Updated 28 September 2026. Price ranges are Medical Outfitters all-in figures reviewed 16 September 2026; specifications were checked against manufacturer documentation and public purchase records on 28 September 2026. Written by the Medical Outfitters sales and field engineering team.
A C-arm machine costs $45,000 to $85,000 refurbished and $110,000 to $185,000 new for a mini C-arm, $55,000 to $135,000 refurbished and $165,000 to $295,000 new for a full-size mobile C-arm, and $125,000 to $240,000 refurbished or $275,000 and up new for a 3D or premium vascular system, delivered, installed and warrantied. The format decides the band; the detector, the generator and the software decide where a quote lands inside it.
This guide covers what a C-arm costs by type, brand and model, what moves the price, GE OEC 9800 versus 9900 versus Elite CFD, the Siemens, Ziehm, Fujifilm and Philips lines, new versus refurbished versus used, renting versus buying, what a quote includes, what it costs to run, and how to choose. Fluoroscopy and C-arms are the same conversation; C-arm versus fluoroscopy explains the terms.
- In this guide: How much does a C-arm machine cost?
- C-arm price by type: mini, full-size and 3D
- C-arm price by brand and model
- GE OEC 9800 vs 9900 Elite vs Elite CFD
- What moves the price
- What a C-arm quote includes
- Used and refurbished C-arm prices
- Renting versus buying
- What it costs to run a C-arm
- What a C-arm is and what it is used for
- How to choose
- Frequently asked questions
- Get this guide as a PDF by email
How Much Does a C-Arm Machine Cost?
C-arm machine cost is driven by the format, the detector and the condition. The figures below are Medical Outfitters ranges for a system delivered, installed and warrantied, with applications training included. Headline prices published elsewhere are often for the equipment alone, before delivery, installation, training and current tariffs, so they read lower than a real all-in cost. Every system is quoted individually. Typical price ranges are:
| C-arm type | Refurbished | New |
|---|---|---|
| Mini / extremity C-arm | $45,000 to $85,000 | $110,000 to $185,000 |
| Full-size mobile C-arm | $55,000 to $135,000 | $165,000 to $295,000 |
| 3D and premium vascular C-arm | $125,000 to $240,000 | $275,000 and up |
A certified refurbished C-arm typically saves 40 to 60 percent versus new. Browse C-arm machines for sale »
The same question arrives in many forms: C-arm cost, C-arm price, C-arm machine cost, C-arm machine price, how much does a C-arm cost, C-arm X-ray machine price, fluoroscopy machine cost, mini C-arm cost, mobile C-arm price. They all point at the table above. The two distinctions that matter are the format, because a mini and a full-size system are different machines, and the detector, because a flat panel and an image intensifier are different prices.
What is the average cost of a C-arm?
Averages hide the format split. A refurbished full-size mobile C-arm with an image intensifier, the most common purchase in the category, averages in the middle of the $55,000 to $135,000 band; a refurbished flat-panel system sits in its upper half. A mini C-arm averages in the middle of its own band, and a 3D system is a different budget. An average quoted without the format and the detector is not a usable number.
Get This Guide as a PDF by Email
The print edition of the 2026 C-Arm Machine Price Guide carries the same price ranges, model tables and figures as this page, with a cover and page numbers, formatted for printing and for sharing with a board or a finance committee. It is sent by email; fill in the form and it is on its way.
17 pages, Letter size: cover, price tables, figures, FAQ and page numbers for printing.
C-Arm Price by Type: Mini, Full-Size and 3D
Each format is a different machine with a different price class, and the most expensive mistake in the category is buying the wrong one in either direction.
Mini and extremity C-arms: $45,000 to $85,000 refurbished, $110,000 to $185,000 new
A mini C-arm images hands, wrists, feet, ankles and elbows at a fraction of the dose of a full-size system, in a footprint that fits an office procedure room. The Orthoscan TAU 1512 (15 x 12 cm flat detector) is the entry point, the TAU 1515 (15 x 15 cm) is the general extremity workhorse and the TAU 2020 (20 x 20 cm) reaches larger joints; the TAU family is the first mini C-arm line designed and approved for pediatric patients. The Hologic Fluoroscan Insight FD and GE OEC Elite MiniView are the other names in the class. A mini cannot cover spine, hip or vascular cases.
