Electric toothbrush heads: which fit, what they really cost, and when to replace them
Over three years you’ll spend more on heads than on most brushes. We priced genuine head packs for every brush we recommend on Amazon US on October 30, 2026. The cheapest head costs a sixth of the dearest.
Written by Dev Marlowe. Last checked and updated .
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Bottom line first
Replace a head every three months, sooner if the bristles splay. Oral-B iO heads fit only iO handles, classic round Oral-B heads fit the Pro range, and click-on Sonicare heads fit every current adult Sonicare. On Amazon US on October 30, 2026, genuine heads cost from about $2.49 (Aquasonic) to $16.16 (Curaprox) each; iO about $10.20 and Sonicare C2 about $10.26.
Jump to a section
- What genuine heads cost (October 30, 2026)
- Oral-B: two families that don’t mix
- Philips Sonicare: one fitting, many letters
- When to replace
- Genuine or generic?
- Oral-B iO heads, by type
- Classic Oral-B round heads
- Sonicare letters, decoded
- Brand-only heads
- Keeping heads clean
- Kids’ heads
- How to cut head costs
- Things readers check with us
The American Dental Association says three to four months, or sooner once the bristles splay. Take three and you’ll buy about twelve heads in three years. At $10 a head that’s $120, often more than the handle. Plug your own numbers in here:
What a brush really costs you
Or pick your handle and let it work out the household total, including which other handles take the same head and which ones never will.
Which heads fit, and what a year of them costs
Oral-B iO (magnetic click-on)
FitsEvery iO handle, from the iO2 up to the iO10, including the kids' iO.
Will not fitAny Oral-B that is not an iO. The shaft and the magnet are different.
iO heads carry a small chip that tells the handle which head is on, which is part of why they cost more than classic round heads.
Handles that share itiO2, iO3, iO5, iO9, iO10, iO Kids
Oral-B round (classic shaft)
FitsEvery non-iO Oral-B handle sold in the last fifteen years: Vitality, Pro, Smart, Genius.
Will not fitiO handles, and Oral-B's own kids' battery brushes, which take a smaller head.
The widest choice of any family, and the one most copied. CrossAction, Sensitive, Precision Clean and 3D White all fit the same shaft.
Handles that share itPro 1000, Vitality Pro, Pro 3 3500
Sonicare click-on (C2, C3, G2, G3, W2, A3)
FitsAny modern Sonicare handle that takes a head you push on rather than screw on.
Will not fitSonicare's own kids' handles, Philips One, and very old Sonicare models with a screw fitting.
This is the most forgiving family on the market. A C2 head from a 4100 will click onto a Prestige 9900, so paying more for an A3 head is a choice and not a requirement.
Handles that share itSonicare 4100, Sonicare 5300, Sonicare 5900, Sonicare 7100, Sonicare 7300, Prestige 9900, Next-Gen 9900
Sonicare for Kids
FitsBoth Sonicare kids' handles, in compact and standard sizes.
Will not fitAdult Sonicare handles.
Compact until about seven, standard after that. The handle is the same either way.
Handles that share itSonicare for Kids, Design a Pet
Oral-B Kids
FitsOral-B's kids' rechargeable and battery handles.
Will not fitAdult Oral-B handles, iO or classic.
The cheapest heads in this table, which matters when a six year old chews one.
Handles that share itOral-B Kids 3+, Oral-B Kids battery
Laifen
FitsEvery Laifen handle; the Pro Series packs are cross-compatible.
Will not fitAnything that is not a Laifen.
Cheap heads, but a single supplier. If Laifen stops selling in your market you have a handle and no refills.
Handles that share itWave Pro
SURI
FitsSURI Pro and SURI Core.
Will not fitAnything else.
Plant-based heads with castor oil bristles, sold on subscription or singly.
Handles that share itSuri Pro, Suri Core
Aquasonic
FitsBlack Series and Black Series PRO.
Will not fitAnything else.
Eight heads in the box and the cheapest refills here, which is the whole argument for this brush.
Handles that share itAquasonic Black, Black Series PRO
Bitvae
FitsBitvae sonic handles.
Will not fitAnything else.
Eight heads in the box. When we looked for refills on October 30 only third-party packs came up, so price that in before you buy.
Handles that share itBitvae D2
Quip Rev
FitsBoth Rev handles.
Will not fitOlder sonic Quip handles.
The most expensive head per unit on this page.
Handles that share itQuip Rev, Rev Smart
Waterpik
FitsThe matching Waterpik handle only; the Sonic-Fusion head carries the water jet.
Will not fitEverything else, including the other Waterpik.
On the Sonic-Fusion the head is also the flosser tip, so wear costs you two things at once.
Handles that share itSonic-Fusion 2.0, Sensonic Complete Care
Curaprox CHS
FitsHydrosonic handles.
Will not fitAnything else.
Power, Sensitive and Single heads, sold mostly through dental suppliers.
