Kidney
BUN test cost — $4–$21.95
BUN · measured in mg/dL
Protein-waste marker — confounded by diet and hydration.
Optimal windowReference range
6–20 mg/dL
Published blood chemistry examples, not age- or assay-specific order ranges. Compare with the interval and units on your own report.
Optimal range / clinical target
A separate universal ‘optimal’ interval is not established in the cited guidance. The goal depends on why you were tested; aiming for the middle or an extreme of the reference interval is not a treatment plan.
Examples are educational, not your reporting lab’s interval.
NIH MedlinePlus: metabolic panel rangesWhen BUN matters
Protocols and goals where this marker is worth tracking.
On TRT, HRT, GLP-1s or peptides? Use the Find tests for your goal tool to see suggested biomarkers and build your monitoring list.
Tests that include BUN
BUN is included in Comprehensive Metabolic Panel. GoodLabs and Ulta prices below cover that panel, not an individual biomarker. Test prices are shown before separate collection fees.
Tracking more than one biomarker?
Build a list to compare test and panel combinations, with one blood-draw fee in your GoodLabs estimate.
$12 blood draw per visit, added once to your order.
Collection fee is additional; not included in this test price.
Does insurance cover BUN testing?
When a clinician orders BUN for a diagnosis or to follow a known condition, most plans cover it — and many cover routine screening as $0 preventive care for eligible adults. The catch is you need a qualifying reason and an in-network order; a “I just want to see my number” request often isn’t covered, and if you haven’t met your deductible you can end up paying the lab’s full list price anyway.
The direct-pay prices above skip insurance entirely: you pay the cash price, test on your own schedule with no doctor visit, and it’s HSA/FSA-eligible. For a single marker that’s often cheaper — and faster — than a copay plus deductible exposure.
BUN inside a bundle
Every compared membership/panel that includes BUN, cheapest first. Worth it when you want several markers at once rather than a single test.
| Provider | Model | Advertised panel | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiPhox Health | At-home, per-panel (selectable) | 59+ 39 biomarkers mapped | $99-124 / panel |
| Labcorp OnDemand | One-time à-la-carte | 47+ 36 biomarkers mapped | $169 comp. |
| Empirical Health | One-time panel | 100+ 46 biomarkers mapped | $190 one-time |
| Mito Health | At-cost marketplace + optional membership | 100+ 63 biomarkers mapped | Core Panel ~$198 |
| Superpower | Annual membership | 103+ 73 biomarkers mapped | $199/yr |
| Hundred | Annual membership | 160+ 74 biomarkers mapped | $199/yr |
| Function Health | Annual membership | 160+ 88 biomarkers mapped | $365/yr |
| Blueprint (Bryan Johnson) | Annual membership | 160+ 88 biomarkers mapped | $365/yr |
| Quest Health (Elite) | One-time direct-pay | 85+ 49 biomarkers mapped | $399 one-time |
| HealthieOne | One-time test | 250+ 50 biomarkers mapped | $420/test + draw |
| Life Extension (Elite) | One-time à-la-carte | 45+ 49 biomarkers mapped | ~$449 one-time |
| Marek Health | Annual membership | 80+ 55 biomarkers mapped | ~$495/yr |
| OneTwenty | Annual membership | 85+ 51 biomarkers mapped | $499/yr |
| Thorne Advanced | One-time panel | 60+ 51 biomarkers mapped | ~$830 one-time |
| Lifeforce | Subscription + diagnostic | 51+ 49 biomarkers mapped | ~$2,137/yr |
What BUN is
Blood urea nitrogen — nitrogenous waste from hepatic protein metabolism, cleared by the kidneys. It is influenced by protein intake, hydration, and catabolism as well as kidney function.
Why it matters for longevity & performance
Nonspecific: high BUN can reflect dehydration, high protein intake, or renal decline, and both extremes carry a mortality signal.
BUN testing — frequently asked
Do I need to fast for a BUN test?
No. BUN does not require fasting — you can test any time of day.
Do I need a doctor's order to get a BUN test?
No. Direct-to-consumer labs (GoodLabs, Ulta, Quest and Labcorp OnDemand) include the physician order in the price — you order online and visit a draw site, no appointment with your own doctor needed.
How fast are BUN results?
Usually 1–3 business days after your blood draw; most results post to the lab's online portal.
What's the difference between the standard and optimal BUN range?
Reference intervals describe results in a reference population; they do not by themselves diagnose or exclude disease. A treatment target depends on the condition and the person. A separate universal ‘optimal’ interval is not established in the cited guidance. The goal depends on why you were tested; aiming for the middle or an extreme of the reference interval is not a treatment plan.
Does insurance cover BUN testing?
Often, when ordered for a diagnosis; many plans cover it as preventive care at no cost for eligible adults. The direct-pay prices above let you skip insurance and test on your own schedule.
Related Kidney biomarkers
Educational guidance. Use your reporting lab’s reference interval and discuss personal targets and results with your clinician.