X-Ray Cost in Denmark
What you actually pay with the yellow sundhedskort, at private hospitals such as Aleris and Capio, and as a visitor. Last reviewed October 2026.
Short answer: how much does an X-ray cost in Denmark?
If you live in Denmark and your GP refers you, an X-ray at a public hospital is free — it is paid for through taxes and your yellow sundhedskort. Paying privately, a plain X-ray (røntgen) costs roughly DKK 700–950 per region (about $110–150): Aleris lists DKK 900, Capio DKK 950 and CPH Diagnostisk Center DKK 700 plus a 6% patient insurance fee. Private MRI starts around DKK 2,500 and CT around DKK 3,500, and private providers still ask for a referral.
Quick Overview
Denmark has a tax-funded, single-payer health system run by the regions. Everyone registered in the civil registry (CPR) is covered by the public health insurance (sygesikring) and receives a yellow sundhedskort. Hospital examinations — X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound — are free when a doctor refers you, whether you are in insurance group 1 (the default, with a fixed GP) or group 2 (free choice of doctor with partial payment of GP and specialist fees). Private hospitals and clinics such as Aleris, Capio, Privathospitalet Mølholm and CPH Diagnostisk Center sell imaging to self-paying patients and to holders of private health insurance (sundhedsforsikring), with plain X-rays priced around DKK 700–950 per region.
🏥 Public hospital (sygesikring)
- Referral (henvisning) from your GP or a specialist
- Covers X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound
- Same in group 1 and group 2
- Right to diagnostic work-up within 30 days where possible
🚑 Emergency (akutmodtagelse)
- X-rays during an emergency visit carry no charge
- Call your region's medical helpline first (1813 in the Capital Region)
- Call 112 for life-threatening emergencies
- Free emergency care also for non-resident visitors
🏥 Private self-pay
- Per X-ray region at private hospitals and clinics
- Referral still required
- Appointments usually within days
- Often paid by employer health insurance
X-Ray Prices in Denmark by Exam: Public vs Private
Danish private providers publish price lists (prisliste) with one flat price per X-ray region, so a chest, knee or lumbar spine X-ray costs the same. Extra regions on the same day are discounted, and "functional" views (e.g. spine flexion/extension) carry a supplement. The ranges below run from the lowest published price (CPH Diagnostisk Center, DKK 700 plus 6% fee) to Capio's DKK 950.
| Exam | Public (sygesikring, referred) | Private self-pay (DKK) | USD (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray (heart and lungs) | Free | 700–950 | $110–150 |
| Hand / wrist X-ray | Free | 700–950 | $110–150 |
| Ankle / foot X-ray | Free | 700–950 | $110–150 |
| Knee X-ray (incl. standing knee) | Free | 700–950 | $110–150 |
| Cervical spine X-ray | Free | 700–950 | $110–150 |
| Lumbar spine X-ray | Free | 700–950 | $110–150 |
| Two regions same day (e.g. cervical + lumbar) | Free | approx. 1,050–1,900 | $165–295 |
| Pelvis / hip X-ray | Free | 700–950 | $110–150 |
| Abdomen X-ray | Free | approx. 700–950 | $110–150 |
| Functional views supplement | — | 430–520 | $65–80 |
| Bone age (hand, ages 0–18) | Free | 1,350 (Aleris) | $210 |
| Dental panoramic (OPG) | Free under 22 (municipal dental care) | Set by dental practice | — |
| Ultrasound (per region) | Free | 1,550–1,700 | $240–265 |
| CT scan (per region) | Free | 3,500–3,810 | $545–595 |
| MRI scan (per region) | Free | 2,500–2,670 | $390–415 |
| Contrast (CT or MRI) | Free | 750–1,100 extra | $115–170 |
Private ranges compiled from published self-pay price lists: Aleris (prices from 8 September 2026: X-ray DKK 900 per region, 1,350 for two regions, 1,575 for three; ultrasound 1,700; MRI 2,500; CT 3,500), Capio (X-ray DKK 950 per region, functional supplement 430; ultrasound 1,670; MRI 2,670; CT 3,810) and CPH Diagnostisk Center, Farum (X-ray DKK 700, second exposure 350; ultrasound 1,550; MRI 2,500; CT 3,700; plus a 6% patient insurance fee). Abdomen X-ray is not listed separately by every provider. USD at approximately DKK 6.4 = $1; exchange rates move. All providers describe prices as indicative.
