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How much do contacts cost?

Contacts typically cost between $20 and $130 per box, with a full year ringing in between around $200 and $1,100, depending on your lens choice, prescription details, insurance coverage, and how often you buy. Glasses might seem cheaper at first (one pair can last a year or more), but you can end up paying a whole chunk of change upfront. Contacts spread costs over the year — and let you nap without smushing frames into your face. Sounds like a fair trade, right?

If you’re cost-conscious, watch for coupons, compare brands, or buy in bulk for possible discounts. A simple prescription often costs less than fancy toric or multifocal lenses. Ultimately, it’s about your lifestyle (do you wear lenses daily or just on date nights?), your eye care professional’s recommendations, and whether your insurance is pitching in to help your wallet chill out.

Lens type and material

Let’s break down each lens category in all its price-tag glory.

Daily disposable contacts

Ready to ditch any cleaning routine? These single-use stars let you wear a fresh lens every morning and toss it before bed.

Overview: Wear them once, trash them at bedtime, never think about them again — kind of like an ex you’d rather forget.

Price range: About $25–$40 for a 30-pack (per eye), adding up to $500–$1,100 per year if worn daily.

Examples:

Who they suit: Anyone who’d rather not juggle lens solution, cases, or a single, excruciating moment of “Wait, did I clean these?”

Monthly disposable contacts

Feel like committing to a pack of lenses for 30-ish days at a time? Smart cookie. 

Overview: Replace each lens about once a month. You’ll need a nightly cleaning routine — but your annual spend plummets compared to dailies. 

Price range: $40–$60 for a 6-pack (6 months of lenses for one eye), typically $150–$250 per year for a basic single-vision prescription.

Examples:

Who they suit: Anyone who’ll happily spend 2 minutes a night cleaning lenses to save a chonky wad of cash annually.

Non-prescription color contacts

Craving a new hue but don’t need vision correction? Step right up for some eye-color magic.

Overview: Keep in mind, purely cosmetic color lenses still need a valid prescription. Jazz up your iris with zero vision correction.

Price range: $40–$60. 

Example:

Who they suit: Those who want to cosplay a different eye color whenever the mood strikes (purple eyes, anyone?).

Prescription color contacts

Need real vision correction but also itching for a new eye color? These lenses have your name on them.

Overview: Same color party, but with your actual prescription built in.

Price range: Usually $70–$100 for a 6-pack of monthlies, so expect to pay up to $400 a year if you’re wearing them consistently.

Example:

  • Dailies Colors (90-pack). Approx $90 if you just want a one-off pack for an occasional short fling with your alter ego — but might total $700+ a year if you use them daily.

Who they suit: People who like to see clearly but also arrive at brunch with neon green eyes.

Night contacts

More of a pop ’em in and forget ’em kinda person? Extended wear might be your jam.

Overview: Extended-wear soft lenses that let you sleep in them. Wake up already seeing your alarm.

Price range: Around $120 per 6-month supply for extended-wear soft lenses. You’re looking at roughly $240 a year per eye or $480 total. 

Example:

Who they suit: Anyone who wants to open their eyes in the morning and see the alarm clock digits, crystal clear. (Always confirm with your eye care professional about sleeping in lenses.)

Prescription vs. non-prescription

Ready for a plot twist? All contact lenses need a prescription from your eye care professional, even if they have no vision correction. Non-prescription color lenses might cost $700 per year (dailies) or $75–$100 (monthlies) and could hit $300+ a year if you wear them often. 

Meanwhile, a standard prescription lens could be just $50–$60 every 6 months (for monthlies), so around $100–$120 annually, assuming no fancy extras. Toric lenses or multifocal designs can run $10–$20 more per box — small but noticeable if you’re buying several times a year.

How much do prescription contacts cost? 

A 6-month supply of simple monthly prescription lenses can be up to $50 if you go for something fancier. Over 12 months, that’s up to $200. If you’re a daily-lens fan, you might pay between $500 and $1,100. Everything from your unique prescription to lens brand influences final costs (think comparing economy vs. luxury cars — but for eyeballs).

Insurance vs. out of pocket

Insurance can seriously lighten the load — some plans give you a set dollar amount (like say $130) or a percentage off. If your annual supply is $300, you’d pay $170. Others let you pick between new glasses or contact benefits each year.

No insurance? You’ll likely pay $200–$600 per year, depending on your lens type. The bright side: You can hunt down coupons or sales and even use an FSA/HSA to get a tax break. Sometimes, that ends up just as cost-effective as using a basic insurance plan.

Average cost for contacts with insurance: about $100–$200 per year (after coverage)
Average cost for contacts without insurance: around $200–$600 per year (or more for deluxe dailies)

Is it cheaper to buy contact lenses in bulk?

Buying contacts monthly can certainly be cheaper. For example, if you’re rocking ACUVUE® OASYS® with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS (24 pack) as a monthly lens, you’ll replace each pair once a month. 

How much is a year’s worth of contacts?

One 24-pack contains 24 lenses — that’s 12 pairs total — enough for 12 months of wear on one eye (so you need to snag one box for each eye). At around $300, you’ll have a full year of crisp vision in a single box — like a subscription to happy eyeballs. 

So, the ACUVUE OASYS 24-pack is tailor-made to get you from January to December without scrambling for refills. That’s one less thing to worry about — and one more reason your eyes (and wallet) will thank you. 

How many contacts are in a year’s supply?

You can get a year's supply in one box or:

No need to stress; retailers do the lens math for you. Just let them know you want enough to last for 365 days of fabulous vision.

Cheapest contacts on 1-800 Contacts

Making your eyes magically clearer on a tighter budget? Check these out. And if you spot a lower price elsewhere, 1-800 Contacts will match it — so your wallet can stay as happy as your corneas.

  • Budget daily lenses:

  • Budget monthly lenses:

  • Cheap color contacts:

  • Subscription savings:

  • Auto-refills can knock off 5%–10% and usually include free shipping.

  • Rebates might gift you $50–$100 off an annual supply if you order in bulk.

All these choices meet FDA safety requirements, so “cheap” doesn’t mean lower quality — just more leftover cash for a memorable night out or that new game you’ve been eyeing.

Are contacts expensive?

Contact lenses can be expensive if you’re living the daily-disposable high life or opting for toric wizardry. With monthly lenses, you might only spend $200–$400 a year, which is less than some folks blow on premium streaming subscriptions. Daily lenses could run $500–$1,100, but for many, that convenience is worth its weight in gold (or buckets of contact lens solution).

So, how much do contact lenses cost in the grand scheme of life? Enough that you’ll want to comparison-shop but not so much that you’ll be forced to skip rent. 

1-800 Contacts offers a rainbow of lens types and price points because people have different eyes and different budgets. If you still feel lost, talk to your eye care professional for brand recs. 

Did you know you can order contacts online? 

Say goodbye to trips to the eye doctor and hello to convenience! With 1-800 Contacts, you can easily order your contact lenses online and have them delivered straight to your door. Plus, our online vision exam makes it simple to get the prescription you need without leaving home. And the best part? You’ll save money on your first order with 1-800 Contacts. It’s never been easier to get your contacts! 

Original publish date: 10/16/2023

Updated: 4/29/2025