Published 28 September 2026. Product facts were checked against Siemens Healthineers documentation on 28 September 2026. Written by the Medical Outfitters sales and field engineering team.
A refurbished Siemens MAGNETOM Aera costs $650,000 to $975,000 in 2026, delivered, installed and warrantied. The spread is configuration: the Tim 4G channel count, XJ or XQ gradients, the coil set and the software level move the number more than the year of build does. New 1.5T wide bore systems run $1,200,000 to $2,000,000 in our MRI cost guide; Siemens’ current 70 cm 1.5T platform is the MAGNETOM Sola, so the Aera is bought refurbished, and Medical Outfitters supplies it through MO Select.
This guide covers what the MAGNETOM Aera is, the configurations it was built in, our 2026 range by configuration, what moves an Aera quote, what to check before you buy a used one, who it suits against the Espree, the Skyra and the GE Optima MR450w, and how to buy one. Specifications are Siemens Healthineers’ published figures, checked 28 September 2026.
What Is the Siemens MAGNETOM Aera?
The Siemens MAGNETOM Aera is a 1.5 Tesla wide bore MRI scanner that Siemens introduced at the start of the 2010s as the successor to the Espree and Avanto generation. It pairs a 70 cm bore with a 145 cm system length, so many patients have their head outside the magnet during spine, knee and body exams, and it runs on the Tim 4G coil architecture and the Dot workflow that Siemens later carried into the MAGNETOM Sola and Vida.
Tim 4G (Total imaging matrix, fourth generation) is the receive architecture. DirectConnect coils plug straight into the table and SlideConnect coils slide into the bore, and a standard system combines up to 48 receive channels, so whole-spine and whole-body studies run without repositioning coils between stations. Dot (Day optimizing throughput) is the guided exam workflow: Dot engines for brain, spine, knee, abdomen, cardiac and angiography set the protocol, the positioning and the breath-hold commands so that different technologists produce the same exam.
The magnet is a zero helium boil-off superconducting design per Siemens, which is why helium top-ups are rare on a well-kept Aera and why the cold head, not the helium, is the service item to watch. Two gradient systems were offered at build: XJ at 33 mT/m and 125 T/m/s, and XQ at 45 mT/m and 200 T/m/s. The gradient type is fixed for the life of the system, which makes it the first question to ask about any used Aera.
| Specification | MAGNETOM Aera |
|---|---|
| Field strength | 1.5 Tesla |
| Bore | 70 cm |
| System length | 145 cm |
| Receive channels | 48 in a standard Tim 4G configuration |
| Gradients | XJ: 33 mT/m at 125 T/m/s; XQ: 45 mT/m at 200 T/m/s |
| Magnet | Superconducting, zero helium boil-off |
| Coil connections | DirectConnect (table) and SlideConnect (bore) |
| Workflow | Dot engines, licensed per application |
Source: Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Aera product data, checked 28 September 2026. Configuration on a specific unit is confirmed from its system data before we quote.
MAGNETOM Aera Configurations
An Aera is described by four things: the gradient type, the channel count, the coil list and the software level. The table below is how the used market labels them.
| Configuration | What it is | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Aera Tim 4G [48 ch], XJ gradients | The standard build: 48 receive channels, 33 mT/m at 125 T/m/s | Routine neuro, spine, musculoskeletal and body imaging |
| Aera XQ gradients | 45 mT/m at 200 T/m/s for faster diffusion, cardiac and advanced neuro sequences | Cardiac programs, advanced neuro and high-throughput centres |
| Dot engine packages | Licensed per engine: Brain, Spine, Knee, Abdomen, Cardiac, Angio, Breast | Sites with staff turnover or many protocols across operators |
| Software level | syngo MR D13 through E11 and later releases circulate on the resale market | Later software carries newer sequences and more Dot engines |
| Coil set | Head/Neck 20, Spine 32, Body 18, flex coils and dedicated knee, shoulder and breast coils, each sold separately | The coil list decides what you can scan on the first day |
Software, coils and Dot licences are confirmed per unit before we quote, because two Aeras of the same year can be a different purchase.
How Much Does a Siemens MAGNETOM Aera Cost?
