You can get crutches for free through medical equipment loan programs, community giveaway networks, disability nonprofits, and sometimes through your insurance plan. The easiest starting point depends on how quickly you need them and where you live, but most people can find a pair without paying anything within a day or two.
Medical Equipment Loan Closets
Hundreds of communities across the U.S. maintain free medical equipment closets, sometimes called “loaner closets” or “lending libraries.” These are typically run by civic organizations, churches, senior centers, and veteran service groups. The Elks Lodge in Ketchikan, Alaska, for example, uses grant funding to stock wheelchairs, walkers, and other equipment that community members can borrow for up to three months. Similar programs exist through VFW posts, Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs, and local houses of worship nationwide.
The challenge is that these programs rarely advertise online. Your best move is to call your local Area Agency on Aging (even if you’re not a senior), dial 2-1-1 (the national helpline for community services), or search “[your county] medical equipment loan closet.” Hospital social workers and discharge planners also keep lists of these resources and can point you to the nearest one. Many fire departments and community health centers maintain small equipment closets as well.
Disability and Nonprofit Equipment Exchanges
Several disability-focused nonprofits run equipment exchange programs that serve anyone, not just people with a specific diagnosis. United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee, for instance, collects donated medical equipment and redistributes it to individuals who have little or no insurance and no other way to get what they need. Their program is open to people throughout the state regardless of diagnosis.
Other organizations that commonly offer similar programs include Easter Seals affiliates, Goodwill chapters with medical equipment sections, and independent living centers. Nearly every state has a network of independent living centers funded through federal grants, and many of them maintain equipment inventories or can connect you with a local exchange. Search “independent living center” plus your state at ilru.org to find yours.
Online Giveaway Networks
Peer-to-peer gifting platforms are one of the fastest ways to find free crutches because so many people have a pair sitting unused in a closet. The Buy Nothing Project, which operates through hyperlocal neighborhood groups, lets you request anything you’d like to receive for free, whether to borrow or keep. Post a simple ask in your local Buy Nothing group (most are on Facebook or the Buy Nothing app), and you’ll often get a response within hours.
Freecycle works similarly, with local groups organized by city or zip code where people post items they want to give away. Craigslist’s “free” section, Facebook Marketplace filtered to $0, and Nextdoor neighborhood groups are also worth checking. Crutches show up constantly on all of these platforms because they’re bulky to store and most people only need them once.
Insurance Coverage You Might Already Have
If you have health insurance, your crutches may already be covered. Medicare Part B covers crutches as durable medical equipment. You’ll need a prescription from your doctor, and under Original Medicare you typically pay 20% of the approved amount after meeting your annual deductible. If you also have a Medigap plan or qualify for Medicaid as a secondary payer, that 20% copay may be covered entirely, bringing your cost to zero.
Most private insurance plans and Medicaid programs also cover crutches with a prescription. Call the member services number on your insurance card and ask about durable medical equipment coverage. If your plan covers them at 100% after a copay, the out-of-pocket cost might be lower than you expect, sometimes nothing at all depending on your plan’s structure.
Checking Used Crutches for Safety
Free crutches are only useful if they’re safe to use. Before you put weight on a secondhand pair, inspect them carefully. Check the rubber tips on the bottom: they should be firmly attached with no cracks, smooth spots, or visible wear. Worn tips lose traction on smooth floors and wet surfaces, which is a fall risk. Replacement tips cost a few dollars at any pharmacy if the rest of the crutch is in good shape.
Look at the frame for any bends, cracks, or loose hardware. Push buttons and adjustment pins should click firmly into place without wobbling. If anything feels unstable or the crutch makes creaking sounds under pressure, don’t use it.
Sizing Crutches Correctly
Getting crutches for free saves money, but poorly fitted crutches can cause real harm. If you’re using the standard underarm (axillary) type, the top of the crutch should sit about two finger widths below your armpit, not pressed up into it. The handgrips should fall roughly at hip level so your elbows bend slightly when you grip them.
The most important rule: support your weight through your hands on the grips, never by leaning on the underarm pads. Pressing your body weight into your armpits compresses the nerves and blood vessels that run through that area, which can cause numbness, tingling, and even temporary loss of hand function. This is common enough that it has a name in medical settings, and it’s entirely preventable by keeping your weight on the handgrips. Most crutches have multiple adjustment holes for both height and grip position, so take the time to set them correctly before walking on them.