Diagnostics · Imaging
Private MRI scans: what it costs, and the NHS wait
Published self-pay MRI prices from named hospitals, what the price includes, and how long people are waiting for an NHS MRI in each area.
Prices checked 9 Nov 2026
Lowest price we found
£475
up to £565, across 4 published prices
Typical price
£530
the middle of 4 published prices
NHS MRI wait, England
About 8 in 10
had waited under 6 weeks (August 2026)
People already on the list, not a forecast.
In short
The lowest published self-pay price we found for an MRI scan was £475 (MRI, one body area (outpatient)) at Spire Bristol Hospital, and the highest was £565. All 4 prices were checked on the providers’ own websites on 9 November 2026.
On the NHS, 78.0% of the 357,356 people on England’s MRI waiting list at the end of August 2026 had waited less than six weeks (NHS England DM01).
MRI scan by city
Published prices
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Spire Bristol HospitalBristol · CQC GoodMRI, one body area (outpatient)Hospital fee. Spire says MRI and CT prices include contrast when required and reporting fees where applicable. A GP or consultant referral letter is needed.Source checked 9 Nov 2026£475
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Spire Parkway HospitalSolihull, Birmingham area · CQC GoodMRI, one body area (outpatient)Hospital fee. Spire says MRI and CT prices include contrast when required and reporting fees where applicable. A GP or consultant referral letter is needed.Source checked 9 Nov 2026£495
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Spire Manchester HospitalManchester · CQC OutstandingMRI, one body area (outpatient)Hospital fee. Spire says MRI and CT prices include contrast when required and reporting fees where applicable. A GP or consultant referral letter is needed.Source checked 9 Nov 2026£565
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Spire Leeds HospitalLeeds · CQC GoodMRI, one body area (outpatient)Hospital fee. Spire says MRI and CT prices include contrast when required and reporting fees where applicable. A GP or consultant referral letter is needed.Source checked 9 Nov 2026£565
Named hospitals and clinics first, then national prices, each lowest first. Each price is what the provider published on the date shown, not a quote. Consultant fees, tests and follow-up care may be extra. Nobody pays to be listed.
What the price usually covers
Self-pay MRI is normally priced per body area. Spire’s hospitals, for example, quote a price for one area and state that it includes contrast when required and the radiologist’s report where applicable. Scanning more than one area, or a specialist scan, usually costs more.
The scan price does not include a consultation to discuss the result. If the referral came from a private consultant, their fee for the follow-up appointment is separate.
Referral
Many private hospitals need a referral letter from a GP or consultant before they will book a scan. Spire states this on each of the MRI pages quoted here. Some independent scanning centres accept self-referral after a safety questionnaire. Ask before you book, because a private GP appointment to get a referral adds to the cost.
Safety screening
MRI uses a strong magnet, so every provider asks about implants, pacemakers and metal fragments before scanning. This is a standard check, and the provider decides whether a scan can go ahead.
The NHS wait for an MRI scan
| 78.0% | of the 357,356 people on England’s NHS MRI waiting list had waited under six weeks (August 2026) |
|---|---|
| 78,471 | had waited six weeks or more. The NHS standard is fewer than 1%. |
| City and NHS trust | Under 6 weeks |
|---|---|
| Truro: Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 94.7% |
| Bristol: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust | 92.0% |
| Manchester: Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust | 86.8% |
| Birmingham: University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | 80.3% |
| Leeds: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 90.8% |
| London (range across 3 trusts) | 72.2% to 84.4% |
Source: NHS England, Monthly Diagnostics Waiting Times and Activity (DM01), August 2026 data, published 8 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. See the full local picture on Waiting Times UK.
Common questions
Is the price the same at every Spire hospital?
No. Spire publishes a separate price for each hospital. The 4 we checked on 9 November 2026 ranged from £475 to £565 for one body area.
Will my insurer pay for a private MRI?
Many policies cover diagnostic scans when they are referred by a GP or specialist and authorised in advance. Check your policy and get an authorisation number before booking.
What does the NHS figure on this page measure?
It is the share of people on the MRI waiting list at the end of the month who had been waiting under six weeks, from NHS England’s DM01 statistics. It describes the list, not how long a new referral will wait.
What to expect
Looking for the practical detail — referral, the day itself, and what a published price usually covers? Read our what to expect guide.
Where these figures come from
Prices: read from each provider’s own website on the date shown next to each price.
Source: NHS England, Monthly Diagnostics Waiting Times and Activity (DM01), August 2026 data, published 8 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. See the full local picture on Waiting Times UK.
Independent. We’re not part of the NHS or any hospital, we’re not clinicians, and nothing here is medical advice. Hospitals can’t pay to appear or to change their position.