X-ray cost without insurance
The median cash price for Chest X-ray is $232.30 across 1,502 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $73.27 and $504.00.
An X-ray takes quick pictures of bones and the chest and is usually the first imaging test for an injury, joint pain or a cough. The price is set by the body part and the number of views, and the radiologist who reads the images often bills separately from the facility that takes them.
Collected Sep 25, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file
X-ray prices by type
Each code names a body part and a minimum number of views: 71046 is a two-view chest X-ray and is used in the state table, 71045 is a single view, and joint codes such as 73562 (knee, three views) cover one side only. Imaging both knees or both wrists is usually billed as two exams.
| Procedure | Hospitals | Most charge | Median | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray Chest X-ray, 2 views · code 71046 | 1,502 | $73.27–$504.00 | $232.30 | $88.91median 2.6× |
| Chest X-ray, 1 view Chest X-ray, single view · code 71045 | 1,499 | $65.85–$414.96 | $184.46 | $88.91median 2.1× |
| Lower back X-ray X-ray of the lower back, 4 or more views · code 72110 | 1,479 | $116.22–$890.30 | $384.80 | $106.81median 3.6× |
| Knee X-ray Knee X-ray, 3 views · code 73562 | 1,343 | $84.52–$569.02 | $267.75 | $88.91median 3.0× |
| Ankle X-ray Ankle X-ray, complete, 3 or more views · code 73610 | 1,347 | $78.40–$590.18 | $264.40 | $88.91median 3.0× |
| Wrist X-ray Wrist X-ray, complete, 3 or more views · code 73110 | 1,353 | $87.20–$604.56 | $258.00 | $88.91median 2.9× |
| Shoulder X-ray Shoulder X-ray, complete, 2 or more views · code 73030 | 1,338 | $80.35–$655.20 | $274.20 | $88.91median 3.1× |
| Foot X-ray X-ray of the foot, complete, 3 or more views · code 73630 | 1,352 | $82.13–$571.80 | $261.30 | $88.91median 2.9× |
| Hip X-ray X-ray of one hip, 2 or 3 views, with the pelvis when included · code 73502 | 1,354 | $85.60–$524.78 | $240.95 | $88.91median 2.7× |
| Lower back X-ray X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine), 2 or 3 views · code 72100 | 1,497 | $86.60–$620.08 | $281.57 | $106.81median 2.6× |
| Abdominal X-ray X-ray of the abdomen, 1 view · code 74018 | 1,509 | $75.65–$453.57 | $219.00 | $88.91median 2.5× |
| Neck X-ray X-ray of the neck (cervical spine), 2 or 3 views · code 72040 | 1,495 | $79.20–$614.06 | $261.30 | $88.91median 2.9× |
| Mid back X-ray X-ray of the mid back (thoracic spine), 2 views · code 72070 | 1,467 | $83.71–$588.80 | $264.00 | $106.81median 2.5× |
| Pelvis X-ray X-ray of the pelvis, 1 or 2 views · code 72170 | 1,490 | $74.26–$526.40 | $241.71 | $106.81median 2.3× |
| Tailbone X-ray X-ray of the tailbone (sacrum and coccyx), 2 or more views · code 72220 | 1,493 | $76.95–$562.34 | $237.50 | $88.91median 2.7× |
| Knee X-ray (1-2 views) X-ray of the knee, 1 or 2 views · code 73560 | 1,351 | $79.20–$471.00 | $228.00 | $88.91median 2.6× |
| Ankle X-ray (2 views) X-ray of the ankle, 2 views · code 73600 | 1,340 | $65.85–$479.43 | $217.55 | $88.91median 2.4× |
| Foot X-ray (2 views) X-ray of the foot, 2 views · code 73620 | 1,342 | $65.85–$464.18 | $204.75 | $88.91median 2.3× |
| Hand X-ray X-ray of the hand, 3 or more views · code 73130 | 1,353 | $88.91–$573.20 | $263.25 | $88.91median 3.0× |
| Finger X-ray X-ray of the finger(s), 2 or more views · code 73140 | 1,351 | $69.60–$463.05 | $201.45 | $88.91median 2.3× |
| Nose X-ray X-ray of the nasal bones, 3 or more views · code 70160 | 1,473 | $79.20–$577.97 | $241.15 | $88.91median 2.7× |
| DEXA bone density scan DEXA bone density scan of the hip, pelvis or spine · code 77080 | 1,376 | $106.37–$723.37 | $345.40 | $106.81median 3.2× |
| Peripheral bone density scan DEXA bone density scan of the wrist, heel or finger (peripheral) · code 77081 | 1,170 | $69.42–$468.00 | $185.90 | $88.91median 2.1× |
“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.
Chest X-ray: median by state
States with at least two hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its X-ray prices and cheapest hospitals.
- Tennessee$81.84
- New Jersey$114.62
- Mississippi$116.03
- Louisiana$117.99
- Arkansas$125.33
- Arizona$137.19
- Oklahoma$141.00
- Minnesota$146.89
- Iowa$157.95
- Maryland$163.76
- New York$168.00
- Nebraska$169.00
- Wisconsin$171.19
- North Dakota$172.80
- Michigan$178.00
- West Virginia$188.50
- Rhode Island$191.30
- Nevada$201.35
- Oregon$202.40
- New Hampshire$203.82
- Montana$206.80
- Missouri$208.00
- Indiana$210.10
- Wyoming$226.11
- Connecticut$227.70
- Maine$228.98
- North Carolina$232.30
- Hawaii$238.20
- Pennsylvania$240.40
- Virginia$247.00
- South Carolina$248.00
- Massachusetts$249.95
- Kansas$252.28
- Ohio$260.98
- Colorado$264.97
- Illinois$268.75
- Washington$277.29
- Georgia$294.06
- Delaware$299.28
- New Mexico$303.50
- South Dakota$341.60
- Kentucky$361.94
- Idaho$365.00
- Alabama$376.26
- California$384.80
- Texas$393.82
- Alaska$428.22
- Vermont$433.62
- Florida$476.58
Paying cash: what to do
- Ask for the self-pay price for the exact code on your order, since the number of views changes the code.
- Ask whether the radiologist's reading is included; if not, ask the radiology group for its self-pay rate as well.
- Many urgent care centers and independent imaging centers take X-rays on site, often at lower prices than a hospital outpatient department.
Questions
Do I need a doctor's order for an X-ray?
Usually yes: hospitals and imaging centers need an order from a licensed provider. At an urgent care center the clinician can examine you and order an X-ray in the same visit, though the visit is a separate charge.
Why does one hospital charge much more than another for the same X-ray?
Each hospital sets its own price, and hospital outpatient departments often charge more than independent centers for the same code. Some hospitals also include the radiologist's reading in the price while others bill it separately, so check what the price covers.
Is a chest X-ray the same as lung cancer screening?
No. Lung cancer screening uses a low-dose CT scan (code 71271) for eligible adults with a history of smoking, and a routine chest X-ray is not recommended as a screening test for lung cancer.