MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye cost in Tennessee
In Tennessee, 43 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye: from $243.41 to $1,819.38, with a median of $705.00. The lowest price is at Erlanger Health (Chattanooga). The highest price is 7.5× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 72148. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 23, 2026.
Lowest$243.41Erlanger Health
Median$705.00half pay less
Highest$1,819.38in Tennessee
Lowest saves$461.59vs the median
Hospitals in Tennessee, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erlanger Health lowest Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN-GA CHG MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $243.41 | $461.00 | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City Union City · Union City, TN HC MR SPINE LUMBAR LTD WO CONTRAST | $331.40 | $1,657.00 | Feb 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville Collierville · Memphis, TN-MS-AR HC MR SPINE LUMBAR LTD WO CONTRAST | $347.97 | $1,657.00 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis Memphis · Memphis, TN-MS-AR HC MR SPINE LUMBAR LTD WO CONTRAST | $347.97 | $1,657.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital-Women's Memphis · Memphis, TN-MS-AR HC MR SPINE LUMBAR LTD WO CONTRAST | $347.97 | $1,657.00 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County Huntingdon · Huntingdon, TN HC MR SPINE LUMBAR LTD WO CONTRAST | $381.11 | $1,657.00 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital Shelbyville · Shelbyville, TN MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $555.06 | $1,914.00 | Oct 1, 2025 source file |
| Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital Tullahoma · Tullahoma-Manchester, TN MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $555.06 | $1,914.00 | Oct 1, 2025 source file |
| Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital Lebanon · Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $555.06 | $1,914.00 | Oct 1, 2025 source file |
| Hancock County Hospital Sneedville · Sneedville, TN HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $593.63 | $2,581.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Johnson County Community Hospital Mountain City · Mountain City, TN HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $593.63 | $2,581.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Bristol Regional Medical Center Bristol · Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Franklin Woods Community Hospital Johnson City · Johnson City, TN HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Greeneville Community Hospital Greeneville · Greeneville, TN HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Hawkins County Memorial Hospital Rogersville · Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Holston Valley Medical Center Kingsport · Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Indian Path Community Hospital Kingsport · Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Johnson City Medical Center Johnson City · Johnson City, TN HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | — source file |
| Sycamore Shoals Hospital Elizabethton · Johnson City, TN HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Claiborne Medical Center Tazewell · Tazewell, TN MR SPINE LUMB WO CON | $658.00 | $2,350.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Leconte Medical Center Sevierville · Sevierville, TN MR LUMBAR SPINE WO CONT | $681.50 | $2,350.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Morristown Hamblen Hospital Association Morristown · Morristown, TN MR LUMBAR SPINE WO CONT | $705.00 | $2,350.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Parkwest Medical Center Knoxville · Knoxville, TN MR LUMBAR SPINE WO CONT | $705.00 | $2,350.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Cumberland Medical Center, Inc. Crossville · Crossville, TN MR LUMBAR SPINE WO CONT | $752.00 | $2,350.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Fort Loudoun Medical Center Lenoir City · Knoxville, TN MR LUMBAR SPINE WO CONT | $775.50 | $2,350.00 | Aug 27, 2026 source file |
| Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Knoxville · Knoxville, TN MR LUMBAR SPINE WO CONT | $775.50 | $2,350.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge Oak Ridge · Knoxville, TN MR LUMBAR SPINE WO CONT | $775.50 | $2,350.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Roane County Medical Center Harriman · Knoxville, TN MR LUMBAR SPINE WO CONT | $775.50 | $2,350.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital Clarksville · Clarksville, TN-KY MR-LUMB SPINE WO | $870.37 | $4,486.38 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Erlanger Health Pikeville · Pikeville, TN HC MRI Spine Lumbar W/O Contrast | $872.78 | $3,020.00 | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| Saint Thomas Regional Hospitals McMinnville · McMinnville, TN MRI L-SPINE W/O CONT | $930.30 | $3,101.00 | — source file |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton Covington · Memphis, TN-MS-AR HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $975.36 | $4,064.00 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| Saint Thomas Regional Hospitals Smithville · Smithville, TN MRI L-SPINE W/O CONT | $976.83 | $3,256.10 | — source file |
