How Much Is a Crown? NHS vs Private UK Costs
A crown is £326.70 on the NHS (Band 3) but £500–£1,200 privately. Here's the difference, the material options, and how to save on a crown.
NearbyDentist Editorial
Independent UK dental-access guide
How much does a dental crown cost on the NHS and privately in the UK?
On the NHS in England, a crown falls under Band 3 and costs a flat £326.70 in 2026 — and that single charge covers the whole course of treatment, so if you need a crown plus other work it is all included in the £326.70. Privately, a single crown typically costs £500 to £1,200, depending on the material (metal, porcelain-bonded or all-ceramic) and the clinic. Crowns are free on the NHS if you qualify for exemption — for example under-18s, pregnant women and new mothers, or people on qualifying low-income benefits. The NHS option is far cheaper, but availability is the catch, as many people cannot find an NHS dentist taking patients. Abroad, crowns can cost as little as £150–£300, which is why patients needing several often consider treatment in countries like Turkey. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own charges.
What a crown is and why you might need one
A dental crown is a cap that covers a damaged, heavily filled, root-treated or broken tooth to restore its shape and strength. Crowns can be made from metal, porcelain bonded to metal, or full ceramic for the most natural appearance. The material affects both the look and the private price.
NHS crown cost: Band 3
On the NHS in England, crowns sit in Band 3, the highest band, costing a flat £326.70. The key point is that this is one charge for the whole course of treatment — if you also need a filling or a check-up at the same time, it is all rolled into that single £326.70. Our NHS dental charges guide explains how the bands fit together.
Private crown cost
Paying privately, expect roughly:
- Metal/porcelain-bonded crown: around £500–£800
- All-ceramic crown: around £700–£1,200
Private fees buy more choice of material, lab and appointment timing. See our private dentist cost guide for where crowns sit among other treatments, and our NHS vs private comparison for the headline difference.
When is a crown free?
Band 3 crowns are completely free on the NHS if you are exempt, including:
- Under 18, or under 19 in full-time education
- Pregnant or a new mother within 12 months
- On qualifying low-income benefits or holding an HC2 certificate
Full details are on our guide to who qualifies for free NHS dental treatment.
NHS versus private: the real trade-off
Financially the NHS wins easily — £326.70 versus £500–£1,200. The difficulty is access. With many practices not taking NHS patients, some people end up paying privately simply because they cannot get an NHS appointment. If that is you, our guides on NHS dentists taking on new patients and what to do when you cannot find an NHS dentist may help you secure the cheaper NHS route.
Crowns abroad
If you need several crowns — for example as part of a smile makeover — the cost abroad becomes relevant. In Turkey a crown can be £150–£300, so a mouthful of crowns may cost less than a couple of private UK ones. Clinics such as Taki Dent in Antalya offer this work, and our dental treatment abroad guide explains when travelling is worthwhile. For a single crown, though, staying in the UK is almost always the more sensible choice once travel is factored in.
Other UK nations
The £326.70 figure is for England. Wales uses its own band charges, Scotland often charges a percentage of the treatment cost, and Northern Ireland has its own scale, so a crown's NHS price will differ if you live outside England. Check your nation's NHS dental guidance for the exact figure.