Lower back X-ray cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 34 hospitals publish a cash price for X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine), 2 or 3 views: from $36.00 to $737.00, with a median of $120.35. The lowest price is at Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa (Corning). The highest price is 20.5× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 72100. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 23, 2026.
Lowest$36.00Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa
Median$120.35half pay less
Highest$737.00in Iowa
Lowest saves$84.35vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa lowest Corning · Corning, IA HC RHC SPINE LUMB SAC 2-3 | $36.00 | $75.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC RHC SPINE LUMB SAC 2-3 | $36.75 | $75.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake · Storm Lake, IA PR LUMBOSACR SPINE 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $68.80 | $86.00 | — source file |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA CHG X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW | $79.20 | $99.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell · Grinnell, IA CHG X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW | $79.20 | $99.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA CHG X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW | $79.20 | $99.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke'sJones Regional Medical Center Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA CHG X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW | $79.20 | $99.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD CHG X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW | $79.20 | $99.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital Dubuque · Dubuque, IA CHG X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW | $79.20 | $99.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Medical Center Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL CHG X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW | $79.20 | $99.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA CHG X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW | $79.20 | $99.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare Muscatine · Muscatine, IA CHG X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW | $79.20 | $99.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA CHG X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW | $79.20 | $99.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA CHG X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW | $79.20 | $99.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City · Mason City, IA PR Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $111.00 | $111.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA PR Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $111.00 | $111.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, Centerville Centerville · Centerville, IA PR Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $112.00 | $112.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA SP Exam | $128.70 | $429.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| Winneshiek Medical Center Decorah · Decorah, IA X-ray of lower and sacral spine, 2-3 views | $175.70 | $251.00 | Jul 17, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic West Union · West Union, IA HCHG 72100 SPINE LUMBAR (ROUT) 2-3VWS | $237.60 | $400.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Central Community Hospital Elkader · Elkader, IA HC Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $286.00 | $440.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Dyersville Dyersville · Dubuque, IA HC Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $286.00 | $440.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton New Hampton · New Hampton, IA HC Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $286.00 | $440.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Newton Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $286.00 | $440.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center Oelwein · Oelwein, IA HC Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $286.00 | $440.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Avera Merrill Pioneer Rock Rapids · Rock Rapids, IA | $294.88 | $304.00 | — source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC LUMBAR SPINE 2 OR 3V | $311.22 | $741.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA RAD EXAM SPINE LUMB 2 OR 3 VWS | $414.40 | $518.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, IA HC Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $418.60 | $644.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $430.95 | $663.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital Estherville · Estherville, IA | $453.96 | $468.00 | — source file |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $479.05 | $737.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sartori Memorial Hospital Cedar Falls · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $559.65 | $861.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Xr Lumbosacral Spine 2-3 Views | $737.00 | $737.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 4 | $79.20 | $382.52 |
| Dubuque, IA | 3 | $79.20 | $286.00 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $36.75 | $128.70 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 3 | $79.20 | $111.00 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $79.20 | $79.20 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $112.00 | $112.00 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $36.00 | $36.00 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $79.20 | $79.20 |
| Clinton, IA | 1 | $418.60 | $418.60 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $175.70 | $175.70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 1 | $79.20 | $79.20 |
| Elkader, IA | 1 | $286.00 | $286.00 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $453.96 | $453.96 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $79.20 | $79.20 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $79.20 | $79.20 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $79.20 | $79.20 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $111.00 | $111.00 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $79.20 | $79.20 |
| New Hampton, IA | 1 | $286.00 | $286.00 |
| Oelwein, IA | 1 | $286.00 | $286.00 |
| Rock Rapids, IA | 1 | $294.88 | $294.88 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $414.40 | $414.40 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $79.20 | $79.20 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 1 | $68.80 | $68.80 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $237.60 | $237.60 |
What it is
A lower back X-ray shows the bones of the lumbar spine in two or three views. It is used after injuries, for suspected fractures and for back pain with warning signs.
What the price covers
The price usually covers taking the images. The radiologist's reading may be billed separately.
X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine), 2 or 3 views in other states
- Alabama$406.95
- Alaska$468.00
- Arizona$125.69
- Arkansas$232.70
- California$457.60
- Colorado$301.22
- Connecticut$267.66
- Delaware$343.80
- Florida$608.40
- Georgia$341.64
- Hawaii$259.80
- Idaho$441.00
- Illinois$370.00
- Indiana$246.00
- Kansas$278.20
- Kentucky$688.20
- Louisiana$152.18
- Maine$261.32
- Maryland$210.64
- Massachusetts$450.19
- Michigan$211.50
- Minnesota$163.69
- Mississippi$123.76
- Missouri$276.25
- Montana$258.40
- Nebraska$310.06
- Nevada$319.99
- New Hampshire$290.69
- New Jersey$135.31
- New Mexico$315.26
- New York$230.76
- North Carolina$278.40
- North Dakota$193.60
- Ohio$315.83
- Oklahoma$202.68
- Oregon$291.48
- Pennsylvania$296.80
- Puerto Rico$50.50
- Rhode Island$200.80
- South Carolina$306.15
- South Dakota$427.20
- Tennessee$82.83
- Texas$384.07
- Utah$214.27
- Vermont$597.75
- Virginia$366.50
- Washington$295.36
- West Virginia$208.25
- Wisconsin$227.78
- Wyoming$221.20
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.