Imaging Cost Estimator: MRI, CT, PET and Ultrasound

Quick answer: In the U.S., the same scan can cost two to four times more at a hospital outpatient department than at an independent imaging center. Typical 2026 cash prices at an imaging center are about $400–$900 for an MRI, $300–$900 for a CT, $1,300–$2,500 for a PET/CT and $100–$450 for an ultrasound. Use the estimator below to see a range for your exam, then ask the facility for a written price before you book.

How to use the estimator

1. Pick your exam. Choose the one closest to what your doctor ordered. If your order says «with and without contrast,» choose With.
2. Choose where. «Imaging center» means an independent (freestanding) center. «Hospital» means a hospital outpatient department, including many clinics that carry a hospital’s name.
3. Choose how you’ll pay. For cash, you’ll see a typical self-pay range. For insurance, enter how much of your deductible is left, your coinsurance and how much is left of your out-of-pocket maximum.
4. Read the tips. They change with your answers and tell you what to ask the facility.

The result is a range, not a quote. It shows what many patients pay, not what you will pay.

Typical price ranges used in the estimator

These are the ranges built into the tool. They are approximate 2026 U.S. figures compiled from public price guides, not official prices.

Exam	Imaging center	Hospital outpatient	Contrast adds
MRI brain	$400–$900	$1,500–$3,500	$200–$500
MRI spine (one region)	$400–$900	$1,500–$3,500	$200–$500
MRI joint (knee, shoulder, hip, ankle)	$400–$900	$1,200–$2,500	$200–$500
CT head	$300–$700	$1,000–$2,500	$100–$400
CT chest	$300–$800	$1,500–$3,000	$100–$400
CT abdomen and pelvis	$400–$900	$1,500–$3,500	$100–$400
PET/CT whole body	$1,300–$2,500	$3,000–$6,000	Included
Ultrasound abdomen	$100–$450	$400–$1,000	Not used
Ultrasound pelvis	$150–$450	$450–$1,200	Not used
Ultrasound thyroid or neck	$100–$400	$300–$650	Not used
Ultrasound breast	$150–$450	$300–$700	Not used

For comparison, Medicare’s national rates are much lower because Medicare sets its own prices. In 2026, a PET/CT is roughly $1,075 at a freestanding center versus about $1,450 at a hospital outpatient department, and an abdominal ultrasound is around $116. You can look up Medicare amounts for specific procedures with Medicare’s Procedure Price Lookup tool.

Why the same scan costs so much more at a hospital

Hospital outpatient departments bill a facility fee on top of the professional fee for the radiologist who reads your images. Independent imaging centers usually charge one combined price, often called a global fee. The scanner and the technologist can be exactly the same.

Other things that move the price:

• Your location. Big-city and rural prices can differ by hundreds of dollars.
• Contrast. IV contrast adds the cost of the agent, the IV supplies and a longer exam.
• How many body parts. Each MRI spine region (neck, mid back, lower back) is a separate exam with its own charge.
• The radiologist’s reading. Some cash quotes leave it out. Always ask.

How the insurance estimate works

The estimator uses the standard way most U.S. plans split costs:

• Deductible: you pay the full allowed amount until your deductible is met.
• Coinsurance: after that, you pay a percentage (often 20%) and the plan pays the rest.
• Out-of-pocket maximum: once you reach it, the plan pays 100% of covered in-network care for the rest of the plan year.

Example: a $1,500 MRI with $500 of deductible left and 20% coinsurance. You pay the first $500, then 20% of the remaining $1,000 ($200). Your share is about $700.

The estimate assumes the price is close to your plan’s negotiated (allowed) amount, which may not be true. Some plans use a flat copay for imaging instead. Your insurer’s cost estimator or member services line can give you a closer number.

Your right to a Good Faith Estimate

If you don’t have insurance, or you choose not to use it, the No Surprises Act gives you the right to a written Good Faith Estimate of the expected charges when you schedule a service at least 3 business days ahead. If your final bill is $400 or more above that estimate, you can dispute it through the federal patient-provider dispute process. You generally must start within 120 days of the bill date, and there is a $25 fee.

To learn more or start a dispute, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059.

Hospitals must also post their prices online under the federal hospital price transparency rule, including a list of common «shoppable» services or a price estimator tool.

From the scanner room

[TU EXPERIENCIA: qué preguntan los pacientes sobre el precio en recepción; un ejemplo real (sin datos personales) de alguien que ahorró cambiando de centro o pidiendo el precio de autopago; cuánto suele tardar una autorización previa.]

Tips from the technologist

• Get the CPT code first. Ask your doctor’s office for the exact code on your order. Prices are quoted by code, and «an MRI» is not specific enough.
• Call three or four places. Ask for the self-pay or cash price for that code, and whether it includes the radiologist’s reading.
• Ask where your doctor can send the order. If it’s appropriate for you, your doctor can often send it to an accredited independent center instead of the hospital.
• Check network status twice. Both the facility and the radiology group should be in-network.
• Ask about prior authorization. Many plans require it for MRI, CT and PET. Without it, the claim can be denied.
• Don’t skip a scan you need because of price. Talk to your doctor and the facility’s billing office about payment plans or financial assistance first.

FAQ

How accurate is this imaging cost estimator?

It shows typical ranges, not quotes. Your real price depends on your location, the facility, your insurance plan and the exact exam ordered. Use it to know what’s reasonable, then get a written price.

Is it cheaper to pay cash than use insurance?

Sometimes, especially if you have a high deductible and a center offers a low cash price. But cash payments usually don’t count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. Ask your insurer before deciding.

Why is a PET/CT so expensive?

It uses a radioactive tracer that must be made and delivered for your appointment, plus two scanners in one machine and a longer exam. It is usually ordered for cancer care, and Medicare and most insurers cover it when medically necessary.

Is ultrasound the cheapest imaging test?

Usually, yes. It uses no radiation and no expensive tracer, and the equipment costs less. But it doesn’t replace CT or MRI when your doctor needs those images.

Does a hospital-owned clinic count as a hospital?

Often, yes. Many clinics owned by a hospital bill as a hospital outpatient department, with facility fees. Ask how the location bills before you book.

What if my bill is much higher than the estimate I was given?

If you were uninsured or self-pay and received a Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute a bill that is $400 or more above it. If you have insurance, call your insurer and ask for an itemized bill.

This article and the estimator are for general information only and are not medical, legal or financial advice. Prices change, and your costs may be different. Talk to your doctor, the imaging facility and your insurance plan about your situation.

Sources

• CMS. No Surprises Act: Good Faith Estimates and patient-provider dispute resolution (cms.gov/nosurprises).
• CMS. Hospital Price Transparency (cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/hospital-price-transparency).
• Medicare.gov. Procedure Price Lookup (medicare.gov/procedure-price-lookup).
• HealthCare.gov. Glossary: deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum.
• RadiologyInfo.org (ACR/RSNA). Patient pages on MRI, CT, PET/CT and ultrasound.
• Public price guides used for the ranges (2026): Free Market Healthcare Blog, ThePricer, CoveredUSA, CareRoute, MyCareCost, Humana.