| 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 liver MRI price, so these are general one-area guide prices. Ask the centre whether a liver 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: liver. 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.
===
What does a liver MRI show?
A liver MRI shows the liver tissue, the blood vessels running through it, the bile ducts and the gallbladder. With contrast, it can tell apart different kinds of liver lump, many of which are harmless, such as cysts and haemangiomas. Special sequences can also measure fat and iron in the liver. It is usually ordered after an ultrasound, CT or blood test raises a question.
If your question is about the bile ducts or pancreas, see MRCP. For a wider look at the belly, see abdominal MRI.
Do I need a referral for a liver MRI?
Usually, yes. A liver scan is most useful when the radiologist knows what question to answer, and characterising a lump usually needs contrast with a specific protocol. Most liver MRIs are ordered by a GP or a liver or gastroenterology specialist. We did not find a published self-referral price for a dedicated liver MRI. See GP letter.
How much does a private liver MRI cost?
No centre we checked publishes a separate liver 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. Liver scans with contrast cost more than a plain one-area scan. Some liver contrast agents are more expensive than standard ones; ask for a written quote.
How do I prepare for a liver MRI?
Centres often ask you not to eat for a few hours beforehand. You will be asked to hold your breath many times, for about 15 to 20 seconds each. A small needle goes into a vein for contrast, and the centre may ask about your kidney function. Expect 30 to 45 minutes, sometimes longer with certain contrast agents.
When should I get urgent help?
Yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe pain in the upper right abdomen, vomiting blood or confusion need urgent assessment through NHS 111, your GP or A&E.
What should I ask before booking?
- What is the question, and does the protocol match it?
- Which contrast agent, and is it included in the price?
- Who reads the scan, and will the report go to my specialist?
- If the scan shows a lump, who will see me next?
Can I refer myself for a liver MRI?
We did not find a published self-referral price. Liver MRI is usually ordered by a GP or specialist, often with contrast.
How much does a private liver 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.
Can an MRI tell what a liver lump is?
Often, with contrast, it can tell apart common harmless lumps from ones that need more tests. A specialist interprets the result.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.