Portable Oxygen Concentrator Prices

What is a Portable Oxygen Concentrator?

The invention of the portable oxygen concentrator has been one of the great medical advancements of the decade. It’s a streamlined, portable version of the traditional stationary oxygen concentrator, which is too large to easily move around. Unlike gaseous or liquid oxygen machines of the past, oxygen concentrators make their own oxygen from the air around them. They pull in atmospheric air that contains 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen and filter out the nitrogen, expelling it back into the environment, leaving nearly pure oxygen for the user to inhale. The oxygen is stored within the device (storage volumes vary depending on the model) and is distributed through plastic tubing into a cannula or mask to the patient. POCs deliver the oxygen as a continuous flow or intermittent (pulse) flow at a rate determined by the patient’s prescribing doctor. Intermittent flow devices only deliver oxygen during inhalation whereas continuous flow machines deliver it steadily. Some machines only offer intermittent flow while others offer both types.

Benefits of a Portable Oxygen Concentrator vs. Oxygen Tanks

Older oxygen machines used tanks of liquid or gaseous oxygen. This required a stockpile of replacement tanks on hand at all times. These machines were obviously tricky to maneuver and take on the go because of the large and heavy tanks. They were difficult to travel with because you’d need multiple replacement tanks, and airlines did not (and do not) allow oxygen tanks because of the risk of explosion.

The introduction of portable oxygen concentrators made travel and activities much more accessible to those reliant on supplemental oxygen. These machines are small and don’t require tanks. They can be carried in small shoulder bags or backpacks. The only thing you have to worry about is keeping the battery charged.

Benefits of POCs include:

• Small, quiet, and inconspicuous
• Do not require replacement tanks
• Simple to use (no complicated equipment or controls)
• Easy to travel with
• Can be used on commercial airline flights
• Can run for up to 2–16 hours on one rechargeable battery (depending on model)
• Are great for mental and physical well-being

Who Needs a Portable Oxygen Concentrator?

Anyone prescribed supplemental oxygen may benefit from a POC. According to the Annals of the American Thoracic Society, there are close to 800,000 patients currently using long-term oxygen therapy in the U.S. Home oxygen therapy is generally prescribed for anyone with hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels), usually regarded as a blood oxygen saturation of 88% or less while awake and at rest. Hypoxemia may result from a number of conditions:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Pulmonary fibrosis (scarring in the lungs)
• Pneumonia
• Asthma
• Sleep Apnea
• Cystic fibrosis
• COVID-19
• Heart failure
• Sickle cell anemia
• Recovery from illness or surgery
• High altitude travel
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• Anemia
• Bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Pneumothorax (air in the space around your lung or collapsed lung)
• Pulmonary edema (fluid on your lungs)
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in your lung)
• Pulmonary hypertension (increased blood pressure in the lungs)

Hypoxemia may be temporary or permanent and improving or worsening. So, in-home therapy may also be temporary or permanent and the prescription may change over time.

Hypoxia is another form of low oxygen, but it means that the organs and tissues (including the heart and brain) are not getting enough oxygen. You can imagine that this is very serious with long-term negative effects. Symptoms of hypoxia include:

• Changes in skin color, ranging from blue to red (cyanosis)
• Confusion
• Cough
• Fast heart rate (tachycardia)
• Rapid breathing
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Sweating
• Wheezing
• Headache

There is no doubt that both ongoing hypoxemia and hypoxia have serious negative health effects and should be treated with supplemental oxygen therapy. The benefits of oxygen therapy are well documented and include:

• Less shortness of breath
• Less fatigue
• Better sleep
• More energy and higher activity levels
• Improved mood
• Better quality of life
• Increased life expectancy

Popular Portable Oxygen Concentrator Models Compared

*The OxyGo Next has the same components as the Inogen One G5 and the OxyGo Fit has the same components as the Inogen One G4. Only the outer shell differs. The warranty and prices differ due to the difference in distribution companies.

Portable Oxygen Concentrator Cost Factors

Unfortunately, supply chain issues have caused the cost of POCs to increase by several hundred dollars in the last year or so. They have also caused a shortage of new units.

With over 30 POCs on the market, shopping for one can be a daunting and time-consuming task. You can expect to pay just under $2,000 and up to over $3,500 for a new machine with a battery. You will find a large variation in pricing between different vendors, with as much as a $1,700 difference. The variation in pricing is due to several factors:

• Reputation and customer support of the vendor 
• Package deals involving extra batteries, extended warranties, and other accessories
• Taxes and shipping

Be sure that you’re comparing “apples to apples” when comparing prices. When a price looks much lower than the competition it’s often because either the unit doesn’t come with a battery or it’s refurbished. Some dealers offer free shipping and no sales tax, which will save several hundred dollars. Some package deals include extended warranties which are important if you plan on using your machine for more than three years.

