How Much Does It Cost to Microchip a Cat? (Price Guide)

A microchip is a tiny identification device placed under a cat's skin. It carries a number that a shelter or clinic can scan, which makes it a lasting way to link a lost cat to its owner. The price is a one-time cost for the chip, and registration is a separate step that some providers include and others do not.

The prices here come from clinic and shelter price lists and cost guides, last checked Oct 11, 2026. Your veterinarian can tell you when to microchip your cat and which chip they use.

At a vet, the typical range is $45 – $60, per Spot Pet Insurance. That figure usually covers the chip and its placement. Ask whether registration is included, since an unregistered chip does not link your cat to you.

Broader cost guides give wider ranges, because they include a mix of clinics, shelters, and bundled packages:

Spot Pet Insurance gives $45 – $60, Banfield gives $25 – $70, and Vetster gives $20 – $50. The lower end of the wider ranges likely reflects shelter and clinic pricing, and the upper end private practices.

Humane societies and animal services often chip pets at a lower price than a private practice. These are published prices:

Mission Viejo Animal Services in California lists $20 for an AVID chip, and the Humane Society of Huron Valley in Michigan lists $20 for a 24PetWatch chip. Berkshire Humane Society in Massachusetts charges $25, and that price includes registration. The Inland Valley Humane Society and SPCA in California lists $25. Washoe County Regional Animal Services in Nevada charges $31 for non-residents, and Orange County Animal Services in North Carolina lists $35.

These are one-location prices. Some are for residents of a county only, or for a particular chip brand, so call before you visit.

• Type of provider. A private vet, a retail-chain clinic, and a shelter price the same service differently.
• Exam fee. A private practice may add an exam fee if your cat is not already a patient.
• Chip brand. Shelters often use a single brand, and the brand can determine the registry.
• Registration. Some providers include it, and others charge a separate fee or leave it to you.
• Bundled services. Microchipping at the same time as spay or neuter surgery can be handled in one visit, and the vet may price it as part of a package.
• Region. Local cost levels move the price.

Placing the chip is only half the job. The chip number needs to be registered with your contact information, and the record needs updating when you move or change your phone number. If you adopt a cat that is already chipped, the previous owner's details may still be on file, and you will need to update them.

Changing owner details on a microchip costs $10 – $20, according to Vetster. Some registries handle updates differently, so ask the chip's registry what it charges.

Both work. A shelter or low-cost clinic is usually the cheaper route for a healthy cat, and some include registration in the price. A vet visit costs more but can be combined with an exam, vaccines, or another procedure you already have scheduled, which saves a separate trip.

If your cat is new to you, your veterinarian can scan for an existing chip at the first visit. This is worth doing before you buy a new one.

• What is the total price, and does it include registration?
• Which chip brand is used, and with which registry?
• Is an exam required, and is it extra?
• Is the price for residents only?
• Can the chip be placed during another procedure?

• Check your local shelter or humane society first, since several list chip prices well below the typical vet range.
• Ask whether the price includes registration, so you do not pay for it twice.
• Combine the chip with a visit you already need.
• Keep your registration details current.