How Danish Public Coverage Works
Who is covered
- Everyone registered in the CPR / folkeregister gets a sundhedskort
- Funded through general taxation — no premiums or deductibles
- A new card takes about two weeks; the municipality can issue a temporary certificate
- Children are covered with their parents
- Visitors: free emergency hospital care; EHIC for EU/EEA/Swiss
Group 1 vs group 2
- Group 1 (default): fixed GP, free GP and specialist visits, referral needed for most specialists
- Group 2: any GP or specialist without referral, but you pay the part of their fee the subsidy does not cover
- Hospital imaging is free in both groups
- Change group via borger.dk or borgerservice — then not again for at least a year
How to get an X-ray
- See your GP (praktiserende læge)
- GP sends an electronic referral (henvisning)
- The hospital books you; some offer walk-in hours for plain X-rays
- Results go to your GP and appear on sundhed.dk
- For speed: private self-pay or sundhedsforsikring
Waiting Times and Your Right to a Private Hospital
Denmark gives patients legal deadlines that can turn a private scan into a free one. If the region cannot meet them, it can send you to a private hospital that has an agreement with the regions — the region then pays the provider directly, as Capio and Aleris describe on their patient pages.
| Patient right | What it means | Cost to you |
|---|---|---|
| Udredningsret (right to diagnostic work-up) | Hospital should complete diagnosis within 30 days where clinically possible | Free |
| Udvidet frit sygehusvalg (extended free choice of hospital) | If the region cannot offer examination or treatment within 30 days (limit restored from 1 January 2025 after a temporary 60-day period), you can choose a contracted private hospital | Free — paid by the region |
| Frit sygehusvalg (free choice of hospital) | You can choose another public hospital anywhere in Denmark | Free |
| Information duty | The region must inform you of these rights within 8 working days of receiving the referral | — |
Rules set out in the Danish Health Act and Executive Order no. 188 of 20 January 2026 on the right to hospital treatment. Complaints go to the Danish Agency for Patient Complaints (Styrelsen for Patientklager).
Where to Get an X-Ray in Denmark
🏥 Public / University Hospitals
- Rigshospitalet — Copenhagen
- Bispebjerg, Herlev and Hvidovre Hospitals — Capital Region
- Zealand University Hospital — Køge / Roskilde
- Odense University Hospital
- Aarhus University Hospital
- Aalborg University Hospital
🏥 Private Hospitals & Clinics
- Aleris — hospitals in several cities (X-ray DKK 900 per region)
- Capio — private hospitals in several regions (X-ray DKK 950)
- Privathospitalet Mølholm — Vejle (X-ray, CT, MRI)
- CPH Diagnostisk Center — Farum (X-ray DKK 700 + 6% fee)
💡 Practical tips
- Get the referral from your GP even when paying privately
- Ask about same-day discounts if you need several regions
- Check whether your employer insurance pays the provider directly
- Images and reports from public hospitals appear on sundhed.dk
Insurance and Regional Differences
💳 Sundhedsforsikring
- Private health insurance, very often an employer benefit
- Typically covers scans and X-rays at private hospitals after GP referral
- Main benefit is speed, not cost
- Check whether a referral and pre-approval are required
🩺 Sygeforsikringen "danmark"
- Member-owned association offering cash subsidies
- Subsidies on items the public system covers only partly
- Some groups include a subsidy towards private CT and MRI
- Read the current terms on sygeforsikring.dk
🗺️ Regional differences
- Public imaging is free in every region
- Waiting times differ between regions and hospitals
- Private prices are set nationally per chain; some services (e.g. certain Aleris breast MRI) are offered at one site only
- The regions are being reorganised under the health reform from 2027; patient rights stay the same
Guide by Patient Type
🇩🇰 Danish residents & expats with CPR
- Start with your GP — the X-ray is then free
- Waiting too long? Ask about extended free choice of hospital
- Self-pay privately (DKK 700–950) only if you want it faster
- Check your employer's sundhedsforsikring
🇪🇺 EU / EEA / Swiss / UK visitors
- Free emergency treatment at public hospitals
- Carry your EHIC (UK: GHIC) and passport
- Planned treatment is not covered — self-pay
- Nordic residents have broader access
✈️ Non-EU visitors
- Free emergency hospital care for accidents and sudden illness
- Non-urgent imaging: private self-pay with a referral
- Transport home is not covered — buy travel insurance
- Keep reports and receipts for claims
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- Sundhedskort (yellow card) or CPR number
- Passport and EHIC/GHIC if visiting
- Referral (henvisning) — usually electronic
- Insurance policy or claim number for private care
- Card or MobilePay for self-pay fees
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency: triaged on arrival
- Public plain X-ray: often walk-in or within days
- Public CT / MRI: target within the 30-day work-up window
- Private self-pay: usually within days
- Results: sent to your GP; visible on sundhed.dk
💡 How to save money
- Use the free public route via your GP
- Use your patient rights before paying for speed
- Book multiple regions on the same day for discounts
- Compare clinics — prices differ by up to DKK 250 per region
FAQ
How much does an X-ray cost in Denmark?