Full-size mobile C-arms: $55,000 to $135,000 refurbished, $165,000 to $295,000 new
The operating-room workhorse for orthopedics, trauma, spine, pain management, urology and general surgery. Two things split the band: the detector, an image intensifier or a 21 to 31 cm flat panel, and the generator, from 2.4 kW monoblocks for pain and orthopedic work to 15 to 25 kW rotating-anode systems for vascular and bariatric cases. Compact all-in-one units such as the Ziehm Solo FD (21 cm CMOS flat panel, 2.4 kW) and the Fujifilm Persona CS (5 kW) fit small rooms; the Ziehm Vision FD, the Ziehm Vision RFD (30 x 30 cm flat panel, 25 kW) and the Fujifilm Persona C (21 x 21 or 30 x 30 cm flat panel) cover the full operating-room range; GE OEC and Siemens Cios systems are the other common platforms.
3D and premium vascular C-arms: $125,000 to $240,000 refurbished, $275,000 and up new
Intraoperative 3D brings a CT-like reconstruction into the operating room for spine, trauma and implant checks. The Ziehm Vision RFD 3D was the first mobile 3D C-arm with a flat-panel detector (25 kW, 30 x 30 cm), and the Siemens Cios Spin is the other mobile 3D platform. Premium vascular systems such as the Siemens Cios Alpha and the higher-power GE OEC Elite CFD Super C configurations sit in the same band because of their generators, detectors and software. This band is open-ended: a 3D or vascular configuration is quoted per system.
A fixed angiography lab is a different purchase from a mobile C-arm. Our Siemens Artis zee price guide covers the floor, ceiling, biplane, multipurpose and zeego configurations, what a refurbished lab costs and what to check before you buy.
C-Arm Price by Brand and Model
Model names make the bands concrete. The table places the models buyers search for inside the Medical Outfitters bands; the systems we stock are linked, the rest are sourced on request or met on the used market.
| Model | Class | Detector | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orthoscan TAU 1512 | Mini | 15 x 12 cm flat panel | Mini band; the entry point, new or refurbished |
| Orthoscan TAU 1515 | Mini | 15 x 15 cm flat panel | Mini band, middle |
| Orthoscan TAU 2020 | Mini | 20 x 20 cm flat panel | Mini band, upper half |
| Hologic Fluoroscan Insight FD | Mini | Flat panel | Mini refurbished band |
| GE OEC 9800 Plus | Full-size | 9 or 12 inch image intensifier | Full-size refurbished band, lower half; refurbished only |
| GE OEC 9900 Elite | Full-size | 9 or 12 inch image intensifier | Full-size refurbished band, upper half: $85,000 to $160,000 with vascular or 12 inch configurations above the band |
| GE OEC Elite CFD | Full-size, flat panel | 21 or 31 cm CMOS | New full-size band |
| Siemens Arcadis Avantic, Varic, Orbic | Full-size | Image intensifier | Full-size refurbished band; Orbic 3D in the 3D refurbished band |
| Siemens Cios Select, Fusion, Flow | Full-size | Image intensifier or flat panel | Full-size band; Cios Alpha and Spin in the 3D and premium band |
| Ziehm Solo FD | Full-size, compact | 21 cm CMOS flat panel | Full-size band, lower half, new or refurbished |
| Ziehm Vision FD / Vision RFD | Full-size, flat panel | Up to 30 x 30 cm flat panel | Full-size band, middle to upper half |
| Ziehm Vision RFD 3D | 3D | 30 x 30 cm flat panel, 25 kW | 3D band |
| Fujifilm Persona CS / Persona C | Full-size | Flat panel, 21 x 21 or 30 x 30 cm on the Persona C | Full-size band; the CS in the lower half, the C in the middle |
| Fujifilm FDR Cross | Hybrid C-arm and portable X-ray | Flat panel | Quoted per configuration; see the portable X-ray price guide |
| Philips Zenition 30, 50, 70; BV Pulsera | Full-size | Flat panel (Zenition), image intensifier (BV) | Full-size band |
GE, Siemens and Philips systems are available refurbished or used through our sourcing; we sell Ziehm, Orthoscan and Fujifilm new as an authorized dealer. Every quote states the detector, the generator, the tube history and the licensed software so it can be compared line by line.
