Hormones
Cortisol test cost: $24–$85
By Elo. Last updated July 2026.
Cortisol is the body's primary stress hormone, following a daily rhythm. A morning measurement helps assess adrenal function.
Below we compare what Cortisol costs on its own against every package we track that includes it, sorted by price. Standalone prices are all-in cash prices, each lab's list price plus its one draw or physician fee, pulled from direct-to-consumer labs on the Quest or LabCorp network and verified July 2026.
How much does a Cortisol test cost?
Cortisol costs $24–$55 on its own, or $190–$499 in a bundle. Those are cash prices, so they're also what you pay for Cortisol without insurance.
At Quest Diagnostics, a Cortisol test costs $85 on its own.
Cost of Cortisol on its own
- DrSays charges $24 for Cortisol ($13.99 + $9.99 collection fee).(lowest price)
- Marek Diagnostics charges $35 for Cortisol ($25 + $10 venipuncture fee).
- Ulta Lab Tests charges $42 for Cortisol ($28.95 + $12.95 specimen draw fee).
- Walk-In Lab charges $55 for Cortisol ($49 + $6 physician service fee).
Cost of Cortisol in a bundle
- Empirical Health includes Cortisol in a 100-biomarker panel for $190.
- Parsley Health includes Cortisol in a 41-biomarker panel for $275.
- Mito Health includes Cortisol in a 53-biomarker panel for $349.
- WHOOP Advanced Labs includes Cortisol in a 65-biomarker panel for $349.
- Function Health includes Cortisol in a 128-biomarker panel for $365.
- Vitals Vault includes Cortisol in a 58-biomarker panel for $399.
- Everlywell includes Cortisol in an 86-biomarker panel for $399.
- Marek Health includes Cortisol in a 56-biomarker panel for $495.
- InsideTracker includes Cortisol in a 48-biomarker panel for $499.
Cheapest option: The cheapest Cortisol test is DrSays ($24), or Empirical Health ($190) if you want a 100-biomarker bundle that includes Cortisol.
Each standalone fee is charged once per blood draw, so ordering several markers together shares one fee. Direct-to-consumer lab prices move with promotions, so figures are point-in-time, verified July 2026. Walk-In Lab sells a standalone morning (AM) cortisol serum test for $49 plus a $6 physician fee.
Does insurance cover a Cortisol test?
Usually yes when a doctor orders it for symptoms or a known condition. You may still owe a copay or deductible. The in-network negotiated cost is about $15 to $35, versus $24 cash. At a hospital lab the billed charge can reach $150-700.
Frequently asked questions about Cortisol testing
What is the cheapest way to get a Cortisol test?
The cheapest Cortisol test is DrSays ($24), or Empirical Health ($190) if you want a 100-biomarker bundle that includes Cortisol.
Do I need a doctor's order to get a Cortisol test?
No. The standalone Cortisol tests listed above include the physician order in their price, so you can buy it online and have your blood drawn without your own doctor. You would only need your own doctor's order if you want to bill the test to insurance.
How much does a Cortisol test cost at LabCorp?
LabCorp doesn't publish a flat consumer price for Cortisol, and it varies by location. The cheapest way to have Cortisol drawn at a LabCorp Patient Service Center is through DrSays, a LabCorp-network lab, at $24 all-in ($13.99 + $9.99 collection fee).
What is a normal morning cortisol level?
A typical morning serum cortisol, drawn around 8 a.m., runs about 6 to 23 mcg/dL and then falls through the day. Because of this rhythm, the time of the draw matters as much as the number.
When should a cortisol test be done?
Cortisol is highest in the early morning, so a baseline blood test is usually drawn around 8 a.m. Abnormal results are often followed by further testing, such as a late-night salivary cortisol or a suppression test.