Great Clips is usually the cheapest of the three. Across salons that publish prices, the typical men’s haircut is about $21 at Great Clips, $25 at Sport Clips and $27 at Supercuts. But every owner sets their own prices, so the cheapest salon near you may belong to a different chain.
Haircut Prices at a Glance
Here are the typical prices from one third-party dataset. It collected the prices that each chain’s own locations publish (data updated November 2027).
| Chain | Typical men’s cut | Cheapest to priciest salon | Typical kids’ cut | Locations checked |
| Great Clips | $21 | 15–30 | $19 | 4,263 |
| Sport Clips | $25 | 24–30 | $22 | 1,853 |
| Supercuts | $27 | 20–37.95 | $24 | 2,050 |
“Typical” means the median, the middle price when you line up every salon from cheapest to priciest. Sport Clips only counts salons that post prices online, so its numbers may not match every store.
For context, the same source puts the typical men’s cut across all 7,249 salons and barbers it tracks at $24.
Note on data: these figures come from a third party, not from the chains. Great Clips and Supercuts don’t publish a national price list. Treat them as a guide and check your local salon.
What the chains say themselves
Only Sport Clips gives an official number. Its FAQ says a standard Varsity haircut typically falls between $25 and $30, and that prices are set store by store.
Great Clips says its salons are independently owned and the owner sets prices.
Why the Same Chain Can Charge $15 or $30
Franchise pricing means each salon is owned by a local business owner, not by the brand’s headquarters. The owner decides the menu prices, so the same chain can charge very different amounts in different towns.
This is why one chain can look cheap in one city and pricey in the next. A June 2025 Money Digest article shows it. A Great Clips in Grand Rapids, Michigan listed $22. A Supercuts in Elyria, Ohio listed $24, while one in Kalamazoo, Michigan listed $26.
The gap inside each chain is bigger than the gap between chains:
- Great Clips runs from $15 to $30, a $15 spread.
- Supercuts run from $20 to $37.95, a spread of almost $18.
- The typical difference between Great Clips and Supercuts is only about $6.
The cheapest Supercuts (20)costslessthanthepriciestGreatClips(30). So the real rule is to pick the salon, not the chain.
Prices also swing by state. StyleSeat data cited by Money Digest shows haircut prices from $17 in Wyoming to $93 in California across all kinds of salons.
Are Great Clips Cheaper Than Supercuts?
Yes, usually. Across published salon prices, a typical Great Clips cut is about $21 and a typical Supercuts cut is about $27, roughly 6less.Buttherangesoverlap:thecheapestSupercuts(20) costs less than the priciest Great Clips ($30), so check your own salons.
Supercuts can justify a higher price if you want more. It offers color, which Great Clips says it doesn’t provide. The same dataset puts a Supercuts cut with shampoo and blowout at about $61 and single-process color at about $85.
For a plain men’s cut, Great Clips is the safer bet for a lower bill.
Is the Sport Clips MVP Worth the Extra Money?
The MVP adds a hot steamed towel, a massaging shampoo and a neck-and-shoulder treatment for about $3 to $7 more than a Varsity cut, per Sport Clips’ FAQ. If you want the extras, that’s a small upcharge. If you only want a quick trim, skip it.
Here’s what to know before you pay:
- Varsity is the basic cut. Sport Clips says it’s typically 25–30.
- MVP adds the extras for about 3–7. That puts it around 28–37 by Sport Clips’ own numbers.
- First visit: new clients automatically get the MVP upgrade free, according to the FAQ.
- Where it varies: the neck-and-shoulder treatment isn’t offered in New York, Oregon or Washington.
- Time: Sport Clips says a haircut usually takes 20–30 minutes.
The MVP isn’t a better haircut. It’s a nicer experience around the same cut. Whether it’s worth it comes down to whether you enjoy it.
What a Haircut Really Costs: Price + Tip + Upgrades
The menu price is not what leaves your wallet. A tip changes the math.
Sport Clips’ FAQ says 5–10 is an average tip. Many price guides suggest 15–20% as a standard range. On these prices, 15–20% looks like this.
This is my calculation from the typical prices above, not a published price.
| Chain | Typical cut | With 15–20% tip | 12 cuts a year, with tip |
| Great Clips | $21 | 24.15–25.20 | 289.80–302.40 |
| Sport Clips (Varsity) | $25 | 28.75–30.00 | 345.00–360.00 |
| Supercuts | $27 | 31.05–32.40 | 372.60–388.80 |
Over a year of monthly cuts, the cheapest option saves you roughly 70–90 compared with the priciest, before tips. It’s more once tips are included.
Add-ons raise the total fast. A shampoo, a beard trim or an MVP upgrade can each add several dollars. For example, Sport Clips beard trims are typically $14 in the same dataset.
Memberships, Coupons and Discounts That Can Change the Winner
A deal can beat the base price. These are the ones worth knowing.
Supercuts Unlimited
Supercuts Unlimited is a monthly plan with a flat fee for haircuts, where offered. A November 2024 local business report said Fresno-area salons sold it for $21.99 a month.
My math from that one example:
- At one cut a month, you’d pay $21.99 instead of the $27 typical Supercuts price.
- It only beats the $21 typical Great Clips price if you cut your hair more than once a month.
- At two cuts a month, you’d pay about $11 per cut.
Check before you sign up. Availability and price vary by salon, and I only found the price in one local report. A coupon site says you must cancel at least 7 days before your billing date and may owe a fee for early cancellation. Confirm both with your salon.
