A LensCrafters eye exam costs $69 to $189 without insurance in 2026
LensCrafters has no national exam price. The eye doctor at each store sets the fee and posts it on the store's own LensCrafters page. At eight stores we checked, the starting exam fee ran from $69 in Chicago to $189 in Tacoma. The median was $94.50. Two stores in the same city, Chicago, charged $69 and $150.
What a LensCrafters eye exam costs, store by store
| Store | Eye exam | Contact lens exam | Dilation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL, 900 West North Ave | $69 | $129 | $15 |
| Houston, TX, Willowbrook Mall | $85 | $145 | $34 |
| Dallas, TX, N Central Expy | $85 | $165 | Included |
| New York, NY, 1430 3rd Ave | $89 | $149 | $15 |
| Austin, TX, Research Blvd | $100 | $80 fitting * | Not listed |
| Chicago, IL, 111 North State St (in Macy's) | $150 | $210 | Included |
| Seattle, WA, Northgate | $150 | $205 | Included |
| Tacoma, WA, S Steele St | $189 | $120 fitting * | Not listed |
These are each doctor's starting fees without insurance. Contact lens fees include the glasses exam unless marked *. At the two stores marked *, the page lists a contact lens fee but does not say it includes the exam, so ask. Retinal imaging, a photo of the back of the eye, was $34 to $49 at all eight stores. Sources: LensCrafters eye doctor page, Doctors of Optometry, 900 West North Ave, Chicago, IL; LensCrafters eye doctor page, Precision Eye Clinic, 1020 Willowbrook Mall, Houston, TX; LensCrafters eye doctor page, Dallas Eyes Now, 8687 N Central Expy, Dallas, TX; LensCrafters eye doctor page, Doctors of Optometry, 1430 3rd Ave, New York, NY; LensCrafters eye doctor page, Friendly Eyes Optometry, 10000 Research Blvd, Austin, TX; LensCrafters eye doctor page, Eye Physical, 111 North State Street, Chicago, IL; LensCrafters eye doctor page, Dr. Stephen Nevett and Associates, 401 NE Northgate Way, Seattle, WA; LensCrafters eye doctor page, TruVision Eye Care, 4502 S Steele St, Tacoma, WA.
How LensCrafters compares
| LensCrafters, median of 8 stores | $94.50 |
|---|---|
| LensCrafters, contact lens exam, median of 6 stores | $157 |
| Eyewear chains nationwide (All About Vision) | $93 average |
| Private practices nationwide (All About Vision) | $144 average |
| America's Best, exam without glasses | $80 |
The contact lens median uses the six stores whose fee clearly includes the glasses exam. Sources: All About Vision, eye exam costs in 2026 (survey of 100 US eye care practices, updated Apr 19, 2026); America's Best, 2 pairs of glasses for $95 offer and terms.
What changes your price
- The doctor. LensCrafters says eye exams are given by independent doctors of optometry at or next to its stores in most states. Each one sets their own fee.
- The store, even in one city. In Chicago, the doctor on West North Ave starts at $69 and the doctor inside Macy's on State Street starts at $150.
- Dilation. Three stores include it. Others charge $15 to $34 more. Ask before you compare two prices.
- Retinal imaging. Every store we checked offers it for $34 to $49 extra. It is optional at most offices.
- Contact lenses. A contact lens exam started at $129 to $210 where the fee includes the glasses exam.
Why the same chain has such different prices
The glasses and frames at LensCrafters are sold by LensCrafters. The eye exam is not. In most states the doctor runs their own practice inside or next to the store, with their own name, prices and insurance list. That is why the store page for 111 North State Street in Chicago is headed "Eye Physical" and the one in Houston is "Precision Eye Clinic".
The lower fee is not always the better deal. The $150 exams in Chicago and Seattle include dilation, while the $69 Chicago exam adds $15 for it. A $69 exam plus $15 dilation plus $39 imaging is $123.
In California, LensCrafters says exams come from EYEXAM of California, a licensed vision plan, and California stores are listed on a separate site. None of our eight stores are in California.
How to judge the price you are quoted
- Open your store's page on local.lenscrafters.com and look for Exam Fees.
- Check if dilation is included or extra.
- Ask if retinal imaging is optional, and say no if you do not want it.
- For contacts, ask if the fee includes the glasses exam.
- Compare with the $69 to $189 range above.
Ways to pay less
- Check two nearby LensCrafters stores. In our sample one city had a $81 gap.
- Use vision insurance if you have it. Every store we checked takes EyeMed and other plans.
- Use HSA or FSA money, which is not taxed.
- You do not have to buy glasses at LensCrafters. Your prescription is yours to take anywhere.
How we got these numbers
LensCrafters does not set one national exam price. Each store's eye doctor sets their own fee and posts it on the store's page on local.lenscrafters.com. We read the posted fees for eight stores in four states: two in Chicago, three in Texas, one in New York and two in Washington. One more store we checked, in Spokane, posts no fees, so it is not in the table. We use the median when we can work one out. The median is the middle price: half of the prices are lower and half are higher. The median of the eight exam fees is $94.50. Eight stores is a small sample out of more than 900, so treat the table as examples, not a national price. We left out sites that give a LensCrafters range with no store named. 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 a LensCrafters eye exam without insurance?
At eight stores we checked, the starting fee ran from $69 to $189, with a median of $94.50.
Why is LensCrafters cheaper at one store than another?
Each store's eye doctor is usually independent and sets their own fee.
Does a LensCrafters exam include dilation?
At some stores. Three of the eight include it; others charge $15 to $34 more.
How much is a LensCrafters contact lens exam?
$129 to $210 at the six stores whose fee includes the glasses exam, median $157.