Unlike over-the-counter orthotics (OTCs), which are generic, custom orthotics are specially designed to address your specific foot conditions. They’re made to improve and support your foot posture or treat any foot pathology you’re experiencing.
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Custom orthotics are functional, accommodating, and therapeutic. You won’t feel them when you walk, but you’ll feel the benefits of putting less stress on your joints and a stable gait. Because they’re highly customized, custom orthotics are usually pricier. But how much are custom orthotics, you ask? At PrimeCare, we specialize in custom orthotic solutions and are ready to share our knowledge and expertise. Read on to find out more about these life-changing medical devices.
Average prices on custom orthotics range from $100 to $1,000 and more. Making custom orthotics is a multistep process — that’s why they’re more expensive.
Premade options are significantly cheaper. However, they should exclusively be used for mild conditions. They’re not as effective because their materials are of inferior quality. This means they don’t perform as well or last as long as custom orthotics.
The cost of orthotics can vary significantly depending on various factors, such as the type, materials, customization level, and the provider's expertise and location.
Over-the-counter (OTC, premade) orthotics: These are prefabricated, non-custom insoles found in drugstores and retail outlets. They offer basic support and cushioning for common foot problems like flat feet or plantar fasciitis.
Here’s a more comprehensive overview of different custom orthotic types available in the USA.
Semi-custom orthotics: These orthotics start with a prefabricated base but can be modified to a certain extent by the provider. They offer a balance between affordability and personalization.
Custom orthotics are made specifically for your feet based on a cast or 3D scan. They provide the most precise and personalized support for a variety of foot conditions, including those related to biomechanical abnormalities, gait issues, or specific medical conditions like diabetes.
Custom orthotic variations:
While cost is a factor, prioritizing the quality and effectiveness of the orthotic is crucial. Investing in well-made, properly fitted orthotics can provide significant pain relief, improve foot and body function, and prevent further complications. If you’re experiencing foot pain or discomfort, consulting with a podiatrist or other foot specialist can help determine if orthotics are the right solution for you. They can recommend the appropriate type of orthotic and make sure it fits properly for maximum benefit.
Insurance coverage for custom orthotics can vary significantly depending on your insurance plan and specific medical needs. Generally speaking, if you have health insurance, you can expect to pay between 10% — 15% out-of-pocket of the total custom orthotics price.
Please note: Custom-made orthotics prices are only covered by custom orthotics when orthotics are in place in a shoe attached to a leg brace. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Unfortunately, not all health insurance plans cover the cost of orthotics. That’s why, at PrimeCare Prosthetics, we offer a variety of payment options.
Custom orthotics often come with a higher price tag compared to over-the-counter orthotics, and this discrepancy isn't without reason. The cost difference stems from several key factors that differentiate custom orthotics and contribute to their superior efficacy and personalized fit. Let's delve into the reasons behind their higher price.
Fabricating orthotics is a multistep process that factors in your symptoms, pathology, activity, and footwear. Your podiatrist will design an orthotic for your individual needs and purposes, like children’s orthotics or orthotics for athletes. Before doing so, you’ll need to have a foot examination, which may require additional imaging to assess underlying pathology. From there, the manufacturing process begins.
Custom orthotics are fabricated by specialists — usually podiatrists, sports medicine practitioners, or orthopedic doctors. They will take a cast of your foot (or foot impressions). Once the plaster is set, they’ll remove the cast from your feet. This is then sent to a state-of-the-art orthotic laboratory, where it’s handmade by highly skilled technicians, which is why the cost of custom insoles is higher than that of already-made orthotics.
The first thing many of our orthotic patients ask is, “How much do custom-made orthotics cost?” This depends on the types of materials used, like polypropylene or graphite, and various cushioning options, such as neoprene, silicone, and ethylene-vinyl acetate. These materials are rigid with some flexibility to offer enough range of motion while reducing the chances of injury.
Custom orthotics differ not only in the materials used but also in their shape. Once the design work is complete, your orthotics need to be milled. This process entails carving an orthotics shell out of the materials your podiatrist has prescribed. This customization process takes time and skilled labor which is factored into how much your custom insoles cost.
Instead of asking, “How much do custom orthotics cost?” you should ask, "Are custom orthotics worth it?" Custom devices are made of high-quality, durable, longer-lasting materials, even if you need readjustments down the line.
So, are custom orthotics worth it? In short, absolutely, but only if you buy good-quality ones. Think of it as an investment in your health that returns multiple dividends. Having good physical health improves your mental health and saves you money as you won’t need to constantly replace cheaper orthotics.
Moreover, OTCs aren’t meant to address your specific issues. Yet, custom orthotics have greater longevity and are uniquely designed especially for you.
While the cost of custom orthotics can vary depending on various factors, their potential benefits can far outweigh the initial investment. Don't let the price deter you from exploring the potential advantages of custom orthotics.
