Fair Price Report
real repair records, not a labor guide
real repair records, not a labor guide
Ford Explorer — Car A/C Recharge
What owners actually paid for this repair, computed from real, paid Ford Explorer car A/C recharges at independent shops across the US.
$162
typical total — half of all Ford Explorer car A/C recharge jobs cost less, half cost more
Fair range $109 – $262
the middle half of all invoices
(parts + labor + fees)
(parts + labor + fees)
$1091 in 4 paid less
$162typical
$2623 in 4 paid less
| Line item | Low (1 in 4 paid less) | Typical | High (3 in 4 paid less) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parts — Refrigerant and oilRefrigerant to specification, PAG oil, UV dye for leak tracing | $20 | $33 | $54 |
| Labor — 1.2 hrs typicalRange 1 – 1.9 hrs: recover, evacuate, vacuum-hold test, recharge to weight, performance check | $65 | $100 | $156 |
| Shop fees, supplies & taxThe remainder of a typical invoice after parts and labor; varies by state and shop | — | ~$30 | — |
| Total — what owners paid | $109 | $162 | $262 |
Low / typical / high are computed per line, so they don't add up exactly to the totals — the total row is the real distribution of complete invoices.
Is your quote fair?
A quote between $109 and $262 is inside the band where half of all Ford Explorer car A/C recharges landed. Below it is not automatically a bargain (top-off without evacuation, small system, no dye or leak test); above it is not automatically gouging (R-1234yf refrigerant, large or rear-A/C systems, a leak test that found and fixed a small leak on the spot) — but both ends deserve a question.
What moves the price
- Refrigerant type — R-1234yf (most vehicles after about 2017) costs several times more per pound than R-134a.
- System size — trucks and vans with rear A/C hold much more refrigerant.
- Honest caveat — a system that needed a recharge has a leak — a recharge without a leak test buys time, not a fix.
About this data · How to use this report
Vehicle Ford Explorer, model years 1990–2025
Data confidence High — large sample, stable ranges
Records through July 2026, refreshed continuously
Source paid invoices from independent US repair shops
Data confidence High — large sample, stable ranges
Records through July 2026, refreshed continuously
Source paid invoices from independent US repair shops
Bring it to the shop. Ask for the written estimate split into parts, labor hours and rate, and fees — then compare each line. A shop that explains a number above the range is doing its job; one that won't is telling you something too.