Quick answer: A leg x-ray costs about $75–$500 without insurance in the US in 2026. Freestanding imaging centers usually charge $75–$250, hospital outpatient departments $250–$700, and an emergency room visit with an x-ray often totals $500–$1,200+. Medicare's 2026 national rate is only about $31 for a lower leg (tibia/fibula, CPT 73590) and $36 for a thigh (femur, CPT 73552). With insurance, most people pay a $10–$75 copay or coinsurance after the deductible.
Understanding Leg X-Ray Costs
Leg x-rays are used to check for fractures, monitor healing, and investigate bone pain, deformity, infection or tumors in the femur (thigh bone) or the tibia and fibula (the two lower leg bones). They are among the cheapest imaging tests to produce, yet the price you are charged can vary more than tenfold depending on where you go and how you pay.
This guide covers prices by facility, the CPT codes used for upper and lower leg x-rays, 2026 Medicare benchmarks, what insured patients typically pay, and when a CT or MRI is used instead. If your doctor has ordered an image of a joint rather than the shaft of the bone, see our knee, ankle, hip and pelvis x-ray cost guides.
What Is a Leg X-Ray?
A leg x-ray uses a small dose of radiation to create images of the bones in your leg. Depending on the concern, it may focus on:
- The femur (thigh bone), usually including the hip or knee joint at one end
- The tibia and fibula (lower leg), usually including the knee or ankle joint
- The whole lower limb in an infant or young child
A standard study takes two views, front-to-back (AP) and side (lateral). The exposure itself lasts a fraction of a second; most of the 10–20 minute appointment is spent on check-in and positioning. The images are read by a radiologist, who sends a report to your doctor, usually within a day or two.
Leg X-Ray Cost Without Insurance (2026)
If you are paying cash, the type of facility matters more than anything else. These are typical self-pay ranges for a standard 2-view leg x-ray including the radiologist's read:
| Facility Type | Typical Self-Pay Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Freestanding imaging center | $75 - $250 | Usually the cheapest; many publish cash prices |
| Orthopedic or physician office with x-ray | $75 - $250 | Office visit fee is usually separate |
| Urgent care center | $100 - $300 | Plus the urgent care visit fee |
| Hospital outpatient department | $250 - $700 | Facility fees push list prices up |
| Emergency room | $500 - $1,200+ | Total visit cost, including the ER facility fee |
Ranges are typical US self-pay prices, not quotes. Prices vary by state and provider.
Real-world price data shows how wide the spread is. New Hampshire's state price-transparency tool lists estimated uninsured charges for a 2-view lower leg x-ray (CPT 73590) from about $104 to $857 before discounts, and $45 to $805 after each provider's uninsured discount, with a statewide average of about $316. A 2025 hospital shoppable-services list in California shows a gross charge of $402 for the same test. In practice, patients who shop around and ask for the self-pay rate often pay at the low end; those who walk into a hospital without asking can pay several times more.
Need x-rays of both legs for comparison, or of both the femur and the lower leg? Each body part is billed as a separate study, so expect to pay roughly double.
Leg X-Ray CPT Codes and 2026 Medicare Rates
Leg x-rays are billed with different CPT codes depending on the bone and the number of views. Knowing the code lets you compare quotes and check your insurer's cost estimator. The Medicare amounts below are useful as a floor: they show what the government considers a fair total payment for the test.
| CPT Code | Description | 2026 Medicare National Amount* |
|---|---|---|
| 73590 | Tibia and fibula (lower leg), 2 views | About $31.40 |
| 73551 | Femur (thigh), 1 view | About $29.39 |
| 73552 | Femur (thigh), minimum 2 views | About $35.74 |
| 73592 | Lower extremity, infant, minimum 2 views | About $30.73 |
*Medicare Physician Fee Schedule national non-facility amounts for 2026 (total RVUs × the 2026 conversion factor of $33.4009), before geographic adjustment, as summarized by FastRVU. Hospital outpatient departments are paid separately under a different system, so totals there are higher.
Older price lists and websites sometimes cite CPT 73550 for a femur x-ray. That code was replaced by 73551 and 73552, and 73592 is the code for an infant's lower extremity, not the femur. If a quote uses an outdated code, ask the provider to confirm what is being billed.
