Picture this: a painless, radiation-free scan that can look inside your body in real time. From monitoring pregnancies to detecting heart problems, ultrasound radiology quietly powers millions of diagnoses every year. As the Cleveland Clinic notes, ultrasound radiology is a medical imaging procedure that utilizes high-frequency sound waves to generate cross-sectional images of internal body structures, including soft tissues and blood vessels.
This procedure is safe and non-invasive since it does not use radiation. Per Investigative Radiology, the test is ideal for imaging children and pregnant women as it does not expose them to radiation that can later lead to complications like cancer. Ultrasound is one of the most useful tools for accurate diagnosis, according to the World Health Organization.
Overview
As explained by Tunde Rasheed, B.Sc. Researcher, “[Ultrasound] technology meets positive patient outcomes and has become the mainstay of diagnostic performance for healthcare teams.”
This is how an ultrasound works:
- Your healthcare expert applies a gel to your skin and moves a transducer over the particular area examined.
- The transducer then sends high-frequency sound waves into your body.
- The sound waves then bounce back to the transducer from different tissues inside your body.
- The sound waves are then converted into images on a screen.
- This can show real-time monitoring of heartbeat or blood flow.
Average cost of an ultrasound
The average cost of an ultrasound varies depending on several factors. One main factor that significantly affects cost is whether you are covered or not. This procedure is common in the United States. Although many patients undergo ultrasounds annually, out-of-pocket expenses can remain a barrier to treatment, as not all ultrasound services are covered by health insurance.
Insurance plays a crucial role in reducing the cost of an ultrasound. Without coverage, the cost of ultrasound would be prohibitively high, making it difficult for most patients to access the necessary medical services they require.
With insurance
The cost for the test will vary depending on the type of imaging service your healthcare professional recommends. Additionally, the fee is based on the information you share with your radiologist, which directly relates to the Medicare billing code for the service you require.
With insurance coverage, the typical copay or coinsurance for an ultrasound ranges from $20 to $200. The exact amount, however, depends on several factors, including whether you have met your annual deductible, the type of facility and whether your provider is in-network or out of network.
With healthcare cost transparency tools, you can estimate your expenses. Such tools are provided by your insurance company or public databases like Medicare’s Price Lookup or FAIR Health Consumer. These tools can help clarify expected out-of-pocket payments.
Without insurance
If you do not have insurance, expect to incur out-of-pocket costs of about $150 to $600 for an ultrasound radiology examination in the United States. This cost varies depending on the type of ultrasound and your provider’s location. For example, an abdominal ultrasound can cost anywhere from $200 to $400, while a pelvic ultrasound typically ranges from $250 to $500.
You can research fair pricing through authoritative sources like Healthcare Bluebook and FAIR Health Consumer, which provide regional cost comparisons and average self-pay rates to help you budget more effectively and avoid surprise billing.
Factors that affect ultrasound cost
Several factors can either increase or decrease the average cost. These include:
- Type of ultrasound: The complexity and area of the body being scanned affect the price. Diagnostic, obstetric, Doppler or specialized imaging may each have different fees, per the Ultrasound Journal.
- Facility type: Costs vary between hospitals, mobile ultrasound units and outpatient imaging centers. A hospital might charge more for an ultrasound than a mobile ultrasound unit.
- Radiologist interpretation fees: The fee for your radiologist to review and interpret the scan is often billed separately.
- Regional cost variation: Location matters. Areas with a higher cost of living tend to have higher prices for medical services.
- Insurance plan: Your individual plan plays a role in determining your out-of-pocket cost. This includes co-payment, deductible and coinsurance.
Insurance coverage details
Coverage usually depends on whether a scan is medically necessary. Most diagnostic ultrasounds are covered, but elective scans, like those done to find out a baby’s gender, usually are not. Some preventive ultrasounds may be included, depending on your insurance plan.
Pregnancy-related ultrasounds often have their own rules. Routine scans are typically covered, while additional scans for complications may require prior approval. Many insurance plans require prior authorization for diagnostic or specialized scans, so it is essential to check your plan’s details before scheduling.
