SelfPayRates
Cash prices 2,848 hospitals

Cortisone shot cost without insurance

The median cash price for Joint injection (cortisone shot) is $439.76 per injection across 2,848 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $120.79 and $1,313.67.

Steroid injections, often called cortisone shots, treat joint, tendon and spine pain. They are billed by where the needle goes and whether imaging guides it. A shot in a knee or shoulder in a doctor's office is at the low end, while spine injections under X-ray in a hospital cost much more. The steroid itself is often a separate charge.

Collected Nov 10, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file

Cortisone shot prices by type

20610 is an injection into a large joint such as the knee or shoulder and is used in the state table; 20605 and 20600 are medium and small joints; 20550 and 20552 are tendon and trigger point injections; 62321 to 62323 and 64483 are epidural injections; 64493 is a facet joint injection; 64635 is radiofrequency ablation; 64405 is an occipital nerve block; and 64615 is Botox for migraine.

ProcedureHospitalsMiddle 80%MedianMedicare
Joint injection (cortisone shot) Injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound · code 20610 2,848 $120.79–$1,313.67 $439.76 $313.60median 1.4×
Joint injection (medium joint) Joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle) · code 20605 2,724 $102.90–$1,103.70 $378.51 $313.60median 1.2×
Joint injection (small joint) Joint injection or drainage, small joint (fingers, toes) · code 20600 2,543 $95.10–$1,075.35 $359.00 $313.60median 1.1×
Tendon sheath injection Injection into a tendon sheath or ligament (for example trigger finger) · code 20550 2,313 $99.09–$1,179.09 $392.00 $313.60median 1.2×
Trigger point injection Trigger point injections, 1 or 2 muscles · code 20552 2,562 $100.00–$1,155.67 $392.50 $313.60median 1.3×
Epidural injection, guided Lower-back epidural injection, with imaging guidance · code 62323 2,190 $518.44–$3,464.80 $1,369.55 $721.17median 1.9×
Epidural steroid injection Lower-back epidural injection, without imaging guidance · code 62322 1,648 $422.02–$3,349.30 $1,235.75 $903.63median 1.4×
Neck epidural injection Epidural steroid injection, neck or mid back, with imaging guidance · code 62321 1,936 $545.41–$3,867.80 $1,391.40 $721.17median 1.9×
Nerve root injection Lower-back nerve root steroid injection, with imaging guidance · code 64483 2,056 $511.78–$3,650.45 $1,469.36 $903.63median 1.6×
Lumbar facet injection Facet joint injection, lower back, one level, with imaging guidance · code 64493 2,048 $551.00–$3,992.95 $1,541.56 $903.63median 1.7×
Lumbar radiofrequency ablation Radiofrequency ablation of facet joint nerves, lower back, one level · code 64635 1,593 $1,033.62–$5,786.42 $2,605.71 —
Occipital nerve block Occipital nerve block (injection for headaches) · code 64405 2,080 $168.77–$1,412.96 $540.00 $313.60median 1.7×
Botox for migraine Botox injections for chronic migraine · code 64615 1,112 $181.72–$1,324.05 $518.00 $313.60median 1.7×
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 covers the injection. The medicine, ultrasound or X-ray guidance and the 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.

Joint injection (cortisone shot): median by state

States with at least 5 hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its cortisone shot prices and cheapest hospitals.

Joint injection (cortisone shot): median by metro area

Metro areas with at least 10 hospitals.

Paying cash: what to do

  • Ask whether the price includes the medicine and any ultrasound or X-ray guidance.
  • Orthopedic, sports medicine and pain management offices often charge less than hospitals.
  • Doctors usually limit steroid shots to a few a year in one spot, so ask how many you might need.

Questions

How much does a cortisone shot cost without insurance?

The median hospital cash price for Joint injection (cortisone shot) (code 20610) is $439.76 per injection across 2,848 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price; most charge $120.79 to $1,313.67. By state, the median runs from $201.72 in Nebraska to $1,510.00 in Rhode Island. The price covers the injection. The medicine, ultrasound or X-ray guidance and the visit may be billed separately.

How long does a cortisone shot last?

Relief often lasts weeks to months, and varies from person to person.

Do spine injections need imaging?

Epidural and facet injections are usually done under X-ray or CT guidance, which adds cost.

Are there side effects?

Short-term pain at the site, a temporary rise in blood sugar and facial flushing are common.