Designed specifically for your foot, custom orthotics cost big money and typically insurance doesn't cover them. If you're looking to buy orthotic insoles made custom for you, you can expect to spend $200 to $800. Despite their high price, these customized pads are needed to alleviate discomfort. The benefits extend further than just feeling more at home in your walking shoes; custom orthotic insoles can relieve physical pain, prevent calluses and bunions, improve your posture and balance, and allow you to enjoy life to the fullest.
Before you hand over the big bucks, make sure you really need orthotic insoles. And if you do, find out how to get the most for your money.
Custom orthotics are expensive, costing anywhere from $200 to $800, which doesn't take into account the associated office visits.
Making custom orthotics is a multi-step process that includes a thorough exam of your foot, taking a cast of your foot, and the manufacture and fitting of your orthotics. Find a provider with years of experience fabricating custom orthotics to make sure yours are done right.
Unless you have a complex foot disorder, are diabetic, are a high- performance athlete, or have a recurring injury that over-the-counter insoles can't address, you likely don't need custom orthotics.
For those who don't require custom orthotics, a semi-custom over the counter insole like Tread Labs Pace is a great option. They come in four different arch heights and are made with medical-grade support for a close-to-custom fit.
If you're thinking about spending the money on orthotic insoles custom made for your feet, you'll want to know exactly what you’re paying for so you can decide whether it’s a good fit for you.
Custom orthotics run anywhere from $200 to $800, but you'll also need to factor in other costs. This includes the associated office visits required to fabricate your orthotics as well as the cost to replace the top surfaces when they wear out. Resurfacing a pair of orthotic inserts can cost $50 to $100.
After you use a custom orthotic insole for a long time, the plastic or EVA foam material used in the orthotics will wear out as well. Unfortunately there isn't a way to refurbish that piece. Instead you'll need to buy another pair of custom foot orthotics.
Additionally, the custom orthotic you get will fit a specific style of shoe. If you get full length custom shoe inserts, you'll only be able to wear them comfortably in casual footwear like sneakers or hiking boots, and other shoes that have a full-length removable factory insert. If you want to wear an orthotic insole in a dress shoe or sport shoe, you'll need a different style. The cost of multiple styles of custom orthotics will add up very quickly.
If your health insurance covers the cost of custom orthopedic shoe inserts, you'll likely be able to reduce your cost and only have to pay 10-50% of the total price. However, more often than not, insurance doesn't cover them. Make sure you check with your insurer before you get fitted.
Also, ask yourself if you really need custom orthopedic shoe insoles. A study came to the following conclusion: "At two to three months and at 12 months, prefabricated orthoses were as effective as custom orthoses ... There is no evidence that custom orthoses are more effective than prefabricated ones."
Some people absolutely do need custom orthotics. Dr. James Ioli, DPM, Chief of Podiatry at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, says people with certain conditions like the following do need custom orthopedic shoe insoles:
However, the majority of people, including those with healthy feet, those who are looking for pain relief from Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, arch pain, heel pain, hip pain and knee pain, over-the-counter orthotics will work well and are significantly less expensive.
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The actual manufacturing cost of custom orthotics (including materials) is normally $100 or less, so why are custom orthotics so expensive? It's because you're paying for the exam, casting of your feet and a hefty mark-up.
Here's what goes into the total cost of prescription foot orthotics:
As podiatrist Dr. Robert Eckles of Manhattan notes, “It's hard to see the value in the plastic.” But he reminds us that we’re “paying for a comprehensive diagnosis of present and future problems” and not simply the orthotic itself.
We recommend that you ask your podiatrist to break the cost down for you, so you can understand the exact cost of each element of the product. A reputable podiatrist will be able to provide this for you. If the price of your custom foot orthotic insoles is high but your podiatrist isn’t thoroughly examining your feet or even taking a cast, as a customer, you should be wary.
Sports podiatrist and Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) Richard Braver considers orthotics a “cure-all” for many lower-body injuries and pain management. According to Braver, “orthotics can prevent and cure a problem by reducing and eliminating the stress that caused it.” Clearly, orthotics insoles are important additions to our shoes. But do they need to be custom to work?
Some sports medicine doctors aren’t convinced they are worth the cost. Dr. William O. Roberts, a sports medicine physician in St. Paul, Minnesota says, "If your main business is feet, and part of your income is prescribing orthotics, then you might prescribe them 90, 100 percent of the time. It’s a financial issue, and I don’t think there's a huge need for custom orthotics.”
Orthopedic surgeons often agree with this line of thinking about custom insoles for shoes. Dr. John G. Kennedy, an orthopedic surgeon in Manhattan contends, "There is a big problem with orthotics out there and people are not aware of it. The number of orthotics that I see prescribed in this city is far greater than is warranted by the number of pathological reasons.”
One factor in this difference of opinion between medical doctors (MD) and podiatrists (Doctors of Podiatric Medicine, DPM) is their training:
When you're finding a provider to make your custom orthotic inserts, there are a few things you'll want to think about:
Creating quality, custom-made orthotics for feet is a detailed and involved process. As Richard M. Olsen, DPM, states, “The manufacture of functional foot orthotics is thus a multi-step process involving detailed and intricate cast correction, orthotic fabrication and application of additional items prescribed by your podiatrist for the treatment of your specific condition.”