With a yellow sundhedskort and a referral from your GP, an X-ray at a public hospital is free. Paying privately, a plain X-ray (røntgen) costs roughly DKK 700–950 per region (about $110–150): Aleris lists DKK 900 per region, Capio DKK 950 and CPH Diagnostisk Center in Farum DKK 700 plus a 6% patient insurance fee.
Is an X-ray free with a sundhedskort?
Yes. Everyone registered in the Danish civil registry (CPR) is covered by the public health insurance (sygesikring), and hospital examinations such as X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound are free when a doctor refers you. This applies in both insurance group 1 and group 2; the groups only differ in how GP and practising specialist visits are paid.
Can I pay for an X-ray myself in Denmark (kan man selv betale for røntgen)?
Yes. Private hospitals and clinics such as Aleris, Capio, Mølholm and CPH Diagnostisk Center sell X-rays to self-paying patients. You still need a referral: Aleris states that a referral is required before any X-ray or scan, or you can first see one of its own specialists, who can refer you.
Do I need a referral (henvisning) for an X-ray in Denmark?
Yes in practice. Public hospitals only X-ray patients referred by a GP, specialist or the emergency service, and private providers also ask for a referral before X-ray, CT or MRI. Ask your GP for a referral even if you plan to pay privately; it is free in group 1.
How much does a private MRI, CT or ultrasound cost in Denmark?
Published self-pay prices are approximately: MRI DKK 2,500–2,670 per region (about $390–415), CT DKK 3,500–3,810 per region (about $545–595) and ultrasound DKK 1,550–1,700 per region (about $240–265). Aleris lists MRI DKK 2,500, CT DKK 3,500 and ultrasound DKK 1,700; Capio lists MRI DKK 2,670, CT DKK 3,810 and ultrasound DKK 1,670. Contrast is extra (DKK 750–1,100).
What if the public hospital cannot scan me quickly?
Danish patients have a right to diagnostic work-up (udredningsret) within 30 days where clinically possible. Under the extended free choice of hospital (udvidet frit sygehusvalg), which returned to a 30-day limit from 1 January 2025, the region can send you to a contracted private hospital at no cost if it cannot meet the deadline. The region must inform you of these rights; ask your hospital if you are waiting.
What is the difference between group 1 and group 2?
In group 1 (the default) you are registered with one GP, GP visits are free, and you need a referral to see most specialists. In group 2 you can see any GP or specialist without referral but pay whatever part of their fee the public subsidy does not cover. You can switch group via borger.dk or your borgerservice, then not again for at least one year.
Does private health insurance (sundhedsforsikring) cover X-rays?
Most Danish health insurance policies, often provided by employers, pay for scans and X-rays at private hospitals when your GP has referred you, so you can skip public waits. The membership organisation Sygeforsikringen "danmark" gives cash subsidies on some services, including CT and MRI scanning for members of certain groups; check the current terms on sygeforsikring.dk.
Is emergency X-ray free for tourists in Denmark?
Danish health law gives non-residents free emergency hospital treatment for accidents and sudden illness, which includes X-rays taken in the emergency department. EU/EEA and Swiss visitors should carry the EHIC (UK visitors the GHIC). Non-urgent or planned imaging must be paid privately, and transport home is not covered, so travel insurance is still recommended.
How much is a dental X-ray in Denmark?
Dental X-rays are taken and priced by the dental practice, not the hospital system. Children and young people under 22 get free dental care through the municipal dental service, X-rays included. For adults, prices vary by practice; one Danish consumer guide cites approximately DKK 1,000 for a panoramic (OPG) X-ray, so ask your dentist for a quote.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- sundhed.dk — Sundhedskort og sikringsgrupper (group 1 and group 2 rules, changing group)
- Danish Health Act and Executive Order no. 188 of 20 January 2026 on the right to hospital treatment (udredningsret, udvidet frit sygehusvalg); Ministry of Health parliamentary answers on the 30-day limit from 2025
- Aleris Danmark — Priser for røntgen og scanning (prices from 8 September 2026)
- Capio Danmark — Prices and payment (diagnostic imaging price list)
- CPH Diagnostisk Center, Farum — Priser og betaling
- Privathospitalet Mølholm — patient information on X-ray, CT and MRI
- Study in Denmark (Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science) — healthcare for non-residents and emergency treatment
- European Commission — Using the EHIC in Denmark
- Sygeforsikringen "danmark" — general insurance terms
Last reviewed: October 2026. Private prices are indicative and change — request a quote before booking.