Retailer guide · checked 8 October 2026
Bac water at CVS: price, prescription and alternatives
CVS does not sell bac water on the shelf. Bacteriostatic water for injection is labelled "Rx only", so it is a pharmacy-counter item at CVS: expect the pharmacist to ask for a prescription and, if the store does not stock it, to order it in. Expect a cash price of roughly $24–$35 for a 30 mL vial.
Bac water, short for bacteriostatic water, is sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol (9 mg/mL), used to dissolve freeze-dried powders before use. This guide covers what a CVS pharmacy charges, what it will ask for, and how buying online from Direct Bac Water compares.
What does bac water cost at CVS?
CVS does not publish a shelf price for bacteriostatic water for injection, because it is filled at the pharmacy counter. Price-comparison sites put the average US retail cash price of a 30 mL vial at $23.76 (GoodRx) and $28.79 (Rx.com), and published price guides quote up to about $35. Expect to pay roughly $24–$35 for a 30 mL vial at CVS; the exact price depends on the store and ZIP code, so confirm it with the pharmacy.
| Source | 30 mL vial, retail cash price |
|---|---|
| GoodRx average retail price | $23.76 |
| Rx.com retail price | $28.79 |
| Published price guides | Up to about $35 |
Retail cash prices without a discount, checked 8 October 2026.
Do you need a prescription for bac water at CVS?
Expect to. The FDA label for Hospira bacteriostatic water for injection is marked "Rx only" on its vial and tray panels, and pharmacies dispense Rx-only products against a prescription. The label also carries the warning "NOT FOR USE IN NEONATES" because of the benzyl alcohol. Individual pharmacists decide what they will dispense, so the only way to be certain is to ask your local CVS pharmacy.
CVS vs Direct Bac Water
| CVS Pharmacy | Direct Bac Water | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Pharmacy counter, in store | Online, shipped from US stock |
| Prescription | Expected (product is labelled Rx only) | Not asked at checkout; sold for laboratory research and the reconstitution of legal, physician-prescribed medications only |
| 30 mL vial | about $24–$35 cash price | $18.95, or $14.00 a vial in a 10-pack |
| Sizes | Whatever the pharmacy stocks or orders, usually 30 mL | 3 mL, 10 mL, 30 mL and Hospira 30 mL |
| How fast | Same day if in stock; otherwise ordered in | Dispatched the same day before 1 pm ET (Mon–Fri); UPS Next Day Air available |
How to buy bac water at CVS
- Call your local CVS pharmacy and ask whether it stocks bacteriostatic water for injection, and in which size.
- Have your prescription ready, or ask your prescriber to send it to that CVS.
- If the store does not stock it, ask whether it can be ordered in and when it will arrive.
- Ask for the cash price before you pay.
Buying bac water online from Direct Bac Water instead
Direct Bac Water sells US-made bacteriostatic water online in 3 mL, 10 mL and 30 mL vials, plus Hospira 30 mL. A 30 mL vial costs $18.95, a 10 mL vial $10.50 and a 3 mL vial $6.50, with lower prices per vial in packs of up to 100. Orders placed before 1 pm Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, ship the same business day by UPS or USPS; standard delivery takes 2–5 business days and is free on orders over $200.
Bac water at CVS: questions
Does CVS sell bac water?
CVS pharmacies can dispense bacteriostatic water for injection, but not as a shelf item. It is labelled "Rx only", so it is handled at the pharmacy counter, usually against a prescription, and a store that does not stock it may need to order it in.
How much is bac water at CVS?
Expect a cash price of roughly $24 to $35 for a 30 mL vial. GoodRx puts the average US retail price at $23.76 and Rx.com at $28.79 (checked 8 October 2026); the exact price depends on the store.
Can you buy bac water at CVS without a prescription?
Expect to be asked for one. The product is labelled "Rx only", and whether a CVS pharmacist dispenses it without a prescription is the pharmacist's decision, not a store policy you can rely on.
Is bac water cheaper at CVS or online?
A 30 mL vial costs roughly $24 to $35 as a cash price at a pharmacy, usually with a prescription. Direct Bac Water sells it for $18.95, or $14.00 a vial in a 10-pack, with free standard shipping over $200.
What can I buy instead of going to CVS?
Direct Bac Water sells US-made bacteriostatic water online in 3 mL, 10 mL and 30 mL vials and Hospira 30 mL, dispatched the same business day for orders placed before 1 pm ET, Monday to Friday. It is sold for laboratory research and the reconstitution of legal, physician-prescribed medications only.
Sources
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed: Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (Hospira, Inc.), package label "Rx only", "NOT FOR USE IN NEONATES". Checked 8 October 2026.
- GoodRx: average retail price of bacteriostatic water, $23.76. Checked 8 October 2026.
- Rx.com: retail price of bacteriostatic water, $28.79. Checked 8 October 2026.
- Published pharmacy price guides quoting up to about $35 for a 30 mL vial without a discount, 2026.
This page is reviewed every month because pharmacy prices and stock change. Next review: 9 November 2026.