How To Check Cortisol Levels at Home (And What Your Results Mean)

By Dr. Diana Rangaves, PharmD

Not everyone has the patience to book a lab appointment, sit through long waits, or juggle schedules for a simple hormone test. Even when they do, some people just prefer the privacy and convenience that comes with testing from home.

Fortunately, you can now measure your cortisol levels conveniently from the comfort of your own home with an at-home test kit. Inside this kit, you’ll find clear instructions and easy-to-use tools that make the process stress-free.

Want to know how this works and what your results actually mean?

Let’s dive in.

What Is a Cortisol Test?

A cortisol test measures the level of cortisol in your saliva, urine, or blood.^[1] Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands that helps regulate stress, metabolism, blood pressure, and immune function.^[1] It plays a key role in how your body responds to both physical and emotional stressors.^[1]

Research shows that cortisol levels follow a precise daily rhythm, surging in the morning and gradually declining toward bedtime.^[2,3] However, factors such as stress, pregnancy, exercise, or certain medical conditions can disrupt this pattern and lead to consistently high or low cortisol levels.^[1]

The only way to know if your cortisol level is healthy is to take a cortisol test. Traditionally, this was done at a clinic or lab, but now, you can easily measure your levels from home using a lab-certified test kit.

What’s a Healthy Cortisol Level?

Since it's been confirmed that cortisol levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day, what’s considered “normal” depends on the time of day and the type of test performed.^[2,3]

Typical total serum cortisol levels for adults and older adults are:^[4]

• 8 a.m.: 5 – 23 mcg/dL (138 – 635 nmol/L)

• 4 p.m.: 3 – 13 mcg/dL (83 – 359 nmol/L)

For saliva tests, which are common in at-home kits, reference ranges are roughly:

• 7 – 9 a.m.: 100 – 750 ng/dL

• 3 – 5 p.m.: below 401 ng/dL

• 11 p.m. – midnight: below 100 ng/dL

Urine tests, which measure cortisol over a full day, typically show less than 100 mcg per 24 hours in adults.

If your results fall outside the expected range, it may indicate that your body is producing excessive cortisol, which can occur with chronic stress or Cushing’s syndrome.^[1] On the other hand, low cortisol levels may indicate adrenal fatigue or Addison’s disease.^[1]

How to Check Your Cortisol Level at Home

Now that you understand what cortisol is and what healthy levels look like, how do you actually check your cortisol level without visiting a lab?

The first thing to understand is that there’s more than one way to test cortisol levels. Depending on the method and location of sample collection, cortisol can be measured through blood, urine, or saliva.^[1]

For at-home testing, saliva is the most common and convenient option since it’s non-invasive, easy to collect, and provides accurate insight into your body’s cortisol rhythm throughout the day.^[1]

Here’s how the process typically works:

1. Order your At-Home Cortisol Test Kit

You can order a cortisol test kit from a certified provider online. If you’re ordering from Everlywell, everything you need comes right in the box — saliva collection tubes, detailed instructions, and a prepaid return envelope.

2. Collect your Samples

Most at-home cortisol tests require collecting saliva at several points throughout the day, typically in the morning, afternoon, and before bed.^[1] This helps capture your cortisol rhythm, showing how your levels rise and fall naturally.

Before each collection:^[1]

• Avoid eating, drinking, brushing your teeth, or exercising for at least 30 minutes.

• Wash and dry your hands.

• Take a few minutes to relax and avoid sudden cortisol spikes.

Then follow these simple steps:^[1]

• Open the tube that holds the swab and let the swab fall into your mouth without touching it with your hands.

• Roll the swab around your mouth or hold it under your tongue for about 2 minutes, until it’s soaked with saliva.

• Spit the swab back into the tube without touching it, then close the tube securely.

3. Package and Send your Samples

Place your samples in the biohazard bag and use the prepaid shipping label to mail them to the lab. Everlywell partners with CLIA-certified laboratories, which meet federal standards for testing accuracy and reliability.