The ranges below are Medical Outfitters ranges for a refurbished MAGNETOM Aera delivered, installed and warrantied, positioned inside the 1.5T band of our MRI cost guide. Headline prices published elsewhere are often for the equipment alone, before de-installation, rigging, installation and current tariffs.
| Configuration | Medical Outfitters range, 2026 | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| MAGNETOM Aera, Tim 4G [48 ch], XJ gradients, standard coil set | $650,000 to $800,000 | Earlier software, base coils, no advanced packages |
| MAGNETOM Aera, XQ gradients, expanded coil set, later software | $775,000 to $975,000 | Cardiac and advanced packages, Dot engines, more coils |
| New 70 cm 1.5T MRI through Siemens (MAGNETOM Sola class; not sold by Medical Outfitters) | $1,200,000 to $2,000,000 | The new 1.5T band from our MRI guide, for comparison |
| New 1.5T MRI sold by Medical Outfitters (Fujifilm ECHELON Smart 1.5T, authorized dealer) | $1,200,000 to $2,000,000 | Our new 1.5T alternative, quoted with delivery and installation |
How Medical Outfitters sells the MAGNETOM Aera. Refurbished, through MO Select, our in-house refurbishment program: each unit is tested against the Siemens specification, delivered, installed by our own rigging and engineering team and covered by a written warranty. We do not sell Siemens systems new; the new figures in the table are for comparison. New systems we sell as an authorized dealer are the Fujifilm ECHELON Smart 1.5T and ECHELON Smart ZeroHelium 1.5T, the OASIS Velocity 1.2T, APERTO Lucent 0.4T and AIRIS Vento 0.3T open systems, and the Esaote G-scan, S-scan and O-scan extremity and weight-bearing systems. Current availability is on the product page. Availability of any specific model, year or configuration is subject to supply at the time of your request, and every purchase is governed by the written quote and sales agreement.
The same question arrives in many forms: Siemens Aera price, MAGNETOM Aera cost, Siemens MAGNETOM Aera for sale, Siemens Aera 1.5T used price, how much does a MAGNETOM Aera cost. They all resolve to the table above. Tell us the configuration and the room and the quote writes itself. Request a MAGNETOM Aera quote »
What Moves the Price of a MAGNETOM Aera
Two quotes for the same MAGNETOM Aera can differ by a whole configuration. These are the lines that move the price, roughly in order of impact.
- Gradients XQ systems carry a premium over XJ because the faster gradients open cardiac and diffusion work
- Coil set Every coil is a line; a full set of Tim 4G coils is worth six figures on its own
- Software level and Dot engines Later syngo releases and more licensed engines raise the price
- Cold head and helium history A logged cold head replacement and a stable helium level are worth paying for
- Siting Reusing an existing RF room, chiller and power supply keeps the installed price down
- Warranty and service term Our range includes the MO Select warranty; some resellers price it separately
What to Check Before You Buy a Used MAGNETOM Aera
A used MAGNETOM Aera is bought on its records. These are the checks our engineers run and the questions to put to any seller before you sign.
- Software level and licences: Ask for the syngo MR version and the licensed Dot engines and sequences in writing. A D13 system without the engines you need is a different purchase from an E11 system with them.
- Gradient type: XJ or XQ is set at build and cannot be changed later at reasonable cost. Confirm it from the system data, not from the listing.
- Coil complement: List every coil by name (Head/Neck 20, Spine 32, Body 18, flex, knee, shoulder, breast) and test each one before shipment. A missing Body 18 or a failed coil element is a five-figure line.
- Cold head hours and helium level: The magnet is zero boil-off, so a falling helium level points to a cold head or compressor problem. Ask for the service log and the last helium reading.
- Quench and ramp history: A ramped-down magnet for transport is normal; an unplanned quench needs an explanation and a fill record.
- Table and patient handling: Check table travel, the weight rating and the gantry controls. The Aera’s table is not dockable, so damage means a repair, not a swap.
- Chiller, RF room and power: These are usually reused from the outgoing system. Have them surveyed before the magnet moves, because a chiller or shielding problem surfaces on installation day.
Who the MAGNETOM Aera Suits, and the Alternatives
The Aera suits sites replacing an ageing 1.5T that want a wide bore and a guided workflow without moving to 3T.
- Outpatient imaging centres with mixed neuro, spine, musculoskeletal and body case loads
- Hospitals with technologist turnover, where Dot engines keep exams consistent
- Bariatric, paediatric and claustrophobic patient populations that the 70 cm bore and short magnet serve
- Siemens sites that want to keep one coil, service and applications ecosystem
Alternatives to the MAGNETOM Aera
| Model | Why you would choose it instead |
|---|---|
| Siemens MAGNETOM Espree | The same 70 cm bore and 1.5T field for less, on the older Tim platform; choose it when budget matters more than the newest sequences |
| Siemens MAGNETOM Skyra | The 3T counterpart on the same Tim 4G and Dot platform, for neuro and musculoskeletal detail |
| GE Optima MR450w | GE’s 70 cm 1.5T, for sites that want to stay in the GE coil and service ecosystem |
| Philips Ingenia 1.5T | Philips’ 70 cm 1.5T with digital coils, common on the used market |
How to Buy a MAGNETOM Aera
- Send the room, the power supply and the case mix. Room dimensions, the existing RF shielding and chiller, the electrical supply and the exams you run decide the configuration before the model does.
