Tonsillectomy, child cost without insurance
The median hospital cash price for tonsil and adenoid removal, child under 12 is $5,589.78 across 531 US hospitals; most list between $1,564.00 and $12,812.00. The lowest outpatient cash price in any of 297 markets is $445.90. Prices come from each hospital's own price file; pick your area below to compare hospitals side by side.
Collected Nov 7, 2026 Each price links to its source file All Tonsillectomy costs
Lowest$445.90any market
Median market$5,309.83middle of market medians
Most below$12,812.009 in 10 hospitals
Listings518hospital prices
Cash or insurance?
If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you pay the rate your plan negotiated with the hospital, not the cash price. Hospital price files list those rates too: for tonsillectomy, child, the highest negotiated rate in a hospital's file has a median of $11,385.33 and the lowest a median of $1,129.46. At 407 of 472 hospitals that publish both, the cash price is below the highest negotiated rate.
With a high deductible, cash can cost less. But a cash payment may not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum: ask your plan for its rate at that hospital (most have a cost estimator) and whether it will credit a cash payment.
Plan's rate starts at the median highest negotiated rate and cash at the national median; put in your own numbers. Nothing you type leaves your device. To price a whole year with premiums, use the insurance or cash calculator.
What is CPT 42820?
This is surgery to remove both the tonsils and the adenoids in a child younger than 12. It is commonly done for repeated throat infections or for snoring and breathing problems during sleep caused by large tonsils and adenoids.
What the price covers
The facility price covers the operating room and recovery. The surgeon's fee and anesthesia are usually billed separately.
Why prices differ
Prices differ between children's hospitals, general hospital outpatient departments and surgery centers, and when an overnight observation stay is needed.
What to ask
Ask whether the self-pay price for CPT 42820 includes anesthesia and the surgeon, and whether an overnight stay would add to the cost.
Prices by state
Among 31 states with at least 5 hospitals listing a cash price, the median is lowest in Minnesota ($843.70), Wisconsin ($1,902.26) and Arkansas ($2,741.24), and highest in Colorado ($15,563.00), Virginia ($11,042.72) and California ($10,634.40).
Median outpatient cash price, one line per hospital. Pick a state to see every hospital, cheapest first.
- Alabama$5,628.00
- Alaska$6,343.49, 2 hospitals
- Arizona$9,200.19, 4 hospitals
- Arkansas$2,741.24
- California$10,634.40
- Colorado$15,563.00
- Delaware$5,566.65, 1 hospital
- Florida$8,813.18
- Georgia$7,906.00
- Hawaii$3,995.60, 3 hospitals
- Idaho$8,208.00
- Illinois$7,118.75
- Indiana$6,196.96
- Iowa$4,269.00
- Kansas$5,577.00
- Kentucky$6,498.11
- Louisiana$2,877.31
- Maine$6,262.26, 2 hospitals
- Maryland$5,285.26, 1 hospital
- Massachusetts$14,601.63, 3 hospitals
- Michigan$3,279.52
- Minnesota$843.70
- Mississippi$2,968.35
- Missouri$5,327.34
- Montana$780.00, 4 hospitals
- Nebraska$6,218.25
- Nevada$6,651.95, 4 hospitals
- New Hampshire$3,591.94, 1 hospital
- New Jersey$6,547.81
- New Mexico$9,129.84, 4 hospitals
- New York$7,000.36
- North Carolina$5,060.00
- North Dakota$4,793.99
- Ohio$8,397.85
- Oklahoma$4,767.86
- Oregon$3,943.58, 2 hospitals
- Pennsylvania$10,001.37
- Puerto Rico$1,500.00, 1 hospital
- South Carolina$6,264.81, 4 hospitals
- South Dakota$4,577.45, 3 hospitals
- Tennessee$4,333.59
- Texas$4,783.52
- Utah$3,690.00, 3 hospitals
- Vermont$2,604.31, 2 hospitals
- Virginia$11,042.72
- Washington$6,898.46
- West Virginia$5,253.00
- Wisconsin$1,902.26
- Wyoming$2,754.24, 2 hospitals
Prices by market
Outpatient cash prices. “×” is how many times the highest price in that market exceeds the lowest.
