Guide
Private CT scan and ultrasound cost: how these are priced
Updated
CT and ultrasound sit either side of MRI on price, and they answer different questions. Knowing which one has actually been requested for you saves both money and a wasted appointment.
Published prices, June 2026
| Scan | Published price |
|---|---|
| CT scan, one body part | £350 |
| CT scan, two body parts | £588 |
| CT scan, three body parts | £825 |
| Cone beam CT | £355 |
| Ultrasound scan, one body part | £236 |
| Echocardiogram | £236 |
| Contrast scan injection | £190 |
| Nerve conduction study | £457 |
Those figures are from one group's published national list (Practice Plus Group), which states prices are correct as at June 2026 and subject to change without prior notice. They are an anchor, not a market average: providers that price per hospital, and central London clinics in particular, commonly list higher.
Which scan answers which question
- Ultrasound
- No ionising radiation, real-time, operator-dependent, and generally the cheapest of the three. Strong for soft tissue, abdomen, pelvis, thyroid, tendons and blood flow. The skill of the person holding the probe genuinely matters, which is one reason a named sonographer or radiologist is worth asking about.
- CT
- Fast, excellent for bone, chest and acute abdominal questions. Uses ionising radiation, so it is a clinical decision rather than a shopping choice. Contrast is charged separately when needed.
- MRI
- No ionising radiation, best for soft tissue, joints, spine and neurological questions, and usually the slowest and dearest. Priced per body part in the same way as CT.
What to check before you pay
- Is a written report included? Images without a radiologist's report answer very little.
- Is contrast included or extra? On the list above it is a separate £190 line.
- How many areas are being scanned? CT, like MRI, is priced per body part.
- Who receives the result? Confirm that your GP or referring consultant will be sent it, and in what format.
- What is the referral policy? It varies by provider; there is no single UK rule for private imaging.
Who regulates a private scanning clinic
In England, "Diagnostic and screening procedures" is a regulated activity in its own right under Schedule 1 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, separate from "Surgical procedures" and from "Treatment of disease, disorder or injury". CQC states that "it is an offence to carry on a regulated activity without being registered" (CQC scope of registration, updated 29 January 2025). A standalone imaging clinic therefore needs its own CQC registration, not just the hospital it sits near.
Which scan is appropriate is a clinical decision, not a price comparison. Nothing here is medical advice. If you are choosing between scans on cost alone, that is usually a sign the referral question has not been settled yet.