How Much Does a CT Scan Cost?

CT scan pricing depends heavily on the body region and whether contrast dye is administered. A head CT without contrast is the least expensive, averaging $1,750 to $2,500 — it is commonly ordered for headaches, head injuries, and stroke evaluation. A chest CT runs $2,000 to $3,500 and is used to evaluate lung conditions, pulmonary embolism, and chest trauma.

Abdominal CT scans are among the most expensive, averaging $3,000 to $5,000, particularly when both the abdomen and pelvis are scanned in one study. Adding contrast dye increases any CT cost by $300 to $800 due to the contrast agent itself plus the additional scan sequences required. CT angiograms — specialized vascular studies — are the highest-priced CT studies, averaging $4,500 to $7,000 without insurance ¹.

Just like MRIs, the facility you choose determines more of your CT cost than the scan itself. Hospital outpatient departments charge a facility fee that can double or triple the price compared to a freestanding imaging center performing the same scan on the same type of machine.

• —Hospital outpatient CT — $2,500 to $6,000+. Includes a facility fee that independent centers do not charge.
• —Freestanding imaging center — $300 to $1,500. No facility fee. Often willing to quote a cash price over the phone.
• —Emergency department CT — $3,000 to $8,000+. The highest prices because ER facility fees are added on top.

If your CT is non-urgent and scheduled in advance, call freestanding imaging centers in your area for a cash-pay quote before defaulting to the hospital. The quality of the scan is typically identical ².

With insurance, your out-of-pocket cost for a CT scan depends on your deductible status and whether the facility is in-network. If you have not yet met your annual deductible, you may owe the full negotiated rate — typically $500 to $2,000 at in-network facilities. After meeting your deductible, coinsurance of $100 to $500 is common.

Most insurance plans require prior authorization for CT scans. Without it, your claim may be denied entirely. Always confirm authorization before your appointment. Also verify that the radiologist reading your scan is in-network — it is surprisingly common for an in-network facility to use out-of-network radiologists, leaving you with an unexpected balance bill.

CT scans are one of the easiest medical services to comparison shop for because the scan itself is standardized. Here is how to reduce your cost:

• —Get the CPT code from your doctor — Common codes include 70450 (head without contrast), 71260 (chest with contrast), and 74177 (abdomen/pelvis with contrast). This lets you compare prices accurately.
• —Call freestanding imaging centers — Many will quote a cash price of $300-$800, well below hospital rates.
• —Ask if contrast is truly necessary — A CT without contrast costs $300-$800 less than with contrast. Discuss with your doctor whether contrast will change the clinical decision.
• —Use your insurer's cost estimator — Most major insurers provide online tools showing negotiated rates at nearby facilities.
• —Upload your bill to ORVO — If you have already had a CT scan, compare what you were charged to market rates in your area.

CT scan bills are prone to several types of errors that can inflate your cost. Watch for:

• —Upcoding — Being billed for a CT "with and without contrast" when only one contrast phase was performed.
• —Duplicate technical and professional fees — The technical component (operating the scanner) and professional component (radiologist reading) should each appear once.
• —Wrong body part coded — An abdominal CT billed at a higher rate than the chest CT that was actually performed.
• —Facility fee on an imaging center bill — Freestanding centers should not charge hospital-level facility fees.

Always request an itemized bill and verify the CPT code matches what your doctor ordered. About 80% of medical bills contain at least one error ³ — CT scan bills are no exception.