how much does it cost

USAGE SUMMARY

"How much does it cost?" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to ask a question about the cost of something. For example: "I'm interested in buying this new phone. How much does it cost?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Economics: how much does it cost?

The Economist

Firstly, how much does it cost?

The Guardian

How much does it cost to enter?

The Guardian

And even how much does it cost?

The Guardian - Opinion

How much does it cost to produce?

The New York Times

HOW much does it cost to buy an election?

The Economist

How much does it cost to have a beautiful yard?

The New York Times - Magazine

Just how much does it cost to run a bookstore?

The New Yorker

HOW much does it cost to go BASE jumping?

The New York Times

7. How much does it cost to attend the symposium?

Harvard University

How much does it cost to get BRDO help?

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking about the cost of something, be specific about what you're asking about (e.g., "How much does it cost to ship this item?").

Common error

Avoid asking "How much does it cost?" without specifying what you are referring to. Be clear about the item or service to get an accurate answer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "How much does it cost?" functions as an interrogative clause, specifically used to inquire about the price or expense associated with a product, service, or activity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It serves to elicit information about the monetary value involved.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

29%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "How much does it cost?" is a grammatically sound and very common way to inquire about the price or expense of something. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and utility. It is versatile and can be used in various contexts, from news and media to academic and formal business settings. The phrase is considered neutral in register and serves the primary purpose of obtaining information to make informed decisions. While alternatives exist, such as "What is the price?" they serve the same basic function. Remember to be as specific as possible when asking this question to receive the most relevant answer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

How much is it?

A more concise and direct way of asking about the price.

What is the price?

Focuses directly on the price rather than the overall cost.

What is the total cost?

Emphasizes finding out the entire cost, including all fees and taxes.

What will it cost me?

Emphasizes the cost to the speaker personally.

How much will I pay?

Focuses on the amount the speaker will be paying.

What is the expense?

A more formal way of inquiring about the cost.

What's the damage?

An informal way to ask about the cost, often used humorously.

What's the fee?

Specifically asks about the fee associated with a service or item.

What are the charges?

Asks about the specific charges involved.

Can you give me a quote?

Asks for a specific price estimate.

FAQs

How can I use "How much does it cost?" in a sentence?

You can use "How much does it cost?" to inquire about the price of a product, service, or activity. For example, "How much does it cost to attend that conference?" or "How much does it cost to replace the tires on my car?"

What's a more formal way to ask "How much does it cost"?

In a professional or formal setting, you could ask "what is the price" or "what is the total cost"? These alternatives are more direct and suitable for business contexts.

Is it correct to say "How much does it costs?"

No, the correct phrasing is "How much does it cost?". The verb "cost" should be in its base form because it follows the auxiliary verb "does".

What's the difference between "How much does it cost?" and "What's the price?"

"How much does it cost?" is a general inquiry about the overall expense, while "what's the price" is more specifically asking for the monetary value of something. The first one covers extra cost like fees.