GE OEC 9800 vs 9900 Elite vs Elite CFD
The GE OEC line is the most common surgical C-arm in the United States, and three generations of it are on the market at once. Which one you are buying matters more than the brand name.
| OEC 9800 Plus | OEC 9900 Elite | OEC Elite CFD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | 15 kW rotating anode | 15 kW rotating anode, same family | High-frequency generator; vascular, bolus chase and cardiac profiles optional |
| Detector | 9 or 12 inch image intensifier, 1k x 1k camera | 9 inch tri-mode or 12 inch intensifier, same 1k x 1k chain | 21 cm or 31 cm CMOS flat panel |
| Monitors and computing | CRT monitors on the workstation cart | Flat monitors on an articulating boom, larger storage, faster computing | Current workstation |
| Arc options | 9 inch, 12 inch, Super C with 55 degree overscan | Standard and Super C | Ergo C (55 degree over, 97 under, 26.5 in arc depth) or Super C (33 in), motorized option |
| Where it sits | Full-size refurbished band, lower half | Full-size refurbished band, upper half; $85,000 to $160,000 by configuration | New full-size band |
The 9800 and the 9900 Elite share the tube, generator, image intensifier and camera, so the picture is the same; the 9900’s premium buys the monitors, the storage and the software, and on the used market that premium narrows every year. The Elite CFD is a different machine: a CMOS flat panel with a rectangular, distortion-free image and lower dose. Specifications from GE Healthcare and dealer comparisons, checked 28 September 2026. If you are choosing between two specific used systems, the used C-arm buying guide covers the tube, detector and software checks.
Siemens Cios and Arcadis
Siemens’ current line is the Cios family, per Siemens Healthineers: Cios Select (image intensifier, pain management and orthopedics), Cios Select with FD (flat detector), Cios Flow.neo (slim, orthopedics, spine, vascular and pain), Cios Alpha.neo (vascular, cardiac, interventional, GI and urology, with an energy storage unit and active cooling) and Cios Spin (2D and cone-beam CT 3D for spine, trauma and bronchoscopy). The Arcadis Avantic, Varic and Orbic are the previous generation and common on the used market; the Orbic 3D was the first widely sold mobile 3D C-arm. Cios Select and Flow sit in the full-size band, Alpha and Spin in the 3D and premium band.
Ziehm, Fujifilm and Philips
Ziehm Imaging introduced the first flat-panel mobile C-arm in 2006 and the first flat-panel mobile 3D C-arm; the Solo FD, Vision FD, Vision RFD and Vision RFD 3D are the current line and we stock them. Fujifilm’s Persona CS and Persona C are flat-panel mobile fluoroscopy systems for surgery centers and pain practices, and the FDR Cross combines a C-arm and a portable X-ray in one battery-powered unit. Philips’ Zenition 30, 50 and 70 are the current flat-panel mobiles; the BV Pulsera and Endura are the image-intensifier generation seen used.
What Moves the Price of a C-Arm
Two C-arms of the same brand and age can be tens of thousands of dollars apart. These are the things that move a C-arm price, roughly in order of impact.
- Format Mini, full-size or 3D sets the price class before anything else is considered
- Detector A CMOS flat panel costs more than an image intensifier, new or used, and holds its value longer
- Generator power and tube 2.4 kW monoblocks for pain and orthopedics; 15 to 25 kW rotating anodes for vascular and bariatric work; the tube is one of the costliest parts to replace and the one most often glossed over in a listing
- Arc geometry and motorization Arc depth, overscan and motorized positioning decide access around the table
- Software packages Vascular, cardiac, DSA and 3D options are licensed separately and do not always transfer with a used machine
- Condition, warranty and support status New with a manufacturer warranty, certified refurbished with a dealer warranty, or as-is used; and whether the platform’s parts and software are still supported
What Is Included in a C-Arm Price?
