Public records show what hospitals actually pay for a new MRI machine: about $1.9 million for a new Siemens 1.5T scanner and $3.2 million to $3.7 million for new Siemens 3T systems in recent US filings, and about £1.6 million for a GE 3T scanner bought by an NHS hospital in February 2026. The full project, including the shielded room and installation, typically costs more than the scanner itself.
This page covers equipment procurement and pricing only. It does not give clinical advice.
New MRI machine prices from public records
| Scanner | Field strength | Price | Buyer and record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siemens MAGNETOM Sola | 1.5T | $1,880,670 equipment; $3 million total project | Cone Health, North Carolina; certificate of need filing, November 2025 |
| Siemens MAGNETOM Vida (research configuration) | 3T | $3,200,000 | Massachusetts General Hospital research centre; Siemens budgetary quote in a grant application, late 2023 |
| Siemens MAGNETOM Cima.X | 3T (premium) | $3,680,000 equipment | North Carolina Baptist Hospital; certificate of need filing, 2024 |
| GE SIGNA Premier XT | 3T | £1,593,254.50 | Hull Royal Infirmary (NHS); contract award via NHS Supply Chain framework, February 2026 |
These are figures filed or published by the buyers. They are not list prices, and each reflects a specific configuration, discount and set of included services. US filings may include items that the UK contract excludes, so compare configurations, not just totals.
What the scanner price usually leaves out
The records above make clear how much sits outside the scanner itself:
- Construction and the shielded room: Cone Health’s 1.5T replacement had $1.88 million of equipment inside a $3 million project, so roughly $1.1 million went on everything else.
- Buildings for the scanner: in November 2025 an NHS trust in Calderdale and Huddersfield agreed to buy a new relocatable modular unit to house a Philips Elition 3T for £740,122 excluding VAT.
- Upgrades and research options: in February 2026 an NHS trust spent £219,400 excluding VAT to add multinuclear spectroscopy and a special coil to an existing Siemens Cima.X.
- Combined projects: Watsonville Community Hospital in California authorised up to $12 million in June 2025 for a Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T MRI and a spectral CT scanner, including installation and construction.
Warranty terms matter too. The Siemens quote attached to Cone Health’s filing lists a 12-month, parts-only warranty on the magnet, so service contracts after the first year are a significant running cost that buyers should price in from the start.
What changes the price of a new MRI
- Field strength: 3T systems cost more than 1.5T. In the records above, new 3T equipment ran from about £1.6 million to $3.7 million against $1.9 million for the 1.5T.
- Platform tier: premium research-capable platforms such as the Cima.X sit at the top of each manufacturer’s range.
- Software and coils: clinical packages, AI reconstruction and extra coils are often itemised separately.
- Helium technology: newer magnets such as Siemens’ Zero Helium Boil-Off design reduce helium refills, which affects running costs more than the purchase price.
- How it is bought: group purchasing and national frameworks, such as NHS Supply Chain, can lower prices compared with one-off orders.
New, refurbished or leased
Refurbished scanners from manufacturer programmes and independent refurbishers are widely sold at substantially lower prices than new, but they vary greatly in age, software and warranty, so compare the exact system and its service support rather than headline prices. Leasing and managed equipment services spread the cost over several years; NHS Supply Chain, for example, publishes indicative lease options alongside capital purchase prices on its MRI framework.
Regulatory and planning steps
In some US states, buying or replacing an MRI scanner needs a certificate of need or an exemption from the state health department, which is why the North Carolina figures above are public. Hospitals elsewhere follow national procurement rules, such as the UK’s contract award notices. Check the rules for your state or country before signing a quote, because approval can affect timing.
Questions to put in an MRI quotation request
- Exact model, field strength, gradient system and software version.
- Which coils and clinical packages are included, and which are optional.
- Delivery, rigging, installation, shielding and site preparation: who provides each, and at what cost.
- Warranty length and coverage, and the price of the service contract from year two.
- Helium requirements and expected refill or cryogen costs.
- Applications training, uptime guarantees and software upgrade terms.
- Trade-in value for the existing scanner.
FAQs
How much does a new MRI machine cost? Recent public records show about $1.9 million for a new 1.5T system and $3.2 million to $3.7 million for new 3T systems in the US, with a total project cost well above the equipment price.
Why do public records show different prices for similar scanners? Each purchase includes a different configuration, discount, warranty and set of services, and US and UK purchases are structured differently.
Is the room included in the price? Usually not. Shielding, construction and building work are typically budgeted separately and can approach the cost of the scanner.
See more in our medical equipment price guides and read how we research prices.
Published November 2026. Sources: NC DHHS, Cone Health MRI replacement, November 2025; NC DHHS, North Carolina Baptist Hospital MRI replacement; MGH Martinos Center equipment quote; UK Contracts Finder, Hull Royal Infirmary; Find a Tender, Calderdale MRI unit; Find a Tender, Cima.X upgrade; and Watsonville Community Hospital.
