Out-of-Pocket Costs
MRI Cost by Body Part: Knee, Spine, Brain, Shoulder and Contrast
How the body area, contrast dye and number of regions change what an MRI costs, with CPT codes to quote when you shop for a price.
Self-Pay MRI Cash Price Estimator
Pick a scan type to load an illustrative price range, then add extras to see a low and high total.
This estimator multiplies a per-scan price range by the number of scans, then adds extras you expect to pay separately. Choose a scan type to load an illustrative range, or overwrite the low and high prices with the quotes you collect. The formula is: total = scans x price per scan + extras.
Worked example (illustrative only): One knee MRI at a range of $450 to $1,600, plus $150 of extras for a separately billed radiologist reading and a disc copy, gives a low of 1 x 450 + 150 = $600 and a high of 1 x 1,600 + 150 = $1,750.
The pre-filled ranges are round-number examples meant to show how wide the spread can be, not current prices in any city or at any provider. Real prices depend on your market, whether the site is a hospital or a freestanding center, the scanner, and whether the quote bundles the radiologist's fee. Always ask whether the price is global (equipment and reading together) and get it in writing. Contrast, sedation and a second body area usually add cost.
Related guides
Out-of-Pocket Costs
Private MRI Scan Cost: Average Out-of-Pocket Prices (2026)
What a self-pay MRI costs in the U.S., why prices range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, and how to get the lowest all-in price in writing.