When you compare two quotes, compare the scope as well as the number. The gap between a cheap quote and an expensive one is often what is in it rather than the machine.
- Quoted with the system The C-arm, the workstation or monitor cart, the software as listed, delivery and placement, applications training and the warranty, with its term and whether it covers the tube and the detector
- Quoted per project Software options not in the base configuration, a carbon-fiber table, lead aprons and shields, the physicist’s survey and state registration, and the first service contract
Medical Outfitters prices are all-in for a system delivered, installed and warrantied, with applications training included. We handle delivery and logistics to the mainland, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, where freight and import handling are planned in rather than discovered at the port. If you are replacing rather than adding, we buy used imaging equipment, so the system you are retiring may offset the new one. Refurbished versus OEM certified are not the same thing and do not carry the same obligations.
How Much Does a Used C-Arm Cost?
A used C-arm price depends on the detector, the tube history and the software licenses before the model name. A refurbished system from Medical Outfitters, which means inspected, tested to specification and warrantied, runs 40 to 60 percent below the new price of the same platform: roughly $45,000 to $85,000 for a mini, $55,000 to $135,000 for a full-size mobile and $125,000 to $240,000 for a 3D system. As-is used systems sit below those bands for buyers with their own service arrangement.
What to check before buying a used C-arm
- Tube: exposure history and a test series; the tube is the costliest wear item
- Detector: image intensifier brightness and burn, or flat-panel dead pixels and calibration
- Software: which options are licensed and whether they transfer with the machine
- Support status: whether the manufacturer still supplies parts and software for the platform
- Mechanics: brakes, arc movement, cables and the monitor cart
- What is warrantied: a cosmetic refurbishment is covers and paint; a certified refurbishment tests the generator, tube and detector to specification
The used C-arm buying guide walks through each check. Browse used and refurbished C-arms for sale »
Renting vs Buying a C-Arm
Renting fits a need with an end date: a system out for repair, a second room for a defined period, a new service line whose volume is unproven, or a backlog to clear before a purchase. Medical Outfitters rents C-arms; monthly ranges by class, what the rental includes and the terms are on our C-arm rental page. Past about a year of steady use, buying a refurbished system costs less than renting, and the break-even moves earlier the more days a month the system works.
What It Costs to Run a C-Arm
Purchase price is not the whole number. A C-arm is a working surgical tool and it carries an ongoing cost that is worth pricing before you buy, not after.
- Service contract Priced against the platform, its age and the response time you need; ask for it in writing alongside the purchase quote.
- Tube replacement One of the largest repair costs on a C-arm, which is why tube history belongs in the buying conversation
- Detector repair Intensifier or flat panel, the other component that puts a system out of the operating room
- Physics survey, registration and compliance Recurring, and required; lead aprons and shields are consumables over time
- Software subscriptions Some current platforms license software annually
We service and repair C-arms, including systems bought elsewhere. Parts and support status vary by platform, so it is worth asking about a specific model before you commit to it.
What Is a C-Arm Machine?
A C-arm is named for its C-shaped arm, which holds an X-ray tube at one end and an image detector at the other. The open shape lets the team position the patient between the two and capture live X-ray images, which is fluoroscopy, from almost any angle without moving the patient. Mobile C-arms wheel into the operating room and are a standard tool in orthopedics, trauma, spine, pain management, urology, vascular surgery and gastroenterology.
What is a C-arm used for?
- Orthopedic and trauma surgery: fracture reduction, joint replacement and spinal hardware placement
- Pain management: spinal injections and nerve blocks under live guidance
- Urology: kidney stone and stent procedures
- Vascular and cardiology: angiography and catheter placement, on the higher-power systems
- Gastroenterology: ERCP and related procedures
C-arm, C-arm X-ray machine or fluoroscopy machine?
