Abdominal ultrasound scan cost in the UK: what you pay privately (2026)

A private abdominal ultrasound uses sound waves to look at the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, kidneys and spleen, and is commonly used for upper abdominal pain, gallstones and abnormal liver tests.

Hospital price pages give a first idea of scale. The abdominal ultrasound scan entries we retrieved sat between £290 to £336; the rows below show which hospital and which variant each figure refers to.

None of these numbers is an offer to treat. Providers confirm a final price after assessment, and consultant or anaesthetist fees may be set separately.

You are usually asked to fast for several hours so the gallbladder is full and bowel gas is reduced, then lie on a couch while a sonographer applies gel and moves a probe over your abdomen. You may be asked to change position or hold your breath briefly.

Results may be discussed on the day or sent as a report, depending on the provider. Ask who performs and reports the scan, because a scan done by an experienced sonographer and reported by a radiologist is more useful than a quick screening view.

A single guide figure for abdominal ultrasound scan can mislead, because the final amount depends on factors like these.

• Which organs are covered: an upper abdominal scan, a kidney scan and a combined abdomen and pelvis scan may be priced differently.

• Operator expertise: scans done and reported by a radiologist differ in cost from those done by a sonographer and reported later.

• Same-day results: some centres give a verbal result and a written report, others only a report.

• The provider: published ultrasound prices vary from the high £200s to the mid £300s in the lists we retrieved.

• Referral and consultation: a doctor review of the result is an extra if not included.

Providers define a package differently, so two quotes are only comparable once you line up what each covers. The table lists what is typically in and what is often billed separately for this procedure.

Insurers usually cover abdominal ultrasound on GP or specialist referral. Check outpatient diagnostic limits.

Insurers often agree a procedure code and a fee ceiling in advance. Self-pay patients should ask whether instalment finance is offered and what the total repayable would be, as the representative rate and terms differ by lender.

NHS abdominal ultrasound is requested by GPs and specialists, with urgent tests prioritised for suspected cancer.

NHS care is free at the point of use, and for non-urgent consultant-led treatment the standard is 18 weeks from referral. You also have the right to choose where you are referred in England. Local waits differ, so ask what applies near you.

There is no recovery. After a fasting scan you can eat straight away.

No one plans for things to go wrong, but a short conversation about extra costs now can save difficulty later.

• Ultrasound is operator-dependent and bowel gas or body habitus can limit views, meaning a follow-up CT or MRI that adds cost.

• Severe constant abdominal pain, vomiting, jaundice with fever or black stools need urgent care rather than a booked scan.

Quotes only compare fairly when they cover the same things. Put these questions to every provider you approach.

• Which organs does the price cover?

• Is the scan reported by a radiologist?

• Is a doctor review of the report included?

• What happens if more imaging is needed?

• Will I receive one price covering the hospital, the consultant and the anaesthetic, or several bills from different parties?