How Much Does a MRI Shoulder (Without Contrast) Cost in 2026?

Real prices from hospital transparency data. Updated March 2026.

Low End (10th %ile)
$547
Cash/negotiated rate
Typical (Median)
$1,694
Most common range
High End (90th %ile)
$3,704
Before negotiation
Medicare Reference
$149
National reference
Price spread for CPT 73221: Hospital pricing ranges from $547 to $3,704. Compared with Medicare ($149), this is roughly 4x-25x.

What Is a MRI Shoulder (Without Contrast)?

A shoulder MRI helps diagnose rotator cuff tears, labral injuries, and chronic shoulder pain.

When Is It Ordered?

Doctors commonly order this for rotator cuff injury, shoulder instability, chronic pain, and sports injuries.

How Long Does It Take?

30-45 minutes.

How to Prepare

Remove metal objects. Wear comfortable clothing.

Price Comparison: Hospital Data vs Medicare

$149
Medicare reference
$1,694
Median hospital price
$3,704
High-end hospital price
$5,344
Gross charge reference

How to Save on a Shoulder MRI

Potential savings: 40-70% by comparing hospitals and independent imaging centers.
  1. Get a cash price quote from at least 3 facilities.
  2. Ask whether an independent imaging center is acceptable for your order.
  3. Confirm whether contrast is medically necessary for your specific case.

Hospital Prices for CPT 73221

Table below shows a sample of hospitals with reported prices for this procedure.

