How Much Does an X-ray Cost?

Median cash price $60 Most people pay $60–$80
$60 median $0 $100+

Full range $20–$1,000 · Based on cash prices clinics publish · Updated October 2026

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An X-ray is the most affordable imaging test, usually well under a hundred dollars in cash at an outpatient center, though a hospital or ER can charge many times more for the same film. The figures above are the real self-pay prices clinics publish.

X-ray cost by body part

The body part (and whether contrast is used) is what moves the price. These guides break the numbers down by study:

Chest X-ray $63 View guide → Knee X-ray $65 View guide → Hip X-ray $80 View guide → Shoulder X-ray $48 View guide →

What makes an X-ray cost more or less?

  • Body part and number of views. A single-view chest X-ray is cheaper than a multi-view series of the spine or a limb.
  • Where you go. A standalone imaging or urgent-care center is far cheaper than a hospital or emergency room for the same X-ray.
  • Reading fee. Some quotes include the radiologist's interpretation; others bill it separately.

How to pay less for an X-ray

For a non-emergency, skip the ER: an imaging center or urgent care will cost a fraction as much. Ask for the all-in cash price for the specific body part and number of views, and confirm whether the reading is included.

X-ray cash prices by U.S. region

Cash prices vary by where you live. Each region is shaded by its median X-ray cash price (green = cheaper, blue = pricier); gray regions don't have enough clinics to report yet.

$39 $100 Not enough data

Lowest: Southwest ($39) · Highest: Midwest ($100)

Frequently asked questions

Why is an ER X-ray so much more expensive?
Emergency rooms add facility fees on top of the scan, so the same X-ray can cost many times more than at an imaging or urgent-care center.
Does the price include the radiologist reading the X-ray?
Sometimes. Ask for the all-in cash price so the interpretation fee isn't a separate surprise.
Do I need a referral for an X-ray?
Many centers require a doctor's order; some offer self-pay X-rays without one. Each clinic's page shows what's required.

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CT scan cost All imaging prices Imaging prices by metro

Use this data

Writing about healthcare prices? You're welcome to cite these figures with a link back to this page. Embed the live price-range chart:

Source: Expected Health, X-ray cost

These are self-reported cash (self-pay) prices collected from clinics and standardized to a common procedure so the same scan is compared like-for-like; they may have changed since collection. They are estimates for general guidance, not quotes. You can confirm current pricing by contacting the clinic directly. Insurance pricing differs from cash pricing. This page is not medical or financial advice.