Reviewed 21 September 2026. Prices, specifications and regulatory references on this page were checked against manufacturer documentation and primary sources.
A DEXA scanner (bone densitometer) uses dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to measure bone mineral density, the standard test for diagnosing osteoporosis and assessing fracture risk.
DEXA machine cost ranges from roughly $18,000 for a refurbished peripheral unit to over $165,000 for a new full-body central system, depending on type, condition, and software.
Looking for the price of the scan itself? A DEXA scan costs a patient roughly $100 to $600 depending on where it is done, and Medicare covers it every 24 months for qualifying patients. See DEXA scan cost below »
A bone densitometer is one of the more accessible imaging investments, with strong demand from orthopedics, endocrinology, rheumatology, and women’s health. This guide breaks down what a DEXA machine costs, the types available, the leading brands, and how to decide between new and refurbished.
What Is a DEXA Scanner (Bone Densitometer)?
A DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scanner, sometimes written DXA, passes two low-dose X-ray beams through the body and measures how much each is absorbed by bone versus soft tissue. The result is a precise bone mineral density (BMD) reading used to diagnose osteoporosis, monitor treatment, and estimate fracture risk. Modern systems also measure body composition (fat, lean mass, and visceral fat).
What Is a DEXA Scan Used For?
- Osteoporosis diagnosis: measuring bone mineral density at the hip and spine
- Fracture risk assessment: identifying patients who need treatment
- Treatment monitoring: tracking bone density over time
- Body composition: fat, lean mass, and visceral fat analysis for sports medicine and wellness
How Much Does a DEXA Scan Cost?
How much do DEXA scans cost without insurance?
How much is a DEXA scan? Without insurance, a DEXA scan (bone density test) typically costs $100 to $200 at an independent imaging center or physician office, and $200 to $600 at a hospital outpatient department. Published price surveys put the national average cash price at about $175, with most quotes between $80 and $300. The same test on the same type of machine costs two to four times more in a hospital setting because hospital billing carries facility overhead that has nothing to do with bone density testing.
How much does a bone density scan cost with insurance?
With insurance, a bone density test is usually covered when it is ordered for a clinical reason: menopause-related risk, long-term steroid use, a prior fracture, or monitoring osteoporosis treatment. Medicare Part B covers a bone mass measurement once every 24 months, or more often when medically necessary, and the patient pays nothing when the provider accepts assignment. Commercial plans generally follow the same logic, with the plan’s usual deductible and copay applying. Body-composition DEXA for fitness or wellness is a self-pay service priced by the provider. Whether you search for the price of a DEXA scan, bone density test price, BMD test cost, DEXA test price or the cost of a bone density test, the answer depends far more on where the scan is done than on the machine itself.
| Where the scan is done | Typical cash price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Independent imaging center or physician office | $100 – $200 | The most common setting; cash-pay specials from about $75 |
| Hospital outpatient department | $200 – $600 | Facility fees raise the price of the same test |
| Medicare Part B, qualifying patient | $0 | Once every 24 months, provider accepting assignment |
| Medicare payment to the clinic (CPT 77080) | About $40 | 2026 national average under the Physician Fee Schedule |
That last row matters if you run a practice. Medicare pays roughly $40 for an axial DEXA study under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, while commercial payers and cash patients pay considerably more. The gap between a $175 cash price and a $40 Medicare rate is why a DEXA scanner is a volume business, and why the machine price has to be judged against the number of scans it will run, which the sections below cover. It also means a search for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry cost can mean two very different numbers: the cost of the scan for a patient, above, and the cost of the scanner for a clinic, below.
Types of DEXA Machines
Central / Full-Body DEXA
The clinical standard, measuring the hip, spine, and whole body. Used for osteoporosis diagnosis and body composition. Higher cost, larger footprint.
Peripheral DEXA (pDEXA)
Compact units that measure the forearm, heel, or finger. Lower cost and portable, ideal for screening in clinics and pharmacies.
How Much Does a DEXA Machine Cost?
DEXA machine cost, or DEXA scan machine cost if you search it that way (DXA scan machine and bone density scan machine mean the same equipment), is driven mainly by type (peripheral vs. central) and condition. Typical price ranges are:
The figures below are Medical Outfitters ranges for a system delivered, installed and warrantied. Headline prices published elsewhere are often for the equipment alone, before delivery, rigging, installation and current tariffs, so they read lower than a real all-in cost. Every Medical Outfitters system is quoted individually.
| DEXA Type | Refurbished | New |
|---|---|---|
| Peripheral DEXA (forearm / heel) | $18,000 – $40,000 | $40,000 – $70,000 |
| Central / full-body DEXA | $35,000 – $85,000 | $85,000 – $165,000 |
What moves the price of a DEXA scanner
- Central vs. peripheral: a central table that scans hip, spine and whole body costs several times more than a forearm or heel unit
- Beam and detector type: fan-beam systems scan faster and cost more than pencil-beam units; pencil-beam remains accurate and is common in refurbished inventory
- Software modules: body composition, vertebral fracture assessment and trabecular bone score are licensed options that add to the price
- Condition and warranty: new with a manufacturer warranty at the top, certified refurbished with a dealer warranty in the middle, as-is used at the bottom
- Delivery, installation and training: included in Medical Outfitters pricing, and often excluded from headline prices published elsewhere
A certified refurbished DEXA scanner typically saves 40–60% versus new while delivering comparable accuracy. Browse DEXA bone density machines for sale »
How Many DEXA Scans Pay for the Machine?