Handles that share itHydrosonic Pro
Philips One
FitsPhilips One handles.
Will not fitAny rechargeable Sonicare.
A battery brush with its own head. Nothing else in the Philips range shares it.
Handles that share itPhilips One
| Handle | Head family | Per head | Heads per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral-B iO Series 2 | Oral-B iO (magnetic click-on) | $10.20 | $41 |
| Oral-B iO Series 3 | Oral-B iO (magnetic click-on) | $10.20 | $41 |
| Oral-B iO Series 5 | Oral-B iO (magnetic click-on) | $10.20 | $41 |
| Oral-B iO Series 9 | Oral-B iO (magnetic click-on) | $10.20 | $41 |
| Oral-B iO Series 10 | Oral-B iO (magnetic click-on) | $10.20 | $41 |
| Oral-B iO Kids | Oral-B iO (magnetic click-on) | $12.22 | $49 |
| Oral-B Pro 1000 | Oral-B round (classic shaft) | $12.49 | $50 |
| Oral-B Vitality Pro | Oral-B round (classic shaft) | $12.49 | $50 |
| Oral-B Pro 3 3500 | Oral-B round (classic shaft) | $12.49 | $50 |
| Philips Sonicare 4100 | Sonicare click-on (C2, C3, G2, G3, W2, A3) | $10.26 | $41 |
| Philips Sonicare 5300 | Sonicare click-on (C2, C3, G2, G3, W2, A3) | $10.26 | $41 |
| Philips Sonicare 5900 | Sonicare click-on (C2, C3, G2, G3, W2, A3) | $14.98 | $60 |
| Philips Sonicare 7100 (2026) | Sonicare click-on (C2, C3, G2, G3, W2, A3) | $10.26 | $41 |
| Philips Sonicare 7300 | Sonicare click-on (C2, C3, G2, G3, W2, A3) | $14.25 | $57 |
| Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige | Sonicare click-on (C2, C3, G2, G3, W2, A3) | $14.25 | $57 |
| Philips Sonicare Next-Gen DiamondClean 9900 Prestige | Sonicare click-on (C2, C3, G2, G3, W2, A3) | $14.25 | $57 |
| Philips Sonicare for Kids (HX6321) | Sonicare for Kids | $8.00 | $32 |
| Philips Sonicare for Kids, Design a Pet Edition | Sonicare for Kids | $8.00 | $32 |
| Oral-B Kids 3+ Rechargeable | Oral-B Kids | $5.00 | $20 |
| Oral-B Kids Battery Toothbrush (3+) | Oral-B Kids | $5.00 | $20 |
| Laifen Wave Pro | Laifen | $5.00 | $20 |
| SURI Pro Sonic Toothbrush | SURI | $6.33 | $25 |
| SURI Core Sonic Toothbrush | SURI | $6.33 | $25 |
| Aquasonic Black Series | Aquasonic | $2.49 | $10 |
| Aquasonic Black Series PRO | Aquasonic | $2.49 | $10 |
| Quip Rev | Quip Rev | $18.46 | $74 |
| Quip Rev Smart | Quip Rev | $18.46 | $74 |
| Waterpik Sonic-Fusion 2.0 | Waterpik | $12.49 | $50 |
| Waterpik Sensonic Complete Care | Waterpik | $12.49 | $50 |
| Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro | Curaprox CHS | $16.16 | $65 |
| Philips One by Sonicare (rechargeable) | Philips One | $5.00 | $20 |
Bigger packs cut these numbers. Subscriptions rarely do.
If a branded multipack is priced at less than half of those figures, check the seller before you buy; our guide to counterfeit heads lists the tells.
What genuine heads cost (October 30, 2026)
| Heads | Fit | Pack we priced | Cost per head |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquasonic Standard | Aquasonic Black Series | 8-pack | about $2.50 |
| Laifen Pro Series | All Laifen brushes | 6-pack | about $5 |
| SURI | SURI Pro and Core | 3-pack | about $6.50 |
| Oral-B iO Ultimate Clean | All iO handles | 5-pack | about $10 |
| Sonicare C2 Plaque Control | All Sonicare click-on | 3-pack | about $10.50 |
| Sonicare mix (4 C2 + 2 A3) | All Sonicare click-on | 6-pack | about $11.50 |
| Oral-B iO Gentle Care | All iO handles | 4-pack | about $12 |
| Oral-B CrossAction + Sensitive | Pro 1000 and classic handles | 2-pack | about $12.50 |
| Waterpik Sonic-Fusion full size | Sonic-Fusion | 2-pack | about $12.50 |
| Sonicare A3 All-in-One | All Sonicare click-on | 4-pack | about $14.50 |
| Sonicare C3 Two-in-One | All Sonicare click-on | 2-pack | about $15 |
| Curaprox Hydrosonic | Hydrosonic only | 2-pack | about $16 |
Two caveats. Classic Oral-B heads are usually far cheaper in big supermarket and pharmacy multipacks; the only genuine pack Amazon US showed us was a two-pack. And for the Quip Rev, Amazon only had single heads from resellers at around $18, so buy those from Quip.
