Cash prices 1,316 hospitals

Stitches cost without insurance

The median cash price for Stitches, small wound is $296.50 across 1,315 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $96.72 and $785.22.

Stitches are billed by the length of the cut, where it is, and how complex the repair is. A simple repair closes one layer of skin; an intermediate repair closes deeper layers or cleans a dirty wound. The biggest price difference is where you go: an emergency department adds an ER visit fee on top of the repair, while urgent care clinics usually charge much less for the same cut.

Collected Sep 25, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file

Stitches prices by type

12001 is a simple repair up to 2.5 cm on the scalp, body, arms or legs and is used in the state table; 12002 is 2.6 to 7.5 cm; 12011 is up to 2.5 cm on the face; and 12031 is a layered repair up to 2.5 cm. Glue and staples are billed with the same codes.

Procedure	Hospitals	Most charge	Median	Medicare
Stitches, small wound Simple repair of a superficial wound 2.5 cm or less, scalp, neck, body or limbs · code 12001	1,315	$96.72–$785.22	$296.50	$204.98median 1.4×
Stitches, 1 to 3 inch cut Stitches for a cut 2.6 to 7.5 cm (1 to 3 inches), simple repair, scalp, body, arms or legs · code 12002	1,316	$113.42–$800.80	$325.98	$204.98median 1.6×
Face stitches, up to 1 inch Stitches for a cut on the face up to 2.5 cm (1 inch), simple repair · code 12011	1,261	$107.30–$886.50	$312.90	$204.98median 1.5×
Layered stitches, up to 1 inch Layered stitches for a cut up to 2.5 cm, intermediate repair, scalp, body, arms or legs · code 12031	1,275	$173.90–$1,270.00	$483.20	$415.32median 1.2×

“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.

Stitches, small wound: median by state

States with at least two hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its stitches prices and cheapest hospitals.

Paying cash: what to do

For a cut that is not bleeding heavily, an urgent care clinic is usually far cheaper than an emergency department.
Ask whether the price includes the visit fee, supplies and a tetanus shot if you need one.
Keep the wound clean and dry for the first day and follow the instructions for stitch removal, which may be a separate visit.

Questions

How do I know if a cut needs stitches?

Cuts that gape open, are deeper than about a quarter inch, bleed after 10 minutes of pressure, or are on the face, hands or joints often need closing. Seek care within a few hours.

Are skin glue and staples cheaper?

They are billed with the same repair codes, so the price is usually similar.

When should I go to the ER instead?

For heavy bleeding that will not stop, deep wounds, animal bites, or cuts with numbness or loss of movement. Call 911 in an emergency.