How much are pedicures right now? We checked the posted menus of 18 US nail salons in 11 cities in October 2026 so you can see real numbers. The short version: a plain pedicure usually lands in the high $30s, and upgrades push it past $50.
Below you will find prices for each pedicure type, mani-pedi totals, city-by-city menus, tip amounts in dollars, and the safety checks worth doing before you put your feet in any tub. If you have diabetes, read the podiatrist section before you book.
Quick answer: A basic pedicure costs about $38 at US salons, with posted prices between $30 and $70. A deluxe or spa pedicure runs about $55, and a gel pedicure about $61. Add a basic manicure ($30) and you pay roughly $68 before tip. A 20% tip on a $38 pedicure is about $7.60.
☰ Jump to a section12 sections
- Pedicure Prices by Type
- Manicure and Pedicure Prices Together
- Pedicure Prices in Different Cities
- What Is Included in Each Pedicure
- Add-Ons and Upgrades
- How Much to Tip for a Pedicure
- How Often Should You Get a Pedicure?
- Pedicure Safety: What to Check at the Salon
- Pedicures and Diabetes: When to See a Podiatrist
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Smart Ways to Spend Less on Pedicures
- Sources
Pedicure Prices by Type
These numbers come from salon menus we read directly. “Median” means the middle price, so half the salons charge less and half charge more. When a menu said “starting at,” we used that starting number.
| Pedicure type | Salons with a price | Lowest | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (classic) pedicure | 17 | $30 | $38 | $70 |
| Deluxe or spa pedicure (first upgrade tier) | 14 | $42 | $55 | $95 |
| Gel pedicure | 10 | $40 | $61 | $90 |
The cheapest basic pedicures we found were $30 at two Miami salons. The most expensive was $70 at a Back Bay studio in Boston, where the gel version jumps to $90.
Some neighborhood salons sell many pedicure tiers. Coco Nail Spa in Houston lists pedicures between $32 and $88, and Capital Nailbar in Nashville goes up to $105 for its top tier. So the “deluxe” price in the table is the first step up, not the fanciest option on the menu.
Manicure and Pedicure Prices Together
Very few salons post a mani-pedi bundle. Only one salon in our set did: Nail Box Miami lists a classic manicure plus classic pedicure for $55, and a gel manicure plus gel pedicure for $75. Everywhere else, you pay for two separate services.
So the totals below are the two median prices added together. Treat them as a fair estimate of what two services cost back to back.
| Combination (booked as two services) | Manicure | Pedicure | Total before tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic manicure + basic pedicure | $30 | $38 | $68 |
| Basic manicure + deluxe pedicure | $30 | $55 | $85 |
| Gel manicure + basic pedicure | $50 | $38 | $88 |
| Gel manicure + gel pedicure | $50 | $61 | $111 |
Real salons swing a lot around those totals. A basic pair costs $52 at Lux Nail Spa in Houston ($20 + $32) and $100 at Sundays in New York ($40 + $60). If gel on your fingers is part of the plan, our gel nail price guide breaks down that side of the bill.
Pedicure Prices in Different Cities
Your zip code matters as much as the service. The cleanest proof: the Bellacures chain charges $47 for its basic pedicure in Beverly Hills and $35 at its Dallas Preston Center location. Same brand, same service, $12 apart.
| City | Salon (menu link) | Basic pedicure | Gel pedicure | Deluxe/spa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Bellacures Beverly Hills | $47 | $68 | $63 |
| Los Angeles | Poppy Nails | $50 | $65 | $75 |
| New York | Sundays | $60 | $80 | $80 |
| New York | Manhattan Nails Salon | $37 | $62 | Not listed |
| Boston | Boston’s Nail Lounge | $70 | $90 | $95 |
| Boston | Purity Nail Bar | $38 | Not listed | $52 |
| Boston area | MiniLuxe | $52 and up | Not listed | $68 and up |
| Chicago | 312 Nails Spa (cash) | $40 | Not listed | $55 |
| Dallas | Bellacures Dallas | $35 | $60 | $55 |
| Houston | Coco Nail Spa | $32 | Not listed | $45 |
| Houston | Lux Nail Spa | $32 | Not listed | $42 |
| Miami | Nail Box Miami | $30 | $40 | Not listed |
| Miami (Kendall) | Angel Nail Salon | $30 | $40 | Not listed |
| Denver | The City Nail Bar & Lash | $35 | Not listed | $55 |
| Seattle | Kim Studio Nails | $37 | $50 | $49 |
| West Des Moines | Creative Nail Spa | $42 | $55 | $55 |
| Nashville | Capital Nailbar | $47 | Not listed | $57 |
Two patterns stand out. Boutique studios in Boston, New York and Beverly Hills sit at the top of every column. Neighborhood salons in Houston, Miami and Seattle sit near the bottom.