4. Get Your Results

Once the lab receives your samples, your results are typically ready within a few business days. If you used Everlywell, you’ll receive a secure notification in your Everlywell account or app, where you can view your personalized report. It will show your cortisol levels at each collection time and how they compare with normal reference ranges.

5. Review and Interpret

Most reports include insights that help explain the meaning of your results. If your cortisol curve appears higher or lower than expected, it’s best to share your results with a healthcare professional for further guidance.

Understanding Your Cortisol Test Results

Once your results are ready, you’ll see your cortisol levels displayed across the different times you collected samples — usually morning, afternoon, and night. This pattern is called your cortisol curve, and it helps show how well your body’s stress rhythm is functioning.

A healthy cortisol pattern typically looks like this:

• High in the morning, when your body needs energy to wake up and start the day.

• Gradually lowering through the afternoon, helping your body wind down.

• Lowest at night, allowing you to rest and recover.

If your results show elevated cortisol levels throughout the day, it may point to chronic stress, poor sleep, or conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome.^[1,2,3]

If your levels are consistently low, it could suggest adrenal fatigue or Addison’s disease, where the adrenal glands don’t produce enough cortisol.^[1,2,3]

Remember, at-home tests are designed to help you understand your body’s trends, not diagnose medical conditions. Factors such as shift work, illness, or certain medications can also influence the results.^[1]

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If your cortisol levels are outside the normal range, it doesn’t always mean something is seriously wrong, but it’s a good reason to consult a healthcare professional. Your provider can help interpret your results in the context of your symptoms, lifestyle, and medical history.

You should consider talking to a healthcare provider if:^[1]

• Your cortisol levels are consistently high or low across multiple tests.

• You experience ongoing symptoms such as fatigue, unexplained weight changes, mood swings, or sleep difficulties.

• You’re under significant or prolonged stress, or you suspect a hormone-related condition like Cushing’s syndrome or Addison’s disease.

• You’ve made lifestyle changes, but your symptoms haven’t improved.

During your visit, your provider may recommend follow-up testing — such as a blood or urine cortisol test, or additional hormone panels — to better understand what’s happening in your body.

What’s the Cost of Checking Cortisol Levels at Home?

The cost of checking your cortisol levels at home varies depending on the type of test and provider you choose. Most at-home cortisol test kits range between $40 and $150, depending on factors like:

• Number of samples collected (some measure cortisol multiple times throughout the day).

• Whether additional hormones, such as DHEA or testosterone, are included.

• Lab certification and result turnaround time.

For example, Everlywell At-Home Metabolism Hormone Test currently costs $99, which includes free shipping both ways, physician-reviewed results, and access to your secure online dashboard.

While at-home testing can’t replace a complete clinical assessment, it offers an affordable and convenient first step for anyone curious about their stress levels or adrenal health.

Check Your Cortisol Levels From Home With the Everlywell At-Home Test Kit

Understanding your cortisol rhythm doesn’t have to be confined to a clinic. With the Everlywell At-Home Metabolism Test Kit, all you have to do is collect a few quick saliva samples, send them to a CLIA-certified lab, and get physician-reviewed results delivered straight to your secure online dashboard.

Order your Everlywell Metabolism Test Kit here and take the first step toward understanding your body’s natural rhythm from the comfort of home.

References

1. Cortisol test. MedlinePlus. Accessed November 4, 2025. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/cortisol-test/

2. Chan S, Debono M. Review: Replication of cortisol circadian rhythm: new advances in hydrocortisone replacement therapy. Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2010;1(3):129-138. doi:10.1177/2042018810380214

3. Andreadi A, Andreadi S, Todaro F, Ippoliti L, Bellia A, Magrini A, Chrousos GP, Lauro D. Modified Modified cortisol circadian rhythm: the hidden toll of night-shift work. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(5):2090. doi:10.3390/ijms26052090

4. Blocher NC. Serum Cortisol: Reference Range, Interpretation, Collection, and Panels. Medscape. Updated June 9, 2025. Accessed November 4, 2025. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2088826-overview