When you see your podiatrist for custom foot orthotics, you can expect to start with a thorough examination that includes:
You can also expect your doctor to take measurements, ask about your lifestyle, especially if you are athletic, and inspect your shoes for a specific wear pattern to better understand your gait mechanics. Podiatrists look for the following patterns:
Once your exam is complete, you'll have your feet casted. You're podiatrist should:
The most common method of taking this cast is by using plaster. Wet plaster strips are wrapped around the foot. The hollow, “negative foot mold” is then sent off to the orthotics lab. The lab will fill in the cast and discard the shell. The resulting “positive cast” looks like your foot.
While the plaster hardens (it usually takes 5-10 minutes), your podiatrist will watch your foot position to make sure it doesn't change. The plaster usually takes a full 24 hours to harden completely, so after your podiatrist removes the cast, it will be stored before being sent to the lab.
After your podiatrist takes the proper non-weightbearing cast of your feet, the negative foot mold and your custom prescription are sent to an orthotics laboratory.
Your prescription will include not only the materials, dimensions, and accessories to be used in the orthotics' manufacturing, but also the specifications for the correction of the cast. These measurements are taken from the in-depth exam your podiatrist conducted before casting your foot.
Once the positive cast has been constructed, the lab constructs the orthotics through the following steps:
For your custom made orthopedic shoe inserts to provide optimum results, they must be constructed from materials that can resist the various forces and motions you put on your feet. Materials need to be rigid enough to control for irregular injury-producing motion, while still flexible and comfortable enough to be compatible with your activities.
There are two main types of materials used for the rigid foundation of your orthotics:
Cushioning materials such as Neoprene and open- and closed-cell forms are often used to complement the harder plastics or graphite and provide added comfort. Remember, these softer materials should never form the core structure of your orthotic.
The most common materials used to cover the plastic or graphite arch-support and heel cup come from the polyethylene foam family. These are closed-cell forms best for total-contact, pressure-reducing orthotics. Individual materials include:
A good podiatrist will take your lifestyle and body type into account when choosing materials for your orthotics. According to podiatrist Simon Spooner, PhD, the patient’s weight and activity level are important. “I work with professional rugby players who weigh about 280 lbs and can sprint nearly as fast as Usain Bolt. Trying to provide foot orthoses that can cope with those kinds of forces is a challenge. You’ve got to pick the right horse for the right course.”
Your individual foot requires individual attention. Materials that work well for one person might not be good for another.
As the American Podiatric Medical Association explains, custom molded orthotics are insoles that have been prescribed by a doctor, often a podiatrist, sports medicine physician, or orthopedic surgeon after conducting a thorough evaluation of your feet, ankles, and legs. These insoles are a bit more advanced, as they are built for your specific foot and gait, and accommodate your individual foot structure.
Over-the-counter inserts encompass a variety of different foot products including arch supports, insoles, heel liners, and foot cushions. Not all prefabricated insoles are made alike, however, especially when it comes to the level of support they offer.
While scientific research has proven that insoles help treat and prevent leg, foot and lower-extremity injuries, studies have not found a significant difference between prefabricated and custom orthotics. If you've decided that you don't need custom orthotics or want to try over-the-counter insoles before spending the money on custom, you'll find you have a lot of choices.
The most important thing to consider is that not all over-the-counter inserts are made alike. The quality and effectiveness varies greatly among brands. Understanding the different types of over-the-counter insoles available is helpful as wearing them will be a daily habit.
Heat-moldable insoles and stomp-boxes are a "fit-at-home” option. However, because these inserts take weightbearing casts of your feet, they build the biomechanical issues you are trying to correct into the very structure of the insert supposed to correct it. Moreover, if the materials are soft enough to heat, they are not going to provide the firm structure your feet need.
Structured insoles like Superfeet Green insoles or the electronically-fitted Dr. Scholl's line provide more structured inserts with deep heel cups and arch support. Good Feet insoles also offer structure and firm support, however they are even more expensive than custom orthotics. But, unlike Tread Labs, none of those brands offers a broad choice of arch height options that give you the perfect fit for your arch.
When choosing your new over-the-counter insoles, there are some specific features to look for to make sure you're getting a level of support you'll love.
Whether you choose to invest in custom orthotics or start with over-the-counter insoles, getting the proper support for your feet each day will help control pronation issues, provide foot pain relief, and most importantly, support your active life.
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Mark Paigen
Mark has always believed exceptional footwear can change lives. He's been in the footwear industry for over 30 years, working with podiatrists, pedorthists, foot care experts, and footwear makers. Mark started Chaco sandals in and developed a game-changing sport sandal that delivered comfort and durability. After Chaco sold in , Mark ultimately started Tread Labs to continue transforming people's footwear so they can walk better, feel better, live better.
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