MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye cost in Washington
In Washington, 31 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye: from $292.00 to $5,958.50, with a median of $2,114.45. The lowest price is at Seattle Children's Hospital (Seattle). The highest price is 20.4× 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$292.00Seattle Children's Hospital
Median$2,114.45half pay less
Highest$5,958.50in Washington
Lowest saves$1,822.45vs the median
Hospitals in Washington, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Children's Hospital lowest Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MRI, Lumbar Spine | $292.00 | $292.00 | — source file |
| Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Vancouver · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA HC MR CINE MOTION LUMBAR | $408.85 | $629.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Health Services Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE | $518.88 | $1,081.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Health Services Issaquah · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE | $518.88 | $1,081.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Health And Services - Washington Spokane · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE | $758.10 | $1,083.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Overlake Medical Center & Clinics Bellevue · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Hc Mri Lumbar Spine Wo Con | $979.00 | $1,958.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Health And Services - Washington Olympia · Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE | $1,083.68 | $2,084.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Health And Services - Washington Centralia · Centralia, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE | $1,083.68 | $2,084.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Virginia Mason Medical Center Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MRI LUMBAR SPINE | $1,098.03 | $2,153.00 | — source file |
| Providence Health And Services - Washington Everett · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE LIMITED | $1,139.32 | $2,191.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Health And Services - Washington Colville · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE LIMITED | $1,183.70 | $1,691.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth United General Medical Center Sedro Woolley · Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST | $1,956.50 | $3,010.00 | — source file |
| Saint Clare Hospital Lakewood · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON | $1,971.40 | $6,839.41 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Franciscan Health System Gig Harbor · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON | $2,080.20 | $6,839.41 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Highline Medical Center Burien · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON | $2,088.46 | $6,839.41 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Vancouver · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST | $2,114.45 | $3,253.00 | — source file |
| St Francis Community Hospital Federal Way · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON | $2,146.37 | $6,839.41 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center Friday Harbor · Friday Harbor, WA MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST | $2,156.05 | $3,317.00 | — source file |
| Central Washington Health Services Association Wenatchee · Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA HC MRI Spine Lumbar W/O Contrast | $2,170.80 | $2,412.00 | — source file |
| Providence Health And Services - Washington Chewelah · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE LIMITED | $2,201.50 | $3,145.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Franciscan Health System Tacoma · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON | $2,265.20 | $6,839.41 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| St. Joseph Medical Center Bellingham · Bellingham, WA MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST | $2,302.95 | $3,543.00 | — source file |
| Public Hospital Dist No 1 Skagit dba Cascade Valley Hospital Arlington · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $2,360.00 | $2,950.00 | — source file |
| Jefferson County Public Hospital District No 2 Port Townsend · Port Townsend, WA MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $2,368.00 | $2,960.00 | Aug 6, 2026 source file |
| Enumclaw Regional Hospital Association Enumclaw · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON | $2,416.81 | $6,839.41 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Kadlec Regional Medical Center Richland · Kennewick-Richland, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE | $2,494.80 | $3,564.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St. John Medical Center Longview · Longview-Kelso, WA MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST | $2,523.30 | $3,882.00 | — source file |
| Providence Health And Services - Washington Walla Walla · Walla Walla, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE LIMITED | $2,705.50 | $3,865.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Public Hospital Dis No 1 Skagit dba Skagit Valley Hospital Mount Vernon · Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA HC LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $2,967.20 | $3,709.00 | — source file |
| Harrison Medical Center Silverdale · Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CON | $3,018.56 | $6,839.41 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Shriners Childrens - Spokane Spokane · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE | $5,958.50 | $5,958.50 | — source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 13 | $292.00 | $1,971.40 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 4 | $758.10 | $1,692.60 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 2 | $1,956.50 | $2,461.85 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2 | $408.85 | $1,261.65 |
| Bellingham, WA | 1 | $2,302.95 | $2,302.95 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 1 | $3,018.56 | $3,018.56 |
| Centralia, WA | 1 | $1,083.68 | $1,083.68 |
| Friday Harbor, WA | 1 | $2,156.05 | $2,156.05 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 1 | $2,494.80 | $2,494.80 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 1 | $2,523.30 | $2,523.30 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 1 | $1,083.68 | $1,083.68 |
| Port Townsend, WA | 1 | $2,368.00 | $2,368.00 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 1 | $2,705.50 | $2,705.50 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 1 | $2,170.80 | $2,170.80 |
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
- Tennessee$705.00
- Texas$2,190.02
- Utah$2,229.06
- Vermont$2,912.70
- Virginia$1,954.80
- West Virginia$1,381.00
- Wisconsin$1,621.22
- Wyoming$1,227.35
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.