The standard Botox dose for crow’s feet is 24 units total, split evenly as 12 units per side. This is the FDA-approved dosage, delivered as three small injections around the outer corner of each eye. In practice, the number can range from 10 to 15 units per eye depending on how deep your lines are, how strong your facial muscles are, and what your provider recommends.
How the Units Break Down
Each side of your face gets three injection points, with 4 units at each point. That’s 12 units per eye, 24 units for both eyes. The injection sites are spaced along the outer edge of the muscle that circles your eye, kept about 1 to 2 centimeters away from the bony rim of your eye socket. This placement targets the muscle fibers responsible for the fanning wrinkles while staying clear of structures that could cause complications like double vision.
Some providers use as few as 2 to 3 injection points per side for mild lines, or as many as 5 for deeper, more extensive wrinkling. Fewer units at fewer sites produce a subtler effect, which some people prefer for their first treatment. Your provider can always add more at a follow-up, but can’t take units away once they’re injected.
Why Your Dose Might Differ
The 24-unit standard works well for most people, but several factors push the number up or down. Men typically need more Botox than women across the entire upper face because their facial muscles are thicker and stronger. Where women generally need 30 to 50 units for a full upper-face treatment (forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet combined), men often need 50 to 80 units to get the same smoothing effect. For crow’s feet specifically, a man with strong squinting muscles might need closer to 15 or 16 units per side.
Age matters too. Someone in their late 20s treating faint lines that only appear when they smile will need fewer units than someone in their 50s with lines etched into the skin at rest. Lines visible when your face is relaxed (static lines) generally need the full dose or more, while lines that only show during expression (dynamic lines) can often be managed with less.
What Results Look Like and How Long They Last
You won’t see results immediately. The toxin needs time to block the nerve signals that tell the muscle to contract. Most people notice the first changes within 3 to 5 days, with the full effect settling in around 2 weeks. At that point, the fan of lines at the corner of each eye should be significantly softer when you smile, and static lines at rest will look smoother.
Two large clinical trials tracked how long results lasted with the standard 24-unit dose. Patients reported their crow’s feet stayed noticeably improved for a median of 4 to 5 months. In one study, the median duration was about 4 months for lines that appeared during expression and closer to 5 months for lines visible at rest. Most people schedule repeat treatments every 3 to 4 months to maintain consistent results, though some find they can stretch to 5 months between sessions as the muscle weakens over time with repeated treatments.
What It Costs
Botox is priced per unit in most clinics, with rates typically falling between $10 and $25 per unit in the U.S. At the standard 24-unit dose for both eyes, that puts the total cost between $240 and $600 per treatment. The price varies by city, provider experience, and clinic type. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons in major metros tend to charge at the higher end. Medical spas in smaller markets often fall toward the lower end, though the skill of the injector matters more than the price tag.
Since results last roughly 4 months, you’re looking at about three treatments per year to maintain smooth crow’s feet, which adds up to $720 to $1,800 annually.
Other Neurotoxins Use Different Unit Counts
If your provider uses Dysport instead of Botox, the numbers will look very different. Dysport typically requires 30 to 50 units per eye for crow’s feet because its units are not equivalent to Botox units. A rough conversion ratio is about 2.5 to 3 Dysport units for every 1 Botox unit, so the higher number doesn’t mean you’re getting a stronger dose. Xeomin, another alternative, uses a scale closer to Botox, with 5 to 20 units per eye for crow’s feet. The results across all three products are comparable when dosed appropriately.
Side Effects Around the Eyes
The most common side effects are mild: slight bruising, redness, or swelling at the injection sites. These typically resolve within a few days. The injections go just beneath the skin surface, since the muscle responsible for crow’s feet is very thin and sits in a shallow layer. This superficial placement reduces the risk of hitting deeper blood vessels, but some bruising is always possible.
The more concerning side effect specific to this area is eyelid drooping or vision changes, which can happen if the toxin spreads to nearby muscles that control eyelid movement. This is uncommon with proper technique and correct placement away from the orbital rim, and it resolves on its own as the Botox wears off. Choosing an experienced injector who understands the anatomy around the eye is the single most important thing you can do to minimize risk.