"How much is a lift?" has a five-tier answer. A spacer level and a set of long-travel coilovers both raise the front of the truck, but they cost ten times apart and ride nothing alike. This guide prices each tier for the 3rd gen Tacoma (2016–2023), with 5th gen 4Runner numbers where we found them, and adds the line items people forget: install labor, alignment, control arms and the rear.
Lift Cost by Tier (3rd Gen Tacoma)
| TIER | EXAMPLE PARTS | PARTS PRICE | INSTALLED, WITH ALIGNMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spacer level | MaxTrac 2.25″ front spacers (not for TRD Pro) | $154 | ~$450–$900 |
| Budget complete kit | Old Man Emu Nitrocharger Plus kit (base) | $900 | ~$1,400–$1,900 |
| Bilstein | 6112 front coilovers ($997) + 5160 rear shocks (~$538 pair) | ~$1,535; add a $271 Icon add-a-leaf for rear lift | ~$2,000–$2,800 |
| Icon complete | Icon Stage 2: 2.5 coilovers, 2.0 rear reservoir shocks, add-a-leaf | $2,407 | ~$2,900–$3,400 |
| Premium coilovers | Fox 2.5 Performance Elite front pair ($2,500), or King 2.5 front ($1,805) + rear reservoir shocks (from $1,103) | ~$2,500–$2,900 front and rear | ~$3,000–$4,000 |
| Top tier | Old Man Emu BP-51 kit; OME 2″ lift kit | $3,310; from $4,179 | ~$3,750–$5,100 |
How we built the installed column: parts price plus the owner-reported install and alignment figures below ($350–$800 install, $90–$150 alignment). Labor is not standardized, so treat it as a planning range.
The Parts You Might Also Need
| ITEM | WHY | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| Upper control arms | More droop and correct ball joint angle past about 2.5″ of front lift; often needed for 33s at full lock | $667 (Bilstein B8, listed out of stock) to $800 (SPC) |
| Rear add-a-leaf | 1–1.5″ of rear lift to match a leveled front | $271 (Icon 1.5″) |
| Full rear leaf pack | Replaces a sagging or overloaded factory pack | $417 each for Icon RXT, two needed, U-bolts extra |
| Cab mount chop | Clearance for 285/70R17 at full lock on many lifted trucks | ~$200–$300 at a shop (owner reports) |
| Alignment | Required after any front suspension change | $100–$150 four-wheel |
Install Labor: What Owners Paid
Shops do not publish lift install prices, so these are owner reports from TacomaWorld threads (2019–2021). Rates have risen since.
- $275 for a spacer lift, including the alignment
- $350 install plus $90 alignment
- $750 install plus $140 alignment
- $650–$800 install for a coilover kit; a cab mount chop added $200–$300
- $755 for suspension plus $200 for UCAs
- About $2,600 out the door for a complete Old Man Emu kit, parts and labor
Alignment by itself is about $100–$150 for a four-wheel alignment (TireGrades, 2026).
5th Gen 4Runner
| KIT | PARTS PRICE |
|---|---|
| Icon Stage 1 (0–3.5″) | $2,090 |
| Icon Stage 2 with tubular UCAs | $3,032 |
The 4Runner uses coil springs at all four corners, so a lift is front coilovers and rear springs and shocks, not a leaf pack. Install labor is in the same range as the Tacoma. Expect about $2,500–$4,000 installed with an alignment, depending on the kit.
How to Spend It Wisely
- Lift for the tire you want. A 2″ level and a 285/70R17 (33″) is the most common Tacoma and 4Runner combo. Our 3rd gen Tacoma 33s guide and 5th gen 4Runner fitment guide show what each lift height clears.
- Spacers are cheap, not free. A spacer lift keeps factory shocks and spring rates, and the ride gets stiffer and the droop shorter.
- Budget the rear. A leveled front with a stock rear sits nose-high when the bed is empty and nose-down when it is loaded. An add-a-leaf or rear leaf pack fixes that.
- Do not skip the alignment. Any front lift changes camber and toe, and an unaligned truck eats tires fast.
- Factor in gears. Lift plus 35s usually means a regear, which can cost more than the lift.
Links below are Amazon affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate, toyotadata earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
| ITEM | USED FOR | BUY |
|---|---|---|
| Leveling kit, 2016–2023 Tacoma | The entry-level front lift | Shop on Amazon |
| Leveling kit, 2010–2024 4Runner | The entry-level front lift | Shop on Amazon |
| 1/2" drive click torque wrench, 10-150 ft-lb | Torquing control arm and coilover bolts to spec | Shop on Amazon |
| 24" breaker bar, 1/2" drive | Breaking loose cam bolts and seized suspension hardware | Shop on Amazon |
| 3-ton jack stands (pair) | Supporting the truck during the install | Shop on Amazon |
Doing it yourself? Our Tacoma torque specs and 4Runner and FJ torque specs list every suspension bolt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to lift a 3rd gen Tacoma?
