Although it's possible to buy hearing aids for as little as £1,000, most people who buy privately pay more – about £2,500 on average for a pair.
Not all brands make it easy to find out how competitively priced their hearing aids are though.
To help you get the best price, we've pulled together our unique survey insight on what people have paid for their hearing aids.
We've also gathered pricing quotes from the five big hearing aid chains – Amplifon, Boots Hearing Care/David Ormerod Hearing Centre, Hidden Hearing, Scrivens and Specsavers Hearcare – for different levels of hearing aids, based on the latest models, so we can give you an idea of what you’ll pay per pair.
Average cost of hearing aids
In May 2020, we surveyed 1,572 Which? members to find out how much they'd paid for a pair of hearing aids at the big high street chains. The average prices are listed below in price order. We did not have enough data to give an average price for Scrivens, but they were cheapest on average in our 2018 survey.
You can click the links to see customer scores for each retailer or, for an overview of the best and worst companies, check out our hearing aid provider reviews.
Latest hearing aid prices
Our comparison table below shows the range of prices the biggest retailers charge for a pair of the latest hearing aids. You'll see they can vary by thousands of pounds.
We’ve split the prices by level of hearing aid into categories that reflect different lifestyles – for example, someone who is mainly in quiet places and having one-to-one conversations, through to hearing aids optimised for complex-listening environments, such as social gatherings.
All hearing aids now, regardless of their level, have wireless technology and can connect wireless accessories made by that manufacturer, for example a TV streamer.
They will also, regardless of their level, have Bluetooth connectivity. This means you can connect your hearing aids via Bluetooth directly to your smartphone.This allows you to control your hearing aids, for example the volume, through an app on your phone.
Only logged-in Which? members can view all the information in the hearing aid prices table. If you're not a Which? member you can get instant access by joining Which?.
We look at the price ranges for suggested models from these biggest brands:
The logged in table reveals hearing aids geared towards:
Log in to see the price range charged by retailers, including Amplifon, Boots, Hidden Hearing, Scrivens, Specsavers.
| Hearing aids geared towards | Suggested models from biggest brands | Price range* |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Home and one-to-one use | ||
| 2. Home and quiet conversations | ||
| 3. Home and conversations with some noise | ||
| 4. Home, away from home and work in noisier environments | ||
| 5. Home, away from home, at work and in challenging environments |
Find out more about what to look for on our guide to hearing aids features explained.
How do NHS hearing aids compare?
The NHS buys the same digital hearing aids you buy privately from the same manufacturers. It's probable that they won't be the very latest models, but the technology will be up to date and the hearing aids will work well.
You're likely to be offered behind-the-ear (BTE) and possibly receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) aids although the NHS does now buy less visible in-the-ear (ITE) ones too – see hearing aid types for more advice on the different styles.
It's likely that they would be mid-range, ie equivalent to our category-three models, but this will of course depend on your individual needs. It's unlikely you'd be offered aids for category four or five (the most expensive) unless there was a very specialist reason why you needed one from these ranges.
Getting the best value for money for your hearing aids
This is about more than just the costs – it's about customer service as well. An audiologist who offers you great follow-up care may be the difference between you enjoying a new lease of life and your hearing aids sitting unused in a drawer.
Do check that you're being offered the manufacturer's latest range, but don't assume you need to pay more for it. If you're mostly at home, you may not benefit from a top-spec hearing aid with many channels, whereas if you socialise a lot and work in a range of environments, this might be just what you need.
Five things to watch out for when buying hearing aids
Some companies offer free guides on hearing aids and offer to follow up with a home visit. You don't have to say yes to this; you're still free to shop around.
Never buy any type of hearing aid without a full hearing test. The hearing aids will not be set based on your hearing loss and needs, which presents a risk of further damaging your hearing.
If you’re getting quotes and an audiologist offers you an alternative model to the one you’ve been recommended ('it’s just as good and half the price'), check this is really the case by asking the first audiologist you saw for their opinion.
Bear in mind that some hearing companies have tie-ins with certain manufacturers. This may benefit you in terms of price, but may also limit your choices. The NHS only buys from certain manufacturers, too.
You shouldn’t need to replace hearing aids after only a year, so be wary of anyone telling you you should. The technology does not move that quickly and there is a three- to five-year life expectancy on hearing aids.
For our top 10 tips on shopping around for hearing aids,log in or join Which? now to get instant access.