| Centre type | From-price | Referral rule | Report time | Source | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital group (50+ hospitals) (Circle Health Group) | From £347; varies by hospital, quote may be higher | Priced on the scans requested by the professional who referred you | Same day in some cases; otherwise within one week | circlehealthgroup.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| Hospital group diagnostic suite (Nuffield Health Manchester Diagnostic Suite) | £400 one part; £538 two parts; £658 three parts (guide prices) | Referral from a registered healthcare professional needed | Results within a few days | nuffieldhealth.com | 5 October 2026 |
| Hospital group hospital (Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital) | £620 one part (guide price) | Referral from a healthcare professional needed | Results to your referrer within a week | nuffieldhealth.com | 5 October 2026 |
| NHS trust private patient tariff (Dorset County Hospital NHS FT, private patients) | £577.50 one part, excludes consultant fee; contrast £52.50 (tariff 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027) | Not stated in the tariff | Not stated in the tariff | dchft.nhs.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| Online booking service (150+ partner centres) (Scan.com) | From £305, including a referral written by its medical team | No GP letter needed; its clinicians compile the referral | Estimated 7 to 10 working days | uk.scan.com | 5 October 2026 |
- No centre we checked publishes a separate kidney MRI price, so these are general one-area guide prices. Ask the centre whether a kidney scan counts as one area and whether it needs contrast.
Prices are the centres' own published figures, checked by Pete on 5 October 2026. A centre may change a price at any time; the centre's quote is what counts. We delete a row we cannot re-check. Listing a centre here does not mean it is a partner of ours. Full list on Sources.
What we can and cannot do
We are not a clinic and not the NHS. We do not scan, diagnose, refer or book a confirmed slot. We cannot tell you whether you need an MRI. If you have new weakness, numbness in the saddle area, loss of bladder or bowel control, sudden severe headache, chest pain or any symptom that frightens you, call 999 or NHS 111, or see your GP, today.
What we can do: explain the price, the referral rule and the centre types in plain English, and, if you ask, pass your request to one independent scanning centre that covers your area so it can contact you. That is free for you. The centre may pay us a fee.
Four steps to a private MRI
- Body area. Name the one area to be scanned: kidney. Two areas usually cost more than one.
- Referral rule. Check whether the centre takes self-referral or wants a letter from a GP, physio or consultant. See self-referral and GP letter.
- Centre type. Dedicated scanning centre, hospital group, or open MRI. Compare the from-price, the referral rule and the report time.
- Ask one centre to contact you. Use the form. One partner centre may call or email you. Nothing is booked until you agree a time and price with them.
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What does a kidney MRI show?
A kidney MRI shows the kidneys, the tubes that drain them (ureters), the adrenal glands above them and the blood vessels supplying them. It is mostly used to characterise a kidney cyst or lump found on ultrasound or CT, to look at the adrenal glands, or when CT contrast is not suitable. Many kidney cysts are simple and harmless; MRI can help tell those apart from complex ones that need follow-up.
Kidney stones are usually looked for with CT or ultrasound rather than MRI.
Do I need a referral for a kidney MRI?
Usually, yes. Kidney lumps need a specific protocol, often with contrast, and the result guides decisions a urologist or nephrologist makes. We did not find a published self-referral price for a dedicated kidney MRI. See GP letter.
How much does a private kidney MRI cost?
No centre we checked publishes a separate kidney MRI price, so the table shows general one-area guide prices. On 5 October 2026: Circle Health Group from £347; Nuffield Health guide prices for one part £400 to £620; Dorset County Hospital's NHS private patient tariff £577.50 for one part plus a contrast charge, before consultant fees. Expect a kidney scan with contrast to cost more. Ask for a written quote.
Is MRI contrast safe if I have kidney problems?
Gadolinium contrast is used carefully in people with reduced kidney function. Centres usually ask about kidney disease and may want a recent blood test (eGFR) before giving contrast. If your kidney function is low, a specialist may choose a different contrast approach or a scan without contrast. See contrast.
How do I prepare for a kidney MRI?
You may be asked not to eat for a few hours and to hold your breath for short periods during the scan. A small needle goes into a vein if contrast is used. Expect 30 to 45 minutes.
What should I ask before booking?
- What is the question, and does the protocol match it?
- Do you need a recent kidney blood test before contrast?
- Is contrast included in the price?
- Will the report go to my urologist or GP?
Can I refer myself for a kidney MRI?
We did not find a published self-referral price. Kidney MRI is usually ordered by a GP, urologist or nephrologist.
How much does a private kidney MRI cost?
No centre we checked published a separate price. General one-area prices on 5 October 2026 ran from £347 to £620, and contrast adds to the cost.
Is MRI used for kidney stones?
Usually not. CT or ultrasound is the usual test for stones.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.