X-Ray Cost in Madison, WI (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a x-ray cost in Madison, WI?

Where you have an x-ray done in Madison, WI swings the bill from $69 to $208 for identical care. The median cash price across 9 reporting hospitals is $151. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files.

Where x-ray costs vary in Madison, WI

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

Advocate Aurora Health (formed in the Illinois-Wisconsin merger) and Ascension Wisconsin are the dominant systems in the Milwaukee market, while UW Health anchors the Madison market. Wisconsin's hospital market is moderately competitive in major metros but increasingly concentrated in rural areas. Prices tend to run near or slightly below the Midwest median. X-ray is the most commoditized of all imaging procedures, and price differences are almost entirely explained by facility type: a hospital outpatient chest X-ray can cost 5–10× more than the same study at an urgent care center or independent imaging clinic. For non-emergency X-rays, asking your physician for a referral to an outpatient imaging center rather than a hospital radiology department is the simplest and most reliable cost reduction available.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

A small number of hospitals (1) report prices above $510, including Meriter Hospital, Inc at $516, which drives most of the overall spread - excluding them, most facilities cluster in a much tighter band. Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $71 versus $158 inpatient (about 2.2× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. Whether the scan happens in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a separate facility fee) or a freestanding imaging center is usually the single biggest driver of price for this procedure.

What you pay out of pocket on top of this depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved is in-network - not just the facility.

Frequently asked questions: X-ray costs in Madison, WI

How much does an X-ray cost in Madison, WI?

Across 9 Madison, WI hospitals that publish prices, an X-ray ranges from $42 to $516, with a median of $151. Most facilities fall between $63 and $208. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get an X-ray in Madison, WI?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Madison, WI data is Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville at about $42. By metro, Madison has the lowest median ($290). Freestanding ambulatory surgery and imaging centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.

Why is an X-ray so much cheaper at some Madison, WI hospitals?

Prices vary up to 12.3× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Madison, WI, the median cash (self-pay) price is $151 versus a median negotiated rate of $74 - about 2× higher. Asking for the cash price or your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.

How much will I actually pay out of pocket for an X-ray in Madison, WI?

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).