Watch for payment rules, too. 312 Nails Spa in Chicago posts cash prices, and its card prices are about 3.5% higher. On a $40 pedicure, that is about $1.40 more.
Prices keep climbing. The BLS Consumer Price Index release for August 2026 shows personal care services up 4.2% over 12 months, faster than the 3.4% rise for all items.
What Is Included in Each Pedicure
Menu names vary (“Essential,” “Signature,” “Zesty Feet”), but most salons build their tiers the same way. Each step up keeps everything below it and adds a few extras.
Basic pedicure
- A warm foot soak
- Toenail clipping and shaping
- Cuticle tidy-up
- Light buffing of rough heels and calluses
- A short lotion massage
- Regular polish
Deluxe or spa pedicure
You get the basic steps plus pampering extras. Common ones are a sugar or salt scrub, a mask or wrap, hot towels and a longer massage. The exact list changes by salon, so read the menu line before you pay about $17 more (the gap between the $38 and $55 medians).
Gel pedicure
This is usually the basic service with gel polish in place of regular polish. Each coat hardens under a lamp, so you walk out with dry toes. Not sure how gel differs? Our guide to what a gel manicure is explains the product, and it works the same way on toes.
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Add-Ons and Upgrades
Add-ons are where a $38 visit quietly becomes a $60 one. Here is what the menus we checked charge for common extras.
| Add-on | Posted price | Where we saw it |
|---|---|---|
| Gel polish added to a pedicure | $20 | Coco Nail Spa, Houston |
| Gel polish removal | $8 to $21 (median $15) | 14 salons |
| French tips | $10 to $25 (median $10) | 12 salons |
| Nail art, per nail | $3 to $10 (median $5) | 5 salons that price per nail |
| Extra massage | $2 per minute | Bellacures Beverly Hills |
| Polish change, toes only | $35 | Sundays, New York |
Removal is the add-on people forget. If you had a gel pedicure last time, the old gel has to come off first, and many salons charge for that. You can also take it off at home with our steps for getting gel polish off.
Picking a shade on the spot can feel rushed. Choose ahead with our nail color guide and you avoid paying for a redo.
How Much to Tip for a Pedicure
The Emily Post Institute tipping guide lists 15% to 20% for manicurists. Use the same rate for your pedicurist. Here is what that looks like in dollars.
| Service (median price) | Price | 15% tip | 20% tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic pedicure | $38 | $5.70 | $7.60 |
| Deluxe/spa pedicure | $55 | $8.25 | $11.00 |
| Gel pedicure | $61 | $9.15 | $12.20 |
| Basic manicure + basic pedicure | $68 | $10.20 | $13.60 |
| Gel manicure + gel pedicure | $111 | $16.65 | $22.20 |
Most people round up. On a basic pedicure, $6 to $8 is a fair tip. If two people worked on you at once, split the tip between them.
How Often Should You Get a Pedicure?
Toenails grow slowly, so polish on your toes outlasts polish on your fingers. Many people book a pedicure every 4 to 6 weeks, and more often in sandal season.
Do the math before you commit. A $38 basic pedicure every 4 weeks costs about $494 a year (13 visits). Every 6 weeks drops that to about $342 (9 visits). Add a 20% tip and those totals rise to about $593 and $410.
Between visits, keep your feet in good shape at home. Moisturize your heels at night and file sharp toenail edges with an emery board. That way each salon visit needs less work.
Pedicure Safety: What to Check at the Salon
A cheap pedicure is no deal if you leave with an infection. Foot tubs can carry germs. In a study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CDC), “Mycobacteria in Nail Salon Whirlpool Footbaths, California”, researchers swabbed 30 footbaths in 18 California salons and found mycobacteria in 29 of them. That work followed a 2000 outbreak of skin boils among people who used one salon’s footbaths.
The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology’s Whirlpool Footspa Safety fact sheet gives clear steps. Here is how to use them:
- Do not shave or wax your legs for 24 hours before your appointment.
- Skip the pedicure if you have cuts, scrapes or sores on your feet or lower legs.
- Look for a current salon license posted near the front desk.
- Ask how the foot spa is cleaned. California requires cleaning after every client, and you can ask to see the cleaning log.
- Watch the tools. Only clean, disinfected instruments should touch your feet.
- Leave if something feels off. You do not owe anyone a pedicure.
