A new MRI machine costs between $900,000 and $3 million depending on the magnet strength and configuration. But the purchase price is only part of the equation. Once you factor in construction, installation, annual maintenance, staffing, and electricity, the true cost of owning an MRI can reach well beyond the sticker price over the machine’s working life.
Price by Magnet Strength
The single biggest factor in MRI pricing is the strength of the magnet, measured in Tesla (T). Stronger magnets produce sharper, more detailed images, but they cost dramatically more to manufacture, install, and maintain.
- Low-field (under 0.3T): These are typically open MRI systems used for patients who are claustrophobic or very large. Prices start in the low six figures for refurbished units.
- 1.5 Tesla: The workhorse of most hospitals and imaging centers. New units run $900,000 to $1.8 million, with a typical mid-range configuration landing around $1.2 to $1.6 million before installation costs.
- 3 Tesla: Common in academic medical centers and facilities that need high-resolution neurological or musculoskeletal imaging. Expect $1.8 million to $3 million for a new system.
- 7 Tesla: Research-grade machines found almost exclusively at universities and specialized institutions. These run $7 to $12 million, nearly double the cost of a 3T system.
New vs. Refurbished Machines
The refurbished MRI market is substantial, and it’s where many smaller clinics and outpatient imaging centers do their shopping. Prices vary enormously based on the model’s age, magnet strength, and how extensively it has been reconditioned. A refurbished 1.5T system can range from around $120,000 for an older model to over $800,000 for a recent, high-end unit. Refurbished 3T systems typically start around $740,000.
At the entry level, you can find older systems from GE, Philips, and Siemens in the $100,000 to $250,000 range. Models in this bracket include the GE Excite HD, Philips Achieva, and Siemens Symphony. These are functional machines that can handle routine clinical imaging, but they lack the software features and image quality of newer generations. Premium refurbished models push past $450,000 and approach the lower end of new-machine pricing.
Buying refurbished saves money upfront, but older machines may carry higher maintenance costs and shorter remaining service life. An MRI scanner that’s already eight years old when you buy it may need replacing within a few years.
Building the Room Costs as Much as You Think
You can’t just wheel an MRI into an empty room. The scanner sits inside a radiofrequency-shielded enclosure (essentially a metal cage built into the walls) that prevents outside signals from interfering with the images. The room also needs reinforced flooring to handle the magnet’s weight, specialized electrical systems, heavy-duty air conditioning, and in some cases magnetic shielding to protect nearby areas from the powerful magnetic field.
For a medical office building, constructing a 1,000-square-foot MRI suite addition costs roughly $350 per square foot, or about $350,000 total. That includes power, cooling, lighting, RF shielding, and basic interior finishes. In a hospital setting, the baseline jumps to around $400 per square foot because of stricter building codes and infrastructure requirements. If your site needs additional magnetic shielding to protect sensitive equipment in adjacent rooms, costs climb further. By the time construction is complete, many facilities have spent $350,000 to $500,000 or more just preparing the space.
Annual Maintenance and Service Contracts
MRI machines require ongoing preventive maintenance to keep the superconducting magnet cooled, the gradient coils functioning, and the software updated. Most facilities purchase a full-service contract from either the original manufacturer or a third-party service provider. These contracts cover scheduled maintenance visits, emergency repairs, and replacement parts.
For 2026, average annual service contract costs run $70,000 to $134,000 for GE systems, $86,000 to $125,000 for Philips, and $74,000 to $120,000 for Siemens. The wide ranges reflect differences in model age, magnet strength, and the level of coverage selected. Over a 10-year service life, maintenance alone adds $700,000 to well over $1 million to your total cost of ownership.
Electricity and Staffing
MRI scanners are energy-hungry machines. The superconducting magnet runs continuously, even when no scans are being performed, because allowing it to warm up and re-cool would be far more expensive. A single 3T brain scan uses roughly the same amount of energy as running a television for an entire month. At a high-volume hospital like Yale New Haven, where roughly 21,800 MRI scans were performed for neuroimaging alone in 2023, the annual electricity bill for those scans reached approximately $75,000. Smaller facilities with fewer scans will spend less, but the baseline power draw from the magnet’s cooling system is constant regardless of volume.
Staffing is the other major recurring expense. MRI technologists earn a median salary of about $75,000 per year, with experienced techs making up to $94,000. Most facilities need at least two technologists to cover a full scanning schedule, and high-volume sites may employ several more. When you add a supervising radiologist’s time for reading the scans, labor costs typically dwarf every other annual operating expense.
Total Cost of Ownership
A realistic picture of what an MRI costs requires looking at the full lifecycle. Here’s what a mid-range 1.5T installation might look like over 10 years:
- Machine purchase (new): $1.2 to $1.6 million
- Suite construction: $350,000 to $500,000
- Service contracts (10 years): $700,000 to $1.3 million
- Electricity (10 years): $300,000 to $750,000
- Technologist salaries (2 staff, 10 years): $1.2 to $1.9 million
That brings the 10-year total for a single 1.5T MRI to roughly $3.7 million on the low end and $6 million or more on the high end. A 3T system pushes the ceiling considerably higher. Facilities that buy refurbished equipment and negotiate competitive service contracts can bring costs down, but they may face a shorter usable lifespan before replacement becomes necessary.
How Long an MRI Machine Lasts
Most MRI scanners remain in active clinical service for 8 to 12 years. Equipment under five years old is considered current technology and can usually be upgraded with software and hardware additions at a reasonable cost. Between six and ten years, the machine still functions well with proper maintenance, but facilities should be planning a replacement strategy. Past the 10-year mark, the technology is generally outdated, parts become harder to source, and image quality may no longer meet current clinical standards. At that point, replacement is considered essential rather than optional.