| Market | Hospitals | Lowest | Median | Highest | × |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ada, OK | 1 | $5,168.01 | $5,168.01 | $5,168.01 | 1.0× |
| Albuquerque, NM | 2 | $3,872.44 | $9,129.84 | $14,387.24 | 3.7× |
| Algona, IA single city | 1 | $3,803.20 | $3,803.20 | $3,803.20 | 1.0× |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 1 | $7,893.67 | $7,893.67 | $7,893.67 | 1.0× |
| Alliance, NE single city | 1 | $3,492.00 | $3,492.00 | $3,492.00 | 1.0× |
| Anchorage, AK | 1 | $10,345.67 | $10,345.67 | $10,345.67 | 1.0× |
| Anderson Creek, NC | 1 | $2,916.00 | $2,916.00 | $2,916.00 | 1.0× |
| Andrews, TX | 1 | $2,137.50 | $2,137.50 | $2,137.50 | 1.0× |
| Appleton, WI | 2 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | 1.0× |
| Arkansas City-Winfield, KS | 1 | $19,158.03 | $19,158.03 | $19,158.03 | 1.0× |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 9 | $3,688.40 | $7,906.00 | $7,906.00 | 2.1× |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 1 | $7,659.27 | $7,659.27 | $7,659.27 | 1.0× |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 8 | $4,555.73 | $4,555.73 | $5,012.88 | 1.1× |
| Bangor, ME | 1 | $657.52 | $657.52 | $657.52 | 1.0× |
| Bay City, MI | 1 | $3,293.83 | $3,293.83 | $3,293.83 | 1.0× |
| Beatrice, NE | 1 | $7,114.00 | $7,114.00 | $7,114.00 | 1.0× |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 1 | $5,851.66 | $5,851.66 | $5,851.66 | 1.0× |
| Bellingham, WA | 1 | $7,273.50 | $7,273.50 | $7,273.50 | 1.0× |
| Berlin, WI single city | 1 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | 1.0× |
| Bethany, MO single city | 1 | $3,347.50 | $3,347.50 | $3,347.50 | 1.0× |
| Birmingham, AL | 2 | $2,633.91 | $8,404.82 | $14,175.73 | 5.4× |
| Bluefield, WV-VA | 2 | $3,587.00 | $5,309.83 | $7,032.65 | 2.0× |
| Boise City, ID | 4 | $6,675.50 | $10,825.30 | $15,519.00 | 2.3× |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1 | $5,926.07 | $5,926.07 | $5,926.07 | 1.0× |
| Boulder, CO | 1 | $15,563.00 | $15,563.00 | $15,563.00 | 1.0× |
| Bozeman, MT | 2 | $780.00 | $780.00 | $780.00 | 1.0× |
| Brenham, TX | 1 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | 1.0× |
| Brookhaven, MS | 1 | $1,415.40 | $1,415.40 | $1,415.40 | 1.0× |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 1 | $5,917.00 | $5,917.00 | $5,917.00 | 1.0× |
| Bucyrus, OH | 1 | $9,789.17 | $9,789.17 | $9,789.17 | 1.0× |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 1 | $897.50 | $897.50 | $897.50 | 1.0× |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 1 | $4,709.87 | $4,709.87 | $4,709.87 | 1.0× |
| Cando, ND single city | 1 | $816.00 | $816.00 | $816.00 | 1.0× |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 4 | $4,172.58 | $4,175.31 | $4,177.18 | 1.0× |
| Carroll, IA | 1 | $3,249.84 | $3,249.84 | $3,249.84 | 1.0× |
| Carrollton, MO single city | 1 | $558.75 | $558.75 | $558.75 | 1.0× |
| Casper, WY | 1 | $2,754.24 | $2,754.24 | $2,754.24 | 1.0× |
| Cass City, MI single city | 1 | $496.08 | $496.08 | $496.08 | 1.0× |
| Centreville, MS single city | 1 | $1,932.00 | $1,932.00 | $1,932.00 | 1.0× |
| Chadron, NE single city | 1 | $5,810.00 | $5,810.00 | $5,810.00 | 1.0× |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 1 | $1,596.00 | $1,596.00 | $1,596.00 | 1.0× |
| Charleston, WV | 2 | $3,609.34 | $5,433.42 | $7,257.50 | 2.0× |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 3 | $5,060.00 | $5,060.00 | $5,060.00 | 1.0× |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 13 | $504.00 | $10,067.40 | $19,108.96 | 37.9× |
| Chico, CA | 1 | $528.00 | $528.00 | $528.00 | 1.0× |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1 | $13,330.26 | $13,330.26 | $13,330.26 | 1.0× |
