How Much Does Rogaine® (Minoxidil) Cost?

Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is a common form of hair loss that affects an estimated 50 million men in the United States alone.

Thankfully, there are a number of treatments for this type of hereditary hair loss that can either slow down, prevent or reverse hair thinning, giving you reduced shedding, a fuller head of hair and a stronger hairline. 

One of the most popular treatments for hair loss is Rogaine®, an over-the-counter medication that contains the active ingredient minoxidil.

So, how much does Rogaine cost? The price of Rogaine can vary based on whether you use the brand name medication or a generic alternative, as well as the specific place you select to buy your medication.

Below, we’ve talked about what Rogaine is, as well as how it works as a hair growth treatment and what you can expect to pay to add it to your hair loss prevention toolkit.

How Rogaine (and Minoxidil) Works for Thinning Hair

Before stocking up on a month's supply of men’s Rogaine, it’s a good idea to understand how this FDA-approved hair regrowth treatment works. 

Hair loss can occur for a wide range of reasons, but the most common type of hair loss in men is androgenetic alopecia. This type of permanent hair loss occurs when a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) causes your hair follicles to miniaturize, or shrink.

Over time, these miniaturized hair follicles spend less time in the growth phase of the hair cycle and more time in a dormant phase. This results in weaker hairs and slowed growth.

Rogaine contains the active ingredient minoxidil. Rogaine contains the active ingredient minoxidil. Experts believe minoxidil works by moving your hair follicles into the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle (a phase in which your hair grows to its full length) and increasing the time each hair spends in this state. 

This topical treatment also appears to increase blood flow to your scalp, which may stimulate hair growth and give your hair follicles the nutrients they need.

However it works, the most important thing is that minoxidil does work. 

A 2019 review of minoxidil products published in the journal Drug Design, Development and Therapy, for example, affirmed that minoxidil can improve hair growth in men and women with a history of hair loss.

A separate study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that minoxidil 2% and 5% solutions both improved hair count and overall hair regrowth in balding men when used over 48 weeks.

Most research on minoxidil focuses on its benefits as a treatment for hair loss around the crown of your scalp. However, minoxidil can also be used on a receding hairline — after all, the hair follicles at the front of your scalp function like those around the crown.

Both brand name Rogaine and generic minoxidil come in two forms: a liquid solution and a foam. They’re also available in two strengths — a 2% version, which is often used for female pattern hair loss, and a stronger 5% version, which is typically used by men. 

Is Minoxidil Available Over the Counter?

If you’re looking to buy minoxidil or Rogaine over the counter, the good news is that you can in most cases. We’ll get to the exceptions in a minute.

Minoxidil solution and minoxidil foam — the topical forms of Rogaine you’ll want to use for most types of hair loss — are both available over the counter, meaning you don’t need to talk to your healthcare provider or receive a prescription to purchase them. That makes it easy to add this hair loss treatment to your hair care routine.

However, minoxidil is also available as an oral hair loss medication. Research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology showed that oral minoxidil is also effective at stimulating hair growth and is a “well-tolerated” alternative to topical minoxidil. 

You may benefit from oral minoxidil if you have side effects from minoxidil solution or foam, such as scalp irritation, flaky skin or an allergic reaction.

Currently, oral minoxidil requires a prescription. This means you’ll need to talk to your primary care provider or schedule a consultation with a dermatologist if you’d like to use oral minoxidil to improve your hair thickness. 

The Cost of Rogaine and Generic Minoxidil

How much does Rogaine cost? The cost of using minoxidil can vary greatly depending on your choice of minoxidil product and where you purchase your medication.

Brand name Rogaine is advertised for as much as $45 by some vendors. On Rogaine’s official website, you can purchase the 5% solution for just under $30. 

Pricing for generic minoxidil can also vary from vendor to vendor. We offer generic minoxidil for $15 per month, significantly less than typical brand name Rogaine prices. 

You can also look into Regenix vs Rogaine if you’re looking for another way to improve your hair health.

Is Minoxidil Cost Covered by Insurance?

Minoxidil typically isn’t covered by insurance, at least when you get the topical form as a treatment for hair loss. 

However, coverage for specific medications can vary between health insurance plans, so it’s best to check with your insurance company to see if they cover minoxidil topical solutions.

The good news is that minoxidil is an affordable medication. This makes it easy to use this medication as part of your hair loss prevention routine, even if your insurance plan doesn’t cover it. 

The Bottom Line on Minoxidil Price

If you’re dealing with male pattern baldness and want to prevent it from getting worse, minoxidil can be a powerful addition to your toolkit. But how expensive is Rogaine?

Minoxidil is an affordable hair loss medication, with brand name Rogaine priced from just under $30 to around $45 and generic minoxidil available for $15 per month via our online platform.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Clinical studies show that minoxidil is an effective way to regrow hair when hair thinning or hair loss strikes.

• Topical minoxidil is available over the counter as either a liquid solution or a foam. Prices vary depending on the brand, market and how much you’re purchasing.

• In most cases, insurance will not help you with the costs of achieving fuller hair with minoxidil.

• Shampoos, supplements and other hair loss treatments like finasteride may boost the performance of minoxidil for some men.

• Hims is an affordable way to add minoxidil to your daily routine.

We also offer other hair loss treatments, including medications like finasteride that you can use alongside minoxidil to stimulate hair regrowth if you have male pattern baldness or patchy hair loss. 

You can learn more about your options for treating hair loss in our guide to the best treatments for thinning hair.

You can also get started by participating in a hair loss consultation to discuss your symptoms and access proven hair loss treatments online.