- Choose the configuration. Field strength, channel count, gradients, coil list and software level, matched to the case mix rather than to the largest set.
- Get the configuration in writing. Every coil by name, the software release, the licensed applications, the helium and cold head history and the warranty term, so quotes compare line by line.
- Survey the site. RF room, fringe field, chiller capacity, power and rigging route, before the magnet is bought.
- Schedule the de-installation and rigging. Ramp-down, transport and installation are in our price; the schedule is agreed with your facilities team.
- Agree the warranty and service term. The MO Select warranty is written; a service contract for the years after it is quoted alongside.
- Applications training and go-live. Protocol set-up and technologist training on site.
We quote within one business day and deliver, install, train and support across the United States, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean through an ISO 13485:2016 certified quality system. Request a MAGNETOM Aera quote » Current availability is on the MO Select MAGNETOM Aera product page.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a Siemens MAGNETOM Aera cost?
- A refurbished Siemens MAGNETOM Aera costs $650,000 to $975,000 in 2026 delivered, installed and warrantied. A standard XJ system with the base coil set sits at $650,000 to $800,000; an XQ system with an expanded coil set and later software runs $775,000 to $975,000. New 70 cm 1.5T systems on the current Siemens platform run $1,200,000 to $2,000,000.
- Is the MAGNETOM Aera still made?
- Siemens’ current 70 cm 1.5T platform is the MAGNETOM Sola, so the Aera is bought refurbished. Siemens continues to support the installed base, and parts and engineering knowledge are plentiful. Confirm the manufacturer’s support horizon for the software level on the unit you are buying.
- What is the difference between the Aera and the Espree?
- Both are 1.5T systems with a 70 cm bore. The Aera runs the newer Tim 4G coil architecture with up to 48 receive channels and the Dot guided workflow, and offers XQ gradients; the Espree is the earlier Tim platform on a shorter 125 cm system. The Aera costs more and scans faster; the Espree is the value entry to a wide bore.
- What is the difference between the Aera and the Skyra?
- Field strength. The Skyra is the 3T system on the same Tim 4G and Dot platform with a 70 cm bore; the Aera is 1.5T. The Skyra gives more signal for thin-slice neuro and musculoskeletal work at a higher price and with stricter siting; the Aera covers routine imaging at lower cost.
- What does Tim 4G mean on a MAGNETOM Aera?
- Tim 4G is the fourth generation of Siemens’ Total imaging matrix coil architecture. Coils connect directly to the table or slide into the bore, and the system combines their elements across up to 48 receive channels so that long studies run without repositioning coils.
- What does Dot mean?
- Dot (Day optimizing throughput) is Siemens’ guided exam workflow. Each Dot engine, for brain, spine, knee, abdomen, cardiac or angiography, sets up the protocol, positioning and patient commands so that different technologists produce the same exam. Engines are licensed individually, so confirm which are installed.
- What room does a MAGNETOM Aera need?
- A 70 cm 1.5T fits the room most 1.5T systems already occupy. The RF shielded room, chiller and power supply are surveyed and usually reused; the 145 cm system length and a zero boil-off magnet keep the siting close to a standard 1.5T. Our MRI cost guide covers room size and siting costs.
- Does Medical Outfitters sell the Siemens MAGNETOM Aera?
- Yes. We supply the MAGNETOM Aera refurbished through MO Select, fully tested against the manufacturer specification, delivered, installed by our own rigging and engineering team and covered by a written warranty, across the United States, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The product page carries the quote form.
Medical Outfitters sells new Fujifilm, Esaote and Mammotome systems as an authorized dealer and certified refurbished GE and Siemens systems through MO Select, with delivery and installation included in every quote. Browse MRI machines for sale, browse CT scanners for sale and browse X-ray machines for sale; every listing shows the model, condition and availability with a quote form.
Tell us the configuration, the room and the case mix. Medical Outfitters returns the MAGNETOM Aera delivered, installed and warrantied as one written quote. Serving the US, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.
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