DIY Brake Pad Replacement Cost: Parts Prices and What You Save

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Brake pad replacement cost, if you do it yourself, is the price of the pads, about $37 to $86 per axle in our check, plus any tools you do not already own. A shop adds labor on top, usually an hour or more at its posted rate, and often a markup on parts. Here is what each piece costs at AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts, and when doing it yourself stops making sense.

Brake pad prices at both stores

Prices for the D2076 front size (listed for the 2018 Toyota Camry), checked on November 2, 2026. Your car’s fitment and price may differ.

Prices checked on Nov 2, 2026 on each store's public website (store pickup prices for AutoZone at 4915 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast, FL, and Advance Auto Parts at 904 N State St, Bunnell, FL 32110); store prices and availability vary by location. Prices are before tax and exclude any battery core charge or refundable deposit. Always confirm the final price and fit for your vehicle at checkout.

Tools you need, and which you can borrow

• Floor jack and two jack stands (never work under a car on the jack alone)
• Lug wrench and a socket set for the caliper bolts
• C-clamp or caliper piston tool to push the piston back
• Torque wrench for caliper bracket bolts and lug nuts
• Brake cleaner and brake lubricant for the slide pins

Specialty tools like a caliper piston tool or a torque wrench can be borrowed: AutoZone’s Loan-A-Tool lets you keep a tool for up to 90 days and Advance’s loaner tools for up to 45 days, with your deposit refunded on return. Both stores also sold small brake bundles (brake cleaner, brake fluid and lubricant) for $6 to $7 when we checked.

When rotors need replacing too

Measure the rotor thickness against the minimum stamped on the rotor, and look for deep grooves or a pulsing pedal. If the rotors are worn out, replace them in pairs. Both stores were offering free house-brand pads when you buy two house-brand rotors, which can make a pads-and-rotors job cost little more than rotors alone.

What a shop adds

A shop charges labor, typically an hour or so per axle for pads, at its own hourly rate, plus its price for the parts. Rates vary widely by region, so ask for a written quote. To see the difference with your local numbers, use the DIY vs shop cost calculator, which starts from the pad prices above and lets you enter your shop’s rate.

When to let a shop do it

Choose a shop if your car has an electronic parking brake that needs a scan tool to retract, if a caliper is seized or leaking, if the brake fluid is low or contaminated, or if you are not confident torquing bolts to spec. Brakes are a safety system; when in doubt, get help.

Duralast Gold pads at AutoZoneCarquest Platinum at Advance

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to replace brake pads yourself?

The pads cost about $37 to $86 per axle in our November 2, 2026 check, depending on tier and store. Add tools you do not own, or borrow them from a store’s loaner program.

How long does a DIY brake pad job take?

Plan on one to two hours per axle the first time, including jacking the car safely and bedding in the new pads.

Do I need to bleed the brakes after changing pads?

Usually not for a pad-only job, as long as the hydraulic system is not opened. Check the fluid level afterward.

Keep comparing

Sources

1. AutoZone Loan-A-Tool
2. Advance loaner tools
3. AutoZone brake deals
4. Advance brake bundle deal

PartsMatchup Editorial Team

We compare auto parts on published specs, warranty terms and dated store prices, and we link every store policy to its official page. We do not run a lab, so we never claim hands-on tests we did not do. About us · How we compare · Editorial policy