How Much Does Shellac Cost? The Complete 2026 Price Guide
You have seen "Shellac" on a salon menu, been quoted a number by a friend, or spotted a price online that looks very different from the one at your local salon and now you are not sure which figure to trust. The shellac cost question trips people up because the word "Shellac" gets used in two different ways: as a brand name and as a catch-all for any gel polish. That distinction matters for your bill. This post gives you the shellac cost broken down by country, with the real figures for the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, plus a straight answer on what that price includes, what it does not, and why quotes vary more than they should.
No vague ranges. No buried surprises.
What Is Shellac and Is It the Same as a Gel Manicure?
Shellac is not the same as generic gel polish. It is a specific brand of hybrid nail polish created by Creative Nail Design (CND) the company that launched it in 2010 under the name Power Polish.
CND Shellac is a patented hybrid nail polish system created by Creative Nail Design it combines the chip resistance of gel with the thin, flexible finish of traditional nail polish, and is cured under a UV or LED lamp.
All Shellac is gel, but not all gel is Shellac. When a salon uses the word "Shellac" without the CND brand, they may be applying a different gel system entirely often a less expensive one under the same name. That distinction explains why prices at two salons a street apart can differ by £10 or $15 for what looks like the same service on the menu.
For a closer look at how CND Shellac compares to other gel polish systems for longevity and nail health, that is covered separately but the short version is that the formula is thinner and more flexible than most gel polishes, which affects both how it wears and how it comes off at removal.
The service structure of a genuine CND Shellac manicure: prep and cuticle care, a CND base coat, two colour coats cured under UV or LED light, and a CND top coat. That sequence is what you are paying for at a certified salon.
How Much Does Shellac Cost in the US?
A Shellac manicure in the US costs between $30 and $60 at most salons. The national average for a standard application sits around $35–$45. In major cities like New York or Los Angeles, prices typically start at $45 and can reach $70 at high-end salons.
That range covers a lot of ground, and it covers it for a reason. The $30 end reflects volume-focused salons in suburban or lower cost-of-living areas: fast, efficient, and often using generic gel polish sold under the Shellac name. The $45–$60 range reflects a full-service Shellac manicure at a reputable mid-tier salon using CND product, with cuticle work and a hand massage included. The $60–$70 bracket is city-centre pricing, where rent, technician wages, and the CND certification premium stack up.
State-by-state variation is real. In Texas, Florida, and the Midwest, standard shellac cost sits between $30 and $45. In California, New York, and Massachusetts, $45 is frequently a starting point, not a mid-range figure.
Shellac pedicures in the US typically run $45–$65, with the premium over a manicure reflecting the additional soak, scrub, and prep time for feet.
A Shellac mani-pedi package at a mid-tier salon lands around $70–$100 in most US markets.
What removal costs in the US: standalone soak-off removal runs $10–$20. When you are rebooking a new Shellac application at the same appointment, most salons absorb that cost or charge $5 as a nominal add-on. The assumption that removal is always included is the most common source of bill shock more on that in the hidden costs section below.
