Editor’s note: This story originally included a link to COVID.gov, which previously served as the official U.S. government site for free COVID-19 tests and other public health information. That URL no longer provides the original public service content. We have removed the link to avoid confusion and to ensure our readers have access to accurate, up-to-date resources. For current information on COVID-19 tests, vaccines, and related guidance, please visit USA.gov/covid-tests-vaccinations.
What you need to know
- The government’s mail-order COVID-19 test-at-home program is back. Every U.S. household can once again order four free at-home COVID-19 tests.
Frequent COVID-19 testing is crucial to limiting transmission of the virus during the holiday season. Starting on November 20, each U.S. household can order four additional free at-home tests. If you didn’t order your tests in the fall, after the federal program reopened on September 25, you can now place two orders, for a total of eight tests. According to USPS, the orders will begin shipping out the week of November 27.
Read on to find out more about getting your free COVID-19 tests.
How to order your free COVID-19 tests
- Head over to COVID.gov/tests.
- Click on the button that says “Order Free At-Home Tests,” which will take you to the USPS site.
- Fill out the form on the USPS site, including your name and shipping address.
- Click the “Check Out Now” button on the right side.
- Click the “Place My Order” button.
If you need help ordering your tests, you can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and over 150 other languages.
How to access additional free or low-cost tests
Besides getting free COVID tests by mail, you can also access free or low-cost tests by visiting a community health center or certain pharmacies.
Find a community health center, a no-cost testing location, or a Test to Treat site near you to get your free or low-cost PCR or rapid tests.
How to check if an at-home COVID-19 test is expired
Expired at-home COVID-19 tests can lead to inaccurate or invalid test results. Before you take an at-home test, look for its expiration date, which will be printed in year-month-day format on the test kit box, sometimes next to a small hourglass symbol. You should also check the chart on this page to see if the FDA extended your test kit’s expiration date. When checking for updated expiration dates, you may have to identify the test kit’s batch number, a serial code that will be next to a rectangular symbol with “LOT” inside.
This article is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award to the CDC Foundation totaling $69,392,486 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government. In addition, the CDC Foundation does not guarantee and is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of information or content contained in this article. Moreover, the CDC Foundation expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within this article. This article are not intended as, and should not be interpreted by you as, constituting or implying the CDC Foundation’s endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation of the information, products, or services found therein.