Always confirm costs with your healthcare facility and/or insurance coverage
The EKG (or ECG) is a quick, painless test that shows whether your heart is slacking off, short-circuiting, or flat-out betraying you. It’s used in ERs, doctor’s offices, and even routine checkups.
But the price? It ranges from “not bad” to “are you kidding me?”
Let’s break it down — with and without insurance.
💡 Quick Answer:
EKG Setting |
With Insurance |
Without Insurance |
|---|---|---|
Doctor’s Office |
$0 – $50 copay |
$50 – $350 |
Urgent Care |
$30 – $100 copay |
$100 – $500 |
Hospital (ER or Inpatient) |
$50 – $200 (plus facility fees) |
$500 – $1,200+ |
Mobile/At-Home EKG Devices |
❌ Not covered |
$80 – $400 (one-time purchase) |
🧾 National cash-pay average for a basic 12-lead EKG = $250
🧪 What’s Included in an EKG?
Step |
Included in Cost? |
|---|---|
Placement of electrodes |
✅ Yes |
Heart rhythm & rate monitoring |
✅ Yes |
Paper printout of results |
✅ Yes |
Cardiologist review/interpretation |
⚠️ Sometimes extra |
Follow-up consultation |
❌ Separate fee in most cases |
⚠️ Hidden Fees to Watch Out For
Add-On |
Cost (Without Insurance) |
|---|---|
Cardiologist interpretation fee |
$50 – $150 |
Emergency Room facility charge |
$500 – $2,000 (not a typo) |
Follow-up testing (Echo, Holter monitor, etc.) |
$200 – $2,000+ |
Labs or bloodwork (if ordered with EKG) |
$100 – $500 |
⚠️ Hospital settings love to bundle this with “facility fees” that triple the final cost.
🏥 Where to Get a Low-Cost EKG (Without Insurance)
Provider Type |
Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
Walk-in clinic or urgent care |
$100 – $250 |
Direct primary care clinics |
$50 – $150 |
Community health centers / FQHCs |
$20 – $100 (sliding scale) |
Mobile testing services |
$100 – $200 |
Online second opinion with upload |
$15 – $50 (cardiologist reads your EKG) |
✅ Pro Tip: Call and ask for the cash-pay price — many clinics charge way less if you’re not billing insurance.
🩺 Should You Buy an At-Home EKG Device?
Brand |
Cost |
Features |
|---|---|---|
KardiaMobile 6L |
$149 – $179 |
6-lead, app-based, shareable with doctors |
Wellue DuoEK |
$79 – $149 |
Handheld, portable, Bluetooth sync |
Apple Watch Series 9 |
$399+ |
Built-in EKG, not diagnostic-grade |
Withings ScanWatch |
$279 – $329 |
FDA-cleared, syncs with phone & apps |
🔥 Great for ongoing monitoring, AFib alerts, or sharing data with your doctor — but not a replacement for a clinical EKG if something feels wrong.
🧠 Final Thoughts: It’s Not the Test, It’s the Billing
A basic EKG machine costs less than an iPad. The test itself takes 5 minutes. What you’re really paying for is where you get it done — and whether your insurance plays nice.
💡 Get it done in-office or outpatient = reasonable.
ER or hospital = financial arrhythmia.
🔚 Bottom Line
- Doctor’s office or clinic? Expect $50–$350
- ER setting? $1,000+ after fees
- Insurance helps — but confirm what’s covered
- Avoid hospitals unless it’s a legit emergency
- Own a wearable? Great for tracking — not diagnosing
