Pricing
| Service | Typical |
|---|---|
| Overlay only, natural length | $50 - 85 |
| Overlay with colour | $60 - 100 |
| Extension set | $70 - 130 |
| Fill or rebalance | $45 - 85 |
| Removal only | $20 - 40 |
| Single nail repair | $8 - 20 |
| Nail art | +$10 - 60 |
Annual cost
| Pattern | Annual |
|---|---|
| Fill every 2 weeks | approx. $1,250 - 2,300 |
| Fill every 3 weeks | approx. $850 - 1,550 |
| Overlay only, every 3 weeks | approx. $800 - 1,400 |
Overlay is the cheaper habit and it stretches slightly further between visits, because there is no extension weight putting stress on the regrowth area.
What drives the price
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Extension vs overlay | Extension costs more |
| Length | Longer needs more product and time |
| Art | Adds meaningfully |
| Technician level | Experience premium |
| Region | Metro premiums |
How it compares with other services
Builder gel sits between a gel manicure and a full extension set on price, which reflects what it is — more product and more structure than polish, less than a sculpted extension.
| Service | Per visit | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Gel polish manicure | $30 - 60 | 2 - 3 weeks |
| Builder gel overlay | $50 - 85 | 3 - 4 weeks |
| Builder gel extensions | $70 - 130 | 2 - 3 weeks |
| Gel X extensions | $60 - 120 | 2 - 3 weeks |
| Acrylic set | $45 - 90 | 2 - 3 weeks |
Per week of wear, an overlay is often close to a gel manicure because it stretches further, which surprises people looking only at the per-visit figure.
What to confirm when booking
- 1Is this quote for an overlay or an extension? They are different services at different prices.
- 2Is removal of my current product included?
- 3Is colour included, or is that extra?
- 4What does a fill cost, since that is what you will pay most often.
- 5What is the repair policy if a nail chips in the first week?
Budgeting a first visit
The first appointment usually runs above the headline price, for reasons that are predictable rather than surprising.
| Item | Typical |
|---|---|
| The set itself | $55 - 110 |
| Removal of existing product | $20 - 40 |
| Colour, if not included | $0 - 20 |
| Any art | $10 - 60 |
| Tip where customary | 15 - 20% |
| Realistic first-visit total | $90 - 200 |
Subsequent visits settle toward the fill price, because removal is folded into a rebooking. Budgeting from the first-visit number makes the service look more expensive than it actually runs.
Where you can save, and where you cannot
| Reasonable saving | False economy |
|---|---|
| Overlay instead of extensions | Stretching fills past four weeks |
| Plain rather than art each time | Skipping removal and applying over lifting |
| A junior technician for a simple overlay | Prying it off yourself |
| Booking fills on schedule | Letting it grow out and paying for a new set |
| Natural length | Cheap kits with no removal supplies |
The most expensive pattern is letting a set grow out and starting fresh each time. A new set every four weeks costs more than a fill every three, and it is harder on the nail.
What a realistic year looks like
The pattern you actually keep matters more than any single price, and most people settle into one of these.
| Pattern | Visits | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous overlay, fills every 3 weeks | 17 | approx. $850 - 1,400 |
| Continuous extensions, fills every 2 - 3 weeks | 20 | approx. $1,000 - 1,900 |
| On for six months, off for six | 9 | approx. $500 - 800 |
| Occasions only | 4 - 6 | approx. $300 - 600 |
Removals belong in the budget. Each time you take a set off between cycles it is a paid appointment, and two a year is $40 to $80 that never appears in a price comparison.
What art adds
Art pricing is the least standardised part of any nail menu, and it explains most of the gap between two quotes for what sounds like the same service.
| Art | Typical extra |
|---|---|
| Single accent nail | $3 - 10 |
| French tips across ten | $10 - 25 |
| Chrome or cat-eye finish | $10 - 20 |
| Hand-painted detail per nail | $5 - 20 |
| Embellishments | $5 - 25 per nail |
Send your reference photo when booking and ask for a total. Art quoted per nail adds up faster than people expect, and it is often the whole difference between an $80 set and a $150 one.
Frequently asked questions
Q.How much is builder gel?
$55 to $110 for a set, and $45 to $85 for fills.
Q.Is overlay cheaper than extensions?
Yes, usually $20 to $40 less, and it often stretches a week further between appointments.
Q.How often do I need fills?
Every two to three weeks for extensions, and often three to four for an overlay.
Q.Is it more than gel polish?
Yes, because it uses more product and takes more time. Per week of wear the gap narrows.
Q.Can I do it at home?
Kits exist, but application and especially safe removal need practice.
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