A single STI test typically costs between $40 and $150 out of pocket, while a comprehensive panel screening for multiple infections runs $150 to $300. Your actual cost depends heavily on where you get tested, what infections you’re screening for, and whether you have insurance. In many cases, you can get tested for free.
What Tests Cost at Commercial Labs
If you walk into a lab like Quest Diagnostics without insurance, individual tests have a wide price range. An HIV test runs about $85, a chlamydia and gonorrhea combo test costs around $105, and a syphilis test is roughly $52. Herpes testing (HSV 1 and 2) costs about $105, while a trichomoniasis test is around $79. Hepatitis B screening runs about $99.
Most people looking for a broad screening will want a panel that bundles several tests together. Quest’s basic STD panel costs $149, and their expanded panel runs $282. On top of the lab fees, commercial labs often charge a separate physician service fee (starting around $6) because a licensed provider technically has to order and review your results.
What Insurance Covers at No Cost
Under the Affordable Care Act, most private insurance plans are required to cover certain STI screenings with zero copay or deductible. This applies to non-grandfathered plans, which includes the vast majority of employer and marketplace policies. The catch is that free coverage only applies to specific groups based on age, sex, and risk level.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea screening is fully covered for sexually active women age 24 and younger, and for older women at increased risk. Syphilis screening is covered for anyone at increased risk and all pregnant women. HIV screening is covered at least once for all adults aged 13 to 64. HPV-related cervical cancer screening is covered for women 21 to 65. Behavioral counseling for STI prevention is also covered for sexually active adolescents and adults at increased risk.
The gap here is significant: routine screening for men outside of specific risk categories, herpes testing, and hepatitis B testing aren’t always covered as preventive care. If a test falls outside these guidelines, your insurance may still cover it, but you could owe a copay or have it applied to your deductible. Call your insurer before your appointment to confirm what’s covered at no cost for your specific situation.
Community Clinics and Health Departments
Local health department STI clinics are often the cheapest option, and sometimes completely free. Many county sexual health clinics charge a flat visit fee that covers everything: risk assessment, physical exam if needed, lab tests, and even treatment if you test positive. San Diego County, for example, charges $40 per visit for comprehensive STI and HIV testing, treatment, and any follow-up visits within 30 days. HIV-only testing there is free. And if you can’t afford the fee, it can be waived.
Planned Parenthood locations use a sliding scale based on income, with STI testing listed at $0 to $400 depending on what’s included and what you can afford. The exact price is determined after your visit. Many county health departments offer most STD services at no cost regardless of where you live or your insurance status. Minors can typically be seen without parental consent in most states.
At-Home Test Kits
Mail-in STI test kits let you collect a sample at home (usually a finger prick, urine sample, or swab) and send it to a lab for results. They’re convenient but tend to cost more per test than a clinic visit. Everlywell sells individual and panel tests ranging from $69 to $169. LetsGetChecked offers three tiers: a basic chlamydia and gonorrhea kit, a five-infection panel adding trichomoniasis, HIV, and syphilis, and a comprehensive eight-infection panel. Their kits range from $99 to $249.
Quest also sells an at-home rapid test kit for women that screens for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis at $129. These kits are a good option if privacy is a priority or clinic hours don’t work for you, but they won’t be the cheapest route for most people.
Which Tests You Actually Need
You don’t necessarily need every test on a comprehensive panel. CDC screening guidelines can help you figure out what’s relevant. Every adult aged 13 to 64 should get an HIV test at least once. Sexually active women under 25 should be screened annually for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Men who have sex with men should be screened at least annually for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV, with more frequent testing (every 3 to 6 months) if at higher risk. All adults over 18 should be screened for hepatitis C at least once.
If you’re getting tested after a new partner or potential exposure, a basic panel covering chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV will catch the most common infections. Herpes testing is not part of routine screening for most people because blood tests for herpes can produce misleading results in people without symptoms. Your provider can help you decide whether to add it.
Costs Beyond the Test Itself
If you go through a doctor’s office rather than a dedicated STI clinic or direct-to-consumer lab, you’ll likely pay an office visit fee on top of the lab charges. A standard office visit for STI testing can run $100 to $250 without insurance, depending on your location and provider. That visit fee is separate from whatever the lab charges for processing your samples.
If you test positive, treatment for the most common bacterial STIs is inexpensive. The standard antibiotic for chlamydia costs pennies per pill at generic prices. Gonorrhea treatment requires an injection, which costs more but is still modest compared to the testing itself. Many public health clinics include treatment in their visit fee, so you won’t pay extra. If you’re testing through a commercial lab or at-home kit, you’ll need a separate appointment or telehealth visit for a prescription if something comes back positive, which adds to the total cost.
Finding the Lowest Price
Your cheapest option depends on your insurance status and income. If you have ACA-compliant insurance, start with your primary care provider or an in-network clinic and confirm that the specific tests you need qualify as preventive care with no cost-sharing. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, a county health department STI clinic will almost always be cheaper than a commercial lab or doctor’s office. Search “STD clinic” plus your county name, or use the CDC’s GetTested tool (gettested.cdc.gov) to find free and low-cost testing near you.
If you want the convenience of ordering your own tests without a doctor visit and you’re paying out of pocket, commercial labs like Quest offer transparent pricing that’s often lower than what an urgent care clinic would charge after adding their visit fee. At-home kits cost more but buy you complete privacy and the ability to test on your own schedule.