Tonsillectomy cost without insurance
The median cash price for Tonsillectomy, age 12+ is $2,735.53 across 417 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $480.00 and $11,683.42.
Tonsil and adenoid removal is one of the most common operations in children, done as same-day surgery. The code depends on age (under 12 or 12 and older) and on whether the adenoids are removed too. Ear tubes are often placed in the same visit and are billed separately.
Collected Sep 25, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file
Tonsillectomy prices by type
42826 is tonsil removal at age 12 or older and is used in the state table; 42825 is the same under 12; 42820 and 42821 remove tonsils and adenoids in children and in older patients; 42830 removes the adenoids only; and 69436 and 69433 are ear tube placements under general and local anesthesia.
| Procedure | Hospitals | Most charge | Median | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonsillectomy, age 12+ Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) only, age 12 or older · code 42826 | 417 | $480.00–$11,683.42 | $2,735.53 | — |
| Tonsil and adenoid removal, 12+ Tonsil and adenoid removal, age 12 or older · code 42821 | 388 | $583.57–$12,356.64 | $3,596.75 | — |
| Tonsillectomy, child Tonsil and adenoid removal, child under 12 · code 42820 | 370 | $715.20–$13,420.18 | $4,483.06 | — |
| Tonsillectomy, child Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) only, child under 12 · code 42825 | 332 | $337.60–$14,221.23 | $2,652.00 | — |
| Adenoidectomy Adenoid removal (adenoidectomy), child under 12 · code 42830 | 349 | $492.11–$11,211.20 | $3,536.66 | — |
| Ear tubes surgery Ear tube placement (tympanostomy) under general anesthesia, one ear · code 69436 | 435 | $294.45–$7,563.26 | $1,904.66 | — |
| Ear tubes, local anesthesia Ear tube placement (tympanostomy) with local anesthesia, one ear · code 69433 | 467 | $196.35–$2,048.25 | $598.20 | $551.01median 1.1× |
“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.
Tonsillectomy, age 12+: median by state
States with at least two hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its tonsillectomy prices and cheapest hospitals.
- Indiana$342.30
- Kentucky$342.30
- Vermont$556.00
- Iowa$622.40
- Montana$651.15
- Oregon$721.60
- Michigan$751.40
- Minnesota$829.62
- Nebraska$1,107.68
- Wyoming$1,173.31
- Wisconsin$1,359.15
- Arkansas$2,416.20
- Maryland$2,620.67
- Oklahoma$3,238.00
- Texas$3,277.28
- New York$3,387.27
- Illinois$3,535.00
- West Virginia$3,564.00
- Nevada$3,606.00
- New Jersey$3,791.12
- Tennessee$4,190.21
- Washington$4,780.58
- Pennsylvania$5,036.01
- Ohio$5,255.82
- Alabama$5,397.34
- Missouri$5,471.81
- North Carolina$5,804.00
- Alaska$5,907.66
- Kansas$6,058.53
- Massachusetts$6,168.63
- California$6,749.08
- Idaho$7,224.00
- Mississippi$8,106.11
- Colorado$8,292.12
- Georgia$9,791.00
- South Carolina$10,435.55
- Connecticut$10,594.31
- Florida$11,581.00
- Virginia$13,558.29
Paying cash: what to do
- Ask for a bundled self-pay price that includes the surgeon, anesthesia, facility and follow-up visits; hospital file prices usually cover only the facility.
- If ear tubes are placed at the same time, ask for one price for both.
- Ambulatory surgery centers often charge much less than hospital outpatient departments.
Questions
How long is recovery?
About 7 to 10 days for children and often two weeks for adults.
Is there a risk of bleeding?
Yes, a small risk for up to two weeks after surgery. Seek care for any bleeding.
Why remove the adenoids?
Large adenoids can block breathing through the nose and cause ear problems.