How to save money
There are handy tips that can help you save money. Here are just a few:
- Consider independent imaging centers. They can charge less than hospital radiology departments. Always ask for a self-pay discount or bundled rate.
- Utilize online comparison tools, such as Healthcare Bluebook and MDSave, to find competitive pricing.
- For a second opinion on your imaging results, consider using tele-radiology services, which can be more cost-effective than another in-person consultation.
- Contact your provider about specific plans coverage for ultrasounds, including what your deductible and copay are.
- Ask your imaging center for a cost estimate before your appointment. They can give you an idea of what to expect based on the particular procedure and use to verify coverage with your insurer.
Is ultrasound billed as radiology?
Yes, in nearly all healthcare settings, ultrasound procedures are indeed billed under radiology services and are classified as diagnostic imaging. This classification may seem confusing, as ultrasound technology utilizes high-frequency sound waves, rather than the ionizing radiation typically associated with traditional radiology tools, such as X-rays or CT scans. However, the billing and operational structure is determined by who performs and interprets the test.
How to prepare for a radiology ultrasound
Preparing for a radiology ultrasound is essential for ensuring the clearest and most accurate images, but the exact instructions depend entirely on the area of the body being examined. You won’t prepare the same way for a kidney scan as you would for a thyroid scan.
For abdominal ultrasounds, which image organs like the liver, gallbladder and pancreas, you are typically required to fast for six to 12 hours beforehand. This is because food and drink can cause gas, which interferes with the passage of the sound waves, and eating causes the gallbladder to contract, making it difficult to visualize.
Conversely, for a pelvic ultrasound (used to examine the uterus, ovaries or bladder), patients are often instructed to arrive with a full bladder. This pushes the intestines out of the way, providing a clear “window” for sound waves to travel, thereby improving the visibility of pelvic structures. For other scans, such as a breast or thyroid ultrasound, little to no preparation is required. Always confirm the specific instructions provided by your doctor or the imaging center.
Bottom line
Ultrasound radiology stands out as an exceptionally safe, affordable and versatile diagnostic tool in modern medicine. Unlike X-rays or CT scans, ultrasound provides critical, real-time internal insight into organs and soft tissues without any radiation exposure, making it ideal for procedures like monitoring pregnancies.
While it is generally a cost-effective imaging modality, the final price you pay can vary substantially. To significantly lower your costs, it’s essential first to understand your insurance coverage – specifically, what your co-pay or co-insurance is for diagnostic imaging. Second, actively shopping around for different imaging centers is highly recommended, as facilities often have different negotiated rates for the same procedure, even within the same hospital network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pregnancy ultrasounds considered radiology?
Yes, they are a branch of diagnostic radiology. A sonographer performs them, and radiologists interpret them.
How long does a radiology ultrasound take?
In most cases, it takes about 20 to 45 minutes. However, this depends on the area scanned.
How accurate is ultrasound radiology?
Ultrasound radiology is generally highly precise, primarily when performed by trained technicians with quality equipment.
Citations
Cleveland Clinic. Ultrasound: What It Is, Purpose, Procedure & Results. Cleveland Clinic. Published April 12, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4995-ultrasound
Wang S, Hossack JA, Klibanov AL. From Anatomy to Functional and Molecular Biomarker Imaging and Therapy: Ultrasound Is Safe, Ultrafast, Portable, and Inexpensive. Investigative Radiology. 2020;55(9):559-572. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/RLI.0000000000000675
World. “Technology in our pocket”: How point-of-care ultrasound is helping reshape patient care in Samoa. Who.int. Published September 17, 2025. Accessed October 23, 2025. https://www.who.int/westernpacific/newsroom/feature-stories/item/technology-in-our-pocket—how-point-of-care-ultrasound-is-helping-reshape-patient-care-in-samoa
Lentz B, Fong T, Rhyne R, Risko N. A systematic review of the cost-effectiveness of ultrasound in emergency care settings. The Ultrasound Journal. 2021;13(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13089-021-00216-8