| Clay Center, KS single city | 1 | $540.25 | $540.25 | $540.25 | 1.0× |
| Clayton, GA single city | 1 | $6,600.00 | $6,600.00 | $6,600.00 | 1.0× |
| Cleveland, OH | 1 | $6,703.56 | $6,703.56 | $6,703.56 | 1.0× |
| Clinton, IA | 1 | $17,294.97 | $17,294.97 | $17,294.97 | 1.0× |
| Clinton, MO single city | 1 | $2,448.74 | $2,448.74 | $2,448.74 | 1.0× |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 1 | $7,950.00 | $7,950.00 | $7,950.00 | 1.0× |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 1 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | 1.0× |
| Columbus, NE | 1 | $7,660.78 | $7,660.78 | $7,660.78 | 1.0× |
| Columbus, OH | 1 | $9,789.17 | $9,789.17 | $9,789.17 | 1.0× |
| Comanche, TX single city | 1 | $9,884.55 | $9,884.55 | $9,884.55 | 1.0× |
| Corsicana, TX | 1 | $5,364.20 | $5,364.20 | $5,364.20 | 1.0× |
| Crawfordsville, IN | 1 | $5,614.55 | $5,614.55 | $5,614.55 | 1.0× |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 1 | $7,047.44 | $7,047.44 | $7,047.44 | 1.0× |
| Cynthiana, KY single city | 1 | $5,840.10 | $5,840.10 | $5,840.10 | 1.0× |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 6 | $1,071.00 | $14,640.16 | $30,179.24 | 28.2× |
| Danville, VA | 1 | $10,635.40 | $10,635.40 | $10,635.40 | 1.0× |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 1 | $8,302.85 | $8,302.85 | $8,302.85 | 1.0× |
| David City, NE single city | 1 | $12,517.00 | $12,517.00 | $12,517.00 | 1.0× |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 1 | $3,036.28 | $3,036.28 | $3,036.28 | 1.0× |
| Deckerville, MI single city | 1 | $483.36 | $483.36 | $483.36 | 1.0× |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 4 | $15,563.00 | $15,563.00 | $15,563.00 | 1.0× |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 3 | $857.00 | $3,957.60 | $4,269.00 | 5.0× |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 5 | $2,849.64 | $8,139.99 | $8,381.51 | 2.9× |
| Devils Lake, ND single city | 1 | $4,793.99 | $4,793.99 | $4,793.99 | 1.0× |
| Dodge City, KS | 1 | $1,799.00 | $1,799.00 | $1,799.00 | 1.0× |
| Dothan, AL | 1 | $4,887.22 | $4,887.22 | $4,887.22 | 1.0× |
| Douglas, WY single city | 1 | $2,754.24 | $2,754.24 | $2,754.24 | 1.0× |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 1 | $585.60 | $585.60 | $585.60 | 1.0× |
| Duncan, OK | 1 | $12,060.84 | $12,060.84 | $12,060.84 | 1.0× |
| Durango, CO | 1 | $11,608.00 | $11,608.00 | $11,608.00 | 1.0× |
| Eau Claire, WI | 1 | $2,868.48 | $2,868.48 | $2,868.48 | 1.0× |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 2 | $6,763.40 | $10,151.12 | $13,538.83 | 2.0× |
| Elko, NV | 1 | $9,010.89 | $9,010.89 | $9,010.89 | 1.0× |
| Ellensburg, WA | 1 | $578.00 | $578.00 | $578.00 | 1.0× |
| Enterprise, AL | 1 | $6,544.26 | $6,544.26 | $6,544.26 | 1.0× |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 1 | $7,033.65 | $7,033.65 | $7,033.65 | 1.0× |
| Evergreen, AL single city | 1 | $2,314.65 | $2,314.65 | $2,314.65 | 1.0× |
| Fayetteville, NC | 1 | $1,902.00 | $1,902.00 | $1,902.00 | 1.0× |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 5 | $2,741.24 | $4,780.49 | $5,589.78 | 2.0× |
| Fergus Falls, MN | 1 | $696.80 | $696.80 | $696.80 | 1.0× |
| Flint, MI | 1 | $4,256.64 | $4,256.64 | $4,256.64 | 1.0× |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 1 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | 1.0× |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 2 | $3,327.85 | $3,327.85 | $3,327.85 | 1.0× |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 2 | $8,474.59 | $8,867.82 | $9,261.04 | 1.1× |
| Fredonia, KS single city | 1 | $2,725.85 | $2,725.85 | $2,725.85 | 1.0× |
