How much does a tetanus shot cost in 2026?

Cash prices for a Tdap booster typically run $48 to $95 across major US pharmacy chains in 2026. Costco lists Boostrix near $53 for members, Rite Aid near $48, Walmart near $56 to $80 at the Care Clinic, Walgreens around $70 to $90, and CVS MinuteClinic around $75 to $95.

GoodRx publishes a Boostrix coupon starting at $60.86 that often beats the in-store cash price. Free options exist via Section 317, federally qualified health centers, and county health departments for those who qualify.

Most ACA-compliant US health plans cover ACIP-recommended vaccines (including Tdap and Td) at no cost when received from an in-network provider. Major pharmacy chains are in-network with most major insurers. The most common outcome for an insured adult getting a routine booster is a $0 copay at the counter.

Out-of-network pharmacies or non-ACA-compliant plans may produce a charge; verify before scheduling. Insurance overview covers the major carriers.

Medicare splits tetanus coverage. Part B covers tetanus when administered as treatment for an injury such as a puncture wound or animal bite. Part D covers routine tetanus boosters.

Since the 2023 Inflation Reduction Act, ACIP-recommended Part D vaccines have no deductible and no copay for enrollees, effective January 1, 2023. See the Medicare detail page for the Part B vs Part D distinction.

Since October 2023, the Inflation Reduction Act expansion requires most adult Medicaid programs to cover all ACIP-recommended vaccines at no cost. Children under 21 have always been covered under EPSDT and the Vaccines for Children program.

Some states still differ on participating providers and scheduling specifics. See the Medicaid detail page for the post-2023 picture.

Tdap covers tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). Td covers tetanus and diphtheria only. Tdap is recommended during every pregnancy at 27 to 36 weeks, after a dirty wound for adults if pertussis-vulnerable, and as the first booster after age 11.

Td is sometimes used for routine 10-year adult boosters when Tdap was recently given. See the full decision tree for which vaccine is appropriate when.

CDC ACIP recommends a tetanus-containing booster every 10 years for routine maintenance. After a dirty or contaminated wound, the recommendation tightens to a booster if the last dose was more than 5 years ago.

During pregnancy, Tdap is recommended at 27 to 36 weeks of every pregnancy regardless of prior history. See the wound-care decision frame for the 5-year vs 10-year rule.

Three pathways consistently produce a free or near-free tetanus shot: Section 317 federally-funded vaccines (accessed through state and county health departments and FQHCs), federally qualified health centers (HRSA Health Center Program, sliding-scale fee), and the Vaccines for Children program for those under 19 who are uninsured, Medicaid-enrolled, or American Indian or Alaska Native.

The HRSA Find a Health Center tool locates participating providers nationally. See the free-shot pathway page for full eligibility detail.

An urgent care visit for a tetanus shot typically totals $125 to $400 self-pay. The visit alone runs $100 to $250 without insurance, and the shot itself adds $25 to $150 depending on the clinic. Insured patients often face a co-pay of $25 to $75.

Pharmacy is fine for routine boosters; urgent care is the right call when there is an open wound that needs cleaning, sutures, or an antibiotic decision. See the urgent-care cost page for full detail.

All major US pharmacy chains administer Tdap and Td as walk-in or scheduled appointments. CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, Rite Aid, and Kroger publish vaccine pages with current pricing.

State pharmacy regulations affect minimum age for pharmacist-administered vaccines, so under-18s may need a clinic visit in some states. See the pharmacy comparison for current cash prices.