Oral-B: two families that don’t mix
Classic round heads (CrossAction, Precision Clean, Sensitive, 3D White) fit the Pro 1000 and other classic handles. iO heads fit iO handles only. Oral-B’s own pack notes say the CrossAction head carries the ADA Seal.
Philips Sonicare: one fitting, many letters
All current adult Sonicare handles share the click-on fitting. C2 is the everyday plaque head and the cheapest. C3 is the denser plaque head that comes with the 5900. A3 is the premium all-rounder that comes with the 7300 and Prestige. Genuine heads carry a BrushSync chip so newer handles can remind you to replace them; generic heads fit but skip the reminder.
When to replace
- Every three months.
- Sooner if the bristles splay. If they splay within weeks, you’re pressing too hard.
- Kids’ heads: often sooner, because they get chewed.
Genuine or generic?
Compatible heads can cost a tenth as much. Quality varies: some are indistinguishable, others have rough bristles or a wobble at speed. When we searched for Bitvae and Sonicare for Kids refills, only third-party packs appeared. If you try generics, look for soft, end-rounded bristles and a snug fit, and stop if your gums feel sore.
Oral-B iO heads, by type
Every iO head fits every iO handle, from the iO2 to the iO10 and the iO Kids. Ultimate Clean is the default, with angled bristles for everyday cleaning. Gentle Care has softer, finer bristles for sensitive gums and recession, and cost about $12.20 a head in a four-pack when we checked. Radiant White adds polishing for surface stains. If you’re not sure, buy Ultimate Clean and switch to Gentle Care only if your gums complain.
Classic Oral-B round heads
These fit the Pro 1000 and older Oral-B rechargeables such as the Pro 3, Vitality and Smart ranges. CrossAction is the all-rounder; Sensitive is softer; 3D White has a polishing cup that’s too firm for sensitive teeth. They’re sold in almost every supermarket and pharmacy, which makes them the easiest heads to find and the cheapest in bulk, even though Amazon US only showed us a two-pack at about $12.49 a head.
Sonicare letters, decoded
Philips names heads by job and tier. C is for cleaning, G for gums, W for whitening, and A3 is the All-in-One flagship head. The number is the tier: 2 is “Optimal”, 3 is “Premium”. So C2 is the standard cleaning head (about $10.26 on Amazon US), G2 is the gum-care head that comes with the 5300, C3 Two-in-one ships with the 5900 (about $14.98), and A3 ships with the 7300 and the Prestige models (about $14.25). Every one clicks onto every current adult Sonicare, so you can mix them freely.
Brand-only heads
Laifen, SURI, Aquasonic, Bitvae, Quip, Waterpik and Curaprox all use their own fittings. Some are cheap (Aquasonic about $2.49, Laifen about $5, SURI about $6.33 a head) and some are not (Curaprox about $16.16, Quip about $18.46 from a reseller). Before buying any of these brushes, look up who sells the heads. A brush whose heads you can only get from one store is fine while that store exists.
Keeping heads clean
Rinse the head after brushing, shake it, and let it dry upright without a cap; a covered wet head grows bacteria faster. Pop the head off once a week and rinse the metal shaft and the inside of the head, where toothpaste builds up. Don’t share heads, even within a family, and replace one after a cold or mouth infection if that makes you feel better; there’s no harm in it.
Kids’ heads
Children need smaller, softer heads. Oral-B’s kids’ heads fit classic Oral-B handles, the iO Kids takes gentle iO heads, and Sonicare for Kids heads come in compact (younger children) and standard (from about seven) sizes and click onto adult Sonicare handles too.
Is a premium head worth it?
For most people, no. CrossAction or Ultimate Clean for Oral-B and C2 for Sonicare are the right defaults. Buy a sensitive head if your teeth or gums are sensitive.
How to cut head costs
- Buy bigger packs, not two-packs.
- Choose a brush with cheap heads to begin with (Aquasonic, Laifen, SURI).
- Count the heads in the box: the Sonicare 5300 and 7300 include three.
- Stock up during sales.
Things readers check with us
Every three months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed.
Do Oral-B iO heads fit other Oral-B brushes?
No. iO heads only fit iO handles, and classic heads only fit classic handles.
Which Sonicare head is cheapest?
Genuine C2 heads, at about $10.50 each in a three-pack on October 30, 2026.
Are generic toothbrush heads safe?
Many are fine, but quality varies. Choose soft, end-rounded bristles and a secure fit.
Do Sonicare heads fit the new 2026 Sonicare models?
Yes. The 5900 and 7300 use the same click-on fitting as the 4100, so C2, G2 and A3 heads all fit.
Why do brush heads have coloured bristles?
Many heads have indicator bristles that fade as they wear, a reminder to replace the head. Some brushes, like Sonicare’s, also track use and remind you on the handle.
