how much is a mri without insurance

February 23, 2026

An MRI without insurance in the U.S. typically costs from about $400 on the very low end to over $10,000 on the high end , with most routine scans falling roughly in the $800–$2,500 range at outpatient centers and higher at hospitals.

Typical price ranges

Outpatient imaging center: about $350–$2,500 depending on body part and whether contrast dye is used.

Hospital MRI: often $500–$6,000+ , and some published ranges go as high as $10,000–$12,000 for certain scans.

Overall national range for uninsured patients: roughly $400–$12,000 , with an average around $1,200–$2,000 for many standard MRIs.

What affects the price

Body area and complexity : Brain, spine, cardiac, or full‑body MRIs are usually more expensive than a simple knee or ankle scan.

With vs. without contrast : Adding contrast dye can increase the cost significantly because of the drug, extra imaging sequences, and radiologist time.

Type of facility : Independent imaging centers are often much cheaper than hospital systems for the same test.

Location : Big coastal cities and high‑cost-of-living areas tend to have higher list prices than smaller cities or rural regions.

How to lower the cost if you have no insurance

Ask for the cash/self‑pay price up front ; many centers offer lower “cash” rates than what they bill insurance companies.

Shop around : Call multiple imaging centers (not just hospitals) in your area and ask for written estimates for the exact MRI your clinician ordered.

Look for discount programs or platforms (e.g., cash‑pay imaging services or third‑party scheduling services), which can cut costs substantially compared with hospital prices.

Ask about payment plans or financial assistance policies if the test is at a hospital; some systems reduce or forgive bills based on income.

Quick HTML table of example ranges

[1] [1] [7][5][9] [5][3] [3]

Setting / Type	Typical cost range (USD)
Outpatient imaging center (standard MRI)	$350 – $2,500
Hospital MRI (standard)	$500 – $6,000+
General uninsured range (all types)	$400 – $12,000
Typical “average” uninsured MRI	≈$1,200 – $2,000
Full‑body MRI (no insurance)	≈$1,000 – $3,000+ in many areas

**Key tip:** Before scheduling, ask your doctor’s office for the exact MRI code (CPT code) and use it to get precise cash quotes from several local imaging centers; this is often the fastest way to find the lowest out‑of‑pocket price if you do not have insurance.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.