HospitalCityStateCash PriceNegotiatedGross Charge
VIBRA HOSPITAL OF AMARILLO, LLC AMARILLO TX N/A $5 N/A
VIBRA HOSPITAL OF FARGO LLC FARGO ND N/A $5 N/A
VIBRA OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN LLC TAYLOR MI N/A $13 N/A
BRISTOL HOSPITAL INCORPORATED BRISTOL CT $21 N/A $339
ADVENTIST HEALTH SYSTEM GEORGIA INC CHATSWORTH GA N/A $26 N/A
ADVENTIST HEALTH SYSTEM GEORGIA INC CALHOUN GA N/A $26 N/A
REDMOND PARK HOSPITAL LLC ROME GA N/A $26 N/A
ST LUKES METHODIST HOSPITAL CEDAR RAPIDS IA N/A N/A $40
VIBRA HOSPITAL OF DENVER LLC THORNTON CO N/A $47 N/A
TEMECULA VALLEY HOSPITAL, INC. TEMECULA CA N/A $47 $7,784
ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER, LP ALHAMBRA CA N/A N/A $93
ANAHEIM GLOBAL MEDICAL CENTER INC ANAHEIM CA $93 N/A N/A
KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITALS DOWNEY CA N/A N/A $93
LOS ALAMITOS MEDICAL CENTER, INC. LOS ALAMITOS CA N/A N/A $93
PALOMAR HEALTH ESCONDIDO CA N/A N/A $93
SIERRA NEVADA MEMORIAL-MINERS HOSPITAL GRASS VALLEY CA N/A $93 N/A
WISCONSIN AVE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER INC WASHINGTON DC $96 N/A $191
AGH LAVEEN LLC LAVEEN AZ N/A $155 $5,297
EAST CARROLL PARISH HOSPITAL LAKE PROVIDENCE LA $171 $182 $228
MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL GREENBRAE CA $177 N/A $93
HENRY HEYWOOD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL GARDNER MA $183 $275 $262
SUBURBAN HOSPITAL, INC. BETHESDA MD $185 N/A $185
MORTON COUNTY HOSPITAL ELKHART KS $211 N/A $4,927
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M D ANDERSON CANCER CENTER HOUSTON TX N/A $211 $529
COUNTY OF MONTEREY SALINAS CA $213 $213 $213
MARIANJOY REHABILITATION HOSPITAL & CLINICS INC WHEATON IL N/A N/A $222
CHARLESTON HOSPITAL, INC. CHARLESTON WV N/A $231 N/A
HERBERT J THOMAS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SOUTH CHARLESTON WV N/A $231 N/A
OAKBEND MEDICAL CENTER RICHMOND TX N/A $233 $2,155
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY LEXINGTON KY $240 N/A $357
TRI-CITY HOSPITAL OCEANSIDE CA N/A $241 $1,762
ARISE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, LLC AUSTIN TX $248 N/A N/A
OCALA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LLC OCALA FL N/A $250 $3,317
PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT NO 2 SKAGIT COUNTY WASHINGTON ANACORTES WA N/A $252 $1,674
SOUTH TEXAS ASC LLC SAN ANTONIO TX $269 $220 N/A
HOWARD COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL, INC, COLUMBIA MD $272 N/A $272
LUMINIS HEALTH DOCTORS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER, INC LANHAM MD $274 $255 $277
LUMINIS HEALTH J. KENT MCNEW FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER, INC. ANNAPOLIS MD $275 $257 $278
DESOTO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT ARCADIA FL $280 N/A $1,818
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HOSPITAL AND CLINICS MIAMI FL $280 N/A $1,818
NOLAND HOSPITAL TUSCALOOSA II, LLC TUSCALOOSA AL $288 N/A $2,924
CAPE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE NJ $300 $618 $5,222
ROSELAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION CHICAGO IL $303 $299 $597
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF SHERIDAN COUNTY SHERIDAN WY $308 $339 $385
PENN STATE HEALTH HAMPDEN MEDICAL CENTER ENOLA PA $354 $627 $1,208
LUMINIS HEALTH ANNE ARUNDEL MEDICAL CENTER, INC ANNAPOLIS MD $394 $368 $398
ST. ANTHONYS HOSPITAL, INC. SAINT PETERSBURG FL $398 N/A $632
CALVERTHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER INC PRINCE FREDERICK MD $408 N/A $416
DYERSBURG HEALTH DYERSBURG TN $418 $172 $523
JACKSON MADISON COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL JACKSON TN $418 $189 $523
MARTIN HEALTH MARTIN TN $418 $172 $523
MILAN GENERAL HOSPITAL, INC. MILAN TN $418 $172 $523
VIBRA HOSPITAL OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS LLC ROCHDALE MA N/A $444 N/A
PENN STATE HEALTH HOLY SPIRIT MEDICAL CENTER CAMP HILL PA $446 $2,882 $1,208
THE MILTON S HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER HERSHEY PA $446 $2,715 $1,208
PIPELINE-WEST SUBURBAN MEDICAL CENTER, LLC OAK PARK IL $451 N/A $602
ANIMAS SURGICAL HOSPITAL LLC DURANGO CO $452 $2,655 $2,840
PUNXSUTAWNEY AREA HOSPITAL INC PUNXSUTAWNEY PA $473 $223 N/A
HOUSTON HOSPITALS INC PERRY GA $475 $152 $1,000
HOUSTON HOSPITALS INC WARNER ROBINS GA $475 $209 $1,000
NESHOBA COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL PHILADELPHIA MS $487 $522 $696
BANNER HEALTH FORT COLLINS CO $495 $226 $1,431
DIGNITY HEALTH SANTA MARIA CA $495 $226 $1,431
PROSPECT ROCKVILLE HOSPITAL INC VERNON CT $495 $226 $1,431
ST BERNARD HOSPITAL CHICAGO IL $500 $135 $2,991
OU MEDICINE INC EDMOND OK $503 $216 $5,034
FREDERICK HEALTH HOSPITAL INC FREDERICK MD N/A N/A $513
COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER, INC. TOMS RIVER NJ N/A $521 $4,230
MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, INC LAKEWOOD NJ N/A $521 $4,230
MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, INC LONG BRANCH NJ N/A $528 $4,230
CLARA MAASS MEDICAL CENTER BELLEVILLE NJ N/A $535 $4,193
COOPERMAN BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER INC. LIVINGSTON NJ N/A $535 $3,003
NEWARK BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER INC NEWARK NJ N/A $535 $3,003
BBH BMC LLC BIRMINGHAM AL $537 $23 $2,826
DIGNITY COMMUNITY CARE GLENDALE CA $537 $23 $2,826

State-by-State Pricing for Shoulder MRI

Explore where hospitals in each state report prices for CPT 73221.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky

Browse all state price guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Shoulder MRI cost without insurance?

Based on published hospital data, Shoulder MRI prices typically range from $547 to $3,704. Always ask for the self-pay or cash rate before scheduling.

Why do Shoulder MRI prices vary so much by hospital?

Hospitals negotiate different payer contracts, apply different facility fees, and use different chargemaster pricing strategies. That creates large price gaps for the same CPT code.

What does Medicare pay for CPT 73221?

In this dataset, the Medicare facility reference is $149 for CPT 73221.

How can I lower my Shoulder MRI bill?

Compare multiple facilities, ask for the cash price up front, and request a written estimate with all facility and professional fees.

Related Procedures

Knee MRI
MRI · CPT 73721
Brain MRI
MRI · CPT 70553
Brain MRI (no contrast)
MRI · CPT 70551
Lumbar Spine MRI
MRI · CPT 72148
Hernia Repair
Surgery · CPT 49505
Office Visit 99213
Office Visit · CPT 99213