| Freeport, IL | 1 | $1,273.60 | $1,273.60 | $1,273.60 | 1.0× |
| Fremont, NE | 1 | $2,026.12 | $2,026.12 | $2,026.12 | 1.0× |
| Fresno, CA | 1 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | 1.0× |
| Gadsden, AL | 2 | $5,283.00 | $6,802.17 | $8,321.34 | 1.6× |
| Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA | 1 | $3,570.00 | $3,570.00 | $3,570.00 | 1.0× |
| Glen Rose, TX single city | 1 | $17,972.00 | $17,972.00 | $17,972.00 | 1.0× |
| Glenwood, MN single city | 1 | $1,721.05 | $1,721.05 | $1,721.05 | 1.0× |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 1 | $4,793.99 | $4,793.99 | $4,793.99 | 1.0× |
| Grand Junction, CO | 1 | $5,598.88 | $5,598.88 | $5,598.88 | 1.0× |
| Grantsburg, WI single city | 1 | $2,448.00 | $2,448.00 | $2,448.00 | 1.0× |
| Great Falls, MT | 1 | $18,602.00 | $18,602.00 | $18,602.00 | 1.0× |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 2 | $9,722.22 | $10,374.70 | $11,027.17 | 1.1× |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | 3 | $2,760.99 | $2,817.90 | $3,118.80 | 1.1× |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 1 | $6,935.00 | $6,935.00 | $6,935.00 | 1.0× |
| Hailey, ID | 1 | $15,519.00 | $15,519.00 | $15,519.00 | 1.0× |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 3 | $9,186.18 | $12,100.84 | $12,739.15 | 1.4× |
| Harvey, ND single city | 1 | $10,065.00 | $10,065.00 | $10,065.00 | 1.0× |
| Harwarden, IA single city | 1 | $6,956.20 | $6,956.20 | $6,956.20 | 1.0× |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 1 | $4,576.66 | $4,576.66 | $4,576.66 | 1.0× |
| Hays, KS | 1 | $2,514.60 | $2,514.60 | $2,514.60 | 1.0× |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 1 | $3,024.75 | $3,024.75 | $3,024.75 | 1.0× |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 1 | $2,807.40 | $2,807.40 | $2,807.40 | 1.0× |
| Holyoke, CO single city | 1 | $4,732.00 | $4,732.00 | $4,732.00 | 1.0× |
| Honesdale, PA single city | 1 | $10,709.30 | $10,709.30 | $10,709.30 | 1.0× |
| Hood River, OR | 1 | $853.50 | $853.50 | $853.50 | 1.0× |
| Houghton, MI | 1 | $8,110.31 | $8,110.31 | $8,110.31 | 1.0× |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 1 | $2,726.68 | $2,726.68 | $2,726.68 | 1.0× |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1 | $5,851.66 | $5,851.66 | $5,851.66 | 1.0× |
| Hugo, CO single city | 1 | $16,995.00 | $16,995.00 | $16,995.00 | 1.0× |
| Hugo, OK single city | 1 | $6,196.50 | $6,196.50 | $6,196.50 | 1.0× |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 1 | $8,170.51 | $8,170.51 | $8,170.51 | 1.0× |
| Huntsville, AL | 1 | $7,348.35 | $7,348.35 | $7,348.35 | 1.0× |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 3 | $500.80 | $5,347.50 | $5,347.50 | 10.7× |
| Imperial, NE single city | 1 | $592.00 | $592.00 | $592.00 | 1.0× |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 2 | $662.24 | $1,836.19 | $3,010.13 | 4.5× |
| Iowa City, IA | 1 | $4,350.00 | $4,350.00 | $4,350.00 | 1.0× |
| Jackson, MS | 1 | $10,933.29 | $10,933.29 | $10,933.29 | 1.0× |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 1 | $4,536.04 | $4,536.04 | $4,536.04 | 1.0× |
| Joplin, MO-KS | 2 | $6,999.23 | $9,775.98 | $12,552.73 | 1.8× |
| Kankakee, IL | 1 | $2,186.83 | $2,186.83 | $2,186.83 | 1.0× |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 2 | $5,577.00 | $5,738.50 | $5,900.00 | 1.1× |
| Kearney, NE | 1 | $6,470.00 | $6,470.00 | $6,470.00 | 1.0× |
| Ketchikan, AK | 1 | $2,341.30 | $2,341.30 | $2,341.30 | 1.0× |
| Key West-Key Largo, FL | 1 | $10,578.91 | $10,578.91 | $10,578.91 | 1.0× |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 3 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | 1.0× |
