MRI Machine Cost: Price & Requirements

Quick answer: A new closed-bore 1.5T MRI system typically runs from around $1,000,000 to $1,500,000, and a new 3T system from around $1,500,000 to $3,000,000 or more, before siting and installation. Refurbished/remanufactured systems of the same field strengths generally sell for 40-70% less. Siting is a separate, often substantial line item — RF shielding, structural reinforcement for the magnet’s weight, a cryogen quench-vent pipe, and electrical/HVAC work can add anywhere from roughly $200,000 to $1,000,000+ depending on whether the room is new construction or a retrofit. These are planning bands reported by imaging-equipment dealers and brokers, not quotes — get an itemized vendor quote, including siting, before finalizing a capital budget.

MRI Machine Cost by Type and Field Strength

Field strength (measured in tesla, T) is the single biggest driver of both purchase price and clinical capability. These are typical US market ranges for the imaging system itself, reported by imaging-equipment dealers and brokers; siting/installation is budgeted separately (see below).

System type	New (unit only, pre-siting)	Refurbished/used
Low-field / open MRI (roughly 0.2T-0.7T)	~$150,000-$500,000	~$50,000-$150,000
1.5T closed-bore (the clinical workhorse field strength)	~$1,000,000-$1,500,000	~$300,000-$700,000
3T closed-bore (higher-resolution, research and specialty clinical use)	~$1,500,000-$3,000,000+	~$600,000-$1,200,000

These figures cover the magnet and console. A full installation adds separately-budgeted siting costs — RF-shielded room construction, structural floor reinforcement (superconducting magnets commonly weigh several tons), a cryogen quench-vent pipe to the building exterior, and electrical/HVAC upgrades — which vary enormously depending on whether the space is purpose-built new construction or a retrofit of existing space. Get a site-survey-based quote before budgeting a specific total-project number.

What Drives the Price

Field strength. Higher tesla generally means a materially higher purchase price, plus more demanding siting requirements (heavier magnet, more shielding).
New vs. refurbished/remanufactured. Refurbished systems from a reputable dealer are de-installed, re-certified, and often carry a warranty, at a substantial discount to new — see Used vs. Refurbished Lab Equipment for what to verify before buying either category.
Bore type and patient comfort features. Wide-bore and open designs (which reduce claustrophobia and accommodate bariatric patients) can carry a price premium over a standard closed bore at the same field strength.
Coil package. The base system typically ships with a limited coil set; additional specialty coils (cardiac, breast, extremity, spine) are frequently quoted separately and can be a meaningful share of total project cost.
Software and sequence packages. Advanced sequence licenses (e.g., for cardiac, breast, or research applications) and PACS/EHR integration are commonly priced as add-ons rather than bundled into the base unit price.
Siting and facility work. RF shielding, structural reinforcement, cryogen venting, and room build-out for a fixed installation are typically quoted separately from the unit price and can rival or exceed the cost of the magnet itself in a difficult retrofit.
Service and warranty terms. A full-service maintenance contract, including cryogen (helium) top-offs and coil coverage, raises ongoing cost but reduces the risk of expensive unplanned downtime.
Volume/GPO pricing. Facilities purchasing through a group purchasing organization or cooperative contract — see E&I Cooperative Services as one example — can secure pricing below list.

New vs. Refurbished: What to Weigh

A refurbished MRI system from an established medical-imaging dealer is a legitimate, widely used way to lower capital cost, provided the magnet has been properly de-installed, quench-tested where applicable, re-certified, and comes with a service warranty. Because a superconducting magnet is a specialized, high-value asset, verify remaining cryogen/cold-head life, coil condition, and gradient performance as part of due diligence — see Used vs. Refurbished Lab Equipment and Calibration Interval for the verification steps that apply regardless of imaging modality. For institutions purchasing with federal grant funds, used equipment purchases remain subject to the same prior-approval and capitalization rules as new equipment — see Equipment and Capital Expenditures Prior Approval Under 2 CFR 200.439 and Capitalization Threshold for Research Equipment.

Total Cost of Ownership Beyond the Purchase Price

The purchase price, even including siting, is the start of the budget rather than the whole of it. Plan for these recurring costs across the life of the machine:

Cryogen (helium) management. Superconducting magnets require liquid helium cooling; most modern systems use “zero boil-off” or low boil-off designs that sharply reduce (but don’t eliminate) the recurring helium cost of older systems, plus the cost of a cold-head service contract.
Service and maintenance contracts. Full-service contracts on MRI systems are a significant recurring line item given the complexity of the gradient, RF, and cryogenic subsystems — see Biomedical Equipment Maintenance for how to structure a compliant maintenance program across a fleet of imaging equipment.
Coil replacement and repair. Coils are handled frequently and are a common wear/damage item with a real replacement cost.
Accreditation costs. Ongoing accreditation (see below) carries application and renewal fees, plus the staff time to prepare and submit phantom and clinical image sets.
Facility utilities. MRI suites have materially higher HVAC and electrical demands than general radiography, which should be reflected in the operating budget, not just the capital budget.
Depreciation and useful-life planning. See Medical Equipment Depreciation Life for how tax versus book useful-life schedules apply to major imaging equipment.

