Where to order contacts online

Did you know you could order contacts online as easily as you put in a grocery pickup order? Easier, actually, because you don't have to worry about whether your app-matched shopper understands what an appropriate replacement for three bananas is. (Hint: It's not pineapple chunks in a can, Shelley.)

But is it okay to order contact lenses online? Absolutely. Once you have a valid prescription, you can trust reputable retailers to ship you exactly what you ordered — no random swapsies. Ordering contacts this way is safe and convenient and can save you money.

So, what is a reputable place to buy contacts online? When you're choosing where to order, your decision likely depends on the cost, shipping speed, accepted insurance, and any deals or promos offered. Some retailers may also offer perks like price matching or subscription savings.

Best places to buy contacts online:

• 1-800 Contacts

• Warby Parker

• Walmart Contacts

• Lens.com

• Costco

• Hubble Contacts

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Learn how to order contact lenses online at 1-800 Contacts
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Best prices

Prices fluctuate depending on lens type, brand, and available promotions. That's true wherever you buy contacts, but some retailers have generally lower prices than others.

Costco offers some of the best deals on contacts, but a membership to the club retailer is required before you can order contacts through them online. Once you factor in membership prices, the overall cost of the contacts may not be as competitive. Don't expect many promos on top of the club pricing, and know that Costco tends to offer a limited range of contact lens products.  

Walmart is also known for budget-friendly contact lens options (which is Walmart's whole thing, yes?), but prices vary widely depending on the brand. You typically can't use any vision insurance when buying contacts via Walmart Contacts, but you may find promos that make up for that.

The price of contacts at Costco or Walmart may vary, so you have to check prices when ordering your contacts to be sure.

What you don't have to research every time is the price-match deal from 1-800 Contacts, meaning you can secure a great deal even if you find your desired contacts cheaper somewhere else. You might also be able to use your vision insurance at 1-800 Contacts, which isn't always the case with online retailers. 

Is it cheaper to order contacts through an eye care professional or online?

It depends on factors such as the office's policies, appointment costs, insurance coverage, and what online retailer you're using. 1-800 Contacts offers a viable, cost-effective solution for experienced contact lens wearers. If you already have a prescription or just need to renew your prescription, you may be able to save money ordering online versus purchasing contacts through a local office.

Shortest wait time

If you crack open your next pair of contacts only to realize they're the last in the box, shipping times matter. If online retailers can't get your next boxes to you fast enough, you may be stuck with blurry vision — either because you refuse to be known as a bespectacled individual or you choose to wear ones that are a little ... ripe.

When it comes to the shortest wait times, 1-800 Contacts is a good bet, particularly for popular brands that are almost always in stock. Free standard shipping keeps the cost low, and 1-800 Contacts can ship many items the same day you order.

Shipping options offered by 1-800 Contacts support your budget and need for convenience:

• Choose standard shipping, and you get your lenses in 5-7 business days on average without charge.

• Pay for "ridiculously fast" shipping, and your lenses arrive in 2-3 business days in most cases.

• The "teleported, basically" option gets lenses to most addresses in 1 business day.

Warby Parker also offers free standard shipping, and Walmart ships fairly quickly. Costco tends to be the slowest shipper among the best places to order contacts, and you may have to pay to upgrade shipping at Lens.com to get your order before the world goes fuzzy.

How to order contacts online

Ordering contact lenses online is easy — but only if you follow the right steps. 

1. Get an eye exam, if you haven't: Did you know contact lenses are medical devices? That's an official designation, which means you need a valid prescription before anyone can sell them to you. To get a prescription, you start with an exam.  

2. Check whether your prescription is valid: If you have an existing script, find out if it's still good. Just like that jar of mayo in the fridge or the aspirin in your medicine cabinet, contact lens prescriptions have an expiration date. Most are good for a year or 2, depending on where you live and how the prescription was written, so you should find out how long contact lens prescriptions are good for.

3. Choose a reputable online retailer: Pick an authorized online retailer of contact lenses, such as the ones listed above. Look for red flags before you order, like a lack of customer service contact methods or an unsecured ordering and payment site. You want an online contacts dealer you can trust with your eyes and personal information. You can read online reviews and check for concerns with the Better Business Bureau as you consider where to order contact lenses. 

4. Upload your prescription: At 1-800 Contacts, we make this easy. You can upload your prescription document or a picture of it, and we handle it from there. No need to figure out the various numbers and which fields to enter them into.

5. Renew your prescription, if necessary: At 1-800 Contacts, you can coordinate with ExpressExam to complete an online exam for prescription renewal.

6. Choose your product: You can order the contacts your eye care professional fitted you for or prescribed and select 30-day, 90-day, or other supply amounts. 

7. Double-check everything: Look over the information you provide to ensure it's accurate. This reduces delays in order processing and helps ensure you get the right product.

8. Choose a shipping option: Select a shipping speed that gets your contacts to you before you have to toss your last pair. For the best deal on contacts online, order proactively so you can go with the low-cost or free standard shipping option.

What is the best place to buy contacts online?

Your personal preferences, contact needs, and budget help determine the best place to get contacts online. 

For many people, 1-800 Contacts is a great place to order contact lenses. We make the process as seamless as possible, and you can find a wide array of products on our site. We also have some of the fastest contact lens shipping times in the industry and offer a price match so you know you got a good deal.

If you're a Costco member, you may leverage member benefits and a Costco credit card to get cash back and other perks related to an online order for contact lenses, making it a good option. And Walmart Contacts is another go-to for its wide selection of brands and competitive pricing.

When it comes down to it, the best place to get contacts online is the one that works well for you. If you want to see if that might be 1-800 Contacts, you can get 20% off your first order.

Did you know you can order contacts online? 

Say goodbye to trips to the eye doctor and hello to convenience! With 1-800 Contacts, you can easily order your contact lenses online and have them delivered straight to your door. Plus, our online vision exam makes it simple to get the prescription you need without leaving home. And the best part? You’ll save money on your first order with 1-800 Contacts. It’s never been easier to get your contacts!