One of the lesser-known Costco membership benefits is access to affordable eye care through Costco Optical. With basic exams typically under $100 without insurance, it's one of the lowest eye exam costs in the industry. For a complete breakdown of what Costco offers, see our Costco membership guide.
Here's everything you need to know about Costco eye appointment costs and how to save on vision care.
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How Much Does a Costco Eye Exam Cost?
Without insurance, a basic Costco eye exam costs between $79 - $110. Since Costco employs independent optometrists at each location (they're technically not employed by Costco), the Costco eye exam cost can vary by location. If you need a contact lens exam, plan to add $40 - $60 to the cost of the basic exam at Costco.
Considering the average cost of an eye exam without insurance is $75 - $250 (according to Humana), you could save up to $140 by going with Costco.
We compared the Costco eye checkup cost at several different locations and found they cost an average of $91 for the basic eye exam, and $129 for a contact lens exam:
Costco Eye Exam Cost by Location
Store Location | Eye Exam Cost | Eye + Contact Lens Exam Cost |
|---|---|---|
Orlando, FL | $89 | $129 |
Lenexa, KS | $95 | $140 |
Irvine, CA | $85 | $120 |
Phoenix, AZ | $80 | $110 |
McKinney, TX | $99 | $139 |
Rochester, MN | $110 | $150 |
Lexington, KY | $79 | $115 |
Average Price: | $91 | $129 |
Costco eye appt costs accurate as of July 2025.
Costco Eye Appointment Cost vs. Competitors
Costco's eye exam pricing beats most competitors. Check out the price comparison:
Costco: $79 - $110 (basic exam)
Pearle Vision: $50 - $200
Walmart Vision Center: $65 - $95
America's Best: $69
Target Optical: $85 - $130
Independent optometrists: $100 - $250
The potential savings of $21 - $171 (when you compare Costco's price to independent optometrists) make Costco one of the most budget-friendly options for eye care, especially if you need regular checkups or have multiple family members who'll need eye exams.
Insurance Coverage and Costco Eye Exam Cost
Many vision insurance plans cover annual eye exams at Costco Optical. However, coverage varies by location since each Costco uses independent optometrists who set their own rates and accept different insurance plans.
Important considerations for insurance:
Call ahead to confirm your specific plan is accepted
Ask about your copay amount and any deductibles
Verify what's covered (basic exam vs. contact lens fitting)
Know that insurance can't be used for online purchases, only in-store visits
Do You Need a Costco Membership for Eye Exams?
No Costco membership is required for eye exams. Anyone can schedule an appointment with the independent optometrists at Costco Optical locations. That's because the eye doctors are technically separate businesses operating within Costco stores.
However, you will need a membership to purchase glasses, contacts, or other optical products after your exam.
Additional Tips for Using Costco Optical
Return glasses or contacts if you're not satisfied.
Costco Optical is pretty good about returns and replacements. Under the Costco return policy, you can return any unopened contact lenses to the Optical department at any Costco location. As long as you haven’t opened or used the contact lenses, Costco will issue you a refund. (And if you ordered online and can’t get to a store, you can start this process online.)
As for glasses, if something isn’t fitting quite right or the prescription seems off, head back to Costco Optical to get your glasses readjusted or tweaked to your liking — free of charge. If they made a mistake with your order, they’ll replace the glasses for you at no cost. But don’t expect to get a refund or replacement if you’ve simply changed your mind about the prescription glasses you picked out.
Bring your own prescription to skip the eye exam cost altogether.
Though most people have their eyes examined and then pick out frames at the same location, there’s no obligation to do both at Costco Optical. You can come in with a prescription from another optometrist and just use Costco Optical to order new glasses. As long as you have an up-to-date prescription, this is an easy way to save money.
You also have the option to get your eye exam done at Costco and then take your prescription elsewhere to order glasses. Up to you!
Look for occasional monthly sales to save up to $90 on glasses and contacts.
Specials do pop up here and there at Costco Optical, such as a discount of $30 if you’re buying two pairs of glasses.
Recently, we saw a great deal on a 90-pack of Kirkland Signature Daily Disposable contact lenses. When ordering online through the Costco website, if you bought four boxes, you got a discount of $35, while buying eight boxes saved you $90.
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