| Kirksville, MO | 1 | $8,413.59 | $8,413.59 | $8,413.59 | 1.0× |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 1 | $7,389.63 | $7,389.63 | $7,389.63 | 1.0× |
| Knoxville, TN | 1 | $3,953.07 | $3,953.07 | $3,953.07 | 1.0× |
| Lafayette, LA | 4 | $530.10 | $1,473.25 | $3,004.45 | 5.7× |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | 1 | $7,592.29 | $7,592.29 | $7,592.29 | 1.0× |
| Lake Charles, LA | 1 | $6,066.84 | $6,066.84 | $6,066.84 | 1.0× |
| Lake City, IA single city | 1 | $2,398.00 | $2,398.00 | $2,398.00 | 1.0× |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | 3 | $5,921.46 | $11,135.88 | $19,543.98 | 3.3× |
| Lancaster, PA | 1 | $11,147.23 | $11,147.23 | $11,147.23 | 1.0× |
| Lanse, MI single city | 1 | $1,003.00 | $1,003.00 | $1,003.00 | 1.0× |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 1 | $4,394.04 | $4,394.04 | $4,394.04 | 1.0× |
| Laredo, TX | 1 | $10,793.01 | $10,793.01 | $10,793.01 | 1.0× |
| Las Cruces, NM | 1 | $14,491.38 | $14,491.38 | $14,491.38 | 1.0× |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 1 | $6,864.90 | $6,864.90 | $6,864.90 | 1.0× |
| Lebanon, KY single city | 1 | $4,970.68 | $4,970.68 | $4,970.68 | 1.0× |
| Lebanon-Claremont, NH-VT | 1 | $3,591.94 | $3,591.94 | $3,591.94 | 1.0× |
| Lexington, NE | 1 | $4,532.00 | $4,532.00 | $4,532.00 | 1.0× |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 3 | $6,240.39 | $6,632.71 | $6,869.66 | 1.1× |
| Lima, OH | 2 | $6,382.80 | $12,357.14 | $18,331.48 | 2.9× |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 5 | $2,073.97 | $2,305.97 | $2,588.30 | 1.2× |
| Logan, UT-ID | 1 | $3,584.00 | $3,584.00 | $3,584.00 | 1.0× |
| Longview, TX | 1 | $5,088.70 | $5,088.70 | $5,088.70 | 1.0× |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 1 | $5,311.15 | $5,311.15 | $5,311.15 | 1.0× |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 11 | $3,964.84 | $4,321.20 | $7,576.00 | 1.9× |
| Louisville, GA single city | 1 | $2,808.75 | $2,808.75 | $2,808.75 | 1.0× |
| Lousiana, MO single city | 1 | $10,120.00 | $10,120.00 | $10,120.00 | 1.0× |
| Lufkin, TX | 1 | $10,128.45 | $10,128.45 | $10,128.45 | 1.0× |
| Machias, ME single city | 1 | $11,867.00 | $11,867.00 | $11,867.00 | 1.0× |
| Madison, MN single city | 1 | $910.35 | $910.35 | $910.35 | 1.0× |
| Madison, SD single city | 1 | $6,089.00 | $6,089.00 | $6,089.00 | 1.0× |
| Magnolia, AR | 1 | $2,305.97 | $2,305.97 | $2,305.97 | 1.0× |
| Manchester, IA single city | 1 | $4,367.20 | $4,367.20 | $4,367.20 | 1.0× |
| Mangum, OK single city | 1 | $6,006.42 | $6,006.42 | $6,006.42 | 1.0× |
| Manhattan, KS | 1 | $8,134.00 | $8,134.00 | $8,134.00 | 1.0× |
| Mansfield, OH | 1 | $9,789.17 | $9,789.17 | $9,789.17 | 1.0× |
| Marble Falls, TX single city | 1 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | 1.0× |
| Marlette, MI single city | 1 | $477.00 | $477.00 | $477.00 | 1.0× |
| Marquette, MI | 1 | $3,265.21 | $3,265.21 | $3,265.21 | 1.0× |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $27,164.21 | $27,164.21 | $27,164.21 | 1.0× |
| Mayfield, KY | 1 | $10,391.63 | $10,391.63 | $10,391.63 | 1.0× |
| Maysville, KY single city | 1 | $6,363.50 | $6,363.50 | $6,363.50 | 1.0× |
| McAlester, OK | 1 | $2,020.80 | $2,020.80 | $2,020.80 | 1.0× |
| McCall, ID single city | 1 | $15,519.00 | $15,519.00 | $15,519.00 | 1.0× |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 5 | $4,333.59 | $4,333.59 | $4,333.59 | 1.0× |
| Meridian, MS | 1 | $2,109.01 | $2,109.01 | $2,109.01 | 1.0× |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 4 | $6,083.04 | $6,083.04 | $6,083.04 | 1.0× |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 2 | $3,019.63 | $8,072.97 | $13,126.30 | 4.3× |
