| 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 sinus MRI price, so these are general one-area guide prices. Ask the centre whether a sinus 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: sinus. 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 sinus MRI show?
The sinuses are air spaces in the bones of the face, around the nose and eyes. A sinus MRI shows the lining of those spaces, soft tissue masses and how far any swelling or growth extends into nearby areas such as the eye socket or the base of the skull.
For routine sinus problems, such as long-lasting sinusitis or nasal polyps before surgery, CT is often the imaging test ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists use, because it shows the thin bones and drainage channels clearly. MRI is used more when a specialist wants to tell soft tissue apart, for example to look at a mass or to see whether a problem has spread beyond the sinuses.
Do I need a referral for a sinus MRI?
Usually, yes. Because the choice between CT and MRI depends on the question, most sinus scans are ordered by an ENT specialist. We did not find a centre that publishes a self-referral sinus MRI price. Some centres image the face and sinuses as part of a head scan; ask what is included. See GP letter.
How much does a private sinus MRI cost?
We could not find a separate published 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 before consultant fees. Contrast is sometimes used for a mass and adds to the price. Ask for a written quote.
What happens during a sinus MRI?
You lie on your back with your head in a coil, much like a brain MRI. Expect 20 to 40 minutes. If contrast is used, a small needle goes into a vein in your arm.
When should I get urgent help?
Swelling around the eye, double vision, a severe headache, confusion or a high temperature with sinus symptoms need urgent assessment through NHS 111, your GP or A&E.
What should I ask before booking?
- Has an ENT specialist said MRI rather than CT?
- Is contrast needed, and what is the full price?
- Who will read the report, and will it go to the ENT specialist?
- Can I download the images?
Is MRI or CT better for sinuses?
For routine sinus problems CT is often used. MRI is used more for soft tissue masses or spread beyond the sinuses. An ENT specialist decides.
How much does a private sinus MRI cost?
No centre we checked published a separate price. General one-area prices on 5 October 2026 ran from £347 to £620.
Do I need a referral for a sinus MRI?
Usually yes, from an ENT specialist or GP, because the choice of scan depends on the question.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.