Quick answer
5% minoxidil costs about £17 to £37 a month in the UK, depending on brand, pack size and shop. Three-month packs of Regaine and Sons come out around £17 to £23 a month, while a single Regaine bottle costs £30 to £38. All of these are the same 5% strength, applied 1ml twice a day. The product leaflets say it can take two months or more to see growth, and it only works while you keep using it.
Why trust this: medical statements come from the product leaflets on the emc medicines database, the British Association of Dermatologists and the NHS, not from retailer pages. Prices come from UK retailer listings, dated below. We have no pharmacist on staff, so nothing here is personal medical advice. See our Methodology page for how we vet everything. This page contains Amazon affiliate links. Invigare may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and we list non-affiliate shops too.
Prices checked 10 October 2026. Next price check: 10 November 2026. Medical information last reviewed 10 October 2026.
How much does minoxidil cost in the UK?
Prices for 5% minoxidil ranged from £16.50 to £70 depending on pack size, and the cost per month falls as the pack gets bigger. The table shows what UK shops listed on 10 October 2026. Shop prices change often, so treat it as a guide and check the current price before you buy.
| Product and pack | Listed price | Per month | Per year | Shops seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regaine for Men Extra Strength solution 1 x 60ml, 1 month |
£29.99 to £37.84 | £29.99 to £37.84 | £360 to £454 | Amazon UK, Chemist4U, The Independent Pharmacy, Clearchemist |
| Regaine for Men Extra Strength solution 3 x 60ml, 3 months |
£51.00 to £69.99 | £17.00 to £23.33 | £204 to £280 | Pharmacy2U, The Independent Pharmacy, Amazon UK, Chemist4U |
| Regaine for Men Extra Strength foam 1 x 73ml, 1 month |
£34.99 to £36.99 | £34.99 to £36.99 | £420 to £444 | Chemist4U, Simply Meds, Boots |
| Regaine for Men Extra Strength foam 3 x 73ml, 3 months |
£57.50 to £66.99 | £19.17 to £22.33 | £230 to £268 | Boots, Chemist4U |
| Sons 5% minoxidil solution 1 x 60ml, 1 month |
£16.50 to £29.00 | £16.50 to £29.00 | £198 to £348 | Sons (own site), Chemist Direct, Amazon UK, MyPharmacy, The Independent Pharmacy, Boots, Superdrug |
| Sons 5% minoxidil solution 3 x 60ml, 3 months |
£49.99 | £16.66 | £200 | Amazon UK |
How we got the prices: we recorded the lowest and highest price shown for each pack across UK retailer listings on 10 October 2026, then divided by the months of supply. Boots and Superdrug blocked our automated page checks, so their prices come from shopping listings that show the shop name. Online doctor services add consultation and delivery fees, which are not included here.
What is the cheapest way to buy minoxidil in the UK?
The cheapest listings were multi-month packs and the Sons spray. A Sons three-pack on Amazon UK listed at £49.99, about £16.66 a month, or roughly £200 for 12 months. Regaine three-packs listed around £17 to £23 a month, or £204 to £280 a year. A single Regaine bottle at £30 to £38 a month adds up to £360 to £454 over a year.
The NHS says finasteride and minoxidil are the main treatments for male pattern baldness, that they do not work for everyone and only work for as long as they are used. That makes the 12-month figure the honest one to budget. The Regaine solution leaflet says to stop if there is no improvement after a year, and the foam leaflet says 16 weeks, so check the leaflet for your product.
Where to buy: Regaine solution on Amazon UK, Sons minoxidil spray on Amazon UK, and the non-affiliate shops in the table (Boots, Superdrug, online pharmacies). Pick the pack by price per month, and check the 5% strength and the “for men” label on the carton.
Is Sons minoxidil the same as Regaine?
Both are sold as 5%% minoxidil solutions for men, applied 1ml to the affected scalp twice a day, so the active ingredient and dose match. We found no head-to-head trial comparing the two brands, so we cannot say one grows more hair than the other.
The licensing paper trail differs. Regaine for Men Extra Strength solution is a General Sales List medicine held by McNeil Products (licence PL 15513/0365). Sons did not appear under its own name in the emc minoxidil list when we checked on 10 October 2026. That does not prove it is unlicensed, because not every UK product is on emc. Check the carton for a PL number and read the leaflet before you buy.
