How much does a chest X-ray cost?
A chest X-ray is one of the cheaper imaging tests, but the price still varies a lot by hospital. For a standard two-view chest X-ray, the cash self-pay price has a median around $250, ranging from under $100 to nearly $700. If you're insured, the negotiated rate is lower on average — a median around $130. See current chest X-ray prices →
Why the price varies so much
Hospitals set their own charges and negotiate separately with each insurer, so even a simple X-ray carries many different prices, and hospitals a few miles apart can differ by several times. A higher price doesn't mean a better image.
How to find — and lower — your price
- Consider an urgent-care or freestanding imaging center — often cheaper than a hospital ER or outpatient department for a simple X-ray.
- Watch for a separate radiologist fee on top of the facility charge.
- Confirm before you go. Ask for the price in writing for that procedure code.
Where these numbers come from
Straight from each hospital's federally-mandated price file (required since 2021 under 45 §180) — published figures for comparison, not a quote. How we source this →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chest X-ray cost without insurance?
The cash self-pay price has a median around $250, ranging from under $100 to nearly $700 depending on the hospital. Urgent-care and freestanding imaging centers are often cheaper.
Why is a chest X-ray so much more expensive at the ER?
An X-ray done in an emergency room carries the ER facility fee on top of the imaging charge, so the total is far higher than the same X-ray at an outpatient or urgent-care center.
Is there a separate fee to read the X-ray?
Often, yes. A radiologist's professional fee to interpret the image can be billed separately from the facility charge, so ask whether the quoted price includes the read.
Related
Prices in this guide are as of June 2026 and link to the live page for current figures. Published data is for comparison, not a quote — always confirm with the hospital. Spotted something off? Submit a correction.