Nutrients
Ferritin test cost: $18–$36
By Elo. Last updated September 1, 2026.
Ferritin is the best first test for iron deficiency and one of the cheapest here at $18. The NIH calls it “the most efficient and cost-effective test for diagnosing iron deficiency,” because it falls well before a standard blood count shows anemia.
That early warning is the reason to buy it. If you menstruate, train hard, donate blood, or eat little meat, ferritin can explain fatigue that a normal CBC leaves unexplained. The catch is that infection and inflammation push ferritin up, so a result drawn while you're unwell can look reassuring and be wrong.
Below, we compare what a ferritin test costs at each lab, inside a bundle, and what insurance pays.
How much does a Ferritin test cost?
Ferritin costs $18–$36 on its own, or $65–$689 in a bundle. Those are cash prices, so that's also what Ferritin costs without insurance.
Lowest Ferritin self-pay prices
The lowest cash price we found for Ferritin is $18–$23 at Mito Health, followed by DrSays ($18), Marek Diagnostics ($30), Walk-In Lab ($35), and Ulta Lab Tests ($36). These are all-in prices that include the draw fee: Mito Health lists Ferritin at $8.19 and adds a $9.50–$15 draw fee, for $17.69–$23.19 total.
Cost of Ferritin in a bundle
Ten packages we track include Ferritin, and every one of them tests dozens of other markers from the same draw. The cheapest bundle with Ferritin is Quest's 4-biomarker panel at $65, then Empirical Health ($190 for 100 markers), Vitals Vault ($199 for 48 markers), Parsley Health ($275 for 41 markers), Mito Health ($315 for 99 markers), WHOOP Advanced Labs ($349 for 65 markers), Function Health ($365 for 114 markers), Everlywell ($399 for 86 markers), InsideTracker ($499 for 48 markers), and LabCorp OnDemand ($689 for 46 markers).
How much does a Ferritin test cost at Quest Diagnostics?
Quest Diagnostics doesn't sell Ferritin on its own. It only comes in Quest's Iron, TIBC & Ferritin Panel, at $65. Ordering Ferritin alone from another lab we track costs from $18, or $65 if you want a 4-biomarker bundle.
Is a Ferritin test worth it?
Yes, and it's underrated. Ferritin catches iron deficiency well before a standard CBC shows anemia, which matters if you menstruate, train hard, donate blood, or eat little meat. Fatigue that gets blamed on everything else is sometimes just this. One caution: ferritin rises with any inflammation or infection, so a normal-looking result during illness can hide a real deficiency.
Either way, the price shouldn't be what decides it: Mito Health sells Ferritin for $18 all-in. The cheapest panel that includes it is Quest at $65, which is only worth it if you want the other 3 markers too.
What is a normal Ferritin level?
A normal Ferritin is above 30 µg/L. The two bodies that publish cutoffs don't agree, and the gap matters: the NIH says a ferritin under 30 mcg/L suggests iron deficiency and under 10 suggests anemia, while the World Health Organization uses a stricter 15 µg/L. A result in the teens or twenties can be called normal by one standard and deficient by the other. Ferritin also rises with infection and inflammation, so a result drawn while you're unwell can hide a real deficiency.
Reference intervals differ between labs, so read your own result against the range printed on your report.
Does insurance cover a Ferritin test?
Insurance usually covers Ferritin when a doctor orders it for symptoms or a known condition, though you may still owe a copay or deductible. The in-network negotiated cost is about $15 to $25, against $18 if you pay cash. At a hospital lab the billed charge can reach $125 to $500.
The $20 allowed amount is an estimate, about 1.5x Medicare's $13.63 rate for CPT 82728, and it moves with the lab and the market: the same test is contracted around $18 at one national lab and into the $40s at another. Coinsurance is assumed at 20% once your deductible is met. Your own plan decides both, and most plans apply lab work to the deductible first, so the second outcome above is the one most people land on.
Ferritin is billed as CPT 82728. That's the code to quote if you call your insurer to ask what you'd owe.
Do medical guidelines recommend a Ferritin test?
Ferritin is well supported as the first test for iron deficiency. The disagreement is over where the cutoff sits, and it's wide enough to change what your result means.
- US guidance. The NIH calls ferritin “the most efficient and cost-effective test for diagnosing iron deficiency,” and puts the threshold at 30 mcg/L, with under 10 suggesting iron deficiency anemia.
- International guidance. The World Health Organization sets a stricter 15 µg/L for nonpregnant women. Both bodies warn that infection and inflammation raise ferritin, which can mask a deficiency that's really there.
Frequently asked questions about Ferritin testing
What is the cheapest way to get a Ferritin test?
The cheapest Ferritin test is $18–$23 at Mito Health. If you'd rather get more markers out of the same draw, Quest's 4-biomarker panel is $65.
Do I need a doctor's order to get a Ferritin test?
No. The standalone Ferritin tests listed above include the physician order in their price, so you can buy online and have your blood drawn without seeing a doctor first. You'd only need your own doctor's order if you want to bill the test to insurance.
How much does a Ferritin test cost at LabCorp?
LabCorp doesn't publish a flat consumer price for Ferritin, and what you're charged varies by location. The cheapest way to have Ferritin drawn at a LabCorp Patient Service Center is through DrSays, a LabCorp-network lab, at $17.98 all-in ($7.99 + $9.99 collection fee).
What is a normal ferritin level?
Normal ferritin is roughly 30 to 300 ng/mL in men and 15 to 200 ng/mL in women, though labs differ. Low ferritin is the earliest sign of iron deficiency, while very high ferritin can reflect iron overload or inflammation.
Do I need to fast for a ferritin test?
Fasting is not strictly required, though ferritin is sometimes drawn in the morning. Because ferritin rises with infection or inflammation, testing is best avoided while you are acutely ill.