How Much Does a Sleep Study Cost?


Written by:  Howmuchisit.org Staff

A sleep study is a test that will record the body activity while sleeping and will usually help with diagnosing sleep disorders and other sleep-related problems.  If you’re having sleep issues, such as trouble falling asleep, snoring or feeling restless when waking up, then your doctor may recommend a sleep study appointment to see if you have sleep apnea or some sort of disorder.

Sleep study room by Kdt., on Flickr
“Sleep study room” (CC BY 2.0) by Kdt.

How much does a sleep study cost?

The cost of a sleep study will depend on the sleep study center, the type of sleep study being done, where you live and your insurance.  On average, to have a sleep study done, the cost can vary anywhere from $500 at home to as much as $6,000+ inside a center per study without insurance.  If you have a health insurance policy, be sure to check with them before signing up for a study to understand your coverage as all insurance companies will greatly vary.  As long as the study is deemed medically necessary, your insurance company may cover the procedure.

Sleep Dr says the costs can depend on the type of sleep study the type of center and your insurance policy.  Most insurance policies, as claimed by the website, will cover a sleep study as long as it’s deemed necessary.  An in-center sleep study can cost $500 to $3,000, but as little as $0 to $150 if you have insurance, whereas an out-of-center sleep study could cost $300 to $600 without insurance.

VeryWell.com says the cost of an overnight polysomnogram, for instance, can cost $600 to $5,000 per night, with the average being $1,000.   An at-home study can cost $200 to $300 per night.

Amino.com had found the average network rate for those who had insurance was $1,565.

Sleep StudyAverage Price (without insurance)
Home Sleep Test (HST)$1,000
Polysomnogram (PSG) In-lab Sleep Test$3,000
CPAP Titration Study$5,000
Multiple Sleep Latency Test$3,500
Maintenance of Wakefulness Test$3,500

The types of sleep studies

Home sleep study

Just as it sounds, a home sleep study will be done in the comfort of your own home and will be recommended if your doctor suspects you have sleep apnea.  Before you can use the equipment, you will be asked to come to a sleep study center, where a technician will show you how to use the equipment and let you test it before you go home.  Once at home, you will hook up the equipment and the data will be stored and later uploaded the following day at the center.  This test, according to Alaska Sleep, will be used to help diagnose sleep apnea and up to 75 percent of those who use it are properly diagnosed.

Polysomnogram (PSG) in-lab sleep test

A polysomnogram will record the brain activity, eye movement, blood pressure, body movement, oxygen levels and more.  Performed at a sleep study center, this test can help diagnose sleep-related to seizures, breathing disorder or movement disorders.  This test will be performed by a registered polysomnographic technologist and will last about 10 to 12 hours.

CPAP titration study

The CPAP titration study will be done to calibrate a CPAP machine to a patient’s breathing needs.  This test, depending on the circumstances, may be done alongside a polysomnogram test or on its own.

Multiple sleep latency test

Known as an MSLT, this sleep test will measure how sleepy you may become during the day, or in some cases, it will determine if your breathing treatment programs are working according to plan.  It can also be done to test narcolepsy. These tests generally follow a polysomnogram and will determine which stage of sleep you enter.  During the test, you will be given five to six 20-minute nap opportunities spaced about two hours apart while being monitored by a sleep technician.

Maintenance of wakefulness test

The maintenance of wakefulness test is a daytime sleep test is performed to see if your sleepiness is a concern.  During this session, you will lie on a bed in a dimly lit room while trying to stay awake for a prolonged period.

Sleep test overview

A sleep test, regardless of which one you choose, will measure your nasal and oral airflow, the respiratory effort and your oxygen levels when asleep.

If having a sleep test done at a center, you will be asked to arrive early in the evening, usually a few hours before you usually fall asleep at about 7 p.m.

During this time, the technologist will review your medical paperwork, answer any questions you may have and will then ask you to change into your nighttime clothes.  From there, the technologist will connect different types of sensors to your scalp and your skin to measure your brain activity and your eye movement.  A belt will be placed around your stomach and chest to measure your breathing patterns/movements, and electrodes will be attached to your leg to measure your body movement.

Lastly, a sensor will be placed on a finger to measure your oxygen levels.  Once hooked up, you can treat the room as if it were home while the tech monitors you inside another room.  During this time, you can watch TV, listen to music or even read a book.  I

n the morning, after your rest, everything will be removed and your results should be available for about one to two weeks later.

What are the extra costs?

If you are diagnosed with a disorder during your test, you may be asked to return for a second sleep study to determine your pressure settings if you were to need a CPAP.  In some cases, you may be able to skip this option and opt for a CPAP device that’s able to adjust the pressure setting throughout the night.  This will all vary on your individual situation.

If you are prescribed CPAP therapy, then you will have to consider the purchase for a new device, along with the accessories that come with the mask such as the cushion, tubing, filters and water chamber.

Tips to know:

To find a sleep center in your area, either ask for a referral from your doctor or even ask your insurance company to make sure the sleep center is within your network.  If you want to search for one, use the terms “sleep lab” or “sleep center” to see which facilities are in your area.  Again, when choosing one, and if you have insurance, always make sure the center is in network.

What if you can’t sleep during a sleep study?  Most patients have this worry, but to their surprise, they find the room to be similar to that of a hotel.  If you can’t, by chance, fall asleep, then you may be asked to take the study at home or come back for another study.

How can I save money?

The most cost-efficient way to have a sleep study is by doing it at home.  This option is often left to those who want to diagnose or rule out sleep apnea; however, it can’t test for major disorders.

Again, understand your health insurance policy to know exactly what’s going to be covered.  Yes, a sleep study can be expensive; however, if your insurance company were to cover it, you could save up to $1,000 to $3,000.  Medicare Part B, for example, covers Type I, II, III, and IV sleep tests and devices. Medicare only covers Type I tests if they’re done in a sleep lab facility.  Only those with clinical signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea will be covered.

Some centers may offer you a cash discount if you were to pay up front in full.  In some cases, this could be as little as $600 to $1,100.

Do your homework, and call a few sleep centers to see what they charge. You may be surprised to find a large price difference.  Even if your doctor recommends one, it doesn’t mean you have to choose it.


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Average Reported Cost: $750

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How much did you spend?

Was it worth it?  

  1. JJ (NACOGDOCHES,  Texas) paid $750 and said:

    JUST TO MONITOR SLEEP, NOW I HAVE TO GO BACK AND HAVE A CPAP THERAPY TEST, PLUS I HAVENT’ RECIEVED THE BILL FROM THE DOCTOR ITS SEPARATE.

    Was it worth it? Yes

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