Embryo Storage Cost: What Clinics and Storage Facilities Charge
Published embryo storage fees at the US fertility clinics we checked run from $750 to $1,000 a year, and one academic center charges $600 for the first year, rising to $5,000 a year from the fifth year. Standalone storage facilities list $475 to $650 for a prepaid year, or $45 a month. Several clinics include the first year with the freezing fee. These are examples from published price lists, not a national average.
Published embryo storage fees
| Provider | Type | Published storage price | Also on the price list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life IVF Center (Irvine and Arcadia, CA) | Clinic | $750 a year; 3-year prepaid $1,650; 5-year prepaid $2,000 | Freezing packages include 12 months of storage |
| Washington Fertility Center (Virginia) | Clinic | $900 a year | The same annual fee covers stored sperm and eggs |
| Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago (Illinois) | Clinic | $1,000 a year | Embryo freezing ($1,000) includes the first year of storage |
| Strong Fertility Center, University of Rochester (New York) | Academic clinic | $600 first year, $1,200 second, $1,800 third, $2,500 fourth, $5,000 a year from the fifth | Pricing effective January 1, 2024 |
| Fairfax Cryobank (Virginia) | Storage facility | $45 a month; $650 for 1 year prepaid; $2,210 for 5 years; $3,900 for 10 years | FedEx Overnight shipping $360 per tank; removal from storage $45 |
| Family Fertility CryoBank (San Diego and Tustin, CA) | Storage facility | $475 for 1 year; $1,650 for 5 years; $4,995 Forever Storage Plan | Forever plan requires a check-in every 5 years; higher rates for infectious specimens |
Prices read on each provider's own price page and checked October 21, 2026. Providers say fees can change; confirm the current price and what it covers before you commit. Many large clinic networks do not publish storage prices.
What changes the cost
- Whether the first year is bundled. Some clinics include the first year of storage in the freezing fee or package; others bill storage separately from the start.
- Flat or rising fees. Most price lists show a flat annual fee, but some rise with time in storage. At the University of Rochester's schedule the fee climbs every year until the fifth.
- Prepaying. Multi-year prepaid plans lower the yearly cost: Life IVF Center's 5-year plan works out to about $400 a year, and Fairfax Cryobank's 10-year plan to $390 a year.
- Clinic or storage facility. Standalone cryobanks often charge less per year than clinics, but moving embryos adds shipping and handling.
- Billing details. Ask how fees are prorated and when they are billed, including if you move embryos partway through a year.
Long-term cost examples
Using the published prices above, without inflation or price changes:
- Five years at a flat $1,000 a year costs $5,000. If the first year is included with freezing, the separate storage bills total $4,000.
- Five years on the University of Rochester's schedule ($600 + $1,200 + $1,800 + $2,500 + $5,000) costs $11,100.
- Five years prepaid at Fairfax Cryobank is $2,210, or $2,615 including one overnight tank shipment ($360) and handling ($45).
Your total depends on your own clinic's quote, how long you store, and whether your clinic allows a transfer. Add storage to your plan with the embryo freezing cost calculator, which accepts your own quotes.
If you stop paying
What happens depends on the consent forms you signed and the clinic's written policy. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine's ethics guidance says programs should have written policies on unclaimed embryos, that consent instructions should state whether the program may dispose of embryos if patients stop responding, and that embryos are not considered unclaimed while storage fees are paid. Read your disposition instructions before you stop paying, and update them in writing if your wishes change.
Storage questions for co-parents
When embryos are created with a co-parent, storage becomes a shared, long-running cost and decision. Discuss and record:
- Who pays storage each year, and what happens if one person stops paying.
- How long you expect to store embryos, and what you want to happen if plans change.
- Whether both of you must consent to use, transfer to another facility, donation or disposal, and how the clinic's forms record that.
- Whose contact details the clinic holds for billing and notices.
Clinic forms and the law where you live decide these questions, not a conversation. See freezing embryos with a co-parent and preparing for legal advice.
Questions to ask your clinic
- Is the first year of storage included, and when does billing start?
- Is the annual fee flat, or does it rise the longer embryos are stored?
- Do you offer prepaid multi-year storage, and is it refundable if we use or move the embryos?
- Can embryos be moved to a long-term storage facility, and what are the fees on both ends?
- What do the consent forms say happens if fees go unpaid or we cannot be reached?
- How much notice do you give before storage prices change?
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to store embryos per year?
Published embryo storage fees at the US fertility clinics we checked run from $750 to $1,000 a year, and one academic center charges $600 for the first year, rising to $5,000 a year from the fifth year. Standalone storage facilities list $475 to $650 for a prepaid year, or $45 a month. Several clinics include the first year with the freezing fee. These are examples from published price lists, not a national average.
Is the first year of embryo storage free?
Often it is bundled rather than free: Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago's $1,000 embryo freezing fee includes the first year of storage, and Life IVF Center's freezing packages include 12 months. Other clinics bill storage separately, so ask whether storage is included and when billing starts.
Is it cheaper to store embryos at a storage facility?
Often per year: Fairfax Cryobank lists $650 for a prepaid year and Family Fertility CryoBank $475, compared with $750 to $1,000 at the clinics we checked. Moving embryos adds costs, for example $360 per tank for overnight shipping plus $45 handling at Fairfax, and follows your clinic's transfer process.
What happens to frozen embryos if you stop paying storage fees?
Your signed consent forms and the clinic's written policy decide. ASRM's ethics guidance says programs should have written policies on unclaimed embryos and that embryos are not considered unclaimed while storage fees are paid. Read your disposition instructions before you stop paying, and update them in writing if your wishes change.
Free seven-day preparation course
One short email a day covering roles, costs, consultations, agreements, and conversation topics. Confirm your email address to start.
Continue reading: Freezing embryos with a co-parent · Egg-freezing questions · Budget preparation