| Millersburg, OH single city | 1 | $4,929.89 | $4,929.89 | $4,929.89 | 1.0× |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3 | $1,966.20 | $4,410.38 | $14,455.00 | 7.4× |
| Moab, UT single city | 1 | $595.97 | $595.97 | $595.97 | 1.0× |
| Moberly, MO | 1 | $13,727.47 | $13,727.47 | $13,727.47 | 1.0× |
| Modesto, CA | 1 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | 1.0× |
| Monroe, LA | 1 | $5,385.31 | $5,385.31 | $5,385.31 | 1.0× |
| Morgan City, LA | 1 | $445.90 | $445.90 | $445.90 | 1.0× |
| Morgantown, WV | 1 | $8,925.50 | $8,925.50 | $8,925.50 | 1.0× |
| Morris, MN single city | 1 | $527.25 | $527.25 | $527.25 | 1.0× |
| Moultrie, GA | 1 | $1,316.00 | $1,316.00 | $1,316.00 | 1.0× |
| Mount Vernon, OH | 1 | $529.60 | $529.60 | $529.60 | 1.0× |
| Mountain Home, AR | 1 | $6,174.00 | $6,174.00 | $6,174.00 | 1.0× |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 1 | $588.36 | $588.36 | $588.36 | 1.0× |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 3 | $3,913.80 | $7,401.56 | $7,480.71 | 1.9× |
| Nevada, MO single city | 1 | $4,785.75 | $4,785.75 | $4,785.75 | 1.0× |
| New London, WI single city | 1 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | 1.0× |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 9 | $2,048.20 | $3,143.04 | $22,351.37 | 10.9× |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 55 | $859.00 | $6,553.49 | $30,218.69 | 35.2× |
| Ocala, FL | 1 | $40,842.69 | $40,842.69 | $40,842.69 | 1.0× |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $5,285.26 | $5,285.26 | $5,285.26 | 1.0× |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 2 | $698.60 | $2,533.16 | $4,367.71 | 6.3× |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 2 | $471.00 | $3,344.63 | $6,218.25 | 13.2× |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1 | $19,198.00 | $19,198.00 | $19,198.00 | 1.0× |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 3 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | $3,496.35 | 1.8× |
| Owosso, MI | 1 | $456.80 | $456.80 | $456.80 | 1.0× |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 1 | $7,924.20 | $7,924.20 | $7,924.20 | 1.0× |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 1 | $3,626.00 | $3,626.00 | $3,626.00 | 1.0× |
| Peoria, IL | 1 | $1,489.00 | $1,489.00 | $1,489.00 | 1.0× |
| Perryton, TX single city | 1 | $5,744.00 | $5,744.00 | $5,744.00 | 1.0× |
| Perryville, MO single city | 1 | $4,841.34 | $4,841.34 | $4,841.34 | 1.0× |
| Petoskey, MI | 1 | $2,353.14 | $2,353.14 | $2,353.14 | 1.0× |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1 | $7,264.49 | $7,264.49 | $7,264.49 | 1.0× |
| Pinckneyville, IL single city | 1 | $13,555.00 | $13,555.00 | $13,555.00 | 1.0× |
| Pine Bluff, AR | 1 | $698.00 | $698.00 | $698.00 | 1.0× |
| Pittsburg, KS | 1 | $11,843.28 | $11,843.28 | $11,843.28 | 1.0× |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1 | $1,385.67 | $1,385.67 | $1,385.67 | 1.0× |
| Ponce, PR | 1 | $1,500.00 | $1,500.00 | $1,500.00 | 1.0× |
| Port Townsend, WA | 1 | $1,848.00 | $1,848.00 | $1,848.00 | 1.0× |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1 | $8,069.10 | $8,069.10 | $8,069.10 | 1.0× |
| Price, UT | 1 | $8,459.21 | $8,459.21 | $8,459.21 | 1.0× |
| Rapid City, SD | 2 | $3,400.00 | $3,988.73 | $4,577.45 | 1.3× |
| Reading, PA | 1 | $10,001.37 | $10,001.37 | $10,001.37 | 1.0× |
| Reno, NV | 1 | $6,439.00 | $6,439.00 | $6,439.00 | 1.0× |
| Rexburg, ID | 1 | $8,208.00 | $8,208.00 | $8,208.00 | 1.0× |
| Richmond, VA | 3 | $11,450.03 | $11,577.52 | $13,341.61 | 1.2× |
