How much does minoxidil cost?

Minoxidil is one of the most commonly used treatments for hair loss, along with finasteride. How much does minoxidil cost? It varies depending on whether you are taking oral vs. topical minoxidil and whether you get it by prescription or over the counter. Below, we go over how much topical and oral minoxidil cost — and share ways you can save on both.

The cost of minoxidil depends on your insurance coverage, the pharmacy or telehealth platform you use, and whether you're taking brand-name Rogaine or generic minoxidil.

Generic topical minoxidil is available as an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that’s applied to the scalp. Most insurance plans don’t cover OTC products.  

On Ro, topical minoxidil (generic Rogaine) costs $13–$16 per month, and, if prescribed, oral minoxidil costs $24–$30 per month, depending on your plan length. 

Generic topical minoxidil costs $19–$27 per month, brand-name Rogaine costs $30–$60 per month, and oral minoxidil costs around $28 per month at retail pharmacies.

On Ro, oral minoxidil costs $24–$30 per month, if prescribed, depending on the plan you choose:

• With a 12-month plan, oral minoxidil costs $24 per month, or $0.80 per day.

• With a six-month plan, oral minoxidil costs $27 per month, or $0.90 per day.

• With a quarterly plan, oral minoxidil costs $30 per month, or $1.00 per day.

These prices stay the same regardless of the tablet strength you are prescribed, but low-dose oral minoxidil is generally recommended for hair loss (usually up to 5 mg per day), while higher dosages (typically 10–40 mg per day) are prescribed for high blood pressure

At a traditional pharmacy, the average list price of oral minoxidil (generic Loniten) is around $28 for the 2.5 mg tablet, according to SingleCare. Oral minoxidil is a prescription-only generic medication; the original brand Loniten is no longer available.

Topical minoxidil costs anywhere from $13–$60 per month, depending on whether you are using brand-name Rogaine or generic minoxidil, the form and strength you are using, and where you purchase it. 

On Ro, topical 5% minoxidil solution (generic Rogaine) costs $13–$16 per month, depending on the plan you choose:

• With a 12-month plan, topical minoxidil costs $13 per month, or $0.43 per day.

• With a six-month plan, topical minoxidil costs $14 per month, or $0.47 per day.

• With a quarterly plan, topical minoxidil costs $16 per month, or $0.53 per day.

Here is a more in-depth look at the average list prices of brand-name Rogaine and generic topical minoxidil:

• Generic topical minoxidil solution costs $20–$27 per month (2% strength) or $23–$27 per month (5% strength), according to SingleCare.

• Brand-name Rogaine solution costs $30 per month (2% strength) or $30–$60 per month (5% strength). Three-month supplies may cost less per month, depending on the retailer.

• Generic topical minoxidil foam (5% strength) costs $19–$27 per month, according to SingleCare. 

• Brand-name Rogaine foam costs $30–$60 per month. Three-month supplies may cost less per month, depending on the retailer.

Generally, no, insurance does not cover minoxidil when prescribed for hair loss. There are two main reasons why:

• Treating hair loss is an off-label use of oral minoxidil. If you are prescribed oral minoxidil for hair shedding or loss, it likely will not be covered, since insurers generally only cover medications for on-label prescriptions (which, in the case of oral minoxidil, is treatment-resistant high blood pressure).

• Topical minoxidil is available without a prescription. Whether your healthcare provider recommends the minoxidil foam or liquid solution, both are available without a prescription. Insurance plans generally only cover prescription medications. However, if you have an FSA or HSA plan, you may be able to apply those funds toward over-the-counter topical minoxidil.

Some insurance plans do cover minoxidil. You can check by reviewing your plan's list of covered medications (sometimes called a "formulary") online, or by calling the number on the back of your insurance card.

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Yes, topical minoxidil is available over the counter, as is brand-name or generic Rogaine. You can get topical minoxidil online through Ro, at your pharmacy, or at other retailers without consulting a healthcare provider. Oral minoxidil, however, does require a prescription. You can get oral minoxidil online through Ro or another telehealth service, or you can make an appointment with your healthcare provider.

There are various ways to save on minoxidil and lower the cost of your monthly Rx.

• Get a multi-month prescription of minoxidil on Ro. Ro offers various plans for oral and topical minoxidil, including three-, six-, and 12-month options. The longer the plan, the bigger the savings — for example, topical minoxidil costs $13/month with a 12-month plan vs. $16/month with a quarterly plan, saving $36 per year.

• Choose a 90-day supply. If you get your prescription through your local pharmacy, ask if you can order a longer 90-day supply vs. the standard 30-day option. Research suggests 90-day prescriptions may lead to a lower monthly cash price than 30-day fills — one analysis found an average cost of about $15 per month for 90-day supplies, compared with about $20 per month for 30-day fills.

• Opt for generic vs. brand-name minoxidil. Generic medications contain the same active ingredient and work the same way as their brand-name counterparts — but they are usually much less expensive.

• Use pharmacy coupons. Websites such as GoodRx, SingleCare, and others offer pharmacy-specific discount cards you can use to lower the cost of your prescription. Just visit the website, search for minoxidil, and find the coupon for your preferred pharmacy. Show it to your pharmacist the next time you pick up your Rx.

• Pay with an HSA or FSA account. If you have a prescription for minoxidil — and a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) — your prescription may be an eligible expense. While using an HSA or FSA will not change the cost of your Rx, it helps you save overall since you will be using pre-tax dollars to pay for minoxidil.

Your monthly minoxidil cost mainly comes down to two choices: generic vs. brand-name Rogaine, and where you fill the prescription. Insurance rarely helps either way, since most plans do not cover minoxidil for hair loss.

• Generic oral minoxidil costs $28 per month at the pharmacy, on average, but you can get it for $24–$30 per month on Ro.

• Generic topical minoxidil costs $19–$27 per month on average, but you can get it for $13–$16 per month on Ro.

• Brand-name Rogaine is the most expensive, costing $30–$60 per month.

• Insurance plans rarely cover minoxidil because the topical is available over the counter, and the oral version is only approved for high blood pressure.

• You can save on minoxidil by ordering longer, multi-month supplies, opting for the generic over Rogaine, and using pharmacy coupons or HSA/FSA funds.