They describe the same equipment. A mobile C-arm is an X-ray machine that does fluoroscopy, so the ranges in this guide answer all three questions. A fixed fluoroscopy room is a different category and budget, because it involves room construction, shielding and a permanent table; C-arm versus fluoroscopy explains where each fits, and a fixed cardiac or vascular lab is covered in what a cath lab is. Radiography and fluoroscopy rooms are priced in the X-ray machine cost guide.
How to Choose the Right C-Arm
Match the machine to the case list first, then the detector to the years you plan to keep it, then new or refurbished to the budget:
- Mini C-arm for extremity work in hand surgery, podiatry and orthopedic offices
- Full-size mobile C-arm for general surgery, orthopedics, spine, pain and urology; compact all-in-one units for small rooms
- Higher-power full-size (15 to 25 kW) for vascular, bariatric and long cases
- 3D C-arm for spine, trauma and implant checks that would otherwise need a postoperative CT
- Flat panel for the sharpest images and lowest dose on a system you will keep for years; a healthy image intensifier over a tired flat panel on a tight budget
- Refurbished for 40 to 60 percent savings with comparable image quality; new for the newest software and the longest support life
Pricing a C-arm for Florida, Puerto Rico or the Caribbean? See imaging equipment for sale in Florida and tell us the case list; we quote within one business day. Request C-arm pricing »
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a C-arm machine cost?
- A C-arm machine costs $45,000 to $85,000 refurbished or $110,000 to $185,000 new for a mini C-arm, $55,000 to $135,000 refurbished or $165,000 to $295,000 new for a full-size mobile C-arm, and $125,000 to $240,000 refurbished or $275,000 and up new for a 3D or premium vascular system, delivered, installed and warrantied.
- What is a C-arm used for?
- A C-arm provides real-time fluoroscopic imaging during orthopedic, trauma, spine, pain management, urology, vascular and gastroenterology procedures, letting the surgeon see the anatomy and the instruments live from almost any angle without moving the patient.
- What is a mini C-arm?
- A mini C-arm is a compact, lower-dose C-arm designed for extremities such as hands, wrists, feet and ankles, used in hand surgery, podiatry, orthopedic offices and surgery centers. The Orthoscan TAU 1512, 1515 and 2020 and the Hologic Fluoroscan Insight FD are the common models.
- How much does a mini C-arm cost?
- A refurbished mini C-arm costs $45,000 to $85,000 and a new one $110,000 to $185,000, delivered and warrantied, depending on the detector size and field of view.
- How much does a 3D C-arm cost?
- A refurbished 3D C-arm typically runs $125,000 to $240,000, and new systems start around $275,000. The premium buys intraoperative cross-sectional imaging, which is mainly used in spine, trauma and orthopedic work; the Ziehm Vision RFD 3D and the Siemens Cios Spin are the mobile 3D platforms.
- How much does a fluoroscopy machine cost?
- A mobile C-arm is a fluoroscopy machine, so the ranges above are the answer: $45,000 to $295,000 depending on format, detector and condition. A fixed fluoroscopy room is a different budget entirely, because it involves room construction, shielding and a permanent table alongside the equipment.
- How much is a GE OEC 9900 Elite C-arm?
- A refurbished GE OEC 9900 Elite C-arm typically ranges from $85,000 to $160,000 depending on configuration, the 9 or 12 inch intensifier and the vascular software. It shares its tube, generator and imaging chain with the OEC 9800, so the premium buys the flat monitors, the storage and the software.
- How much does a GE OEC 9800 cost?
- A refurbished GE OEC 9800 Plus sits in the lower half of the full-size refurbished band, $55,000 to $135,000, delivered and warrantied. It is refurbished only, uses a 15 kW generator with a 9 or 12 inch image intensifier, and remains widely serviced with parts still common.
- What is the difference between the OEC 9800 and the OEC 9900?
- The X-ray tube, generator, image intensifier and 1k x 1k camera are the same, so the image is the same. The 9900 Elite adds flat monitors on an articulating boom, larger storage, faster computing and newer software; the 9800 uses CRT monitors on the workstation cart.
- How much does a GE OEC Elite CFD cost?
