Buyer guide
How much does air suspension cost?
A complete air ride setup typically costs between $2,000 and $6,000+ depending on the kit level, your vehicle, and whether you install it yourself or pay a shop. That number can feel like a lot until you understand what you're actually buying and where your money is going.
On this page
What affects the cost of air suspension
Before we get into numbers it's important to understand what actually drives the price differences. Two builds on the same car can cost drastically different amounts depending on a few variables.
Factor 01
Your vehicle
Some platforms have more aftermarket support than others. A Volkswagen GTI or a Honda Civic are going to have more options at more price points when compared to something like a Ferrari F430. A rarer or newer platform may have fewer choices.
Factor 02
Complete kit vs piecing it together
A complete kit bundles air suspension, control system, tank, compressor, and the rest of the management parts and pieces together into one package. Piecing components separately requires more research, and will inherently cost more in shipping if you forget to order parts, or buy something that's not compatible with your setup and have to create a return / re-order.
Factor 03
Control system level
This is the single biggest price driver. Basic manual paddle valves can be pretty cheap but a full digital height-based control system with auto leveling can breach the $2,000 mark on its own. Most of the price difference between an "entry level" and "high-end" setup lives here.
Factor 04
DIY vs professional install
If you're comfortable with basic mechanical work and have the time, a DIY install can save you $400-$1,000+ in labor. A professional shop install can get expensive depending on how crazy you want to get with it but it also adds accountability and often a warranty on the labor.
Entry level, mid-range, and high-end kits
Here's how complete kits break down into tiers. These kits include the air suspension, control system, compressor, tank, and management components - before installation. Keep in mind, this is just a general ballpark. No one's saying you can't pair the most premium air suspension with an entry level controller or vice versa. Growing into a setup is always an option too.
$2,400 - $3,000
Entry level
Gets you in the game with a functional setup. Typically includes air suspension without damping or camber adjustment, manual paddle valves or a switch box. Simple reliable setup without the bells and whistles.
$3,000 - $4,500
Mid-range
The sweet spot for most daily drivers. Better quality suspension, more capable compressor setup, and a proper digital control system with preset heights. This is your best bang for your buck realm and where most of our customers land.
$4,500 - $6,000+
High-end
The highest quality suspension paired with a digital height based auto leveling air management system and dual compressors. This will get you the most premium setup possible with the most features and the best warranties, but it comes at a cost.
$???? - $????
Used kits
Buying used can save you quite a bit of money but it comes with risk. You don't know the actual condition of the suspension, why the previous owner is really selling it, hours on the compressor, etc. If you go this route, you might spend more time than you want chasing gremlins.
Compare
Buying new air suspension vs used air suspension
What to look out for in a used kit, and why you should consider new parts.
What each part costs on its own
If you're piecing together your own setup or just want to understand where the money goes in a complete kit, here's a rough breakdown.
$1,400 - $3,200
Air suspension
Price varies by brand, style, and vehicle fitment. A four corner setup with air struts up front and either struts in the rear or a separate bag and shock generally starts out at $1,400 for the most entry level option and goes up from there as quality increases.
$125 - $2,000+
Control system
The widest range of any component. A basic manual paddle valve setup starts around $125 for the paddles themselves, a mid-tier digital system with pressure based presets runs around $1,300 and a full auto leveling height based leveling system can hit over $2,000. This is where your daily driving experience lives though, so don't underinvest.
$300 - $900
Air compressor(s)
A single capable compressor runs around $300-$450 while a dual compressor setup doubles the cost. Keep in mind, the more powerful your compressor or the more of them you have, the quicker your fill times which equals less compressor noise over time.
$160 - $900
Air tank
A 2.5 to 5 gallon tank starts around $160 and goes up from there. Some tanks contain internal valves to control your air suspension system, which can go up to the $900 range. All of the tanks we sell are aluminum. Do yourself a favor and stay away from cheaper steel air tanks due to rust issues.
$150 - $400
Lines, fittings, hardware, etc.
Not the most exciting things to think about but all the odds and ends that connect the system together can really add up. Each part isn't necessarily expensive but there are quite a few so the price can increase depending on your choices.
Installation costs - DIY vs professional
The complete air ride kit is only part of the cost. How it gets installed matters too, both for your wallet and how well the system performs long-term.
DIY install
- Saves $400 - $1,000+ in labor
- You know exactly how everything is installed
- Easier to troubleshoot later since you did the work
- Very achievable for most people with the right install documentation
- Takes a full weekend for most people on a first install
Professional install
- Typically $400 - $1,000 in labor but can go even higher depending on how custom you want your setup to be
- Labor warranty means mistakes are covered
- Faster turnaround. Usually 1 - 2 days
- Better option if you're not comfortable with working on vehicles
- Quality can vary depending on shop
The honest answer here is that a DIY install is very doable for most air suspension setups, especially with install diagrams from Bag Riders which really simplifies everything. Installing air suspension is more tedious than difficult. If you've done basic suspension work before and can handle simple wiring like connecting power and grounds properly, a full air suspension install should be pretty easy to handle yourself.
Guide
How to install air suspension
Breaking down how we at Bag Riders approach installing air suspension on our own cars so you can decide if DIY is right for you.