A syringe is provided with an assembly received on the distal end for adjusting the penetration depth. In embodiments, the assembly includes a collar attached to the syringe hub which moves with respect to the needle between axial positions depending on the desired needle penetration depth. The adjustable penetration depth syringe is useful in the context of self-administered drugs such as insulin, where a longer length needle is needed to fill a syringe from a vial, but a shorter penetration depth is preferred for administering a subcutaneous injection.