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Weighing up the cost?
A straight answer before you spend
Are custom orthotics worth it?
Not always. Off-the-shelf insoles, semi-custom devices and fully custom orthotics can all help. Which one is worth it depends on the job the device needs to do, the shoes you’ll wear it in and how your feet respond, not on the price.
Off-the-shelf insoles come from an existing range and usually cost the least. Semi-custom orthotics start from a prefabricated base that your podiatrist modifies for you. Custom orthotics are made in a laboratory to your podiatrist’s prescription, from foam-box impressions of your feet. At Burwood Podiatry these are offered as Essentials (we modify an insole), Mid-tier (semi-custom) and Premium (custom).
At Burwood Podiatry, we aim to start with the simplest option likely to work. Custom orthotics are generally recommended when your assessment suggests a prefabricated or semi-custom device is unlikely to meet your needs, and we aim to give you a quote before any device is made (see what a quote includes).
How we can help at Burwood Podiatry
We start with the simplest option likely to work, and you get a quote before anything is made.
- An assessment first: a biomechanical assessment or flat feet check
- Three options to compare: Essentials, Mid-tier and Premium orthotics
- Adjustments included for the first three weeks on Mid-tier and Premium, with the podiatrist who fitted them
- Footwear and strength work when they'd do the job instead: strength and rehab
- A review of orthotics you already have, wherever they were made: orthotics not helping?
Before you buy orthotics anywhere, ask these 3 questions
“What job will the orthotic do for my feet?”
An orthotic should have a clear purpose, such as easing pressure under a painful spot or changing how pressure passes through your foot. Ask what it’s meant to change, and how you’ll both know whether it’s working.
“Would a simpler option work first?”
Ask whether an off-the-shelf or semi-custom device could do the same job, what the custom version adds, and why it’s needed in your case. Price alone doesn’t tell you how much a device will help.
“What’s included after I pay?”
Ask whether fitting, adjustments and follow-up checks are included, how long the device should last, and whether it will fit the shoes you wear most. Compare the total cost, not just the price of the device.
Emergency, or a foot that suddenly turns cold, pale or blue? Call 000.
Orthotics questions
Are orthotics worth the money?
They can be, when they have a clear job, such as easing pressure under a painful spot. Off-the-shelf, semi-custom and custom devices can all help; price alone doesn't predict benefit. Ask what the device is meant to change, whether a simpler option would work first, and what's included after you pay.
Why are custom orthotics so expensive?
They're made in a laboratory to your podiatrist's prescription from foam-box impressions, then fitted and adjusted in clinic. Price or custom manufacture alone can't predict benefit.
Are off-the-shelf insoles as good as custom orthotics?
For many people, yes: an off-the-shelf or semi-custom device can do the job. Custom orthotics are generally recommended when assessment suggests a simpler device is unlikely to meet your needs.
Can I claim orthotics on health insurance?
Check your level of cover with your health fund first; if orthotics are included in your extras, we can claim on the spot with HICAPS.
Where to next
Reviewed by Burwood Podiatry · November 2026