An open MRI typically costs between $700 and $5,400, with most scans falling in the lower half of that range. Open MRI machines generally cost less to purchase and maintain than traditional closed-bore systems, and that savings often gets passed on to patients. The exact price you’ll pay depends on your insurance, where you live, what body part is being scanned, and whether contrast dye is needed.
Open MRI vs. Closed MRI Cost
Open MRI machines use weaker magnets and a less complex design than their closed-bore counterparts. That translates into lower equipment and maintenance costs for the imaging center, which can mean a lower price tag for you. While there isn’t a single standardized price difference between the two, open MRI scans are generally at the cheaper end of the overall MRI cost spectrum.
The trade-off is image quality. Open MRI systems produce lower-resolution images because of those weaker magnetic fields. For straightforward scans of large joints like knees and shoulders, or for general screening, the image quality is typically sufficient. For complex conditions requiring fine detail, such as small brain lesions, cardiac imaging, or certain spinal abnormalities, a closed MRI with a stronger magnet is usually preferred. If your doctor specifically orders a closed MRI for diagnostic reasons, an open MRI won’t be a substitute regardless of cost.
What Drives the Price Up or Down
Body Part and Contrast Dye
A scan of a single joint like a knee costs less than a full brain or abdominal MRI. If your doctor orders contrast (a special dye injected to highlight certain tissues), expect an additional $110 to $310 on top of the base scan price. Not every MRI requires contrast, so check your order before assuming the added cost.
Where You Get the Scan
Location matters enormously. Hospital-based imaging departments charge significantly more than freestanding imaging centers for the same scan. A 2024 analysis of cash pricing across the U.S. found that Alabama, New Mexico, California, and Nevada were consistently the least affordable states for imaging services relative to income, while Rhode Island, Arkansas, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma were the most affordable. Even within a single city, prices can vary by hundreds of dollars between facilities.
Facility Type
Freestanding or independent MRI centers tend to offer the lowest prices because their overhead is lower than a hospital outpatient department. Some of these centers specialize in open MRI specifically, which keeps their costs down further. If you have flexibility in where to go, calling a few local imaging centers for price quotes can save you a surprising amount.
Insurance Coverage for Open MRI
Most insurance plans cover MRI scans when they’re deemed medically necessary, regardless of whether the machine is open or closed. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan’s deductible, copay, and coinsurance structure. If you haven’t met your deductible, you could be responsible for the full negotiated rate.
One important distinction: standard open MRI machines (where you lie down on a flat table with open sides) are generally covered the same way as closed MRI. However, some newer positional or upright MRI systems, which scan you while sitting or standing, may not be covered. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, for example, classifies positional MRI as investigational and does not cover it at all. If you’re considering a non-traditional MRI setup, verify coverage with your insurer before scheduling.
Insurance plans sometimes require prior authorization for MRI scans. This means your doctor’s office needs approval from the insurer before the scan happens. Without it, your claim could be denied even if the scan itself would normally be covered.
Paying Out of Pocket
If you’re uninsured or your plan has a high deductible, paying cash can sometimes be cheaper than going through insurance. Many imaging centers offer a self-pay or cash-pay rate that’s lower than the amount they’d bill an insurer. This happens because facilities avoid the administrative costs of processing insurance claims and get paid immediately.
The gap can be significant. In one real-world example, an imaging service billed an insurer $540 for an ultrasound, the insurer’s negotiated rate was $210, but the cash price would have been $290. The math doesn’t always favor cash pay, but it’s worth asking for both prices. Some facilities will also offer payment plans if the upfront cost is too steep.
Price transparency tools can help. Websites like GoodRx, MDsave, and individual hospital price estimators let you compare MRI costs at nearby facilities before you book. Since 2021, hospitals have been required to post their prices online, though the data isn’t always easy to navigate.
Who Benefits Most From an Open MRI
Open MRI machines were designed for patients who can’t tolerate the tight, enclosed tube of a standard MRI. If you experience claustrophobia, an open MRI can make the difference between completing the scan and needing sedation. Patients with larger body frames who physically don’t fit in a closed-bore machine also benefit, as do children who may feel less anxious in an open design.
If you fall into one of these categories, the lower cost of an open MRI is a bonus on top of the practical necessity. Just confirm with your ordering physician that an open MRI will provide adequate image quality for your specific diagnosis. For many common musculoskeletal and general imaging needs, it will. For highly detailed neurological or cardiac studies, your doctor may recommend sticking with a closed system even if it costs more.