How Much Does an Ultrasound Cost Without Insurance in 2026? $115 to $1,000

What moves the price

• Type of ultrasound. A simple exam costs less than a complex one. At HonorHealth, an abdominal, pelvic, or complete pregnancy ultrasound has a direct pay price of $192, a kidney ultrasound with Doppler is $469, and a limited pelvis exam is $400. GoodRx lists a specialized fetal ultrasound at a national average of $954.
• Hospital versus imaging center. A hospital may add a facility fee and list prices that are higher than a standalone center. GoodRx says ultrasounds in a hospital cost more than in imaging centers. Urgent care sites may also do some exams for less.
• The separate radiologist reading fee. The doctor who reads it may be a second bill. HonorHealth says its listed prices do not include radiologist professional fees. Ask if the reading is included.
• Where you live. Prices differ across the country. GoodRx lists a fetal ultrasound at $180 to $800 in California, $190 to $480 in New York, and $200 to $500 in Texas. Call places near you.
• Pregnancy, heart, and blood vessel exams. These tend to cost more than a simple abdominal exam. GoodRx lists a routine fetal ultrasound at $459 and a carotid ultrasound at $774 as national averages. It says an ultrasound of the heart can cost as much as $3,000.
• One side or both sides. A scan of one area can cost less than a scan of two. HonorHealth lists a complete lower leg artery exam on both legs at $315 direct pay, versus $192 for one leg or a limited exam. Penrad lists a one sided breast ultrasound at $121.80.
• Paying cash up front. Many sites give a lower price if you pay in full before the exam. HonorHealth lists a prompt pay price of $148 for a complete abdominal ultrasound, versus a direct pay price of $192. Ask which price applies to you.
• Low cost booking programs. A program may get you a lower rate at a partner center. Radiology Assist lists ultrasound starting at $115 for most body parts. It says its rates are not for people on Medicare or Medicaid.

What is included

When you get a quote for an ultrasound, ask exactly what it covers. Most of the time, a quoted price covers the exam only. That means the use of the machine, the room, and the sonographer who runs it. It often does not cover the doctor who studies the images and writes the report. That doctor is a radiologist, and the reading is billed separately. GoodRx says the person who does the scan and the doctor who reads it can bill separate fees. HonorHealth says its prices do not include professional fees for hospital based radiologists. Kettering Health says the same about its hospital X-ray prices, that they are hospital charges only and that physician charges for the reading are separate. Some places do bundle the reading into one flat price. Radiology Assist calls its rates all inclusive, but its page does not list what is in them. Atlantic Medical Imaging and Penrad post cash prices, but the pages we read do not say if the reading is included. So you must ask. Pregnancy ultrasounds can be priced by type. A first look, a complete exam, and a short check of the baby's position can each have a different price. For example, HonorHealth lists a limited pregnancy check at $124 direct pay and a complete pregnancy exam at $192. A facility fee may be added if the exam is done in a hospital outpatient department. Here is a plain list of things that could show up as separate lines on your bill. The exam itself. The radiologist reading fee. A facility fee. A visit fee if you go to a doctor's office. A copy of the images or pictures to take home. GoodRx suggests asking for a bundled total and getting a good faith estimate before you book. If your final bill is $400 or more above that estimate, GoodRx says you may be able to dispute it. Write down the CPT code for your exam. It is a five digit number that names the exact exam. For example, 76700 is a complete abdominal ultrasound and 76805 is a complete pregnancy ultrasound. With the code, you can compare the same exam at different places. Without it, you may compare two different exams by mistake.

Ways to pay less

• Ask for the self pay or cash price up front. Say you have no insurance and ask what the cash price is. Many places have a lower rate than the list price. HonorHealth lists a prompt pay price of $148 and a direct pay price of $192 for a complete abdominal ultrasound.
• Ask if the radiologist reading fee is included. This is the most common surprise. Ask, "Is the reading in this price, or will I get a second bill?" Get the answer in writing if you can.
• Get the CPT code and price shop it. Ask your doctor's office for the exact CPT code on the order, such as 76700 for a complete abdominal ultrasound. Then call two or three places and ask for the cash price for that code. GoodRx suggests this step too.
• Compare a freestanding imaging center with a hospital. GoodRx says ultrasounds cost more in a hospital than in an imaging center. Penrad lists a one sided breast ultrasound at $121.80, and Atlantic Medical Imaging lists $225 per body part.
• Ask for a good faith estimate and an itemized bill. Get the estimate before the exam. After the exam, ask for an itemized bill and check every line for errors or double charges. FAIR Health Consumer also tells people to look for duplicate charges and to ask if facility fees were added.
• Ask about financial assistance and payment plans. Many hospitals have charity care for people with low income. Ask the billing office before you pay. FAIR Health Consumer says providers might offer payment plans, and that you can ask about discounts and financial aid.
• Try a low cost booking program. Radiology Assist books self pay exams at partner centers, with ultrasound prices starting at $115 for most body parts. It says it is free to use. It is not for people on Medicare or Medicaid, and the price may be higher at your location.
• Ask if a lower cost type of exam is on offer. Ask the center for the price of the exact exam on your order, and for the price of any limited version. Do not change the exam yourself. Let your doctor decide what fits, and use the prices to ask good questions.

What price guides say

We checked 8 price guides and read every number on their pages. They do not all measure the same thing, so the ranges on this page come from putting them side by side.

• HonorHealth (hospital system price list): Ultrasound costs, prompt pay, direct pay and average total
• Atlantic Medical Imaging: Price list: prompt payment self-pay discount program, effective January 1, 2026
• Penrad: Top 15 exams cash price, March 2024
• Radiology Assist: Program for uninsured diagnostic imaging
• GoodRx: The cost of an ultrasound without insurance: what you need to know
• GoodRx: Self-pay imaging and diagnostics: how much can you save?
• Kettering Health (hospital price list): X-ray procedures patient price information list, effective January 1, 2026
• FAIR Health Consumer: Negotiating your costs

Common questions

Related costs