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Braces cost $3,000 to $8,000 without insurance in 2026 for the most common types, and the national average is close to $6,000 according to the American Dental Association’s survey of dental fees. Metal braces are the cheapest option at $2,750 to $7,000. Ceramic braces run $3,000 to $6,500, clear aligners run $3,250 to $8,250, and lingual braces, which sit behind the teeth, run $8,000 to $13,000. The type you choose, your age, and how complex the case is decide where in the range you land. This guide covers the cost by type, the difference between kids and adults, what insurance actually pays, and how families pay for treatment without insurance.
This guide is part of our dental costs without insurance guide, which compares every procedure side by side.
The headline price is a complete treatment fee. It includes the initial records, the routine adjustment visits, the appliance removal, and one set of post-treatment retainers. A quote that leaves out the retainers or the records is not a complete price. Ask what the fee includes before you compare two offices, because a cheaper quote that excludes the retainers is not cheaper once you add them back.
How much do braces cost without insurance?
Four types of braces cover nearly every case, and the price rises with how visible the appliance is. Traditional metal braces are the cheapest and the most durable. Ceramic braces use tooth-colored brackets that blend in, and they cost more. Clear aligners such as Invisalign use removable trays instead of brackets and wires, and they cost more again. Lingual braces sit behind the teeth where nobody can see them, and they are the most expensive option of all.
| Type of braces | Cost without insurance | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional metal | $2,750 to $7,000 | Metal brackets and wires, most durable, most visible |
| Ceramic (clear brackets) | $3,000 to $6,500 | Tooth-colored brackets, less visible, can stain |
| Clear aligners (Invisalign) | $3,250 to $8,250 | Removable trays, nearly invisible, must be worn 22 hours a day |
| Lingual (behind the teeth) | $8,000 to $13,000 | Brackets behind the teeth, invisible from the front, hardest to clean |
The ranges come from ValuePenguin’s analysis of the American Dental Association fee survey, which compiles data from more than 1,000 dentists across the country, and from orthodontic practice pricing published in 2026. The average cost of braces in the United States is nearly $6,000, per the ADA survey. Treatment usually runs 18 to 30 months for metal braces, 20 to 30 months for ceramic, and 24 to 36 months for lingual. Clear aligners vary more by case, from a few months for a mild correction to two years for a complex one.
Fast braces, a branded system that claims shorter treatment times, runs $2,000 to $5,000. It works for simple cases and not for complex ones, so the lower price is not available to every patient. A consultation is the only way to know whether your case qualifies.
How much do braces cost for kids versus adults?
The American Dental Association data puts the average cost of braces for kids at $5,842 and for adults at $6,139. Adults pay about 5 percent more, a difference of roughly $297. The gap is small because the appliance costs the same. What makes adult treatment more expensive is time. Adult jawbones are denser and teeth move more slowly, so treatment takes four to eight months longer on average, and adults more often choose the aesthetic options that cost more.
| Age group | Average total cost | Typical treatment length |
|---|---|---|
| Children and teens, ages 7 to 17 | $5,842 | 18 to 30 months |
| Adults, ages 18 and older | $6,139 | 22 to 36 months |
Children sometimes need two-phase treatment, which is an early phase around age 7 to 10 to correct jaw growth, followed by a second phase with full braces in the teen years. Phase 1 alone costs $1,500 to $3,000, and the two phases together typically run $4,000 to $10,000. Two-phase treatment is not always necessary, and an orthodontist who recommends it should be able to explain what the early phase fixes that waiting would not. Get a second opinion before agreeing to two phases, because the second phase is the expensive one and it is the one you cannot skip.
Adults face a different problem: insurance. Standard dental plans that include an orthodontic rider almost always attach an age limit, typically age 18 or 19. For a child under the limit, a plan with orthodontic benefits pays a lifetime maximum benefit, commonly $1,000 to $2,500. For an adult, most employer-sponsored dental plans exclude orthodontic coverage entirely unless severe medical necessity or reconstructive jaw surgery is involved. Even when an adult plan covers orthodontics, the lifetime cap stays fixed at $1,000 to $2,000.
What does dental insurance pay for braces?
Most dental plans that cover orthodontics pay 50 percent of the treatment cost up to a lifetime maximum, commonly $1,000 to $2,500 per person for children under 19. The lifetime maximum is the number that matters. On a $6,000 treatment with a plan that pays 50 percent up to a $1,500 lifetime maximum, the insurer pays $1,500 and you pay $4,500. The 50 percent figure is not the discount. The maximum is.
| Coverage situation | What the plan pays | You pay on a $6,000 treatment |
|---|---|---|
| No insurance | $0 | $6,000 |
| Child, 50 percent, $1,500 lifetime max | $1,500 | $4,500 |
| Child, 50 percent, $2,500 lifetime max | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Adult, most employer plans | $0 | $6,000 |
Waiting periods apply here too. Many plans impose a waiting period before orthodontic benefits activate, and some require the patient to be covered for a set time before treatment starts. A family that buys a dental plan specifically for a child’s braces should check the waiting period first, because treatment that starts during the waiting period may not be covered at all.
Medicaid covers braces for children in some states when the treatment is medically necessary, under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment benefit. The standard is strict. Cosmetic straightening does not qualify. A case with a severe bite problem, a cleft palate, or a jaw that does not close may qualify, and the decision is made by the state Medicaid program, not by the orthodontist.
