How Much Does a CT Scanner Cost?
If you are considering to buy a CT scanner you have come to the right place.
You need a system that is appropriate both for your needs and your budget.
CT scanners can be expensive, but many factors influence the prices.
For instance: Brand, tube, number of slices, and whether it is a used, refurbished, or a new CT scanner.
In this blog post, you will get an overview of the prices of CT scanners and some of the factors that influence them the most. For an easy overview, look at the table below.
| Slices | 4 - 8 | 16 - 32 | 64 | 128 | 256+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Used CT Scanners | 35 - 60 | 60 - 100 | 90 - 130 | 120 - 180 | 250+ |
Note: All prices are based on used systems and in thousand euros. Prices are for systems only and do not include warranty, installation, etc.
So in short, the cost of CT machines range from 35.000 to more than 250.000 euros on the used market. You can get a 16 slice systems for around 80.000 euros but improved capabilities mean higher prices. Hereby, newer models with 256 slices and more cost from 250.000 euros.
And how many slices do you need?
As a general indication, see the table below. Columns have number of slices, and in rows the types of imaging.
| 4 - 8 | 16 - 32 | 64 | 128 | 256+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Imaging | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vascular | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cardio | No | Limited | OK | Good | Excellent |
Prices of New and Refurbished CT Scanners
To give you an idea of prices of new and refurbished CT scanners, we will offer a general rule of thumb:
Prices of used systems are usually 50-80% lower than new prices. And prices for OEM refurbished systems are typically 30-40% lower than new prices.
What does that mean for you?
You can afford a much more advanced CT scanner if you buy used or refurbished than if you buy a new one.Or you can get a similar model at a cheaper price.
Price of 4 – 8 Slice CT Scanners
CT systems with a lower number of slices are popular as a cost-efficient solution when only basic CT imaging is required.
You are able to perform a wide variety of examinations, but they do take longer, as only a smaller part of the body is obtained with each image. The cost of a used CT scanner with 4-8 slices is typically 35.000 – 60.000 euros.
Popular systems include: Toshiba Asteion S4 (picture), Toshiba Asteion Multi, and GE Lightspeed Ultra.
Price of 16 – 32 Slice CT Scanners
The next category is the 16-32 slices.
Prices for these CT machines typically range from 60.000 – 100.000 euros.
These systems are good for several types of examinations. Some might just take a bit more preparation and work, and the examinations have more limitations than on systems with more slices.
Popular systems are for instance: Toshiba Aquilion 16, GE Brightspeed 16, Philips Brilliance 16, Siemens Emotion 16 (Picture) and Toshiba Aquilion 32.
Price of 64 Slice CT Scanners
The used systems with 64 slices typically cost 90.000 – 130.000 euros.
They offer cardiac options, but it is basic cardiac compared to the newer high-end systems. Moreover, it is necessary to decrease the heart rate with medication before examinations with 64 slice systems, but not if the system has more slices. Nevertheless, the 64 slice systems are popular and great for a variety of applications.
Popular systems include: Toshiba Aquilion 64 and Philips Brilliance 64.
Price of 128 Slice CT Scanners
These are newer systems that offer excellent image quality and great cardiac options.
A used CT machine with 128 slices typically cost 120.000 – 180.000 euros. As seen in the table above, they are good for all types of examinations.
Among popular systems is the Toshiba Aquilion CX (picture) and Toshiba Aquilion CXL.
Price of CT Scanners with 256 Slices or More
These are high-end CT scanners that have exceptional image quality and are outstanding for cardiac exams, as they can image the heart in one rotation.
What does that mean for patients?
No sedatives or other medications to decrease the heart rate are necessary. Furthermore, it reduces artifacts caused by movement.
These CT machines has prices that range from 250.000 euros and upwards for a used system.
Popular systems include: Toshiba Aquilion One and Philips Brilliance ICT.
Other Factors That Influence CT Scanner Costs
Brand
The prices may, of course, vary a little between brands, but at LBN Medical we focus on the top brands only. These include Canon (former Toshiba), GE, Siemens, and Philips.
Among these, the prices do not vary significantly, and brand consideration is mainly an issue in the buying process if you have any specific preferences, or if you have easier access to maintenance of some brands rather than others.
However – we do find that GE is a little more expensive but provides excellent service and cheaper parts. Siemens and Philips provide the cheapest systems if you choose a water-cooled one. But Siemens’ new systems typically have a dual-tube, which is quite expensive to repair.
Age of the CT scanner
The year of manufacture does of course matter, especially if it is a very old system.
Furthermore, age often determines the available options, and the software of the system and this may also affect the price. Most users prefer Windows, which you can find on newer systems, whereas you typically find Unix on older systems. Windows might be easier to use for most, as this is what they are used to, but Unix is very stable and has fewer software issues.
Tube
The specifications of the tube can have a major impact on the price, as x-ray tubes are expensive to replace.
How much can a new tube cost?
Up to 150.000 euro!
Most focus on tube count to assess the condition and the remaining lifetime. Read more about the measures of tube count.
It is unclear whether the age of the tube is a factor that you should consider. Some would say it is, and some would say it is not. Furthermore, it can affect a tube to be inactive for a longer period, and this might have a bigger impact on older tubes.
Warranty and installation
Some buy warranty for their CT systems. However, most medical imaging resellers do not offer a warranty if you decide to do the installation yourself.
At LBN Medical, we only offer a warranty if we provide installation and shipping. This is because these are the circumstances with the highest risk of damaging the system. Therefore, it is very important that the system is carefully crated and shipped, and that professionals perform the installation.
Naturally, including warranty and installation will increase the price.
Workstations
Including or excluding workstations might also affect the price of CT systems.
Acquisition workstations are a part of the system and are where the CT system is controlled. It is possible to look at the images afterwards and perform simple analyses. However, this is not optimal for clinics with more patients, as the medical professionals can not process images while new patients are being examined.
Processing workstations are the computer that goes along and allows medical professionals to analyze the images after they take them.
Remember to ask about workstations, and consider what kind of options you need in a workstation.
Video Overview
We hope that this answered the question:
How much does a CT scanner cost
Otherwise feel free contact us for more specific information.
To educate yourself about CT scanners, read our CT ultimate guide.
You can also get an overview of the blog insights in the video, where our Key Account Manager – Edgar C. Ikombo answers the question: How Much Does a CT Scanner cost?