Yes, a wide bore MRI is open on both ends. It’s still a tunnel-shaped machine, but the tube runs straight through, meaning neither end is sealed off. Air flows through, you can see out, and depending on which body part is being scanned, your head or feet (or both) may extend outside the tunnel entirely.
How Wide Bore MRI Machines Are Built
A wide bore MRI has a circular opening of about 70 centimeters (roughly 27.5 inches), compared to 60 centimeters (about 23.6 inches) on a traditional scanner. That extra space, nearly half a foot more room around you, makes a real difference. Some patients can lie on their side or raise their knees during the scan, which isn’t possible in a standard machine.
The tunnel itself is also shorter than older designs. This is key: because the bore is shorter and open at both ends, many scans allow your head to stay completely outside the machine. If you’re getting a knee, hip, or lower spine scan, for example, you’ll be positioned so that your upper body is out in the open room. You can look around, breathe normally, and feel much less enclosed. For head or upper body scans, your feet will be the part sticking out the other side.
Wide Bore vs. Open MRI
People often confuse wide bore MRI with open MRI, but they’re fundamentally different designs. A wide bore machine is still a tube you slide into. It’s just a bigger, shorter tube that’s open at both ends. An open MRI eliminates the tunnel altogether. Instead, magnets sit above and below you while your sides remain completely exposed. There’s no enclosure around your body at all.
The tradeoff is image quality. Wide bore systems typically run at higher magnetic field strengths, which means sharper, more detailed images. Open MRI systems sacrifice some of that clarity in exchange for a completely open design. For many diagnostic needs, the image quality from a wide bore scanner is comparable to a traditional closed MRI, making it a practical middle ground: less confining than a standard tunnel, but more diagnostically useful than a fully open system.
How It Helps With Claustrophobia
The combination of a wider opening and shorter tunnel length makes a significant difference for anxious patients. A study published in the European Journal of Radiology tested a wide, short bore 1.5T scanner on 56 patients with known claustrophobia. Of those patients, 89% successfully completed their scans without sedation, even when their claustrophobia was classified as severe. The 11% who couldn’t finish all had scans that required their head to be deep inside the bore, which is the most triggering position for most people.
That’s a notable success rate for a group that would otherwise need sedation or anesthesia to get through a standard MRI. The wider opening, shorter tunnel, and ability to see out both ends all contribute to making the experience more tolerable. Some facilities also use angled mirrors or prism glasses that let you see the room outside the bore even when your head is inside.
Weight and Size Considerations
The wider opening accommodates larger body types that might not fit comfortably in a traditional scanner. Weight limits vary by machine, but wide bore MRI tables typically support between 450 and 550 pounds depending on the specific equipment at a given facility. At some centers, patients over 260 pounds are asked to measure their body diameter beforehand to confirm they’ll fit within the bore comfortably.
If you’re concerned about fitting, call the imaging center ahead of your appointment. They can tell you the exact bore diameter and table weight limit for their specific machine, and some will do a quick fit check before your scheduled scan so there are no surprises on the day.
What to Expect During the Scan
You’ll lie on a padded table that slides into the tunnel. The technologist will position you based on which body part needs imaging. For lower body scans, you’ll typically go in feet first with your head and shoulders outside the bore. For brain or neck scans, your head will be inside and your lower body will extend out the opposite end.
The scan itself works exactly like a standard MRI. You’ll hear loud knocking and buzzing sounds (you’ll get earplugs or headphones), and you’ll need to stay still for the duration. Scan times are the same as traditional machines, usually 20 to 60 minutes depending on the exam. The only difference is how the space around you feels: more room to breathe, a shorter tunnel, and a clear line of sight out at least one end.