X-Ray Cost in Sweden
What you actually pay for röntgen in Sweden's regional public system, at contracted private clinics and as a self-paying visitor. Last reviewed October 2026.
Short answer: how much does an X-ray cost in Sweden?
If you live in Sweden (or hold an EHIC), an X-ray is almost free: in Region Stockholm the X-ray examination itself costs 0 kr and you only pay the visit fee where the referral is written — 275 kr at a vårdcentral (about $29), 375 kr at a närakut or 400 kr at a hospital emergency department. Every fee counts toward the 1,450 kr frikort cap. The full, unsubsidised cost of a plain X-ray in a regional price list is roughly 362–1,135 kr (about $38–120), which is what uninsured visitors can be charged on top of a visit fee.
Quick Overview
Sweden's healthcare is run by 21 regions (regioner) and funded mainly through regional income tax. Each region sets its own patient fees (patientavgifter) within a national framework, and the national high-cost protection (högkostnadsskydd) caps outpatient fees at 1,450 kr per 12 months. Imaging needs a referral (remiss), after which plain X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound are carried out by regional hospitals or by private radiology companies under regional contract — at the same patient fee. Paying fully out of pocket is rare and mostly limited to visitors without EU cover and to direct-to-consumer MRI services that skip the referral.
🏥 Public / contracted (residents)
- Stockholm: X-ray examinations are free
- You pay the referring visit: 275 kr vårdcentral
- Närakut 375 kr, akutmottagning 400 kr
- Under 18 and 85+: no outpatient fee in Stockholm
🆓 Frikort (high-cost cap)
- Maximum outpatient fees in any 12-month period
- Period starts at your first registered fee
- Then free outpatient care until the period ends
- Usually an e-frikort, visible on 1177.se
💳 Full cost / self-pay
- Unsubsidised plain X-ray in a 2026 regional price list
- Charged to visitors without EHIC/GHIC cover
- Private MRI without referral: from ~7,000 kr
- Self-pay costs do not count toward the frikort
X-Ray Prices in Sweden by Exam: Patient Fee vs Full Cost
For a resident the price of the exam does not vary by body part — you pay the regional visit fee (or nothing in Stockholm), capped by the frikort. The "full cost" column shows what the examination itself is priced at in Region Dalarna's published 2026 radiology price list (Prislista röntgenundersökningar, valid 1 January–31 December 2026), a useful benchmark for what a region charges when the patient or another payer covers the whole cost. Other regions' lists differ somewhat.
| Exam | Resident patient fee | Full cost (SEK, Region Dalarna 2026) | USD (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray (lungor) | 0 kr in Stockholm + visit fee | 444 kr | $47 |
| Hand / wrist X-ray (hand / handled) | 0 kr in Stockholm + visit fee | 362 kr per side | $38 |
| Ankle / foot X-ray (fotled / fot) | 0 kr in Stockholm + visit fee | 362–444 kr per side | $38–47 |
| Knee X-ray (knäled) | 0 kr in Stockholm + visit fee | 515 kr per side | $54 |
| Cervical spine X-ray (halsrygg) | 0 kr in Stockholm + visit fee | 736 kr | $77 |
| Lumbar spine X-ray (ländrygg) | 0 kr in Stockholm + visit fee | 736 kr | $77 |
| Pelvis / hip X-ray (bäcken / höftled) | 0 kr in Stockholm + visit fee | 362–444 kr | $38–47 |
| Abdomen X-ray (buköversikt) | 0 kr in Stockholm + visit fee | 1,135 kr | $120 |
| Dental panoramic (OPG) | Clinic price; free up to the year you turn 19 | 635 kr (TLV reference price) | $67 |
| Ultrasound, abdomen (UL buk) | Normal patient fee with referral | 1,392 kr | $147 |
| CT head / lumbar spine (DT) | Normal patient fee with referral | 1,661 kr | $175 |
| CT chest / chest + abdomen (DT) | Normal patient fee with referral | 2,456–2,922 kr | $259–308 |
| MRI knee / spine / brain (MRT) | Normal patient fee with referral | 2,971–4,150 kr | $313–437 |
| Private MRI without referral | Not covered — self-pay | approx. 7,000–11,000 kr per area | $735–1,160 |
Full-cost figures from Region Dalarna, Bild- och funktionsmedicin, "Prislista röntgenundersökningar" 2026 (e.g. chest 444 kr, hand/wrist 362 kr, ankle 444 kr, foot 362 kr, knee 515 kr, cervical and lumbar spine 736 kr each, pelvis 444 kr, hip 362 kr, abdomen 1,135 kr; CT head 1,661 kr, CT thorax 2,456 kr; MRI lumbar spine 2,971 kr, knee 3,566 kr, brain 4,150 kr; abdominal ultrasound 1,392 kr). Contrast adds to CT and MRI prices. Dental figure is TLV's 2026 reference price for general dentistry; clinics set their own prices. Private MRI from Familjeläkaren's published prices. USD at approximately 1 USD = 9.5 SEK; exchange rates move.
