Paying
What crutches actually cost
Typical US retail price ranges for underarm, forearm, platform, and articulating crutches, why the same pair costs three times more at a hospital, and where the free options are.
Contents 6 sections
Crutches are one of the widest price spreads in consumer medical equipment. The same function is available at $25 and at $400, and the difference is almost entirely about how long you will be using them.
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Price by type
| Type | Where it is sold | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Underarm, aluminum | Pharmacy, big box, supply dealer | $25–$45 |
| Underarm, wood | Supply dealer, online | $20–$35 |
| Underarm, articulating / spring assisted | Supply dealer, online | $200–$600 |
| Forearm, basic | Supply dealer, online | $50–$120 |
| Forearm, ergonomic or carbon fibre | Online, O&P practice | $150–$400+ |
| Platform | O&P practice | $120–$300 |
| Knee scooter (purchase) | Supply dealer, online | $120–$250 |
| Knee scooter (rental) | Supply dealer | $40–$80 / week |
Why the same crutches cost different amounts
Retailers sell crutches as a product. Hospitals and clinics issue them as a billable supply attached to an encounter, which is why a discharge pair frequently lands at two to three times drugstore price. Neither is doing anything improper; they are different pricing models applied to an identical aluminum tube.
Medical supply dealers sit in between. They cost a little more than a drugstore and give you something a drugstore cannot: more than one option, and someone to set the height correctly.
Where the accessories money goes
Tips and pads wear out and are cheap to replace, $8 to $20 a set, and replacing worn tips is the single best value purchase in this category. Gel handgrip covers ($10–$25) fix most of the hand pain complaints people attribute to the crutches themselves. A crutch bag or pouch ($12–$30) is more useful than it sounds when both hands are occupied.
Getting them free
Medical equipment loan closets lend used crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs at no cost. They are run by service clubs, churches, senior centers, and some hospital auxiliaries, and they exist in most US metro areas without being well advertised. Call your county's area agency on aging or a local senior center and ask whether there is a loan closet nearby.
Secondhand is the other honest answer. Crutches are used for a few weeks and stored for a decade, so neighbourhood groups usually have several pairs available. Replace the tips before you use them, and check that the height adjusts to your range.
What insurance changes
Medicare Part B pays 80% of the approved amount after your deductible, but only through an enrolled supplier and only with a written order. For a $30 pair that is rarely worth the process; for articulating or custom forearm crutches it clearly is. The coverage rules in detail →
Common questions
- How much do crutches cost at a pharmacy?
- Roughly $25 to $45 for a pair of adjustable aluminum underarm crutches at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, or a grocery pharmacy. House brands sit at the bottom of that range.
- Why did the hospital charge so much for crutches?
- Hospital crutches are billed as a supply item on your visit, not sold at retail, so they carry the facility markup. It is common to see $60 to $120 for the same pair a drugstore sells for $30.
- Are expensive crutches worth it?
- For a six-week injury, rarely. For months of daily use, the ergonomic forearm designs meaningfully reduce hand, wrist, and shoulder strain, and that is what you are paying for.
- Can I get crutches for free?
- Sometimes. Local medical equipment loan closets, run by charities, churches, senior centers, and some hospitals, lend used crutches at no cost. Buy-nothing groups and neighbourhood apps are also full of them, since almost every household that used crutches once still has a pair in the garage.
How we researched this guide
Written and maintained by the CrutchDirectory editorial team at NLH Enterprises LLC. Coverage rules, billing codes and equipment definitions are taken from primary government sources, linked below. Prices are typical US retail ranges observed at national retailers and change often, so treat them as a bracket rather than a quote.
- CMS: DMEPOS fee schedule Medicare allowable amounts, the closest thing to a published national price
- Medicare.gov: Medicare costs How the Part B deductible and coinsurance change what you actually pay
- CMS: Medicare DME, devices and supplies by supplier Supplier-level submitted charges and volumes for 2024
Not medical advice. These guides cover products, prices and coverage mechanics. They are not written or reviewed by a clinician and do not diagnose or treat anything. Which mobility aid suits your injury, and what weight you may put through it, are questions for the clinician treating you.