| Rifle, CO | 1 | $2,257.50 | $2,257.50 | $2,257.50 | 1.0× |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 5 | $4,321.20 | $4,321.20 | $6,749.08 | 1.6× |
| Rockford, IL | 1 | $4,762.84 | $4,762.84 | $4,762.84 | 1.0× |
| Rolla, MO | 1 | $3,528.74 | $3,528.74 | $3,528.74 | 1.0× |
| Roosevelt, UT single city | 1 | $3,690.00 | $3,690.00 | $3,690.00 | 1.0× |
| Roseau, MN single city | 1 | $777.04 | $777.04 | $777.04 | 1.0× |
| Roswell, NM | 1 | $2,854.39 | $2,854.39 | $2,854.39 | 1.0× |
| Russellville, AR | 2 | $2,605.45 | $3,508.67 | $4,411.88 | 1.7× |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | 1.0× |
| Salem, OH | 1 | $5,573.00 | $5,573.00 | $5,573.00 | 1.0× |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1 | $13,850.90 | $13,850.90 | $13,850.90 | 1.0× |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3 | $4,321.20 | $4,321.20 | $4,321.20 | 1.0× |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 11 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | $13,696.80 | 1.3× |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | 1.0× |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 1 | $5,560.83 | $5,560.83 | $5,560.83 | 1.0× |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | 1.0× |
| Scottsbluff, NE single city | 1 | $8,873.49 | $8,873.49 | $8,873.49 | 1.0× |
| Scottsboro, AL | 1 | $2,478.74 | $2,478.74 | $2,478.74 | 1.0× |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 3 | $7,888.56 | $9,151.38 | $9,151.38 | 1.2× |
| Seaford, DE | 1 | $5,566.65 | $5,566.65 | $5,566.65 | 1.0× |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3 | $6,523.41 | $10,648.17 | $31,217.35 | 4.8× |
| Sebring, FL | 1 | $70,453.62 | $70,453.62 | $70,453.62 | 1.0× |
| Shattuck, OK single city | 1 | $712.42 | $712.42 | $712.42 | 1.0× |
| Shawano, WI | 1 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | 1.0× |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 1 | $3,102.00 | $3,102.00 | $3,102.00 | 1.0× |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 2 | $4,632.73 | $4,710.77 | $4,788.81 | 1.0× |
| Sidney, MT single city | 1 | $755.43 | $755.43 | $755.43 | 1.0× |
| Sikeston, MO | 1 | $2,459.77 | $2,459.77 | $2,459.77 | 1.0× |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 1 | $2,750.16 | $2,750.16 | $2,750.16 | 1.0× |
| Spencer, WV single city | 1 | $496.95 | $496.95 | $496.95 | 1.0× |
| Springfield, MO | 3 | $1,055.20 | $7,765.51 | $7,765.51 | 7.4× |
| St. Johnsbury, VT single city | 1 | $498.75 | $498.75 | $498.75 | 1.0× |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 3 | $4,030.17 | $5,813.33 | $5,909.03 | 1.5× |
| Staples, MN single city | 1 | $453.22 | $453.22 | $453.22 | 1.0× |
| Statesboro, GA | 1 | $7,203.46 | $7,203.46 | $7,203.46 | 1.0× |
| Sterling, IL | 1 | $7,925.50 | $7,925.50 | $7,925.50 | 1.0× |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | 1.0× |
| Sylva, NC single city | 1 | $9,275.63 | $9,275.63 | $9,275.63 | 1.0× |
| Syracuse, NE single city | 1 | $12,640.00 | $12,640.00 | $12,640.00 | 1.0× |
| Talladega-Sylacauga, AL | 1 | $1,878.00 | $1,878.00 | $1,878.00 | 1.0× |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 5 | $61,055.01 | $61,055.01 | $61,055.01 | 1.0× |
| Temple, TX single city | 1 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | 1.0× |
| Toledo, OH | 1 | $17,919.19 | $17,919.19 | $17,919.19 | 1.0× |
| Topeka, KS | 1 | $5,801.25 | $5,801.25 | $5,801.25 | 1.0× |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 1 | $5,110.00 | $5,110.00 | $5,110.00 | 1.0× |
| Troy, AL | 1 | $5,973.00 | $5,973.00 | $5,973.00 | 1.0× |
| Twin Falls, ID | 1 | $12,747.00 | $12,747.00 | $12,747.00 | 1.0× |
