‘How Much It Cost' or 'How Much Does It Cost': Which is Correct?

Do you need to know whether 'how much it cost' or 'how much does it cost' is correct? I can help!

Here is the short answer in case you are in a hurry:

• The phrase, 'How much it cost,' contains a grammatical error. 
• 'How much does it cost' is grammatically correct. 

Now you know which phrase to use. However, there is more to learn. You can use the term 'how much it cost' grammatically in some contexts. So, if you want to know when and how to use these terms, keep reading!

Which is Correct, 'How Much It Cost' or 'How Much Does It Cost'

If you are asking for the price of something, 'How much does it cost?' is almost always the correct choice. However, there are times when you can use the term, 'How much it cost,' in a sentence, for example:

• Why didn't you tell me how much it cost? 

However, if you want to ask someone the price for something, the correct term is 'How much does it cost?'

The reason is that as a standalone question, the first phrase does not contain a verb. In the phrase, 'How much does it cost,' does is the verb.

Definition of 'How Much Does It Cost': What Does 'How Much Does It Cost' Mean?

The term 'how much does it cost' contains five words. So, we will look at the definitions of these words in context to the phrase to learn more about the meaning of the term.

'How' Definition

In the phrase, 'how' is an adverb, defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as:

• At what price

'Much' Definition

'Much' is an adjective, defined as:

• A substantial quantity or more than enough

'Does' Definition

'Does' is the verb in the sentence. As a verb, 'does' is defined as:

• Third person singular present tense of "do": It is used with he/she/it to describe an action that is happening in the present.
• Plural of "doe": In this sense, "does" is the plural form of "doe," which is a female deer, hare, or kangaroo.

Synonyms and Similar Phrases to 'How Much Does It Cost?'

Synonyms are words you can use interchangeably. Using synonyms, there are different alternatives you can use for this phrase, for example:

• What is the cost?
• What is the price?
• How much is this?
• How much is that?
• What does that cost?
• What is the cost?
• What is the total?
• What is my total?
• How much is it?
• What is the price?
• How much is this?
• How expensive is that?
• What is the cost of that (product, item, etc.)?
• How much is that?
• What is the damage?
• How much will that set me back?
• Can you tell me the cost of that?
• How much does that cost?
• What is the amount on the price tag?
• How much is my bill for that?
• How much do I need to pay for that?

Pronunciation: How to Pronounce 'How Much It Cost' and 'How Much Does It Cost'

Now, let's look at the pronunciation of these two terms. Learning how to pronounce each phrase will help to give you the confidence you need to use them in public places, during speeches, or while communicating verbally. So, here is a pronunciation guide you can reference. 

• Use this phonetic spelling to pronounce 'how much it cost':

hau much it kost

• Use this phonetic spelling to pronounce 'how much does it cost':

hau much duhz it kost

When and How to Use 'How Much Does It Cost'

• Use 'how much it cost' if you are asking how much someone paid for something in the past.

For example, you could say:

Please tell me how much it cost, so I can pay you back.

• Use 'how much it costs' if you are asking someone for the current price of something.

So, you could say:

Before purchasing it, you must report to your manager how much it costs. 

• Use 'how much does it cost' if you are asking for the price of something.

For example, you might say:

How much does it cost to go on the class trip? 

Sample Sentences Using 'How Much It Cost' and 'How Much Does It Cost'

How Much It Cost

• Please write how much it cost.
• Please advise how much it costs.
• We need to report how much it costs.
• Do you know how much it costs for four years of college at a top university?
• Do you remember how much it cost to go to that fancy dinner we went to last week?
• If you need to know how much it costs, you will have to ask the store clerk for a price check.
• If you knew how much it cost, why didn't you tell me? I would have paid for it.
• Please find out how much it costs to fly from Hawaii to Houston.

How Much Does It Cost?

• I love the violet bed set, how much does it cost?
• How much does it cost to go to college for four years?
• When I asked, 'How much does it cost?' he quickly responded, 'For you, it is only $350.'
• How much does it cost per hour?
• I can't believe the store clerk told me he didn't know when I asked him, 'How much does it cost?'
• How much does it cost to buy a new car like that?
• After you apply the discount code, how much does it cost with shipping and assembly?
• How much does it cost to fly first class from Houston to Hawaii? Does it cost an arm and a leg?

Recap: Which is Correct, 'How Much It Cost' or 'How Much Does It Cost?'

After reviewing so much information, it is a good idea to review. So, here is a recap of what you learned about whether 'how much it cost' or 'how much does it cost' is correct: 

• If you are asking the price of something, 'how much does it cost' is the grammatically correct phrase. 
• When you use 'how much it cost' in a sentence, you need to add a verb. 

Remembering the correct version of phrases like these can be especially challenging if you are learning English as a second language. So, if you ever need clarification, you can always return to this page to review this lesson.

You can also learn about hundreds of other frequently misused, misspelled, and mistaken terms in the confusing words section here.

Each guide contains valuable information like definitions, grammar rules, pronunciations, and usage tips. So, they are also a great way to increase your vocabulary while learning how to use terms grammatically.