Which cost guide should I read first?

Start with the orthodontic costs overview if you have not picked a treatment or age group. Open a who guide when insurance or age is the decision (kids, teens, adults, or adults over 40). Open an appliance guide when the question is Invisalign versus other clear aligners. Open payment options when the question is how to spread the fee.

Why do several guides cite the same $5,108–$9,221 band?

That band is Synchrony's published average by appliance type, not a separate price for each age group. Kids, teen, adult, and over-40 treatment still sit in that national range. What changes is coverage: many plans pay for dependents under 19 and exclude adult orthodontics. Early-treatment fees for children are quoted after the first exam.

Does Align publish a national Invisalign fee?

No. Align does not publish a national Invisalign price. The closest published figure is Synchrony's 2023 in-office clear-aligner average of $5,108, with a range of $1,800–$8,100. SmileDirectClub and Byte have closed. Remaining mail-order prices are company advertisements.

Orthodontic Cost Guides

U.S. braces and aligner averages run $5,108–$9,221 by type in Synchrony's 2023–2024 fee studies. Metal braces average $6,343. Align does not publish a national Invisalign fee.

The guides below break that band down by age, appliance, and how families pay. They are national averages, not a quote for one office.

Treatment plans, duration, and costs vary based on individual needs and are determined during an in-person consultation.

Find orthodontic practices near you Start with the overview

What published U.S. fees look like

CareCredit published these averages from ASQ360° Market Research for Synchrony. The American Association of Orthodontists does not set a national price. The treating office quotes after an exam.

National orthodontic fee averages by appliance type from Synchrony CareCredit studies
Appliance	Average	Published range	Typical duration
Clear aligners	$5,108	$1,800–$8,100	12–18 months
Ceramic braces	$5,834	$4,480–$11,312	18–24 months
Metal braces	$6,343	$2,500–$10,000	12–24 months
Lingual braces	$9,221	$7,321–$17,411	18–36 months

Sources: Synchrony 2023 fee study (metal, clear aligners) and Synchrony 2024 fee study (ceramic, lingual). State metal averages in the same tables run from Indiana at $4,767 to Nevada at $8,350.

See metal braces by state on the overview if you need a local comparison, not just the national band.

Insurance and the lifetime maximum

FAIR Health describes typical dental plans with orthodontic benefits as paying about 50% of the charge, up to a separate lifetime maximum, often limited to dependents under 19. Most plans do not cover adult orthodontics. HSA and FSA funds can still pay an eligible balance.

Among 112,243 insured U.S. patients verified by OrthoFi in 2021, the mean orthodontic benefit was $1,772. On a $6,343 metal-braces fee with a $1,500 lifetime max, insurance pays $1,500 and the patient pays $4,843.

The AAO says most member offices offer an in-house plan: a down payment, then 12–24 monthly payments, often without interest. CareCredit promotional terms may apply to charges of $200 or more.

Three ways into the guides

You do not need to read all eight. Jump to the cluster that matches the decision in front of you.

Who it's for

A child, a teen, an adult, or someone over 40.

Which appliance

Invisalign, or other clear aligners.

How you'll pay

In-house plans, CareCredit, HSA or FSA.

Orthodontic Costs Overview

Start here if you have not picked a treatment or age group yet.

$5,108–$9,221All treatment typesRead the overview

Who it's for

Age changes insurance more than it changes the published fee band. Pick the guide that matches the patient.

Braces Cost for Kids

For children. Early-treatment fees are quoted after the first exam.

For dependents still on a family plan.

Often covered under 19

Read the guide

Often covered under 19

Adult Braces Cost

For adults. Most plans do not cover adult orthodontics.

Most plans exclude adults

Read the guide

Most plans exclude adults

Costs for Adults Over 40

For adults 40 and older. Gums and bone have to be stable first.

Gums and bone first

Read the guide

Gums and bone first

Which appliance

Invisalign is Align's named product. Clear aligners covers in-office trays and what is left of mail-order after SmileDirectClub and Byte closed.

Invisalign Cost

The named Align brand.

In-office clear aligners, and what is left of mail-order.

In-office vs mail-order

Read the guide

In-office vs mail-order

How you'll pay

Financing is a separate decision from which appliance you choose. Read this before you call offices.

Payment Options

In-house plans, CareCredit promotional terms, HSA or FSA.

12–24 month plans

Read payment options

12–24 month plans

Before you pick a guide

Which cost guide should I read first?: Start with the orthodontic costs overview if you have not picked a treatment or age group. Open a who guide when insurance or age is the decision (kids, teens, adults, or adults over 40). Open an appliance guide when the question is Invisalign versus other clear aligners. Open payment options when the question is how to spread the fee.
Why do several guides cite the same $5,108–$9,221 band?: That band is Synchrony's published average by appliance type, not a separate price for each age group. Kids, teen, adult, and over-40 treatment still sit in that national range. What changes is coverage: many plans pay for dependents under 19 and exclude adult orthodontics. Early-treatment fees for children are quoted after the first exam.
Does Align publish a national Invisalign fee?: No. Align does not publish a national Invisalign price. The closest published figure is Synchrony's 2023 in-office clear-aligner average of $5,108, with a range of $1,800–$8,100. SmileDirectClub and Byte have closed. Remaining mail-order prices are company advertisements.

Then find a practice

Ranges on these pages are national. A local office sets the fee after an exam.

Find orthodontic practices near you