill later.

Price differences for hip replacement usually come down to a handful of choices and circumstances, set out here.

• Implant type: cemented, uncemented and ceramic-bearing hips are priced differently, and Ramsay Park Hill lists all three at different figures, with the uncemented implant lowest at that hospital and cemented highest.

• Surgical approach and technology: robotic-assisted surgery is listed above conventional surgery at Nuffield Health hospitals, for example £17,995 against £16,135 at Leeds.

• Length of stay: a two-night stay costs more than day-case discharge, and complications or slow mobilising can extend it.

• Consultant and anaesthetist fees: Spire states these are set independently of the hospital, and can move the final quote above a published guide price.

• Hospital location and costs: published guide prices span £13,910 to £18,506 for standard operations and reach £18,720 with robotic assistance in the lists we retrieved, a gap larger than most implant differences.

The same label can mean different things at different hospitals. Use this table as a checklist when you read an estimate.

Insurers normally cover hip replacement when it is medically necessary, but may apply a fee schedule that leaves some consultant or anaesthetist fees uncovered. Many people self-pay for speed, and some hospitals offer finance.

Policies differ on outpatient and inpatient cover, so the same procedure can be fully, partly or not covered. If you pay yourself, ask what is guaranteed in the price and whether instalment plans carry interest.

NHS hip replacement follows GP and orthopaedic assessment, with the 18-week standard applying to the referral-to-treatment pathway, and local waits for elective orthopaedics differ. The operation is free at the point of use and uses a tried-and-tested implant.

The NHS pathway runs through your GP and a consultant-led service, with an 18-week referral-to-treatment standard for non-urgent care. If a wait looks likely to exceed that, you can ask your commissioner about alternatives.

Most people walk on the day or the day after, use crutches for a short period and return to desk work after several weeks, with driving and heavy work depending on the side and your surgeon. Budget for physiotherapy beyond what is included and for time off if you are self-employed.

Most people have an uneventful experience, but it helps to know how a problem would be handled financially.

• Complications such as infection, dislocation, a fracture around the implant or a blood clot are uncommon, but they can mean a longer stay or further surgery; ask what is covered at no extra charge and for how long.

• A hip replacement can need revision years later; the quote covers the first operation, not future procedures, so ask about implant guarantees and registry outcomes.

To compare like with like, request the same details from every provider. For this procedure the useful questions are below.

• Which implant is in the quoted price, and what would a ceramic or robotic option cost on top?

• How many nights are assumed, and what is the daily rate if I stay longer?

• Are consultant and anaesthetist fees included or estimated?

• What follow-up and physiotherapy are included, and for how long?

• Does the quote itemise the hospital, consultant and anaesthetic charges, and which of them could still change?