Leg X-Ray Cost With Insurance
Most plans cover a leg x-ray when it is medically necessary, such as after an injury. What you pay depends on your plan design:
| Coverage | Typical Out-of-Pocket Cost |
|---|---|
| Copay plan, in-network | $10 - $75 (often lower at imaging centers than hospitals) |
| Coinsurance plan, deductible met | 10% - 30% of the negotiated rate |
| High-deductible plan, deductible not met | The full negotiated rate, often $60 - $350 |
| Original Medicare (Part B) | 20% of the approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible (2026) |
At the 2026 national rate, Medicare's 20% coinsurance on a 2-view tibia/fibula x-ray in a doctor's office or imaging center works out to roughly $6–$7. In a hospital outpatient department you also owe coinsurance on the hospital's facility payment, so your share is higher. Medicare Advantage plans set their own copays, commonly $0–$60 for in-network diagnostic x-rays.
Factors That Affect Leg X-Ray Costs
- Facility type: Hospital outpatient departments and emergency rooms charge facility fees that imaging centers and offices do not.
- Location: Prices in high-cost metro areas run well above rural areas, and the same test can vary widely between providers in one city.
- Which bone and how many views: A femur and a tibia/fibula are separate studies; extra views, both legs, or a long-leg alignment study add cost.
- Global vs. split billing: Some facilities bill one global fee; others send a separate bill for the radiologist's reading (the professional component).
- Insurance and network status: In-network negotiated rates are far lower than list prices; out-of-network care can cost much more.
- Visit fees: An urgent care, orthopedic or ER visit is billed on top of the x-ray itself.
Common Reasons for a Leg X-Ray
- Suspected fracture after a fall, sports injury or accident
- Monitoring healing of a fracture, cast or surgical hardware
- Persistent bone pain or swelling without a clear cause
- Deformity or alignment problems, including bowed legs in children
- Suspected bone infection or tumor
- Foreign body such as a metal fragment
Leg X-Rays for Children
Children's x-rays show open growth plates, which radiologists check for injuries that would not affect an adult. Infants are billed with CPT 73592 (lower extremity, infant), whose 2026 Medicare rate of about $31 is similar to an adult study. Pediatric imaging uses lower exposure settings. If your child's doctor wants to assess growth rather than an injury, the test is usually a hand and wrist bone age x-ray instead.
How to Save Money on a Leg X-Ray
If You Have Insurance
- Choose an in-network imaging center over a hospital outpatient department; your copay or coinsurance is often lower.
- Get the CPT code (73590 for the lower leg, 73552 for the femur) and run it through your insurer's cost estimator.
- Check the radiologist is in-network too, since they may bill separately.
- Use HSA or FSA funds to pay with pre-tax dollars.
If You're Uninsured or Have a High Deductible
- Ask for the self-pay or cash price before the scan; many providers discount steeply for uninsured patients.
- Compare hospital price-transparency files; hospitals must publish their standard charges and discounted cash prices.
- Ask for a Good Faith Estimate; uninsured and self-pay patients are entitled to one under the No Surprises Act.
- Avoid the ER for minor injuries if an urgent care with x-ray can see you safely.
- Ask about financial assistance and interest-free payment plans, especially at nonprofit hospitals.
See our x-ray without insurance guide for more ways to cut the bill.
Leg X-Ray vs. CT, MRI and Ultrasound
An x-ray is almost always the first test for a suspected broken leg because it is fast, cheap and shows bone well. Other tests come in when the x-ray does not answer the question:
| Imaging Test | Typical Self-Pay Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Leg x-ray | $75 - $500 | Fractures, alignment, healing |
| Leg ultrasound | $200 - $800 | Blood clots (DVT), soft tissue lumps |
| Leg CT scan | $300 - $3,000 | Complex or joint fractures, surgical planning |
| Leg MRI | $400 - $3,500 | Stress fractures, ligaments, muscles, bone marrow |
For a full side-by-side breakdown, see x-ray vs CT vs MRI cost.
Leg X-Ray Safety and Radiation
According to RadiologyInfo (the American College of Radiology and RSNA patient site), an x-ray of an arm or leg delivers about 0.001 mSv, roughly the natural background radiation you receive in 3 hours. The average American receives about 3 mSv a year from natural sources. Because the leg is far from the abdomen, a leg x-ray is generally considered low-risk even in pregnancy, though you should always tell the technologist if you are or might be pregnant.