How much is a DEXA scanner, really? The practical way to read DEXA scanner machine cost is in scans, not dollars. Take a certified refurbished central DEXA at $60,000 delivered and installed, the middle of our refurbished range. At Medicare’s roughly $40 per study, the equipment cost is recovered after about 1,500 scans. With a payer mix that averages $80 per scan, it takes about 750. Technologist time, quality-control phantoms, service and floor space sit on top of that, so read the table as the equipment line only.
| Scans per week | Months to recover $60,000 at $40 per scan | Months to recover $60,000 at $80 per scan |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | About 35 | About 17 |
| 20 | About 17 | About 9 |
| 40 | About 9 | About 4 |
| 60 | About 6 | About 3 |
Two things follow. First, a refurbished DEXA at $35,000 to $85,000 usually pays back faster than the headline machine price suggests, because bone density has steady referral demand from orthopedics, endocrinology, rheumatology, OB/GYN and primary care. Second, the same arithmetic explains why a $165,000 new central system is a hospital or high-volume imaging center purchase, and why a peripheral unit at $18,000 to $40,000 is the entry point for a clinic or pharmacy that mainly screens. Send us your expected volume and payer mix and we will run the numbers on a specific system.
DEXA Scanners We Carry
Medical Outfitters carries new and refurbished bone densitometers:
- DMS Imaging Stratos: the Stratos bone densitometer, the Stratos DR for central bone density and body composition, and the compact pencil-beam Stratos C
You may also encounter GE Lunar and Hologic bone densitometers on the used market. Our team can help you source and compare these systems as well. Tell us what you are looking for »
New vs. Refurbished DEXA Machines
A new DEXA offers the latest software, body-composition features, and a full manufacturer warranty. A certified refurbished DEXA delivers the same diagnostic accuracy for far less, fully inspected and warrantied. Because DEXA technology is mature and stable, refurbished systems are an especially strong value and a popular way for clinics to add bone-density testing. Refurbished typically saves 40 to 60 percent versus new.
DEXA Installation and Requirements
DEXA scanners use very low radiation, so siting is simpler than CT or MRI, but you still need adequate space, a level floor, and trained technologists. Medical Outfitters handles delivery, installation, and operator guidance. Learn about delivery and logistics »
DEXA Service and Maintenance
DEXA systems need periodic calibration and quality-control phantom scans to keep readings accurate and compliant. Medical Outfitters provides service, repair, and parts. Learn about our service and repair options »
How to Choose the Right DEXA Machine
Match the system to your specialty, patient volume, and whether you need body composition. Key takeaways:
- Peripheral DEXA for low-cost screening in clinics and pharmacies
- Central / full-body DEXA for osteoporosis diagnosis and body composition
- Refurbished for 40–60% savings with comparable accuracy
- Confirm software includes the body-composition modules you need
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a DEXA machine cost?
- A DEXA machine costs about $18,000 for a refurbished peripheral unit and up to $165,000 or more for a new full-body central system. A refurbished central DEXA typically runs $35,000 to $85,000.
- What is a DEXA scan?
- A DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan measures bone mineral density using two low-dose X-ray beams, and is the standard test for diagnosing osteoporosis and assessing fracture risk.
- What is the difference between peripheral and central DEXA?
- Central DEXA measures the hip, spine, and whole body for osteoporosis diagnosis and body composition, while peripheral DEXA measures the forearm or heel for lower-cost screening.
- Is a refurbished DEXA machine worth it?
- Yes. DEXA technology is mature and stable, so a certified refurbished system delivers the same accuracy for 40 to 60 percent less than new, provided it is inspected and warrantied.
- What is a DEXA scan used for?
- A DEXA scan is used to diagnose osteoporosis, assess fracture risk, monitor bone-density treatment, and measure body composition such as fat and lean mass.
- How much does a DEXA scan cost?
- A DEXA scan typically costs $100 to $200 without insurance at an imaging center or physician office and $200 to $600 at a hospital outpatient department, with a national average cash price of about $175. Medicare Part B covers the test once every 24 months for qualifying patients at no cost when the provider accepts assignment.
- Does Medicare cover a DEXA scan?
- Yes. Medicare Part B covers a bone mass measurement once every 24 months, or more often when medically necessary, for patients who meet its criteria, such as estrogen-deficient women at risk of osteoporosis, patients on long-term steroid therapy, or patients being monitored on osteoporosis treatment. The patient pays nothing when the provider accepts assignment.
- Is a bone density test the same as a DEXA scan?
- Yes. A bone density test, BMD test and DEXA or DXA scan are the same examination: dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of the hip and spine, or of the forearm or heel on a peripheral unit.
- How many DEXA scans does it take to pay for the machine?
- As a rule of thumb, a $60,000 refurbished central DEXA is recovered after about 1,500 scans at Medicare’s roughly $40 per study, or about 750 scans with a payer mix averaging $80. At 20 scans a week that is roughly 17 months at Medicare rates and 9 months at the blended rate, before technologist time, service and space.
From peripheral screening units to full-body central systems, Medical Outfitters helps you spec, buy, or lease the right bone densitometer, new or refurbished. Serving the US, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.