If a sore, boil or red bump shows up on your legs after a visit, see a doctor and tell them you used a whirlpool foot spa. Already have discolored or thick toenails? Run them through our nail health checker before you book.
Kids pedicures
Many salons offer a kids pedicure, often bundled with a kids manicure. None of the menus in our price set listed a standalone kids pedicure price, so call the salon and ask. The same safety rules apply: no open cuts, a clean tub, and gentle cuticle care with no cutting.
Pedicures and Diabetes: When to See a Podiatrist
Diabetes changes the math on pedicures. The CDC page on diabetes and your feet says about half of people with diabetes have some nerve damage, most often in the feet and legs. You may not feel a nick from a file or water that is too hot.
Here is what federal health agencies advise:
- Do not soak your feet. Both the CDC and NIDDK’s guide to diabetes and foot problems say this. NIDDK notes that soaking can dry out your skin. Ask the salon to skip the tub.
- Bring your own nail tools to lower your risk of infection, as NIDDK recommends.
- Never let anyone cut corns or calluses. NIDDK warns that these can turn into ulcers when you have nerve damage.
- Let a foot doctor trim your nails if you cannot see, feel or reach your feet, or if your nails are thick, yellow or curving into the skin.
- Get a full foot exam once a year from a foot doctor, per the CDC.
The California footspa fact sheet adds one more step: if your immune system is weak, as with diabetes, talk to your doctor before a salon pedicure.
Medical pedicure vs salon pedicure
A medical pedicure is done in a podiatry office, not a nail salon. A podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) who treats feet and ankles, including ingrown toenails, corns, calluses and diabetes-related foot problems, according to Cleveland Clinic’s podiatrist guide.
Because it is a medical visit, it is priced like one. You will not find it on a salon menu, and the cost depends on the office and your health plan. Call the podiatry office, ask what the visit costs, and ask whether your insurance covers any of it. A salon pedicure is for looks and comfort. A medical pedicure is for treating a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are pedicures at a regular nail salon?
A basic pedicure costs about $38 at the salons we checked. Neighborhood salons in Houston and Miami charge $30 to $32. Boutique studios in Boston and New York charge $60 to $70.
Is a gel pedicure worth the extra money?
A gel pedicure costs about $23 more than a basic one ($61 vs $38). You leave with dry toes and a harder finish. Remember the removal fee next time, which runs about $15 at many salons.
How much is a mani-pedi?
Booked as two services, a basic manicure and basic pedicure add up to about $68 before tip. Gel on both runs about $111. Only one salon we checked posted a combo price: $55 at Nail Box Miami.
How much should I tip on a $40 pedicure?
At 15% to 20%, you would tip $6 to $8. Round up if your pedicurist did extra work on rough heels.
Can I get a pedicure if I have diabetes?
Talk with your doctor first. Health agencies advise against soaking your feet and against cutting corns or calluses. Many people with diabetes have a podiatrist handle nail care instead.
Why do pedicure prices differ so much between salons?
Location, rent and salon style drive most of the gap. The same chain charges $47 in Beverly Hills and $35 in Dallas for its basic pedicure. Boutique studios also tend to price every service higher.
Smart Ways to Spend Less on Pedicures
Budget about $38 for a basic pedicure, $55 for a spa version and $61 for gel, plus a 15% to 20% tip. Read the menu line before you upgrade, since some “deluxe” extras are just a scrub and a few more minutes of massage. Ask about cash pricing, and skip add-ons you will not notice a week later.
Planning a full salon budget? Compare our Gel-X vs acrylic cost breakdown and our guide to acrylic fill prices. And whatever you pay, check the foot tub before you sit down.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index, August 2026 (released September 11, 2026)
- Emily Post Institute: Tipping Etiquette 101, A Comprehensive Guide on Tipping
- Vugia et al., Mycobacteria in Nail Salon Whirlpool Footbaths, California, Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2005
- California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology: Whirlpool Footspa Safety
- CDC: Your Feet and Diabetes
- NIDDK: Diabetes and Foot Problems
- Cleveland Clinic: What Is a Podiatrist?
- Salon menus (posted prices as of October 12, 2026): Bellacures Beverly Hills, Bellacures Dallas Preston Center, Poppy Nails, Sundays NYC Studio Menu, Manhattan Nails Salon Price List, Boston’s Nail Lounge, Purity Nail Bar, MiniLuxe Services, 312 Nails Spa Price List, Coco Nail Spa, Lux Nail Spa, Nail Box Miami, Angel Nail Salon, The City Nail Bar & Lash, Kim Studio Nails, Creative Nail Spa, Capital Nailbar