Leg X-Ray Cost Outside the US
In the UK, a leg x-ray is free on the NHS when clinically needed, including at many urgent treatment centres. Private hospitals charge by complexity band; Nuffield Health's Manchester diagnostic suite, for example, lists x-ray guide prices of £130–£201 and requires a referral. See our UK x-ray cost guide for more.
Medical Disclaimer
The information provided on XRayCost.com is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medical procedure. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Sources
- CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, 2026 relative value units and conversion factor for CPT 73590, 73551, 73552 and 73592 (as summarized by FastRVU)
- Medicare.gov, Part B costs: 2026 Part B deductible of $283 and 20% coinsurance
- New Hampshire HealthCost, X-Ray of Lower Leg, 2 Views (uninsured estimates)
- Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Additional Shoppable Services price list, effective January 1, 2025
- RadiologyInfo.org (ACR/RSNA), Radiation Dose in X-Ray and CT Exams
- Nuffield Health, X-ray at Nuffield Health Manchester (guide prices)
Prices are typical ranges, not quotes. Confirm the price with your provider before your appointment.
Last Updated: October 12, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions About Leg X-Ray Costs
Without insurance, a leg x-ray typically costs $75–$500 in the US in 2026. Freestanding imaging centers and physician offices usually charge $75–$250, hospital outpatient departments $250–$700, and an emergency room visit with an x-ray often totals $500–$1,200 or more. New Hampshire's price-transparency tool, for example, shows uninsured prices for a 2-view lower leg x-ray ranging from about $45 to $805 after discounts. Always ask for the self-pay price before the scan.
A tibia and fibula (lower leg) x-ray is billed as CPT 73590 and usually costs $75–$250 at an imaging center and $250–$700 at a hospital without insurance. Medicare's 2026 national payment for 73590 is about $31.40 before geographic adjustment, which shows how far list prices can sit above the underlying cost.
A femur x-ray costs about the same as a lower leg x-ray: roughly $75–$500 self-pay depending on the facility. It is billed as CPT 73551 for one view or 73552 for two or more views, with 2026 Medicare national amounts of about $29.39 and $35.74. CPT 73550, which some older sources cite, is no longer used.
The main codes are 73590 for the tibia and fibula (2 views), 73551 for the femur (1 view), 73552 for the femur (2 or more views), and 73592 for an infant's lower extremity (2 or more views). Knee, ankle and hip x-rays have their own codes. Ask your provider for the exact code so you can compare prices and check your insurer's estimate.
Yes, most plans cover a leg x-ray when it is medically necessary, such as after an injury. In-network, you typically pay a $10–$75 copay or 10–30% coinsurance after the deductible. On a high-deductible plan you pay the full negotiated rate, often $60–$350, until the deductible is met. Using an imaging center instead of a hospital usually lowers your share.
Yes. Medicare Part B covers diagnostic leg x-rays ordered by your doctor. After the 2026 Part B deductible of $283, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. For a 2-view tibia/fibula x-ray at a doctor's office or imaging center, that is roughly $6–$7 at the national rate; in a hospital outpatient department you also pay coinsurance on the hospital's facility charge. Medicare Advantage plans set their own copays.
Urgent care is usually far cheaper. An urgent care visit with a leg x-ray often totals about $150–$400 self-pay, while an emergency room visit with the same x-ray commonly runs $500–$1,200 or more because of ER facility fees. Go to the ER for open fractures, obvious deformity, severe pain, numbness or if you cannot bear any weight; otherwise call an urgent care first to confirm it has x-ray on site.
An MRI is used when a stress fracture, ligament, tendon, muscle or bone marrow problem is suspected but the x-ray looks normal. A CT is used for complex fractures, especially those involving a joint, and for surgical planning. Both cost far more: roughly $300–$3,000 for CT and $400–$3,500 for MRI self-pay, versus $75–$500 for an x-ray, and insurers often require prior authorization. See our x-ray vs CT vs MRI cost comparison.
Very little. RadiologyInfo puts an arm or leg x-ray at about 0.001 mSv, equivalent to roughly 3 hours of natural background radiation. Because the beam is aimed away from the abdomen, a leg x-ray is considered low-risk, but always tell the technologist if you are or might be pregnant.