Patient Fees by Region (2026)
Because the X-ray is ordered at a visit, the visit fee is what most residents actually pay. Fees below are SKR's 2026 compilation for adults. Region Stockholm makes radiology free on top; in other regions, check whether a separate imaging fee applies on your region's 1177.se page.
| Region | Primary care (vårdcentral) | Hospital emergency department |
|---|---|---|
| Region Stockholm | 275 kr | 400 kr (närakut 375 kr) |
| Västra Götalandsregionen (Gothenburg) | 200 kr | 400 kr |
| Region Skåne (Malmö, Lund) | 200 kr | 400 kr |
| Region Uppsala | 200 kr | 500 kr |
| Region Östergötland (Linköping) | 250 kr | 400 kr |
| Region Dalarna | 300 kr | 450 kr (500 kr in Falun and Mora) |
| Region Västerbotten (Umeå) | 300 kr | 300 kr |
| Region Jämtland Härjedalen | 400 kr | 500 kr |
Source: SKR (Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner), "Patientavgifter 2026". Children under 18 pay 0 kr at hospital emergency departments in Stockholm; age exemptions differ by region. All listed fees count toward the national 1,450 kr frikort cap.
How the Swedish Public System Pays for X-Rays
Who is covered
- Everyone registered as resident (folkbokförd) in Sweden
- Funded through regional income tax — no premiums
- EU/EEA/Swiss EHIC and UK GHIC holders for necessary care
- Nordic citizens with ID and home address
- Stockholm: under 18 and 85+ pay no outpatient fees
What it costs
- Visit fee: 200–400 kr in primary care depending on region
- Emergency department: 250–620 kr depending on region
- Radiology: 0 kr in Region Stockholm
- High-cost cap: 1,450 kr per 12 months for outpatient care
- No-show fee: 400 kr in Stockholm if you don't cancel in time
How to get an X-ray
- Call 1177 or your vårdcentral for assessment
- A doctor writes a remiss to radiology
- You get a kallelse (appointment) by letter, SMS or Kivra — or use drop-in where offered
- Bring your personnummer and photo ID
- Results go back to the referrer; view them in your 1177 journal
Where to Get an X-Ray in Sweden
🏥 Public / University Hospitals
- Karolinska University Hospital — Stockholm (Solna, Huddinge)
- Södersjukhuset and Danderyds sjukhus — Stockholm
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital — Gothenburg
- Skåne University Hospital — Malmö / Lund
- Uppsala University Hospital (Akademiska)
- Linköping University Hospital
🏥 Private / Contracted Providers
- Unilabs — radiology units under regional contract; referral required
- Capio — vårdcentraler, imaging and Capio S:t Görans sjukhus (Stockholm)
- Aleris and Praktikertjänst — private care groups, many units publicly contracted
- Sophiahemmet — private hospital in Stockholm
- Familjeläkaren — self-pay MRI without referral (from ~7,000 kr)
💡 Practical tips
- Contracted private clinics charge the same patient fee as public ones
- Ask your vårdcentral whether drop-in X-ray is available locally
- Check 1177.se for your region's exact fees
- Self-pay services must still screen and justify each scan
Frikort, Private Insurance and Dental Care
📋 Högkostnadsskydd / frikort
- Cap of 1,450 kr in outpatient fees per 12 months
- Counted from the date of your first fee, not 1 January
- Stockholm and Gotland register visits digitally by default (e-frikort)
- Valid in all regions; medicines have a separate cap
💳 Private health insurance (sjukvårdsförsäkring)
- Often provided through employers
- Main benefit is faster access to specialists and imaging
- Insurer usually books and pays a private provider directly
- Check whether an excess (självrisk) applies
🦷 Dental X-rays
- Dental care free up to the year you turn 19
- Adults: clinics set prices; compare them
- TLV 2026 reference: panoramic 635 kr, single image 80 kr
- 67+: many treatments at about 10% of price (tiotandvård)
Guide by Patient Type
🇸🇪 Swedish residents
- Start with 1177 or your vårdcentral — the X-ray is then free or close to it
- You pay the visit fee only, capped at 1,450 kr a year
- Children and 85+ pay nothing in Stockholm
- Private self-pay MRI only if you need it fast and accept the cost
🇪🇺 EU / EEA / Swiss / UK / Nordic visitors
- EHIC (or UK GHIC) gives the same fee as residents for necessary care
- Nordic citizens only need ID and a home address
- Without the card you pay full cost, sometimes refundable at home
- Planned treatment needs prior approval (e.g. S2 form)
✈️ Non-EU visitors
- Stockholm primary-care doctor visit: 2,093 kr
- Närakut doctor visit: 2,680 kr
- Hospital emergency department: 5,200–7,400 kr, tests on top
- Travel insurance strongly recommended; new residents register with Skatteverket
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- Personnummer / ID card or passport
- EHIC, GHIC or travel insurance details if visiting
- Your kallelse (appointment notice) if booked
- Previous images if taken outside the region
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency / injury: X-ray the same day
- Plain X-ray with referral: often days or drop-in
- Planned CT / MRI: can take weeks
- Vårdgarantin: assessment within 3 days, specialist within 90 days
💡 How to save money
- Call 1177 first — phone advice is free
- Use a närakut rather than a hospital ED for minor injuries
- Cancel in time to avoid the 400 kr no-show fee
- Track your fees toward the 1,450 kr frikort on 1177.se
FAQ
How much does an X-ray cost in Sweden?
