An eye exam costs $89 to $144 on average without insurance in 2026
All About Vision surveyed 100 US eye care practices. The average exam was $89 at a vision center inside a store, $93 at an eyewear chain and $144 at a private practice. Across all 100, the average was $110. The cheapest exam it found was $49 and the most expensive was $293.
What an eye exam costs without insurance, by type of practice and store
| Vision center inside a store (All About Vision) | $89 average |
|---|---|
| Eyewear chain (All About Vision) | $93 average |
| Private practice (All About Vision) | $144 average |
| All 100 practices (All About Vision) | $110 average |
| Big cities / smaller cities (All About Vision) | $108 / $112 average |
| Lowest and highest exam found (All About Vision) | $49 and $293 |
| Walmart, 3 stores (Clark.com) | $80 to $120 |
| Costco, 3 stores (Clark.com) | $79 to $110 |
| Sam's Club, 3 stores (Clark.com) | $85 to $125 |
| Target Optical, 3 stores (Clark.com) | $85 to $128 |
The store rows come from Clark.com calls to stores in Lexington, Atlanta and Denver in January 2026. Three stores per chain is a small sample, so treat those as examples, not national prices. Sources: All About Vision, eye exam costs in 2026 (survey of 100 US eye care practices, updated Apr 19, 2026); Clark.com, where to get cheap eye exams (phone checks of stores in Lexington, Atlanta and Denver, Jan 8, 2026).
What changes your price
- Where you go. All About Vision found private practices cost about 60 percent more than store and chain locations, $51 more on average. Rent, equipment and staff likely explain most of the gap.
- What is included. Most practices in the survey included dilation in the exam fee. Some billed it apart, at about $20 or $25.
- Retinal imaging. A wide photo of the back of the eye can replace or add to dilation. When it is not in the exam fee, All About Vision puts it at about $25 to $50.
- Contact lenses. A contact lens fitting costs extra. Clark.com found about $50 to $70 more on average.
- New or returning patient. Some private practices charge returning patients less. One in the survey charged $125 for a new patient and $115 for a returning one.
Store exams and private practices do the same basic job
The eye doctor at a Walmart, Costco or Sam's Club is usually an independent optometrist who rents space in or next to the store. They set their own fee, which is why the price changes from one store to the next.
A private practice charges more mostly because it carries its own costs. Its exam is not always longer or more thorough, but it may include tests that a store charges for apart. Ask what is included before you compare two prices.
All About Vision also found the gap between the cheapest and the most expensive exam was $244. The five most expensive exams were all in western states. That is why calling two or three places near you is the best way to save.
How to judge the price you are quoted
- Ask if dilation is included, and the price if not.
- Ask if retinal imaging is included or optional.
- Ask if a contact lens fitting is extra.
- Ask if there is a self-pay or new patient discount.
- Compare the total with the averages above.
Ways to pay less
- Call two or three places and ask the self-pay price. Most will tell you on the phone.
- Try a store vision center first. They averaged $89 in the survey.
- Use HSA or FSA money, which is not taxed.
- If you need glasses too, ask about exam and glasses bundle deals.
How we got these numbers
Every number on this page comes from a survey with a stated method or from prices collected store by store. All About Vision surveyed 100 eye care practices, spread evenly across six US regions, big and small cities, and three types of practice. Clark.com phoned named stores and printed each price it was given. We use the median when a source lets us work one out. The median is the middle price: half of the prices are lower and half are higher. The All About Vision survey only gives averages, so we label those as averages. We left out sites that give a price with no method, and numbers we could not find on the source's own page. We do not add our own guesses, and this page has no calculator because no source says how each choice moves the price. All numbers were checked on September 26, 2026.
Common questions
How much is an eye exam without insurance?
About $110 on average across 100 practices in a 2026 survey, from $89 at store vision centers to $144 at private practices.
What is the cheapest place to get an eye exam?
Store vision centers averaged $89 in the survey. Clark.com found Costco stores from $75 to $110 and Walmart stores from $80 to $120.
Is dilation extra?
Most practices include it. When it is billed apart, expect about $20 or $25.
Is a contact lens exam more?
Yes. Clark.com found a fitting adds about $50 to $70 on average.