MRI cost without insurance
The median cash price for Knee MRI is $1,656.00 across 1,311 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $462.00 and $3,636.00.
An MRI uses a strong magnet and radio waves, not X-rays, to make detailed pictures of joints, the spine, the brain and other soft tissues. The price depends mostly on the body part and on whether contrast dye is used, and hospital outpatient departments usually charge more for the same scan than freestanding imaging centers.
Collected Sep 25, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file
MRI prices by type
Find the exact code on your order: 'without contrast' codes such as 73721 (knee, hip or ankle) or 72148 (lower back) are a single scan, while 'without and with contrast' codes such as 73723 or 70553 add a second set of images after dye is injected. The state table uses 73721, the lower-limb joint MRI without contrast.
| Procedure | Hospitals | Most charge | Median | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee MRI MRI of knee or other lower-limb joint, no contrast dye · code 73721 | 1,311 | $462.00–$3,636.00 | $1,656.00 | $243.77median 6.8× |
| Knee MRI with contrast MRI of knee or other lower-limb joint, without and then with contrast dye · code 73723 | 1,294 | $668.55–$5,699.20 | $2,495.38 | $356.43median 7.0× |
| Brain MRI MRI of the brain, no contrast dye · code 70551 | 1,445 | $400.00–$3,628.80 | $1,543.10 | $243.77median 6.3× |
| Brain MRI with contrast MRI of the brain, with and without contrast dye · code 70553 | 1,444 | $668.55–$5,385.10 | $2,345.25 | $356.43median 6.6× |
| Lower back MRI MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye · code 72148 | 1,440 | $417.84–$3,837.40 | $1,687.64 | $243.77median 6.9× |
| Lower back MRI with contrast MRI of the lower back, without and then with contrast dye · code 72158 | 1,451 | $668.55–$6,046.72 | $2,496.65 | $356.43median 7.0× |
| Neck (cervical spine) MRI MRI of the neck (cervical spine), no contrast dye · code 72141 | 1,442 | $427.70–$3,886.98 | $1,700.89 | $243.77median 7.0× |
| Thoracic spine MRI MRI of the mid back (thoracic spine), no contrast dye · code 72146 | 1,439 | $428.74–$3,809.40 | $1,702.85 | $243.77median 7.0× |
| Shoulder MRI MRI of the shoulder, elbow or wrist joint, no contrast dye · code 73221 | 1,297 | $539.48–$3,651.15 | $1,733.50 | $243.77median 7.1× |
| Pelvic MRI MRI of the pelvis, no contrast dye · code 72195 | 1,436 | $485.96–$3,603.54 | $1,602.38 | $243.77median 6.6× |
| Abdominal MRI with contrast MRI of the abdomen, without and then with contrast dye · code 74183 | 1,442 | $656.19–$5,536.00 | $2,514.00 | $356.43median 7.1× |
| Breast MRI, both breasts MRI of both breasts, without and then with contrast dye · code 77049 | 234 | $705.34–$5,541.50 | $2,274.00 | $356.43median 6.4× |
| Abdominal MRI MRI of the abdomen without contrast · code 74181 | 1,430 | $498.17–$3,547.06 | $1,657.50 | $243.77median 6.8× |
| Pelvic MRI with contrast MRI of the pelvis without and with contrast · code 72197 | 1,438 | $668.55–$5,502.69 | $2,471.30 | $356.43median 6.9× |
| Neck MRI with contrast MRI of the neck (cervical spine) without and with contrast · code 72156 | 1,437 | $668.55–$5,930.40 | $2,437.78 | $356.43median 6.8× |
“Most charge” is the middle 80% of hospitals (10th to 90th percentile), so one mistyped line in a hospital file cannot stretch it. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price for the code. “Medicare” is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for the same service outside a hospital stay, including the patient's share (the hospital outpatient, lab or hospital clinic rate); “median 3×” means the median cash price is three times that rate.
Knee MRI: median by state
States with at least two hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its MRI prices and cheapest hospitals.
- Nevada$259.00
- New Jersey$322.54
- Maryland$524.86
- Puerto Rico$637.50
- Tennessee$735.74
- Louisiana$851.31
- Arkansas$873.60
- New York$957.15
- Indiana$971.46
- Colorado$1,006.54
- Mississippi$1,071.84
- West Virginia$1,232.00
- Ohio$1,234.35
- Rhode Island$1,258.00
- Michigan$1,292.29
- Hawaii$1,489.20
- Georgia$1,508.00
- Minnesota$1,559.43
- Wisconsin$1,559.43
- Iowa$1,603.80
- Kansas$1,610.80
- Connecticut$1,631.85
- Washington$1,653.60
- Maine$1,656.60
- Oregon$1,665.30
- North Dakota$1,667.36
- Nebraska$1,681.88
- New Hampshire$1,685.75
- Montana$1,730.80
- Oklahoma$1,740.38
- Missouri$1,753.05
- Pennsylvania$1,755.60
- Utah$1,790.70
- Idaho$1,857.00
- North Carolina$1,922.30
- Virginia$1,932.50
- Illinois$1,965.81
- Florida$2,021.70
- Wyoming$2,073.60
- Massachusetts$2,075.85
- Texas$2,209.22
- California$2,392.00
- South Carolina$2,446.60
- Delaware$2,452.40
- Vermont$2,633.33
- Alaska$2,772.93
- South Dakota$3,011.20
- Kentucky$3,258.04
- Arizona$4,322.00
- Alabama$8,564.00
Paying cash: what to do
- Ask for the self-pay price by the CPT code on your order, and confirm it matches what will be done, with or without contrast.
- Ask whether the radiologist's reading is included or billed separately, and whether the contrast dye appears as its own charge.
- Get a quote from a freestanding imaging center as well as the hospital; you can usually take the same order to either.
Questions
Why is an MRI so expensive without insurance?
MRI scanners are costly to buy and run, each scan needs a trained technologist and a radiologist, and each hospital sets its own prices. Hospital outpatient departments also tend to charge more than independent imaging centers for the same code.
Can I get an MRI without a doctor's order?
Most hospitals and imaging centers require an order from a doctor or other licensed provider, because the order sets the body part and whether contrast is needed. The order also tells the radiologist where to send the results.
Is paying cash cheaper than using insurance for an MRI?
It can be if you have a high deductible, but it depends on the rate your plan has negotiated with that facility. A cash payment may not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum, so check with your insurer before choosing to self-pay.