Independent cost reference. Not a pharmacy, not an insurance carrier, not a clinic finder, not a medical practice. For an injury that may require a tetanus shot, contact a healthcare provider promptly.

CDC prices checked: Oct 2026
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Cost overview

How much does a tetanus shot cost? 2026 pharmacy, insurance, and free-shot pricing

A 2026 Tdap booster is $0 with most ACA-compliant insurance in-network, an estimated $50 to $95 cash at major US pharmacy chains, and is free through Section 317 and FQHC pathways for those who qualify. Urgent care visits push the total above $125. Most cost-shopping confusion comes from conflating the vaccine, the administration fee, and the visit fee.
CDC prices checked Oct 2026 / chain cash estimates Apr 2026

The cash range, in one sentence

With ACA-compliant insurance in-network, the patient pays $0 at the counter.[4] Without insurance, this site estimates a routine Tdap booster at a major US pharmacy at about $50 to $95 cash (April 2026); CVS and Walgreens post none and no other chain's could be confirmed, so ask for a quote. The vaccine itself lists at $50.14 (Boostrix) to $51.08 (Adacel) per dose, and Td (Tenivac) at $45.91, on the CDC private-sector price list (1 October 2026 edition).[1]

Cost by component

Headline prices conflate three things. Knowing the breakdown is the difference between a $0 visit and a $300 visit.

ComponentRange, USDNotes
The vaccine aloneNot postedNo chain vaccine-only cash price could be confirmed. Boostrix, Adacel, or Tenivac (Tdvax discontinued 2024). CDC private-sector price $45.91 (Tenivac) to $51.08 (Adacel) per dose.[1]
Administration fee$7–$20Sometimes broken out separately; coupons usually do not cover this.
Visit fee, pharmacy walk-in$0Most major chains do not charge a separate clinic visit for vaccine-only walk-ins.
Visit fee, urgent care$100–$250Plus shot. Use only if there is a wound or other reason for clinical assessment.
Total: pharmacy walk-in, no insurance, no coupon$50–$95 (est.)Site estimate (April 2026) of the chain cash price; ask the pharmacy for its quote.
Total: pharmacy walk-in, with GoodRxFrom $60.86Boostrix coupon from $60.86.[2] Coupon does not cover administration fee.
Total: ACA-compliant insurance, in-network$0ACA preventive-care rule covers ACIP-recommended vaccines at $0 in-network.[4]

Three worked example budgets

Example A: insured adult, routine 10-year booster

A 42-year-old with employer-sponsored insurance walks into an in-network CVS MinuteClinic for a Tdap booster. Under the ACA preventive-care rule, the ACIP-recommended Tdap is covered with no cost-sharing.[4] The adult pays $0 and the chain bills the insurer.

Expected total: $0

Example B: uninsured adult, routine booster

A 35-year-old with no insurance walks into a Walmart pharmacy. Walmart does not post a Tdap cash price online, so the first step is to ask the pharmacist for the cash quote. With a GoodRx Boostrix coupon (from $60.86), the patient pays the coupon price plus any administration fee the store charges.[2] Whichever is lower, the cash quote or the coupon, is the price to pay.

Expected total: from $60.86 with the coupon, plus any admin fee

Example C: uninsured adult after a dirty wound

A 28-year-old who stepped on a rusty nail in the garden, last booster more than 5 years ago, visits an urgent care clinic. Under CDC wound-management guidance, a tetanus booster is indicated for a dirty wound when the last dose was more than 5 years ago.[8] Without insurance, the urgent-care visit runs $100 to $250, plus the shot ($25 to $150). Some clinics may add wound-cleaning and dressings.

Expected total: $125 to $400

Tdap vs Td price difference

Tdap (Boostrix, Adacel) typically runs $10 to $30 more cash than Td (Tenivac). Tdap covers tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis; Td covers tetanus and diphtheria only. With insurance, both are typically $0. GoodRx Tenivac starts at $51.93[3]. Tdvax, the other Td brand, was discontinued by MassBiologics in 2024, leaving Tenivac the only Td vaccine in the US. The full clinical decision tree (which one is appropriate for which person) is on /tdap-vs-td-vs-dtap.

What is usually NOT included in the headline price

  • Administration fee. Sometimes invisible until the receipt.
  • Visit fee at urgent care or doctor's office. Pharmacy walk-ins do not have one; clinics typically do.
  • Wound-care charges. Cleaning, suturing, and antibiotic decisions if the visit is post-injury.
  • Co-administered vaccines. A flu shot bundled with the Tdap stacks the costs.

Cost at named major chains

CVS and Walgreens post no Tdap cash price online, and no other chain's could be confirmed. This site's April 2026 estimates by chain: Sam's Club $50 to $65, Costco $53 to $60, Walmart $56 to $80, Walgreens $70 to $90, Kroger $70 to $90, and CVS $75 to $95. Treat them as a rough guide and ask the store for its quote. Per-chain detail: /by-pharmacy.

Why prices vary by location

Chain published prices are national, but local stores can deviate. Some states regulate pharmacist-administered vaccines differently, which affects whether the patient must see a clinician for the shot (and therefore pays a separate clinic fee). Warehouse-club pharmacies (Costco, Sam's Club) follow federal rules that allow non-members to purchase pharmacy services in many states. The clinical decision remains the same regardless of where the shot is administered.

National-average vs your local pharmacy

The cash list prices on this page reflect chain-published April 2026 figures. Local store prices may run $5 to $15 above or below the chain reference. The most reliable way to confirm an actual cost is the chain's own scheduler page or a phone call to the local pharmacy. With insurance, the local pharmacy confirms the in-network $0 outcome at the counter.

Adjacent reading on this site

Primary sources

References cited on this page

  1. [1]CDC Vaccine Price List, private-sector and CDC contract prices. CDC. Adult list, 1 October 2026 edition. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-for-children/media/pdfs/2026/09/Adult-Vaccine-Price-List-10-01-26.pdf
  2. [2]Boostrix prices and coupons. GoodRx. Accessed April 2026. https://www.goodrx.com/boostrix
  3. [3]Tenivac prices and coupons; cash from $51.93. GoodRx. Accessed June 2026. https://www.goodrx.com/tenivac
  4. [4]Affordable Care Act preventive care benefits for adults. HealthCare.gov / HHS. Accessed April 2026. https://www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-adults/
  5. [5]Tdap vaccination at CVS / MinuteClinic. CVS. Accessed April 2026. https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/tdap-dtap
  6. [6]Tdap-Td vaccine scheduler. Walgreens. Accessed April 2026. https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/scheduler/tdap-td-tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis-vaccine_32.jsp
  7. [7]Tdap vaccine product listing. Walmart. Accessed April 2026. https://www.walmart.com/cp/tdap-vaccine/5163903
  8. [8]Tetanus: For Clinicians (wound-management guidance). CDC. Accessed April 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/hcp/clinical-guidance/index.html