Great Clips coupons
Great Clips runs national deals tied to events. In January 2027, it offered a $9.99 haircut coupon for the college football championship. In March 2027, it offered a $12.99 March Madness coupon. These are time-limited, so check the promotions page before you go.
Great Clips also gives a senior discount to anyone 65 or older, with no coupon needed. It applies to the haircut only, and the amount varies by salon.
Sport Clips
- First visit: the free MVP upgrade mentioned above.
- Military and first responders: many locations offer 10% off or more, so ask your store.
- Season Tickets: these work only at the location where you buy them.
Supercuts
Supercuts runs a Rewards program, according to coupon sites. Look for it in the app or at check-in.
Kids, Seniors, Women and Color: Who’s Cheapest for Whom?
| You need | Cheapest typical option | Good to know |
| Kids’ cut | Great Clips ($19) | Sport Clips (22)andSupercuts(24) cost a little more |
| Senior cut (65+) | Great Clips | Official discount, no coupon, varies by salon |
| Women’s cut | Great Clips or Supercuts | Sport Clips cuts women’s hair too, but only a basic wash and cut |
| Hair color | Supercuts | Great Clips says it doesn’t offer coloring. Sport Clips says no color or chemical services |
A few things some price guides get wrong:
- Sport Clips does cut children and women. Its FAQ describes a Junior Varsity cut for kids and wash-and-cut service for women.
- Great Clips don’t do color. Its customer-service page says its salons don’t provide hair coloring.
- Great Clips says a few salons offer perms. Call first.
The Hidden Cost: Wait Time, Check-In and Stylist Luck
Your time has a price too.
- Great Clips has Online Check-In. It sends ReadyNext text alerts and uses Clip Notes to save your haircut preferences for any salon.
- Sport Clips doesn’t take appointments. Its app lets you join a waiting list before you arrive. The company says that’s not an appointment, and the line-up can shift.
- Supercuts offers online check-in at participating locations. You can check in on its website without the app.
Then there’s the stylist. At chains like these, the person in the chair matters as much as the logo. If a stylist gives you a great cut, ask for them next time. Both Great Clips and Sport Clips apps let you pick a stylist, and Sport Clips’ app lets you save favorites.
Are Haircuts Getting More Expensive?
Yes. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks a category called “haircuts and other personal care services.” Using that data, a calculator shows prices about 39.6% higher in 2027 than in 2018. The 2027 figure isn’t final.
This category is broader than chain haircuts, so it won’t match any one salon’s menu. But it explains why a price you remember may be out of date.
Price-Board Test: Three Salons, One ZIP Code
[ADD YOUR DATA: this section needs first-hand information.]
Visit or call one Great Clips, one Sport Clips and one Supercuts within a few miles of each other. Photograph each posted price board or screenshot each salon’s page. Fill in the table, then write 3–4 sentences on what surprised you. Real local prices are the strongest original element in this article.
| Salon (city, ZIP) | Adult cut | Kids’ cut | Senior cut | Shampoo or add-on | Date checked |
| Great Clips | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Sport Clips | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Supercuts | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
Which Chain Should You Pick?
| If you want… | Pick | Why |
| The lowest typical price | Great Clips | $21 typical, $19 for kids, senior discount |
| A few extras for a small upcharge | Sport Clips | MVP adds a towel and shampoo for about 3–7 |
| Cut plus color or a blowout | Supercuts | Offers services the other two don’t |
| To cut hair more than once a month | Supercuts, if Unlimited is offered nearby | Can drop your per-cut cost sharply |
| The cheapest option near you | Whichever local price board is lowest | Prices vary more by salon than by chain |
Conclusion
When it comes to price, Great Clips and Supercuts usually come out cheaper than Sport Clips, which charges a bit more for its sports-themed experience and extras like hot towel service. Between Great Clips and Supercuts the gap is small and changes by location, so the best choice depends on your local prices, available coupons, and whether you want a basic cut or a more premium experience.
FAQs
Is Sport Clips more expensive than Great Clips and Supercuts?
Sport Clips typically costs more than Great Clips ($25 vs 21)andalittlelessthanSupercuts(27) for a basic cut. The MVP upgrade adds about 3–7. Local prices vary, so check your nearest salon.
How much should I tip at Great Clips, Supercuts or Sport Clips?
Sport Clips’ FAQ says 5–10 is an average tip. Many guides suggest 15–20% of the price. On a 21–27 cut, that’s roughly $3 to $5.50.
Does Supercuts have a monthly membership?
Some salons offer Supercuts Unlimited, a flat monthly fee for haircuts. One 2024 report listed $21.99 a month in Fresno. Price, availability and cancellation terms vary, so ask your salon.
Do Great Clips and Supercuts offer senior discounts?
Great Clips gives a discount to anyone 65 or older, with no coupon needed. It covers the haircut only, and it varies by salon. Supercuts senior pricing varies by location, so ask at check-in.
Does Sport Clips cut kids’ and women’s hair?
Yes to both. Sport Clips offers a Junior Varsity haircut for kids and cuts women’s hair. For women, it provides a basic wash and cut only, with no color or chemical treatments.
Do these chains take appointments?
Sport Clips doesn’t take appointments but lets you join a waiting list online. Great Clips uses Online Check-In. Supercuts offers online check-in at participating locations. Walk-ins are welcome at all three.
Why do haircut prices differ by location?
Each salon is franchise-owned, and the owner sets the prices. Rent, wages and local demand all play a part. That’s why the same chain can charge $15 in one town and $30 in another.