How much do braces cost without insurance?
Metal braces cost about $6,343 on average without insurance, with most cases between $2,500 and $10,000, based on CareCredit's 2023 to 2024 cost study as reported by Real Dental Costs. Ceramic braces average $5,834 and lingual braces $9,221. Most orthodontists offer 0% payment plans of about $89 to $250 a month, and insurance pays through a separate lifetime orthodontic maximum of about $1,000 to $3,000.
Prices are national ranges from the sources listed below. Your price depends on your provider, location and case; confirm the cost with your provider before treatment. How we get these prices
| Item | Low | High | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal braces[1][2] | $2,500 | $10,000 | $6,343 | |
| Ceramic (clear) braces[1][2] | $4,480 | $11,312 | $5,834 | |
| Lingual braces (behind the teeth)[1][2] | $7,321 | $17,411 | $9,221 | |
| Clear aligners[1][2] | $1,800 | $8,100 | $5,108 | |
| Monthly payment plan[1] | $89 | $250 | Typical 0% in-house plans, per month | |
| Retainers[1] | $100 | $500 | Sometimes billed separately | |
| Adjustment visit[1] | $120 | $300 | If not bundled | |
| Insurance lifetime orthodontic maximum[1] | $1,000 | $3,000 | Separate from the annual maximum |
Braces cost by type
In the table above, the averages are from CareCredit’s 2023 to 2024 cost study[2] and the ranges from Real Dental Costs.[1] Lingual braces, fixed behind the teeth, cost the most; ceramic braces average slightly less than metal in CareCredit’s data. Real Dental Costs also gives a summary range of $3,000 to $8,000 for metal braces or clear aligners without insurance.[1] For aligners, see Invisalign cost.
What the braces price includes
An all-inclusive quote typically covers the consultation, records and X-rays, the braces, every adjustment visit, emergency repairs and at least one set of retainers.[1] When items are billed separately, Real Dental Costs puts the consultation at $0 to $350 and records and X-rays at $100 to $600; adjustment and retainer prices are in the table above.[1] CareCredit’s study lists averages of $115 for a brace tightening, $185 for a broken bracket, and $181 to $344 for retainers depending on type.[2]
Braces cost for adults and kids
Adults typically pay $500 to $1,500 more than children for the same correction, because adult teeth move more slowly through denser bone and treatment often runs longer.[1] Most cases take 18 to 36 months; mild crowding can finish in 6 to 12 months.[1]
What’s the best age to get braces?
There is no single best age. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first check-up with an orthodontist by age 7, and many AAO orthodontists offer that check-up at no cost.[5] At that visit the orthodontist decides whether treatment is needed now, later or not at all.[5] Adults can get braces too, but typically pay $500 to $1,500 more for the same correction.[1]
Is $5,000 a good price for braces?
For metal braces, yes: $5,000 is below CareCredit’s $6,343 national average and inside Real Dental Costs’ $3,000 to $8,000 summary range for braces or aligners without insurance.[1][2] Prices also vary by state; Real Dental Costs’ state averages for metal braces start at $4,767 in Indiana.[1] Before you accept a quote, confirm it is all-inclusive, with records, adjustments and retainers.[1]
Braces cost with insurance
- Lifetime maximum: many plans pay orthodontics from a separate lifetime maximum of about $1,000 to $3,000, not the annual maximum.[1]
- Coverage: usually 25% to 50% of the fee for dependents under 18; adult orthodontic coverage is limited or excluded on many plans.[1]
- Waiting period: orthodontic coverage typically has a 12 to 24 month waiting period.[3]
- Medicaid: does not cover routine or cosmetic orthodontics, but can cover braces for children when treatment is medically necessary.[1]
Braces cost by state
Real Dental Costs’ averages for metal braces run from $4,767 in Indiana, $5,280 in Alabama and $5,363 in Wyoming to $7,509 in Louisiana, $7,735 in Kansas and $8,350 in Nevada.[1]
How to get braces without insurance
- Ask for a 0% payment plan. Most orthodontists offer in-house plans, often $89 to $250 a month.[1]
- Ask what is bundled. Retainers and adjustment fees are sometimes billed separately.[1]
- Use pre-tax money. HSA and FSA funds and paid-in-full discounts can lower the real cost.[1]
- Book free consultations. Many AAO orthodontists offer the first check-up at no cost, so you can compare quotes.[5]
- Use a dental discount plan. Care Anytime’s dental benefit lists 20% savings on orthodontics, including braces and retainers, for children and adults.[4] See how dental discount plans work.
Frequently asked questions
How much do braces cost without insurance?
CareCredit's 2023 to 2024 cost study puts metal braces at $6,343 on average, ceramic at $5,834 and lingual at $9,221. Real Dental Costs says metal braces range from $2,500 to $10,000 depending on the case and treatment length.
How much do braces cost per month?
Real Dental Costs says most orthodontists offer 0% in-house monthly plans, often $89 to $250 a month. Treatment usually lasts 18 to 36 months.
Do braces cost more for adults?
Usually, by about $500 to $1,500 for the same correction, according to Real Dental Costs. Adult teeth move more slowly and treatment often runs longer, and insurance covers children far more often than adults.
Does dental insurance cover braces?
Many plans cover orthodontics through a separate lifetime maximum of about $1,000 to $3,000, according to Real Dental Costs. Coverage is usually 25% to 50% for dependents under 18, and adult coverage is limited or excluded on many plans.
What is the cheapest state for braces?
Real Dental Costs puts Indiana lowest, at $4,767 on average for metal braces, and Nevada highest, at $8,350.
Do dental discount plans cover braces?
A discount plan does not pay the orthodontist; you pay a reduced fee at a participating provider. Care Anytime's dental benefit lists 20% savings on orthodontics, including braces and retainers, for children and adults.
Sources
- Real Dental Costs. Braces Cost Guide (2026). Accessed October 30, 2026.
- CareCredit (Synchrony), study by ASQ360. Dental Procedure Costs (2023 to 2024 Average Procedural Cost Study). Accessed October 30, 2026.
- Real Dental Costs. Dental Insurance Guide. Accessed October 30, 2026.
- Care Anytime. Dental Discounts. Accessed October 30, 2026.
- American Association of Orthodontists. Child Orthodontics: Pediatric Braces and Early Treatment. Accessed October 30, 2026.