Eye Exam Cost by Provider: Walmart, Costco, LensCrafters and More (2026)
The definitive comparison of eye exam prices at every major US retail chain. Sorted by price, with add-on costs, insurance acceptance, and honest pros and cons for each provider.
Master Price Comparison Table (Sorted Cheapest First)
| Provider | Exam Cost | Basis | Contact Lens Exam | Membership to be examined? | Walk-ins? | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam's Club Vision | $50-$100 | Reported | Not published | Not for exam; $60/yr to buy | Yes | 602 US clubs |
| America's Best | $80 | Chain-published | $130 | None | Yes | ~1,000 |
| Walmart Vision Center | $75-$100 | Reported | Not published | None | Yes | ~3,000 |
| Costco Optical | $79-$110 | Reported | Not published | Not for exam; $65/yr to buy | Limited | 647 US and PR warehouses |
| Target Optical | $95 median ($59-$150) | Store-published | $130 median | None | Yes | 1291 US stores |
| Warby Parker | $85+ | Chain-published | Not published | None | Appointment preferred | ~250 |
| LensCrafters | $98 median ($49-$258) | Store-published | $129 median | None | Yes | 1294 US stores |
| Visionworks | $75-$100 | Reported | Not published | None | Yes | ~700 |
| Pearle Vision | $89 median ($20-$300) | Store-published | $135 median | None | Yes | 825 US stores |
The three bases are not interchangeable, which is the whole point of this table. Chain-published: one national figure the chain prints on its own site. Store-published: no national figure, but individual stores print their own starting fee on the chain's own store-locator, shown here as a median with the full range (1280 stores across the three EssilorLuxottica brands, 30 September 2026). Reported: the chain publishes no exam price anywhere, so the range is what customers say they paid and no chain stands behind it. At Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club and most of the rest the exam is performed by an independent optometrist who sets the fee locally, which is why no national number exists to publish. For a published national benchmark, Medicare pays $149.64 for a comprehensive new-patient exam (CPT 92004, CY2026). Membership positions are the chains' own published policies, re-read 30 September 2026. Confirm the current fee with your local store before booking.
Provider-by-Provider Breakdown
Sam's Club Vision
America's Best
Walmart Vision Center
Costco Optical
Target Optical
Warby Parker
LensCrafters
Visionworks
Pearle Vision
How to Choose the Right Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is an eye exam at Walmart without insurance?
Walmart Vision Centers typically run $75-$100 for a comprehensive eye exam without insurance. That is a reported range rather than a chain-published price, because the exam is conducted by an independent optometrist who sets the fee locally. No membership is required. Walk-ins are accepted at most locations, though appointments are recommended at busy stores.
How much is an eye exam at Costco?
Costco publishes no exam price and no contact-lens fitting fee anywhere on costco.com. The optometrists are independent practitioners, not Costco employees, and they set their own fees. Customers report $79-$110 without insurance; that is a reported figure, not Costco's. A Costco membership is not required to see the optometrist, only to purchase glasses or contacts in store, and Gold Star membership is $65 a year.
Is LensCrafters or Walmart cheaper for an eye exam?
The two publish differently, so the comparison is not like for like. Walmart publishes nothing and is reported at $75-$100. LensCrafters publishes no national price either, but 660 of its US stores print their own starting exam fee on its store-locator site: median $98, range $49-$258. Walmart is cheaper than the middle of that spread, but you can look up the actual LensCrafters figure for the store near you, which you cannot do for Walmart. For the lowest cost overall, EyeMart Express is reported at $60-$85 and America's Best includes the exam free with two pairs of glasses for $95 (no exam-only price printed), both with no membership; Sam's Club is reported at $50-$100 and needs no membership for the exam either.
What is the cheapest eye exam chain in the US?
No single chain is dramatically cheapest in 2026. Among those publishing one national price, Stanton Optical is lowest at $79, and America's Best includes the exam free with two pairs of glasses for $95 (it prints no exam-only price). On reported figures EyeMart Express ($60-$85) and Sam's Club ($50-$100) are the lowest, and neither requires a membership to be examined. Walmart, reported at $75-$100, is the most widely available chain with no membership at either step. Read the reported figures with care: no chain stands behind them.