How Much Does an MRI Cost?

An MRI can cost anywhere from $400 to $3,500 or more depending on the body part scanned, whether contrast dye is used, and where you get it done. According to CMS data, the national average submitted charge for an MRI ranges from roughly $386 to $1,226 depending on the type — but hospital outpatient departments routinely charge 2–3 times what a freestanding imaging center charges for the exact same scan.

How Much Does an MRI Cost by Type?

MRI pricing varies significantly by what part of the body is being scanned and whether contrast dye is used. Here are the most common MRI procedures and their typical costs based on Medicare data:

• MRI brain without contrast (CPT 70551): One of the most frequently ordered MRIs, used to evaluate headaches, dizziness, and neurological symptoms. Average submitted charge around $386–$650.
• MRI brain with & without contrast (CPT 70553): The most comprehensive brain MRI, used for tumor evaluation, MS diagnosis, and post-surgical follow-up. Average submitted charge around $700–$1,226, with over 800,000 Medicare services per year.
• MRI lumbar spine without contrast (CPT 72148): The go-to scan for back pain, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis. Average submitted charge around $500–$900.
• MRI knee without contrast (CPT 73721): Commonly ordered for ligament tears, meniscus injuries, and joint pain. Average submitted charge around $500–$850.

These are submitted charges — what providers bill. What Medicare actually pays is significantly less, often 40–60% of the submitted amount. Your out-of-pocket cost will depend on your insurance plan's negotiated rate.

Why MRI Costs Vary So Much

The single biggest factor in MRI pricing is where you get the scan. Hospital outpatient departments charge facility fees on top of the professional component, often doubling or tripling the total cost compared to an independent imaging center performing the identical scan on the same type of machine.

Other factors that drive price variation include:

• Geographic location: MRI costs in major metro areas like New York or San Francisco can be 50–100% higher than in rural areas or smaller cities
• Contrast vs. no contrast: Adding gadolinium contrast dye increases the cost by $100–$300 for the dye itself, plus additional technologist and radiologist time
• Open vs. closed MRI: Open MRI machines (used for claustrophobic patients) may cost differently, though image quality can vary
• Insurance network status: An in-network MRI might cost you $100–$500 out of pocket, while an out-of-network scan could leave you responsible for thousands

With Insurance vs. Without Insurance

With insurance, your MRI cost depends on where you are in meeting your deductible. If you haven't met your deductible, you'll pay the full negotiated rate (which is still less than the billed charge). After meeting your deductible, you'll typically pay 10–30% coinsurance. A typical insured patient might pay $100–$750 out of pocket for an MRI.

Without insurance, you'll be billed the facility's full chargemaster rate, which can be $1,500–$3,500 or more at a hospital. However, most facilities offer a self-pay or cash discount of 30–60% if you ask. Freestanding imaging centers often advertise cash prices of $300–$700 for common MRIs.

How to Lower Your MRI Cost

• Ask for the cash/self-pay price: Many imaging centers offer transparent cash pricing that's significantly lower than the insurance-billed rate
• Compare prices at freestanding imaging centers vs. hospitals: Independent centers typically charge 40–60% less than hospital outpatient departments for the same scan
• Use our Medicare Rate Lookup tool as a benchmark: Knowing what Medicare pays gives you a fair baseline to negotiate from
• Ask your doctor if a lower-cost scan would work: For some conditions, an MRI without contrast is sufficient and costs less than one with contrast
• Check if prior authorization is required: Many insurers require prior authorization for MRIs. Getting the scan without it can mean your claim is denied entirely
• Request an itemized bill after the scan: Verify you weren't charged for contrast when none was used, or billed for a more expensive scan type than what was performed

Want to check if your MRI bill is fair? Use our Medicare Rate Lookup tool to see what Medicare pays for this procedure in your area, or upload your bill for a full analysis.

Where This Data Comes From

Cost data shown on this page comes from two public CMS datasets: the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (what Medicare reimburses) and the Medicare Provider Utilization & Payment Data (what providers actually charge, based on 100% of Medicare fee-for-service claims). The map above shows average submitted charges by state from the 2023 utilization dataset.

These figures represent Medicare data only and may not reflect prices for commercially insured or uninsured patients. Use our Medicare Rate Lookup tool to search for any procedure.