How much do in-office clear aligners cost?
The $5,108 average is the closest published national figure. The treating doctor sets the fee after records. Invisalign packages (Express, Lite, Moderate, Comprehensive) are defined by how many aligners you get, not by a public patient price.
Supervised, in-office systems
ClearCorrect and CandidPro sell to doctors. Neither publishes a consumer list price. Insurance that covers orthodontics usually treats these the same as braces.
How much do at-home clear aligners cost?
Mail-order companies advertise their own starting prices. The $1,800 low end of the national range is typically a limited or mail-order case, not a current advertised price.
- ALIGNERCO starting pricesCompany site, September 2026: collections from $725 and $1,095, impression kit $29.99. Advertised sale prices change.
- NewSmile advertised Fast TrackCompany site, September 2026: $1,095 (marked down from $1,795). Wear 22 hours a day. The site also lists competitor prices; those are NewSmile's claims, not independent fee studies.
- Candid and ClearCorrectCandid left mail-order for doctor-directed CandidPro. ClearCorrect is doctor-only. Neither publishes a patient price.
Orthodontists discourage mail-order treatment because it starts without an in-person exam. In a 2021–2022 survey, 77% of 260 responding orthodontists had seen retreatment after mail-order care that started without an in-person exam.
What happened to SmileDirectClub and Byte?
SmileDirectClub filed Chapter 11 in September 2023 and shut global operations in December 2023. SmilePay had been about $250 down and 26 payments of about $89, more than $2,500 total. The New York Attorney General later recovered $4.8 million for more than 28,000 consumers who were still being billed after service stopped.
Byte's own site states that it has concluded operations. There is no official successor that assumed SmileDirectClub contracts. Older review-site prices describe companies that no longer treat patients.
How many hours a day do you wear clear aligners?
Each tray is typically worn one week, at least 22 hours a day. Some offices use 20–22 hours. Missed hours stretch the calendar. That wear rule is the same whether the trays came from an office or a box.
Guides to read next
Questions about clear aligners
The national average is $5,108, with a published range of $1,800–$8,100. That figure includes in-office systems and some limited or mail-order cases. It is not an Invisalign-only fee. The treating office still sets the quote after an exam.
Mail-order companies advertise their own starting prices. SmileDirectClub shut down in December 2023. Byte has concluded operations. Remaining companies advertise starting prices (ALIGNERCO from $725; NewSmile Fast Track $1,095 on a September 2026 sale). Those are company promotions, not a national average.
Orthodontists discourage mail-order treatment because it starts without an in-person exam or radiographs. In a 2021–2022 survey, 77% of 260 responding orthodontists had seen retreatment after mail-order care. The American Dental Association likewise discourages mail-order dental laboratory services because of the potential for irreversible harm.
The company filed Chapter 11 in September 2023 and shut global operations in December 2023, leaving tens of thousands of patients mid-treatment. The New York Attorney General later recovered $4.8 million for more than 28,000 consumers who were still being billed. There is no official successor that assumed those contracts.
Each tray is typically worn one week, at least 22 hours a day. Some offices use 20–22 hours. Trays come out to eat, drink (except water), brush, and floss.
Plans that cover orthodontics usually treat braces and in-office aligners the same. Mail-order coverage is plan-specific and often excluded. The federal-employee FSA lists Invisalign and other clear aligners, including self-service mail order, as eligible expenses with a receipt. That is reimbursement eligibility, not medical-plan coverage.
Without a benefit, you pay the office or company fee. The national category average is $5,108. Advertised mail-order starting prices are lower and omit in-person records. A mail-order kit on a complex bite is not a substitute for a supervised plan.
Sources
These figures come from published studies and professional groups. We do not sell treatment or set fees. Use them to read an office quote against a national baseline.
- 1.Synchrony / CareCredit Average Procedural Cost Study (October 2023) National clear-aligner average $5,108. Range $1,800–$8,100. Category figure, not an Invisalign-only fee. Wear 20–22 hours a day.
- 2.American Association of Orthodontists, At-Home Orthodontics AAO strongly discourages mail-order treatment. No in-person exam or radiographs. Risks include tooth and gum loss and changed bites. Orthodontics is a professional service, not a shipped product.
- 3.American Association of Orthodontists, Clear Aligners Each tray typically worn 1 week, at least 22 hours a day. Plans that cover orthodontics usually cover braces and aligners equally.
- 4.AAO member survey on mail-order retreatment (Nov 2021–Jan 2022) 77% of 260 responding members had seen retreatment after mail-order or DTC care that started without an in-person exam. Margin of error ±6.
- 5.American Dental Association, Direct-to-Consumer Dental Services ADA strongly discourages DTC dental laboratory services because of the potential for irreversible harm. Aligners are FDA medical devices.
- 6.New York Attorney General, SmileDirectClub settlement (Dec 2, 2024) Chapter 11 in September 2023. Global shutdown in December 2023. SmilePay was about $250 down plus 26 payments of about $89, more than $2,500 total. Settlement: $4.8 million for 28,000+ consumers.
- 7.Byte official site Byte states that it has concluded operations. No current list price.
- 8.ALIGNERCO advertised collections (retrieved September 2026) Company advertised collections starting from $725 and $1,095, plus a $29.99 impression kit. Advertised sale prices change. Not a national average.
- 9.NewSmile advertised Fast Track price (retrieved September 2026) Company advertised Fast Track at $1,095 (marked down from $1,795) and a $29 impression kit. Wear 22 hours a day. Competitor prices on that page are NewSmile's claims, not independent fee studies.