DEXA Scan Cost in the UK: NHS and Private Routes

If you are looking into DEXA scan cost, the answer depends on the route you take. On the NHS there is no charge to you when a doctor decides the scan is needed. Privately, prices vary by clinic, region and what is included, so there is no single figure. FindScan shows each clinic's own listed price.

This guide explains who is offered a bone density scan on the NHS, what makes a private scan cost more or less, why every DEXA scan needs a referral, and what to ask before you choose a clinic. For the scan itself, see our DEXA scan page.

What a DEXA scan is

The NHS describes a bone density scan as a test that uses low dose X-rays to see how dense, or strong, your bones are. DEXA is short for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the NHS says it is commonly used to diagnose or assess your risk of osteoporosis.

The NHS says the scan usually looks at your hip and lower spine and takes 10 to 20 minutes. It describes bone density scans as very safe because they use a much lower level of radiation than standard X-rays, but says they are not recommended for pregnant women.

How much does a DEXA scan cost on the NHS?

People often search for how much a DEXA scan costs the NHS. For you as a patient, the key point is in the NHS Constitution for England: access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not ability to pay, and NHS services are free of charge except in limited circumstances sanctioned by Parliament.

So if your doctor decides you need a bone density scan, there is no charge to you. If you think you might need one, start with your GP. Our guide on how to get a DEXA scan walks through the NHS route.

Who is offered a bone density scan on the NHS

The NHS says you may be recommended a DEXA scan if you have an increased risk of osteoporosis. Examples it gives include:

• having broken a bone after a minor fall or injury
• taking medicines called oral glucocorticoids for 3 months or more
• having an early menopause, or having your ovaries removed before 45, without hormone replacement therapy
• being past the menopause and smoking, drinking heavily, having a family history of hip fracture or a BMI below 21

NICE guideline CG146 says fracture risk should be assessed in all women aged 65 and over and all men aged 75 and over, and in younger people with risk factors such as a previous fragility fracture, glucocorticoid use or a history of falls. It recommends the FRAX or QFracture tools, and says to consider measuring bone density with DXA when fracture risk is close to the threshold for treatment.

The NHS adds that DEXA results are used alongside a fracture risk assessment. See our guide to osteoporosis signs and DEXA.

What drives the cost of a private DEXA scan

If you choose to pay, prices vary by clinic. These are the main things that make one listed price different from another:

• Which sites are scanned. A standard scan usually covers the hip and lower spine. The NHS says other areas may be checked depending on your circumstances.
• Bone density or body composition. The NHS says total body scans can measure bone, fat and muscle. That answers a different question from an osteoporosis assessment, so check which scan a price refers to.
• Referral and consultation. Some clinics include a review by their own doctor. Others expect a GP referral.
• Reporting. Each scan should be reported by an appropriately qualified clinician. The clinic will tell you how long its report takes and whether it is included.
• Region and clinic. Prices differ between areas and providers.

FindScan does not quote typical prices, because they change and depend on what is included. FindScan shows each clinic's own listed price, so you can compare like with like.

Bone density scan cost: check it is a DEXA

When you compare bone density scan cost, make sure you are comparing the same test. The Royal Osteoporosis Society says some private companies offer ultrasound scans to measure bone density, because the machines are cheaper, smaller and easier to move. It adds that healthcare professionals cannot use ultrasound results to make decisions about osteoporosis medicines.

If you want an osteoporosis assessment, ask the clinic to confirm the scan is a DEXA of the hip and spine.

Referral: every DEXA scan needs one

A DEXA scan uses ionising radiation, so it is covered by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017, known as IR(ME)R. Under these regulations every exposure needs a referrer, who must supply relevant medical information, and must be justified by a practitioner as showing a sufficient net benefit. Where relevant, anyone of childbearing potential must be asked whether they are pregnant or breastfeeding.

This applies to private scans too. Many private clinics arrange the referral through their own doctor or a clinical review of your history, and this can be part of what you pay for. Ask each clinic how it handles this when you send your enquiry.

Health insurance and paying for yourself

If you have private medical insurance, ask your insurer first whether a bone density scan is covered and what it needs from you, such as a GP referral. If you pay for yourself, ask whether the clinic can send the report to your GP.

Questions to ask before you choose a clinic

A short list of questions helps you compare listed prices fairly:

• Is this a DEXA scan, and which sites does it cover?
• Is it a bone density scan, a body composition scan, or both?
• How is the referral and justification arranged, and is a consultation included?
• Is the report included, and how long does it take?

If you think you have broken a bone, do not wait for a scan. The NHS says to get help from NHS 111 if an injured arm or wrist is very painful or swollen, and to go to A&E or call 999 if it is at an odd angle, bone is poking through the skin, or there is numbness or heavy bleeding.

When you are ready, compare DEXA clinics near you and send an enquiry. FindScan does not take bookings or payments.