The average cost of a PRP injection
The best published price data comes from a Cleveland Clinic study in which researchers contacted U.S. centers that advertised PRP for knee arthritis. Of 179 centers reached, 153 gave a price, and the average for one same-day knee injection was $714.
Clinic price lists run wider than that average, from about $500 to $2,500 per injection. A price only means something once you know what it includes.
PRP injection cost by area and number of injections
| Treatment | Typical cost | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One knee injection | $714 on average, from a survey of U.S. centers | The only published U.S. average |
| A series of three | About $2,100 at that average, before any package discount | Three injections a week apart is a common knee protocol |
| Shoulder, elbow, or tendon | Priced per area; no published average | Small tendons need precise ultrasound guidance |
| Hip or spine | Often higher; no published average | Deeper targets need ultrasound or fluoroscopy |
The number of injections changes the total more than anything else. Tendon problems such as tennis elbow are often treated with a single injection. Knee arthritis protocols commonly use three, about a week apart, the schedule the RESTORE trial used. Ask whether a quote is for one injection or for the series.
What drives the price
- The preparation system. Commercial single-use kits differ in cost, in how much they concentrate the platelets, and in how many white blood cells they keep.
- Ultrasound guidance. Seeing the tendon or joint on ultrasound places the injection precisely and adds to the cost. Deep hip and spine injections almost always need imaging.
- The area treated. Each joint or tendon is usually priced separately, and treating both knees costs more than one.
- The number of injections. A series of three costs about three times as much unless the clinic discounts a package.
- Who performs it. A physician with musculoskeletal ultrasound training, a sports medicine practice, and a med spa charge differently, and they do not offer the same diagnosis.
- What is bundled. Some quotes include the consultation, a follow-up visit, and a rehab plan. Others cover only the injection.
Is PRP covered by insurance?
Rarely. Medicare's national coverage decision covers PRP only for chronic, non-healing diabetic wounds, and leaves other chronic wounds to its regional contractors. There is no national Medicare coverage for PRP injections into joints, tendons, or ligaments. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes that few insurance plans, including workers' compensation, provide even partial reimbursement for PRP, so most patients pay out of pocket.
Parts of the visit may still be billable. Some plans cover the consultation, X-rays, an MRI, or a diagnostic ultrasound that comes before a procedure. Health savings and flexible spending accounts can often pay for PRP that treats a diagnosed condition, depending on your plan administrator.
How PRP compares with other injections on cost
A cortisone injection usually costs far less out of pocket, because insurance generally covers it. It also works faster, but the relief tends to fade within weeks to a few months. Hyaluronic acid injections for knee arthritis are often covered too. PRP costs more up front because you pay for it yourself, and in knee arthritis and tennis elbow studies its benefit has tended to last longer than cortisone. For a full comparison, read PRP vs cortisone injections.
At the other end, procedures that use your own bone marrow cost several times more than PRP. A 2024 review estimated bone marrow concentrate at about four times the price of PRP for the knee, and stem cell therapy averages about $5,000 per knee.
Is PRP worth the cost?
The answer depends on the diagnosis. The AAOS reports that PRP is effective for chronic tennis elbow. In knee arthritis, one review of trials found PRP did better than cortisone at three to nine months, and another found it relieved pain better than hyaluronic acid at six and twelve months. The most rigorous knee trial points the other way: in the 2021 RESTORE trial, 288 adults with knee arthritis received three injections of PRP or saline, and at 12 months PRP was no better for pain or cartilage.
In practice, PRP is most worth the money for a specific, confirmed problem such as a chronic tendon injury or mild to moderate arthritis, after rehab and simpler options have not been enough. It is a poor use of money for severe, bone-on-bone arthritis or for pain that has not been diagnosed. To understand how the treatment works, read what a PRP injection is.
Why some PRP offers cost much less
A low price often means no ultrasound guidance, a smaller blood draw, or a preparation that concentrates the platelets less. Without imaging, an injection meant for a tendon can miss it. PRP for hair or skin is usually sold as a cosmetic series and priced differently, so those prices are not a fair comparison for a joint or tendon injection.
Questions to ask before you pay
- Is this price for one injection or the full series?
- Does it include the consultation, ultrasound guidance, and follow-up?
- What preparation system do you use, and how concentrated is the PRP?
- Who performs the injection, and is it guided by ultrasound?
- What does the evidence show for my diagnosis?
- What is the plan, and the cost, if one injection is not enough?
PRP injections in Miami
I treat joint, tendon, and sports injuries with PRP in Miami, and every plan starts with a diagnosis rather than a package price. That means a hands-on exam, a review of any imaging, and, when it helps, a musculoskeletal ultrasound in the clinic. If PRP is a reasonable option, you get the price before treatment, an injection guided by ultrasound, and a rehab plan to go with it. If something else is likely to work better, I will tell you. See PRP injections in Miami, or book a consultation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a PRP injection cost?
A survey of U.S. centers offering PRP for knee arthritis found an average of $714 for a single same-day knee injection. Quotes vary with the preparation system, the area treated, ultrasound guidance, and how many injections are planned.
Is PRP covered by insurance?
Rarely. Medicare covers PRP only for certain chronic, non-healing wounds, and most private plans and workers' compensation do not pay for PRP injections into joints or tendons. The consultation, imaging, or diagnostic ultrasound may still be billable to your plan.
Why are PRP injections so expensive?
Each injection is made the same day from your own blood with a single-use processing kit, and it is usually placed under ultrasound guidance by a physician. Because insurance rarely pays, the full cost of the visit, the kit, and the imaging lands on the patient.
How many PRP injections will I need?
It depends on the condition. A single injection is common for tendon problems, and knee arthritis protocols often use three injections about a week apart. Ask whether a quote covers one injection or the full series.
How much does a PRP injection cost for the knee?
The published average for one knee is $714. Clinics usually price each knee separately, and a three-injection series costs roughly three times the single-injection price unless the clinic offers a package.
Can I use an HSA or FSA for PRP?
Often, when PRP treats a diagnosed medical condition such as arthritis or a tendon injury. Cosmetic uses usually do not qualify. Ask for an itemized receipt with your diagnosis and confirm with your plan administrator before you pay.
Is PRP worth the cost?
For chronic tennis elbow and mild to moderate knee arthritis, studies suggest PRP can relieve pain for longer than a steroid injection, though a large 2021 trial found no benefit over saline for knee arthritis. It makes most sense after a clear diagnosis, when rehab and simpler options have not been enough.
Sources
- Piuzzi NS, et al. What is the price and claimed efficacy of platelet-rich plasma injections for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in the United States? J Knee Surg. 2019
- Bennell KL, et al. Effect of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma vs placebo injection on pain and medial tibial cartilage volume in patients with knee osteoarthritis: the RESTORE randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2021
- McLarnon M, Heron N. Intra-articular PRP versus corticosteroid injections for knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2021
- Tang JZ, et al. Platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 2020
- Han JH, et al. Bone marrow aspirate concentrate injections for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Orthop J Sports Med. 2024
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
- CMS: National coverage determination for blood-derived products for chronic, non-healing wounds