| Saint Thomas Regional Hospitals Sparta · Cookeville, TN MRI L-SPINE W/O CONT | $976.83 | $3,256.10 | — source file |
| Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital Murfreesboro · Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MRI - LUMBAR W/O | $1,001.88 | $3,339.60 | — source file |
| Saint Thomas West Hospital Harding Pk Nashville · Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO | $1,002.12 | $3,340.40 | — source file |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville · Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $1,033.56 | $1,914.00 | Oct 1, 2025 source file |
| Methodist Lebonheur Germantown Hosp Germantown · Memphis, TN-MS-AR HC MRI, Lumbar Spine - MRI Lumbar Spine WO Contrast | $1,364.44 | $6,202.00 | — source file |
| Methodist North Hospital Memphis · Memphis, TN-MS-AR HC MRI, Lumbar Spine - MRI Lumbar Spine WO Contrast | $1,364.44 | $6,202.00 | — source file |
| Methodist South Hospital Memphis · Memphis, TN-MS-AR HC MRI, Lumbar Spine - MRI Lumbar Spine WO Contrast | $1,364.44 | $6,202.00 | — source file |
| Methodist University Hospital Memphis · Memphis, TN-MS-AR HC MRI, Lumbar Spine - MRI Lumbar Spine WO Contrast | $1,364.44 | $6,202.00 | — source file |
| Methodist Lebonheur Childrens Hosp Memphis · Memphis, TN-MS-AR HC MRI, Lumbar Spine - MRI Lumbar Spine WO Contrast | $1,432.86 | $6,513.00 | — source file |
| STRHS Pulaski East College Pulaski · East College Pulaski, TN Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $1,819.38 | $6,209.48 | — source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 9 | $347.97 | $1,364.44 |
| Knoxville, TN | 5 | $705.00 | $775.50 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 4 | $604.95 | $604.95 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 4 | $555.06 | $1,002.00 |
| Johnson City, TN | 3 | $604.95 | $604.95 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 1 | $243.41 | $243.41 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 1 | $870.37 | $870.37 |
| Cookeville, TN | 1 | $976.83 | $976.83 |
| Crossville, TN | 1 | $752.00 | $752.00 |
| East College Pulaski, TN | 1 | $1,819.38 | $1,819.38 |
| Greeneville, TN | 1 | $604.95 | $604.95 |
| Huntingdon, TN | 1 | $381.11 | $381.11 |
| Mountain City, TN | 1 | $593.63 | $593.63 |
| McMinnville, TN | 1 | $930.30 | $930.30 |
| Morristown, TN | 1 | $705.00 | $705.00 |
| Pikeville, TN | 1 | $872.78 | $872.78 |
| Smithville, TN | 1 | $976.83 | $976.83 |
| Sneedville, TN | 1 | $593.63 | $593.63 |
| Sevierville, TN | 1 | $681.50 | $681.50 |
| Shelbyville, TN | 1 | $555.06 | $555.06 |
| Tazewell, TN | 1 | $658.00 | $658.00 |
| Tullahoma-Manchester, TN | 1 | $555.06 | $555.06 |
| Union City, TN | 1 | $331.40 | $331.40 |
What it is
An MRI of the lower back uses a magnet and radio waves to make detailed pictures of the lumbar spine, including discs, nerves and the spinal canal. It is commonly ordered for back pain that spreads down the leg, numbness or weakness. No contrast dye is used.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers the scan. The radiologist's interpretation is often billed separately.
MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in other states
- Alabama$2,629.06
- Alaska$2,642.99
- Arizona$726.38
- Arkansas$847.20
- California$2,665.50
- Colorado$981.91
- Connecticut$1,508.65
- Delaware$2,452.48
- Florida$2,324.67
- Georgia$1,775.67
- Hawaii$1,510.20
- Idaho$1,857.00
- Illinois$1,777.50
- Indiana$948.06
- Iowa$1,502.64
- Kansas$1,694.40
- Kentucky$3,235.67
- Louisiana$1,017.63
- Maine$1,293.45
- Maryland$469.03
- Massachusetts$2,312.47
- Michigan$1,426.00
- Minnesota$1,240.46
- Mississippi$682.50
- Missouri$1,862.90
- Montana$1,848.37
- Nebraska$1,503.82
- Nevada$1,950.95
- New Hampshire$1,875.33
- New Jersey$322.54
- New Mexico$1,592.17
- New York$1,008.83
- North Carolina$2,013.08
- North Dakota$1,723.78
- Ohio$1,309.10
- Oklahoma$1,030.18
- Oregon$1,776.00
- Pennsylvania$1,790.00
- Puerto Rico$690.00
- Rhode Island$1,258.00
- South Carolina$2,759.50
- South Dakota$3,189.60
- Texas$2,190.02
- Utah$2,229.06
- Vermont$2,912.70
- Virginia$1,954.80
- Washington$2,114.45
- West Virginia$1,381.00
- Wisconsin$1,621.22
- Wyoming$1,227.35
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.