Cholecystectomy Cost (2026): $1,766–$4,607

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Your actual cost depends on your insurance type, facility choice, and deductible status. Prices reflect 2026 national averages.

Cholecystectomy is gallbladder removal surgery, most often performed laparoscopically for gallstones or gallbladder disease. It is one of the most common elective surgeries in the U.S.

Cholecystectomy Cost by State

Compare prices across all 50 states. Prices shown are the 25th–70th percentile range from hospital-reported data — the range where most patients' actual charges fall.

Why Cholecystectomy Costs Vary

• Laparoscopic vs. open: Laparoscopic approach (3–4 small incisions) costs 20–35% less and has a shorter recovery than open surgery.
• Emergency vs. elective: Emergency cholecystectomy (acute cholecystitis) costs 40–70% more than planned elective surgery.
• Common duct exploration: If bile duct stones are found and removed during surgery, costs increase by $2,000–$5,000.
• Facility type: Ambulatory surgery centers charge 25–45% less than hospital outpatient departments.

Bottom line: Where you get care matters more than almost any other factor. Two hospitals 10 miles apart can charge 3–5× different prices for the same procedure.

How to Use This Data

These prices come from hospital price transparency files that hospitals are required by law to publish. They represent the range of what hospitals declare as their charges — actual negotiated rates with insurers are typically 40–60% lower.

If you have insurance: Your out-of-pocket cost is determined by your deductible, coinsurance, and your insurer's negotiated rate with the specific facility. Call your insurer for a pre-service cost estimate before scheduling.

If you are uninsured: Call 2–3 facilities directly and ask for their self-pay or cash-pay rate. Most facilities offer 20–50% discounts off list prices for upfront payment.

If you received a bill: Upload it to CostKits to compare what you were charged against what other facilities in your state reported.

Data source: CMS Hospital Price Transparency Machine-Readable Files. Prices represent hospital-declared charges and do not include physician fees, anesthesia, or other separately-billed services.