How Much Does an STD Test Cost? (With and Without Insurance)

By Richard D. Porter, Patient Advocate Updated October 26, 2026

Quick answer

There is no single price. An STD test can cost nothing or a few hundred dollars, depending on which tests you need, where you go and whether insurance pays. With insurance, some screening tests are covered at no cost from an in-network provider. Without it, online labs list set prices (STDCheck lists single tests from $24 and panels at $139 and $259 as of 2026-10-26), and some public clinics charge little or nothing. Prices change, so confirm before you pay.

An STD test can cost nothing, or a few hundred dollars. Three things set the price: which tests you need, where you get them, and how you pay. We haven’t found an official national average, so we don’t quote one. Below are the prices that providers publish themselves, and how to find the ones that don’t.

How much does an STD test cost?

It depends on the test, the place and the payer:

Which tests. One infection costs less than a panel, but a panel may cost less per test.
Where. A public clinic, a doctor’s office, a lab or an online service each price differently.
How you pay. Insurance, an income-based sliding scale or paying directly all lead to different bills.

Always ask for the price of each test before you agree to it. Also ask whether there is a separate visit or lab fee.

What does an STD test cost with insurance?

Healthcare.gov says most health plans must cover a set of preventive services, like screening tests, at no cost to you when you use an in-network provider. It also says $0 isn’t guaranteed in all cases.

The adult list includes HIV screening for everyone 15 to 65 and other ages at increased risk, hepatitis C screening for adults 18 to 79, and syphilis screening for adults at higher risk. Which tests count for you depends on your age, sex and risk. The insurance coverage page goes through the details.

What does an STD test cost without insurance?

Prices below are what each provider lists on its own site as of 2026-10-26. They change, so confirm the current price.

Public and community clinics. The HHS Office of Population Affairs says low-income clients at Title X clinics may pay nothing or pay on a sliding scale depending on income. The CDC’s GetTested site says many clinics provide confidential and free or low-cost testing.
STDCheck (online order, lab visit). The 10 test panel is listed at $139 and the 13 test panel at $259. Single tests include chlamydia $59, chlamydia and gonorrhea $99, HIV 1 and 2 antibody $49, syphilis $49, herpes I or II $45 each, and hepatitis A, B or C $24 each. An optional HIV RNA early detection add-on is listed at $119 on the panels.
Quest Health (online order). The STD panel covering chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV is listed at $149 plus a $6 physician service fee.

STDCheck says it doesn’t accept health insurance, and Quest Health says it doesn’t bill insurance. Both are pay-direct services.

Is a panel cheaper than single tests?

Often, yes. At STDCheck’s listed prices, chlamydia and gonorrhea ($99), HIV ($49), syphilis ($49), both herpes tests ($90) and three hepatitis tests ($72) come to more than the $139 panel.

A panel only helps if it matches your situation. STDCheck’s 10 test panel covers HIV, herpes types 1 and 2, hepatitis A, B and C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Trichomoniasis is not in the 10 test panel. It is in the 13 test panel and is also listed on its own at $99. STDCheck’s home page describes urine and blood samples. If you had oral or anal sex, the CDC says to talk with a health care provider about throat and rectal testing options.

How can I avoid paying twice?

Time your test. A test taken too soon after sex can miss an infection, and then you may pay for a repeat. The testing-too-early guide shows how long to wait. If you are treated for chlamydia, the CDC recommends retesting about 3 months later, so plan for that cost as well.

Are there other costs to watch for?

Fees on top of the test. Quest lists a $6 physician service fee, and clinics may charge a visit fee. Ask.
Paying in advance. STDCheck says you must place your order and pay online or by phone before visiting a test center.
Treatment. If a test is positive, treatment is a separate cost from testing. Ask your clinician or pharmacist what to expect.

Get care now if

You may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours: go to an emergency room or urgent care clinic now. Cost questions can wait until after you are seen.
You have severe pelvic or testicular pain, or a fever with genital symptoms
You are pregnant and think you may have been exposed: contact your prenatal clinician promptly

Call 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, an urgent care clinic, sexual health clinic or your doctor can see you.

When to test

Within 72 hours of a possible HIV exposureGo to an emergency room or urgent care clinic now and ask about PEP. Don't let cost decide the timing.
Routine check-upsThe CDC says everyone ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV, and sexually active women younger than 25 should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. Ask whether your plan covers these as screening.
After a new exposureWait until the window period has passed before you pay for a test, or you may need to pay for a repeat. The testing-too-early page explains how long to wait.

Common questions

How much does an STD test cost without insurance?

It varies widely. Public and community clinics may charge nothing or use a sliding scale based on income. Online labs list fixed prices on their sites, for example STDCheck lists chlamydia at $59 and HIV at $49 on its pricing page as of 2026-10-26.

Is a full STD panel cheaper than single tests?

It can be. STDCheck lists its 10 test panel at $139, while buying chlamydia and gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, both herpes tests and three hepatitis tests one by one adds up to more. A panel only helps if it covers what you need.

Can I use insurance for an online STD test?

Not always. STDCheck says it doesn't accept health insurance, and Quest Health says it doesn't bill insurance. Some online labs accept HSA or FSA payments, so check the site before you order.

Are there free STD tests?

Yes, in some places. The CDC's GetTested site says many clinics provide confidential, free or low-cost testing, and Title X clinics say low-income clients may pay nothing or pay on a sliding scale.

Next: match the test to what happened.

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Sources

This guide is general information written by a patient advocate using public health sources. It is not a diagnosis. Only a clinician or a lab test can tell you whether you have an infection. Read how we write and check our guides.