Most machines come with a battery (a few come with two), power cord/supplies, carrying case and strap, cannula and tubing, and a user manual. You may want to consider purchasing additional items such as extra batteries, battery chargers, extra carrying accessories (fanny pack, backpack, briefcase), extra filters, and extra cannula and tubing. Additional batteries can add a lot to the final cost, ranging in price from $200 to $600, depending on the model and battery size. External battery chargers can cost from $200 to $400. Carrying accessories range in cost from about $50 to $150. Filters cost $5 to $40 and usually need to be changed every 12 to 18 months. Tubing is inexpensive at around $5, however, and gets replaced every month or so.

Which machine you ultimately choose will depend a lot on your oxygen needs (pulse vs. continuous), your lifestyle (battery life, size/weight, noise level), and your budget. Machines that provide both pulse and continuous oxygen are generally larger and cost more than those that provide only pulse dose. If you’re a frequent traveler, attend a lot of events, and aren’t worried about budget, then the Caire Freestyle Comfort with a 16-cell battery may be your best bet due to its extremely long battery life, lighter weight, and quiet motor. If you want a smaller machine on a budget and aren’t worried about battery life you may want the Devilbiss iGo2. The above chart is designed so that you can prioritize your features and choose the best fit for you.

There are an abundance of online stores where you can shop for a POC, such as OxygenConcentratorStore.com. Look for stores with excellent customer reviews and thorough product descriptions and information. They are most likely to take care of you if you need to return or repair your machine. Pricing of POCs changes so frequently that you generally must call for a quote for that day. These larger online stores often have specials and discounts for new customers.

If you prefer to shop in person, be aware that many of the DME supply storefronts have closed, according to a rep at DME supply store You Can Home Medical. In fact, two out of the three stores I attempted to visit in my area were closed. I did pay a visit to You Can Home Medical, which carries a few POCs. They were out of Inogen and OxyGo machines (which are popular models) but for reference, were carrying the Rhythm P2 for $2,395, the GCE Zen-O Lite for $2,999.95, and the GCE Zen-O for $3,149.95.

Finally, there are some alternatives to purchasing a new POC. If cost is a major factor, you may consider purchasing a used or refurbished machine. These can be acquired for a fraction of the cost of a new machine. Beware, though, that POCs have a lifespan of approximately five years. It’s important to make sure you’re not purchasing a unit that is close to the end of its life. Many models show the hours of use on the display. Another option is to rent a machine. This generally only makes sense financially for short-term use (under 10-12 weeks).

Additionally, those who qualify for Medicare Part B and meet the requirements set forth by Medicare may be able to rent a POC for up to five years at a time for 20% of the monthly cost.

Portable Oxygen Concentrators We Recommend

If you can get your hands on an Inogen One G5 or G4 or the equivalent OxyGo Next or Fit models, you will have access to a quality machine from a company with a good reputation. We also recommend the Caire Freestyle Comfort, Philips Respironics SimplyGo and Simply Go Mini, as well as the GCE Zen-O and Zen-O Lite models. See Best Portable Oxygen Concentrators for more recommendations.

Why Trust Us?

The AgingInPlace.org team researches, analyzes, and tests health products to help older adults make better decisions as they age. For portable oxygen concentrators, we’ve reviewed 11 manufacturers and 22 individual models on the market today.

We’re committed to bringing you the most accurate information, based on our in-depth research. Below you’ll find a description of our methodology for reviewing portable oxygen concentrators:

• Spent hundreds of hours researching POC brands and models
• Consulted medical experts and journals
• Studied the user experience through insight from professionals, user reviews, and third-party research

To provide the most fair and objective reviews and comparisons, we use a mathematical formula to score each model based on the following considerations:

• Unit weight
• Battery life
• Range of settings
• Price
• Battery recharge time
• Warranty
• Oxygen delivery method

Our team monitors and regularly updates information to ensure relevance and reliability throughout all of our content. Many products and services featured on AgingInPlace.org will play a crucial role in your daily life. As these products should help enhance aging at home, we work to uncover as much as possible about the products and services we review. We also consult occupational therapists, audiologists, geriatricians, respiratory therapists, professional adult caregivers, and other experts in the field to ensure we’re providing the most accurate, helpful information.

See a full explanation of our research methodology.

Pricing is accurate as of July 28, 2022.