| Upper Sandusky, OH single city | 1 | $8,342.06 | $8,342.06 | $8,342.06 | 1.0× |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 3 | $3,995.60 | $3,995.60 | $3,995.60 | 1.0× |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 2 | $5,388.52 | $7,277.13 | $9,165.73 | 1.7× |
| Vallejo, CA | 3 | $10,634.40 | $10,634.40 | $11,074.00 | 1.0× |
| Vicksburg, MS | 1 | $4,980.65 | $4,980.65 | $4,980.65 | 1.0× |
| Victoria, TX | 2 | $7,057.24 | $7,057.24 | $7,057.24 | 1.0× |
| Waco, TX | 1 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | $4,783.52 | 1.0× |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1 | $6,885.60 | $6,885.60 | $6,885.60 | 1.0× |
| Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI | 1 | $2,312.64 | $2,312.64 | $2,312.64 | 1.0× |
| Watford City, ND single city | 1 | $9,101.30 | $9,101.30 | $9,101.30 | 1.0× |
| Waupaca, WI single city | 1 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | 1.0× |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 1 | $9,746.50 | $9,746.50 | $9,746.50 | 1.0× |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 2 | $2,557.34 | $3,905.17 | $5,253.00 | 2.1× |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 1 | $3,290.00 | $3,290.00 | $3,290.00 | 1.0× |
| Wichita, KS | 1 | $2,870.40 | $2,870.40 | $2,870.40 | 1.0× |
| Wild Rose, WI single city | 1 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | $1,902.26 | 1.0× |
| Wilson, NC | 1 | $12,553.60 | $12,553.60 | $12,553.60 | 1.0× |
| Worcester, MA | 2 | $14,601.63 | $16,091.80 | $17,581.97 | 1.2× |
| York-Hanover, PA | 1 | $16,152.20 | $16,152.20 | $16,152.20 | 1.0× |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 3 | $5,069.94 | $11,377.70 | $12,168.10 | 2.4× |
| Yuma, CO single city | 1 | $709.50 | $709.50 | $709.50 | 1.0× |
| Zanesville, OH | 1 | $8,397.85 | $8,397.85 | $8,397.85 | 1.0× |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
Highest The highest cash price among those hospitals. A single very high price can be an error in the file; check the median too.
Highest ÷ lowest How many times the highest cash price is above the lowest in the same market.
Common questions
What is CPT code 42820?
CPT 42820 is the billing code for tonsil and adenoid removal, child under 12. This is surgery to remove both the tonsils and the adenoids in a child younger than 12. It is commonly done for repeated throat infections or for snoring and breathing problems during sleep caused by large tonsils and adenoids.
Is there a different code for older children and adults?
Yes. The same surgery at age 12 or older is billed as 42821.
How long is recovery?
Children often need about 7 to 14 days to recover, with throat pain that can peak a few days after surgery. The surgeon will give aftercare instructions.
Is it cheaper to pay cash or use insurance for tonsillectomy, child?
It depends on your deductible. Until you meet it, you pay your plan's negotiated rate, not the cash price. In hospital price files the highest negotiated rate for tonsillectomy, child has a median of $11,385.33 and the lowest a median of $1,129.46; at 407 of 472 hospitals the cash price is below the highest negotiated rate. A cash payment may not count toward your deductible, so ask your plan for its rate at that hospital first.
Which states have the cheapest tonsillectomy, child?
Among 31 states with at least 5 hospitals listing a cash price, the median is lowest in Minnesota ($843.70), Wisconsin ($1,902.26) and Arkansas ($2,741.24), and highest in Colorado ($15,563.00), Virginia ($11,042.72) and California ($10,634.40). Prices vary as much between hospitals in the same state, so compare hospitals near you.
Other tonsillectomy prices
Median hospital cash price, one per hospital.