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.

Last verified: April 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 cash-pays at $48 to $95 across major US pharmacy chains, $0 with most ACA-compliant insurance in-network, 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.
Cost data verified: April 2026

The cash range, in one sentence

For an adult getting a routine Tdap booster at a major US pharmacy in April 2026, cash prices range from around $48 (Rite Aid Boostrix) to $95 (CVS MinuteClinic). Td (Tenivac, no pertussis component) tends to run $40 to $85. With ACA-compliant insurance in-network, the patient pays $0 at the counter.[4]

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 alone$38–$95Boostrix, Adacel, Tenivac, or Tdvax. CDC private-sector contract price near $43–$50.[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, Walmart Care Clinic$59–$99Care Clinic visits include a clinic charge separate from the vaccine.
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–$115Vaccine + administration fee at typical chain.
Total: pharmacy walk-in, with GoodRx$35–$80Boostrix 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's published Tdap cash range runs around $56 to $80 at the Care Clinic depending on metro.[7] Without a coupon, the patient might pay $65. With a GoodRx Boostrix coupon (~$60.86), the patient pays the coupon price plus an administration fee, often netting around $70 to $80.

Expected total: $56 to $80

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, Tdvax). Tdap covers tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis; Td covers tetanus and diphtheria only. With insurance, both are typically $0. GoodRx Tdvax starts at $31.38[3], which is materially below most pharmacy cash list prices for either vaccine. 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

Cash Tdap by chain in April 2026: Costco around $53 (lowest of the major chains), Rite Aid around $48 to $65, Sam's Club $50 to $65 (no membership required), Walmart $56 to $80 (Care Clinic), Walgreens $70 to $90, Kroger $70 to $90, CVS MinuteClinic $75 to $95. Full per-chain detail and source URLs: /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. Accessed April 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-for-children/php/price-list/index.html
  2. [2]Boostrix prices and coupons. GoodRx. Accessed April 2026. https://www.goodrx.com/boostrix
  3. [3]Tdvax prices and coupons. GoodRx. Accessed April 2026. https://www.goodrx.com/tdvax
  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