What makes one case cost $3,000 and another $10,000?
Complexity is the biggest factor. A mild crowding case that needs 12 months of metal braces costs far less than a severe bite problem that needs 30 months, extractions, and a palate expander. The orthodontist sets the fee after an exam, X-rays, and a treatment plan, which is why phone quotes are unreliable. Two offices can quote the same patient $2,000 apart because they disagree about how long the treatment will take and what appliances it needs.
Location is the second factor. Orthodontic fees vary by city the same way dental fees do. A practice in a high-cost metro area charges more than one in a smaller town, for the same treatment. The type of provider matters too. An orthodontist, who spent two to three extra years training in tooth movement, typically charges more than a general dentist who offers braces as a side service. For a complex case, the orthodontist’s fee buys training that a general dentist does not have.
Treatment length is the third factor, and it is the one patients control least. A patient who misses appointments, breaks brackets, or does not wear rubber bands as directed extends the treatment, and some offices charge for the extra months. Wearing aligners for fewer than the recommended 22 hours a day has the same effect. The cheapest treatment is the one that finishes on schedule.
How do you pay for braces without insurance?
Most orthodontic offices offer interest-free in-house payment plans spread over the length of treatment. A typical plan asks for a down payment of $500 to $1,500, followed by monthly payments of $100 to $300. On a $6,000 treatment with a $1,000 down payment and 24 months of payments, the monthly amount is about $208. Ask whether the plan is truly interest-free and whether the monthly amount is fixed for the whole treatment, because some plans charge interest after a promotional period or add fees for late payments.
A flexible spending account or health savings account can pay for braces with pre-tax dollars, which saves 20 to 30 percent depending on your tax bracket. A $6,000 treatment paid through an FSA costs about $4,200 to $4,800 in after-tax terms. The catch is the annual contribution limit and the use-it-or-lose-it rule on most FSAs, so plan the contribution around the treatment start date.
Dental schools and orthodontic residency programs offer treatment at a discount, often 30 to 50 percent less than a private office, with the work done by residents under faculty supervision. The treatment takes longer and the appointments are less flexible, but the saving on a $6,000 case can be $2,000 or more. Some offices also offer a discount for paying in full at the start of treatment, typically 5 to 10 percent. Ask about it before you sign the payment plan, because the discount usually disappears once the plan is set up.
For the insurance side of the decision, our guide to average dental insurance cost for a family of 4 shows how the orthodontic rider fits into a family plan, and how much dental insurance costs out of pocket breaks down premiums, deductibles, and annual maximums. For the procedure that often comes before braces, wisdom tooth removal without insurance covers extraction costs, and how much a root canal costs without insurance covers the other major dental bill families face.
How to decide what to pay
Get two consultations, one from an orthodontist and one from a different office, and compare the treatment plans alongside the prices. A cheaper plan that takes six months longer is not cheaper. Ask for the total fee in writing, including records, adjustments, removal, and retainers. Check the insurance lifetime maximum and the waiting period before you start, and ask whether the office will split the billing across plan years if the treatment spans two. If the bill is still out of reach, ask about the in-house payment plan, the pay-in-full discount, and the dental school wait list. Braces are a two-year commitment and a five-figure decision for a family with two children in treatment. They deserve two opinions and a written number.
Frequently asked questions
How much do braces cost without insurance in 2026?
Braces cost $3,000 to $8,000 without insurance for the most common types, and the national average is close to $6,000 per the American Dental Association. Metal braces run $2,750 to $7,000, ceramic $3,000 to $6,500, clear aligners $3,250 to $8,250, and lingual braces $8,000 to $13,000.
How much do braces cost for kids?
Kids’ braces average $5,842 according to ADA data, and usually cost $3,000 to $7,000 for metal braces. Phase 1 treatment for younger children costs $1,500 to $3,000, and two-phase treatment combined typically runs $4,000 to $10,000.
How much do braces cost for adults?
Adult braces average $6,139, about 5 percent more than kids’ braces. Adult treatment takes four to eight months longer on average because adult bone is denser, and adults more often choose ceramic or aligners, which cost more. Most employer dental plans exclude adult orthodontics.
Does dental insurance cover braces?
Many plans cover orthodontics for children under 19, paying 50 percent up to a lifetime maximum of $1,000 to $2,500. On a $6,000 treatment with a $1,500 maximum, the insurer pays $1,500 and you pay $4,500. Adult coverage is rare, and waiting periods often apply.
Are clear aligners cheaper than braces?
No. Clear aligners such as Invisalign cost $3,250 to $8,250, which overlaps with metal and ceramic braces and runs higher at the top end. Aligners cost more for complex cases and less for mild ones. The cheapest option for most cases is still traditional metal braces.
Can I get braces with no money down?
Most orthodontic offices offer in-house payment plans with a down payment of $500 to $1,500 and monthly payments of $100 to $300, interest-free for the length of treatment. Some offices offer a 5 to 10 percent discount for paying in full at the start. Dental schools charge 30 to 50 percent less.
Average braces costs and the ADA fee survey figures cited above come from ValuePenguin’s average cost of braces guide, based on the American Dental Association survey of dental fees.