The leaflet for Regaine solution lists propylene glycol and ethanol as ingredients, and the product is flammable. Propylene glycol can irritate some scalps. If your scalp reacts, ask a pharmacist about the foam.
Should you choose minoxidil foam or solution?
Choose the foam if the solution irritates your scalp. The Regaine foam leaflet lists no propylene glycol, and you apply about half a capful (1g) twice a day, with a maximum of 2g a day. The solution is 1ml twice a day, maximum 2ml.
The two leaflets give different timelines. The solution leaflet says growth may take two months or more of twice-daily use and to stop if there is no improvement after one year. The foam leaflet says eight weeks or more and to stop if there is no improvement after 16 weeks. Follow the leaflet in your box, and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.
Will minoxidil make you shed hair at first?
Yes, temporary extra shedding is expected. The Regaine leaflets say it generally happens two to six weeks after you start and settles within a couple of weeks. The British Association of Dermatologists leaflet says an initial hair fall in the first four to six weeks is possible, as hairs near the end of their growth cycle are replaced by new ones.
The Regaine leaflets add one rule: if shedding lasts more than two weeks, stop using it and talk to a doctor. The British Association of Dermatologists says the benefit of 5%% minoxidil may take six to twelve months to show. Our minoxidil guide covers the timeline month by month.
Who should not use 5% minoxidil?
The Regaine for Men leaflets list women, anyone with treated or untreated high blood pressure, and anyone with a scalp problem such as psoriasis, sunburn or a shaved scalp as people who should not use it. Under-18s and over-65s are not recommended to use it. Headache is a very common side effect, and chest pain, unwanted hair growth and itching are listed as common. Ask a pharmacist or GP before you start if you take blood pressure medicine or have a heart condition.
What about oral minoxidil?
Oral minoxidil is a prescription medicine used off-label for hair loss, and the British Association of Dermatologists leaflet says recent research suggests low-dose tablets may be at least as effective as the topical in certain cases. It needs blood pressure and pulse monitoring, so it is a decision for a GP or dermatologist, and we do not cover prices for it here.
Frequently asked questions
How much does minoxidil cost in the UK?
About £17 to £37 a month for 5% minoxidil as of 10 October 2026, depending on brand, pack size and shop. Three-month packs of Regaine and Sons work out around £17 to £23 a month. A single Regaine bottle costs about £30 to £38.
Is minoxidil available on the NHS?
Minoxidil is one of the main treatments for male pattern baldness, but the NHS hair loss page says not all of these treatments are available on the NHS, so you may pay for it yourself. Oral minoxidil is a separate, specialist prescription route and is not covered here.
Is Sons minoxidil the same as Regaine?
Both are sold as 5% minoxidil solutions for men, applied 1ml twice a day. We found no head-to-head trial of the two brands. Regaine’s licence details are on the emc medicines database. Sons did not appear there under its own name when we checked on 10 October 2026, so check the carton or leaflet for the product licence (PL) number.
How long does a 60ml bottle of minoxidil last?
About one month. The Regaine solution leaflet says to apply 1ml twice a day with a maximum of 2ml a day, so 60ml lasts roughly 30 days.
Can women use Regaine for Men?
No. The Regaine for Men leaflets list women as a contraindication. Regaine for Women is a separate product with its own leaflet. Ask a pharmacist which product suits you.
What happens if I stop using minoxidil?
Hair loss usually returns. The British Association of Dermatologists leaflet says topical and oral treatments only work while they are continued, and the NHS hair loss page says the same.
General information, not medical advice. Prices and leaflets change; check the product in front of you. If you are not sure which treatment path fits your stage and goals, the free Path Finder assessment is the next step.
Sources
- emc, Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Solution 5% SmPC (revised 17 December 2024)
- emc, Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Foam 5% SmPC (revised 15 June 2026)
- emc, Medicines containing minoxidil (checked 10 October 2026)
- British Association of Dermatologists, Male pattern hair loss patient information leaflet (updated June 2024)
- NHS, Hair loss (reviewed 24 January 2024)
- UK retailer listings for Regaine and Sons minoxidil: Amazon UK, Boots, Superdrug, Chemist4U, The Independent Pharmacy, Pharmacy2U, Clearchemist, MyPharmacy, Chemist Direct, Simply Meds, Sons (checked 10 October 2026)
- ClinicScout, Minoxidil Prices UK, a competing price guide we read to cross-check pack sizes (27 September 2026)