STD testing costs anywhere from $0 to about $250, depending on how many infections you’re testing for, where you go, and whether you have insurance. A single test for one infection can run as little as $15 to $70, while a comprehensive panel checking for multiple STDs typically costs $150 to $300 out of pocket.
The good news: many people qualify for free or reduced-cost testing and don’t realize it. Here’s what you can expect to pay at every type of testing option.
What Insurance Covers at No Cost
If you have health insurance through an ACA-compliant plan, several STD screenings are classified as preventive services, meaning they’re covered with zero out-of-pocket cost. The specific tests covered depend on your age, sex, and risk factors:
- Chlamydia and gonorrhea: Free screening for sexually active women 24 and younger, older women at increased risk, and adolescents ages 11 to 21.
- Syphilis: Free screening for anyone at increased risk and all pregnant women.
- HPV: Cervical cancer screening (which includes HPV testing) for women 21 to 65.
- HIV counseling: Behavioral counseling covered for all sexually active adolescents and adults at increased risk.
The catch is that these free screenings apply to specific groups. If you’re a man requesting a routine chlamydia test, for example, your plan may still cover it but could apply a copay. Call the number on your insurance card before your visit to confirm what’s covered so you’re not surprised by a bill.
Costs at a Clinic or Doctor’s Office
Without insurance, a visit to a doctor or urgent care for STD testing generally falls in the $50 to $250 range. That total depends on how many infections you’re screening for. Testing for a single STD is cheaper than a full panel. At Planned Parenthood of Florida, for instance, each individual STI test sent to a lab averages $15 to $70. A full panel that checks for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis adds up quickly because each test is processed separately.
Watch for extra charges beyond the lab work itself. Many clinics charge an office visit fee on top of the testing costs, and some require a pregnancy test at your first visit (around $20 at some Planned Parenthood locations). Additional charges can also apply if you need a physical exam or if the provider orders extra tests based on your symptoms.
Community Health Centers and Free Clinics
Local health departments and community clinics are often the cheapest option. Many offer free HIV testing outright, and some provide full STD panels at no cost regardless of insurance status. Public health clinics run by your city or county health department routinely test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, herpes, and HIV. The Boston STD Clinic, as one example, offers free routine testing for all of those infections plus cost assistance for uninsured patients.
Planned Parenthood health centers use a sliding fee scale based on your income, so your cost could be anywhere from $0 to full price. Other federally qualified health centers work the same way. You can find your nearest option by searching on the CDC’s GetTested tool or calling your local health department directly. Some clinics require appointments while others accept walk-ins, so check before you go.
College and University Health Centers
If you’re a student, your campus health center is likely the best deal available. Testing fees at university clinics are significantly lower than commercial labs because they’re partially subsidized by student fees you’ve already paid. At the University of Tennessee’s student health center, a chlamydia and gonorrhea test costs $20, and a fourth-generation HIV test runs $17. Many campus clinics offer similarly discounted rates, and some include basic STD screening in the cost of a routine visit. Check your school’s health center website for a fee schedule.
Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing
If you’d rather skip the doctor’s visit, services like Quest, STDcheck, and PrioritySTD let you order tests online and then visit a nearby lab (usually Quest or LabCorp) for sample collection. You get results digitally, typically within a few days. Here’s what the pricing looks like:
- Quest (QuestHealth): $149 for a basic STD panel, $282 for an expanded panel. An additional physician service fee starting at $6 is added for medical oversight.
- STDcheck: $24 to $259 depending on which tests you select.
- PrioritySTD: $59 to $198 for individual tests or bundles.
These services are convenient and private, but they don’t include a consultation with a provider. If your results come back positive, you’ll still need to see a doctor for treatment. Some services connect you with a physician for follow-up, but that may cost extra.
At-Home STD Test Kits
At-home kits let you collect your own sample (usually a swab, urine sample, or finger-prick blood spot) and mail it to a lab. Shipping is typically free both ways, and results come back online within a few days. Prices vary widely based on how many infections the kit covers:
- myLAB Box: $59 to $399
- Everlywell: $69 to $253
- LetsGetChecked: $99 to $249
- Visby Medical: $179.99 (the first FDA-authorized at-home PCR test, currently available for vaginal swab collection only)
The lower end of these ranges covers a single infection like chlamydia or gonorrhea. The higher prices are for comprehensive panels testing six to fourteen infections at once. At-home kits are a good option if privacy or convenience is your priority, but they tend to cost more per test than a clinic visit. They also won’t help if you need treatment right away, since a positive result still means a separate trip to a provider.
How to Spend the Least
Your cheapest path depends on your situation. If you have ACA-compliant insurance and fall into one of the recommended screening groups, your testing is free at any in-network provider. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, a local health department clinic or Planned Parenthood with sliding-scale fees will almost always beat commercial pricing. Students should start with their campus health center, where a basic chlamydia and gonorrhea screen can cost under $25.
If you’re paying out of pocket and want a full panel, direct-to-consumer lab services in the $100 to $150 range offer reasonable value compared to a doctor’s office visit where the exam fee alone can eat up half your budget. At-home kits are the priciest per test but offer the most privacy. Whatever route you choose, the cost of testing is consistently lower than the cost of an untreated infection, both financially and physically.