Legal and Regulatory Requirements for Owning an MRI Machine

Buying an MRI system carries regulatory obligations beyond the purchase itself, independent of how the acquisition is funded or structured.

FDA device regulation. Magnetic resonance diagnostic devices are regulated by the FDA as medical devices under 21 CFR Part 892 (Radiology Devices) and require FDA clearance or approval before marketing in the US. This is primarily a manufacturer obligation, but confirming a unit’s FDA clearance status — especially for an imported or heavily modified refurbished system — is a reasonable part of purchasing due diligence.
Accreditation for Medicare reimbursement. Under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008, non-hospital-based providers billing Medicare for advanced diagnostic imaging services — including MRI — must use equipment accredited by a CMS-approved accrediting body. The American College of Radiology (ACR) MRI Accreditation Program is the most widely used pathway; the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) and The Joint Commission also accredit MRI. Accreditation evaluates image quality, personnel qualifications, and a documented quality-control program, and must be renewed on a periodic cycle.
Certificate of Need. A number of states require a Certificate of Need before a facility can purchase or install an MRI system, particularly outside the hospital setting — see Certificate of Need (CON) for when it applies and how it affects a purchase timeline.
MRI safety siting and zoning. The ACR’s MR safety guidance defines four safety zones (Zone I through Zone IV) governing access control around the magnet room, reflecting the well-documented projectile and implant-interaction risks unique to a strong static magnetic field. Siting plans, ferromagnetic-detection screening, and access-control procedures should be designed around this framework from the earliest facility-planning stage, not added after installation.
Unique Device Identification. As with other FDA-regulated medical devices, MRI systems and their major components carry a Unique Device Identifier; see UDI Medical Device for what that means for procurement and asset records.

None of this is a reason to delay budgeting for the machine — it’s a reason to build accreditation, siting-approval, and (where applicable) Certificate of Need timelines into the project plan alongside the purchase itself, since any of them can add weeks to months before the unit can go into clinical or research use.

Financing and Procurement Paths

Facilities typically acquire MRI equipment through one of a few structures:

Outright capital purchase — the simplest structure, subject to whatever capital-approval process the institution runs; see Equipment Justification Letter and, for hospital settings, Value Analysis Committee for how the internal approval case is typically built and reviewed.
Equipment lease or lease-to-own. Given the size of an MRI capital outlay, leasing (often bundled with a service contract) is common where cash-flow or budget-cycle constraints make an outright purchase impractical.
Group purchasing organization (GPO) or cooperative contract. Pre-negotiated pricing through a GPO or cooperative purchasing vehicle can lower cost versus buying direct; see Hospital Supply Chain for how GPOs fit into a broader procurement structure and Vendor Selection Criteria for a framework to compare competing quotes on price, service terms, and total cost of ownership rather than sticker price alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an MRI machine cost?

As a planning band: a new 1.5T system typically runs roughly $1,000,000-$1,500,000, and a new 3T system roughly $1,500,000-$3,000,000 or more, for the magnet and console alone. Siting and installation are a separate, often substantial line item on top of that. Refurbished systems of the same field strength are commonly 40-70% less than new. Get an itemized, site-survey-based vendor quote before finalizing a specific number.

What is the price of an MRI machine, new versus refurbished?

New systems carry full manufacturer warranty and the latest software/coil options at the top of the price range; refurbished systems from a reputable dealer are de-installed, re-certified, and typically sold with a shorter warranty at a substantial discount. The right choice depends on patient volume, available capital, and how much clinical-application breadth the facility actually needs.

Is a refurbished MRI machine a good option?

It can be, provided it comes from an established dealer, has documented re-certification and testing, and includes a service warranty. Verify remaining cold-head/cryogen performance, coil condition, and gradient calibration before purchase — see Used vs. Refurbished Lab Equipment for the general verification checklist.

What adds the most to the total cost beyond the sticker price?

Siting is usually the largest addition — RF shielding, structural reinforcement for the magnet’s weight, a cryogen quench-vent pipe, and electrical/HVAC work, especially in a retrofit of existing space rather than new construction. Coil packages, sequence software licenses, and the service contract are the next largest recurring or one-time additions.

Does an MRI machine need special accreditation to bill Medicare?

Yes, for non-hospital-based providers. Under MIPPA, advanced diagnostic imaging services including MRI must be furnished on equipment accredited by a CMS-approved body — most commonly the ACR MRI Accreditation Program — before Medicare Part B will reimburse the technical component.