From about $450–$900 installed for a front spacer level to $3,000–$4,000 for Fox or King coilovers, and more for the top-tier kits. A complete Bilstein 6112/5160 or Old Man Emu setup lands around $1,400–$2,800 installed, with alignment.
How much does it cost to lift a 5th gen 4Runner?
An Icon kit is $2,090 (Stage 1) to $3,032 (Stage 2 with UCAs) in parts; plan on about $2,500–$4,000 installed with an alignment.
How much is labor to install a lift on a Tacoma?
Owners report roughly $350–$800 for the install, plus $90–$150 for the alignment. A cab mount chop for larger tires adds about $200–$300.
Do I need upper control arms with a lift?
Usually past about 2.5″ of front lift, or when the factory UCA starts to hit the coilover or the tire. They cost about $670–$800.
Is a spacer lift worth it?
For a small level and a slightly bigger tire on a truck that sees mostly pavement, yes. For off-road use or more than about 2″ of lift, a coilover kit rides and articulates better.
Related Guides
- Cost to Regear a Tacoma, 4Runner or Tundra
- Cost to Run 33 or 35 Inch Tires on a Tacoma or 4Runner
- Best Lift Kit for a 3rd Gen Tacoma: Bilstein vs Fox vs Icon vs King
Sources (prices seen October 20, 2026): MaxTrac level at YotaXpedition; Bilstein 6112 at ShockSurplus; OME Nitrocharger Plus at ShockSurplus; Quadratec Tacoma suspension listings (Bilstein 5160, BP-51, OME, King, Bilstein UCA); Icon K53002; Fox 2.5 at Quadratec; SPC UCAs at YotaXpedition; Icon add-a-leaf at Randy's; Icon RXT at LiftKits4Less; Icon 4Runner Stage 1 at LowRange; Icon 4Runner Stage 2 at Randy's; install reports on TacomaWorld (1, 2, 3); TireGrades alignment cost.
Keep reading
Cost of 33 vs 35 Inch Tires on a Tacoma or 4Runner: The Full Build (2026)
33s (285/70R17) on a 3rd gen Tacoma or 5th gen 4Runner: about $2,600–$3,300 for tires, wheels and mounting, or roughly $3,000–$6,700 with a level or lift, alignment and the extras. 35s (315/70R17): about $2,900–$3,500 for tires, wheels and mounting, but about $8,000–$14,500 as a complete build once you add a 3″ lift with upper control arms, a cab mount chop, a regear and a speedometer calibrator. The tires are the cheap part; going from 33 to 35 mostly buys a regear and more lift. Prices seen October 2026.
Cost to Regear a Tacoma, 4Runner or Tundra (2026 Prices)
A front and rear regear (for example to 4.88) on a 3rd gen Tacoma or 5th gen 4Runner costs about $2,200 to $5,600 installed, with about $3,500 typical. That is roughly $1,235–$1,800 for a gear package with master install kits, 11–18 hours of shop labor ($935–$3,550 at $85–$197/hr), and about $245–$250 for a speedometer calibrator. One California shop advertises both axles on a Tacoma, 4Runner or FJ for $2,199.99 parts and labor. A 2nd gen Tundra gear package runs about $1,459. Prices seen October 2026.
Toyota Regear Chart: Tire Size vs Gear Ratio vs RPM
To get back the factory feel after bigger tires, multiply your stock axle ratio by (new tire height ÷ stock tire height). On a 5th gen 4Runner, FJ Cruiser or 2nd gen Tacoma (3.73 stock, 31.6″ tires) that math says about 4.0 for 33s and 4.1 for 35s. Most owners overshoot on purpose because armor, racks and water add weight: 4.56 is the common pick for 33s to 35s, 4.88 for heavy 35″ builds and 5.29 for 37s. 3rd gen Tacomas and GX460s start at 3.91 on shorter tires, so they land about one step higher: 4.56 for 35s, 4.88 for heavy 35s or 37s.
The Toyota Truck Home Garage Tool List: What You Need for Every Job
To do your own oil, tire, brake and fluid work on a Toyota truck you need six things: a 3-ton floor jack, a pair of jack stands, a 1/2-inch click torque wrench that reaches at least 100 ft-lb (154 ft-lb for steel wheels on a 2024+ Tacoma or 2022+ Tundra), a metric socket set, an OBD2 scanner, and a drain pan. That kit costs roughly $300–400. Add a fluid pump for differential and transmission fills, a vacuum coolant filler, and a smoke machine for EVAP codes and you can handle almost every job on our maintenance schedules. Toyota's lug nut torque is 83 ft-lb on 2nd and 3rd gen Tacomas and 97 ft-lb on aluminum wheels for the 4th gen Tacoma, Tundra, Sequoia and Land Cruiser 250, per the owner's manuals.