- The OEC Elite CFD, with a 21 or 31 cm CMOS flat detector, sits in the new full-size band of $165,000 to $295,000 delivered and warrantied. Refurbished units sit in the upper half of the refurbished band.
- How much does a Siemens Cios C-arm cost?
- Cios Select and Cios Flow sit in the full-size band, $55,000 to $135,000 refurbished and $165,000 to $295,000 new; Cios Alpha and the 3D Cios Spin sit in the 3D and premium band at $275,000 and up new.
- How much does a Ziehm C-arm cost?
- The Ziehm Solo FD sits in the lower half of the full-size band, the Vision FD and Vision RFD in its middle to upper half, and the Vision RFD 3D in the 3D band; new, delivered and warrantied, that is $165,000 to $295,000 for the mobiles and $275,000 and up for the 3D system.
- How much does an Orthoscan mini C-arm cost?
- The Orthoscan TAU 1512, 1515 and 2020 sit in the mini band: $110,000 to $185,000 new and $45,000 to $85,000 refurbished, delivered and warrantied, with the 20 x 20 cm TAU 2020 at the top.
- Is a refurbished C-arm worth it?
- Yes. A certified refurbished C-arm saves 40 to 60 percent versus new with comparable image quality, provided the tube, detector and generator were tested to specification and the system carries a warranty. A cosmetic refurbishment that only replaces covers is a used machine at a refurbished price.
- What drives the price of a C-arm?
- Format first, so mini, full-size or 3D. Then the detector, because a flat panel costs more than an image intensifier. Then the generator and the condition of the X-ray tube, one of the costliest components to replace. Arc geometry, licensed software options and the platform’s support status move the number after that.
- Do flat-panel C-arms cost more than image intensifier systems?
- Yes, both new and used. A flat panel gives a rectangular image with no geometric distortion, a wider dynamic range and generally a lower dose. On a system you intend to keep for years it is usually the better buy, but a healthy image intensifier is a better purchase than a tired flat panel.
- Does the price include delivery and installation?
- Ask, because it varies. Monitor cart, software licenses, warranty term, delivery, placement and applications training are all sometimes quoted separately. Medical Outfitters quotes delivery, placement, applications training and the warranty with the system, so you can compare like for like.
- How much does it cost to rent a C-arm?
- Medical Outfitters rents C-arms at $2,000 to $4,500 a month for a mini, $2,500 to $7,000 a month for a full-size mobile and $5,000 to $12,000 a month for a 3D or vascular system, delivered, set up and supported for the term, with lower monthly rates on three, six and twelve-month terms. Delivery, set-up and collection are quoted per site.
- How much does a C-arm service contract cost?
- It is priced against the platform, its age and the response time you need, so ask for it in writing alongside the purchase quote rather than afterwards.Tube and detector replacement are the two costs that matter most over the life of the system.
- What is my old C-arm worth?
- It depends on the platform, the detector, the tube history and whether parts are still supported. We buy used medical imaging equipment as well as selling it, so if you are replacing rather than adding, the system you are retiring may offset the new one.
- What is the difference between a C-arm and fluoroscopy?
- Fluoroscopy is the method, live X-ray imaging viewed in real time; a C-arm is one of the machines that does it, a mobile unit with the tube and detector on a C-shaped arm. Fixed fluoroscopy rooms and cath labs use the same method from a fixed installation.
- Can a C-arm be used for X-rays?
- A C-arm takes still fluoroscopic images and, on many systems, digital spot films, but it is not a radiography room. For plain X-ray studies at volume you need a radiography system; the Fujifilm FDR Cross combines a C-arm and a portable X-ray in one unit for sites that need both.
Medical Outfitters sells new Ziehm, Orthoscan and Fujifilm systems as an authorized dealer and certified refurbished GE and Siemens systems through MO Select, with delivery and installation included in every quote. Browse C-arm machines for sale, browse X-ray machines for sale, browse CT scanners for sale and browse used and refurbished MRI machines for sale; every listing shows the model, condition and availability with a quote form.
From mini C-arms to full-size and 3D systems, Medical Outfitters helps you spec, buy or rent the right C-arm, new or certified refurbished. Serving the US, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.