For residents, very little: in Region Stockholm X-ray examinations are free, so you only pay the visit fee where the doctor writes the referral (275 kr at a vårdcentral, 375 kr at a närakut, 400 kr at a hospital emergency department). All of it counts toward the 1,450 kr annual frikort cap. The full cost of a plain X-ray in a regional price list is roughly 362–1,135 kr (about $38–120); for example Region Dalarna's 2026 list prices a chest X-ray at 444 kr and a lumbar spine at 736 kr.
Vad kostar röntgen? Is an X-ray free in Sweden?
In Region Stockholm, röntgenundersökningar are free (kostnadsfria) for patients covered by Swedish rules; you pay only the fee for the visit that generated the remiss. Children under 18 and adults aged 85+ pay no outpatient fee in Stockholm. Other regions set their own fees within the same national framework, so check your region's patientavgifter page on 1177.se.
What is högkostnadsskydd and frikort?
Högkostnadsskydd is Sweden's high-cost protection for outpatient care. Once you have paid 1,450 kr in patient fees within 12 months (counted from your first fee), you get a frikort and pay nothing more for outpatient care covered by the scheme for the rest of that 12-month period. Most regions now issue an e-frikort automatically, viewable when you log in to 1177.se, and a frikort is valid nationwide.
Do I need a remiss (referral) for an X-ray in Sweden?
Yes. Public and contracted radiology units, including private operators such as Unilabs, require a remiss from a doctor or other authorised referrer, because every exposure must be justified under Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) rules. Get the referral from your vårdcentral, a närakut or an emergency department; some regions, such as Skåne, then offer drop-in plain X-ray with that referral.
Can I get a private MRI (magnetröntgen) without a referral, and what does it cost?
Yes, a few private services sell MRI without a remiss; a doctor screens the order before the scan. Familjeläkaren lists prices from about 7,000 kr (cervical spine, foot, ankle) to 7,500 kr for a knee, 8,500 kr for the lumbar spine, 11,000 kr for the brain and 22,900 kr for a whole-body scan. These self-pay scans do not count toward the frikort. With a referral, a public or contracted MRI costs only your normal patient fee.
What does an X-ray cost for tourists and EU visitors in Sweden?
EU/EEA and Swiss visitors with an EHIC, UK visitors with a GHIC, and Nordic citizens with ID pay the same patient fee as residents for necessary care. Visitors without coverage pay the full cost: Region Stockholm lists 2,093 kr for a primary-care doctor visit, 2,680 kr at a närakut and 5,200–7,400 kr for a hospital emergency department visit, with examinations such as X-rays charged on top.
Should I go to a närakut or akutmottagning for a suspected fracture?
For a simple suspected fracture of a wrist, finger or ankle, a närakut (urgent care) or your vårdcentral is usually cheaper and quicker: in Stockholm a närakut visit is 375 kr versus 400 kr at a hospital akutmottagning, and the X-ray itself is free. Call 1177 first for advice on where to go. Serious injuries belong at the emergency department or 112.
How much is a dental X-ray (panoramaröntgen) in Sweden?
Dental prices are set freely by each clinic. TLV's 2026 reference prices are 635 kr for a panoramic X-ray (code 124) in general dentistry, 80 kr for a single intraoral image (code 121) and 1,020 kr for a full-mouth series (helstatus, code 123). Dental care is free up to and including the year you turn 19; adults get help through the state dental subsidy.
How long do you wait for an X-ray or MRI in Sweden?
Plain X-rays with a referral are often done within days or as drop-in, and acute X-rays the same day. Planned CT and MRI can take longer. The national care guarantee (vårdgarantin) promises contact with primary care the same day, a medical assessment within 3 days, a specialist visit within 90 days and treatment within 90 days of the decision; diagnostic imaging itself has no separate deadline.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- 1177.se (Region Stockholm) — Patientavgifter i Stockholms län (updated March 2026): 275 kr visits, 375 kr närakut, 400 kr akutmottagning, free röntgen, 1,450 kr högkostnadsskydd, 400 kr no-show fee
- 1177.se (Region Stockholm) — Vård när du är på besök i Stockholms län: EHIC/GHIC rules and non-EU visitor fees
- SKR (Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner) — Patientavgifter 2026, fees for all 21 regions
- Region Dalarna, Bild- och funktionsmedicin — Prislista röntgenundersökningar 2026
- Region Skåne — drop-in plain X-ray information for patients and referrers
- TLV (Tandvårds- och läkemedelsförmånsverket) — Referenspriser från 1 januari 2026
- 1177.se — Kostnader och ersättningar inom tandvård (free to age 19, tiotandvård for 67+)
- Familjeläkaren i Sverige — published self-pay magnetröntgen prices
- Unilabs Sweden — radiology patient information (referral requirement)
Last reviewed: October 2026. Patient fees are set regionally and usually change each January — check your region's page on 1177.se.