Cash prices 3,087 hospitals

Cholesterol test (lipid panel) cost without insurance

The median cash price for Lipid panel is $87.50 per test across 3,087 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $16.64 and $337.14.

A lipid panel is a blood test that measures total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, triglycerides and calculated LDL (bad) cholesterol. It is a standard part of a checkup and is billed under code 80061. A test of total cholesterol alone (82465) is cheaper but gives less information. Prices vary widely between hospitals, clinics and independent labs, and the same test is often offered much cheaper through a walk-in lab.

Collected Oct 26, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file

Cholesterol test (lipid panel) prices by type

80061 is the full lipid panel and is used in the state table. 82465 is total cholesterol only. Fasting is sometimes needed for the panel and does not change the code.

Procedure	Hospitals	Middle 80%	Median	Medicare
Lipid panel Cholesterol and triglycerides (lipid panel) blood test · code 80061	3,087	$16.64–$337.14	$87.50	$13.39median 6.5×
Total cholesterol test Total cholesterol blood test · code 82465	3,020	$8.25–$121.00	$34.70	$4.35median 8.0×

Procedure The service and its billing code (CPT or HCPCS). Opens the comparison of every hospital that prices it. More

Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.

Middle 80% Cash prices of most hospitals: a tenth of hospitals charge less than the first number (P10), a tenth charge more than the second (P90). More

Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More

Medicare Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same outpatient service, including the patient's share, before the local wage adjustment. A yardstick, not a price you can pay. More

What the hospital price covers

The price is for the lab test. The blood draw and the doctor's visit may be billed separately.

“Most charge” is the middle 80% of hospitals (10th to 90th percentile), so one mistyped line in a hospital file cannot stretch it. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price for the code. “Medicare” is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for the same service outside a hospital stay, including the patient's share (the hospital outpatient, lab or hospital clinic rate); “median 3×” means the median cash price is three times that rate.

Lipid panel: median by state

States with at least 5 hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its cholesterol test (lipid panel) prices and cheapest hospitals.

Lipid panel: median by metro area

Metro areas with at least 10 hospitals.

Paying cash: what to do

Independent labs and direct-to-consumer lab services often charge a fraction of what hospitals list for the same panel.
Ask whether the blood draw is a separate charge; some places add it to the price.
If your doctor orders it, you can often take the order to a lab you choose.

Questions

How much does a cholesterol test (lipid panel) cost without insurance?

The median hospital cash price for Lipid panel (code 80061) is $87.50 per test across 3,087 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price; most charge $16.64 to $337.14. By state, the median runs from $23.35 in New Jersey to $213.92 in Utah. The price is for the lab test. The blood draw and the doctor's visit may be billed separately.

Do I need to fast for a lipid panel?

Often not anymore, but some doctors still ask for fasting for 9 to 12 hours. Follow the instructions you were given.

How often should I have my cholesterol checked?

It depends on age and risk. Many adults are checked every few years, and more often with risk factors; ask your doctor.

Is the result available right away?

Usually within a day, though some clinics have a same-day point-of-care result.