Medical Imaging Equipment Financing:
Ultrasound, X-Ray, CT, MRI and More.

iLease Capital finances new, used and refurbished medical imaging equipment, from portable and handheld ultrasound to digital radiography, CT, MRI, C-arms, DEXA bone density scanners and mammography systems. Imaging is the widest category in medical equipment finance by price, spanning a $4,000 handheld ultrasound at one end and a used MRI that can run past $500,000 at the other and the collateral evaluation is completely different at each end. That range is exactly why imaging deserves a lender who understands the asset. If you are pricing an imaging system, new or used, you can talk it through with a specialist at (866) 545-3273.

iLease Capital finances imaging for private practices, imaging centers, urgent care, orthopedic and multi-specialty clinics and hospitals and financing may be available for transactions up to $5 million plus with no minimum floor. As a broker with more than 50 lender relationships rather than a single direct lender, iLease can match a specific modality to a funding partner that understands imaging collateral, which matters because a lender who treats a $500,000 MRI like a generic piece of machinery will misjudge both the value and the payment. This guide breaks imaging down by modality, with current market price ranges, what lenders look at and how installation and site prep fit into the financing. For the broader clinical picture, see our medical equipment financing hub.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is the most accessible imaging modality to finance and the one with the widest internal spread. Handheld and portable systems commonly run $4,000 to $15,000, while cart-based and premium systems with advanced cardiac or vascular capability run $30,000 to $120,000 or more. The refurbished market is active, with basic carts available from a few thousand dollars. One financing nuance is worth noting: some handheld systems depend on an annual software subscription and if that subscription does not transfer, the standalone resale value of the device is weaker, which can affect how a lender treats the asset. For most practices, though, ultrasound is a straightforward transaction and smaller units may qualify for application-only financing.

Digital Radiography and Portable X-Ray

Digital radiography rooms and portable X-ray units cover a broad range. A fixed digital radiography room commonly runs $45,000 to $200,000 new depending on the generator, panel and room configuration, with refurbished rooms and retrofit panels available for less. Portable and mobile X-ray units start around $29,000 for an entry mobile unit with a digital panel and climb to $75,000 or $100,000 for a premium fully digital system. X-ray rooms need lead shielding, dedicated power and a compliant room, so the true cost includes site prep that is worth putting on the quote. Brands in this space include GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Philips, Canon Medical, Fujifilm and Samsung and the exact configuration and panel type affect both capability and value.

CT Scanners

CT is where the numbers start to climb and where the used and refurbished market becomes central. Slice count is the main tier. Refurbished 16-slice systems, the most affordable CT tier, commonly run $50,000 to $90,000, refurbished 64-slice systems roughly $110,000 to $400,000 and new premium systems of 128 slices and above range from several hundred thousand dollars into the millions for the highest configurations. For a used CT, the tube condition and remaining tube life, the software version, the slice-count license and the service contract status are the factors that define value, not the model name alone. A CT room also needs shielding, power and HVAC and those site costs belong in the financing conversation.

MRI Systems

MRI is the high end of imaging finance and the modality where the asset most clearly is the deal. New 1.5T systems commonly run $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 and new 3T systems $2,000,000 or more, while the used and refurbished market is large and active, with refurbished 1.5T systems commonly ranging $150,000 to $700,000 depending on age, coils and software. Financing a used MRI turns on magnet condition, cryogen and coldhead history, the coil set, the software license, remaining manufacturer support life and whether the system can be de-installed and re-sited economically, since moving a magnet is a specialized rigging job. Site preparation is a major and often overlooked cost, because RF shielding, a cryogen quench vent, a chiller and the structural work for siting an MRI can add $200,000 to $500,000 on their own. Those costs are typically not recoverable collateral, so they are usually handled inside the financing or with additional equity and presenting them up front lets the deal be structured correctly.

C-Arms and Mini C-Arms

C-arms provide real-time fluoroscopy for surgical and pain-management procedures. Full-size surgical C-arms run roughly $80,000 to $350,000 or more new, with vascular configurations higher, while refurbished full-size units commonly run $30,000 to $85,000 and flat-panel systems higher. Mini C-arms for extremity imaging run about $30,000 to $70,000 new, with refurbished units available from the mid teens. As with other modalities, the generation, the detector type, whether it is an image intensifier or a flat panel and the software all affect capability and value and a documented, serviceable unit is easier to finance than one of unknown history.

DEXA and Bone Densitometry

DEXA bone density scanners are a common addition for primary care, orthopedic, rheumatology and women's health practices, because they bring a billable service in-house. New systems commonly run $40,000 to $150,000, with refurbished units roughly $16,000 to $45,000. DEXA is a good example of how much software version drives value, because resale prices swing on the operating system and software generation the unit runs and an older software version can meaningfully reduce what a scanner is worth. Confirming the software status is part of evaluating a used DEXA system.

Mammography Systems

Mammography splits into two tiers. Two-dimensional full-field digital mammography systems commonly run $150,000 to $250,000 new, with refurbished units often available for $40,000 to $120,000, while three-dimensional tomosynthesis systems run $250,000 to $500,000 or more new, with mid-tier refurbished systems roughly $95,000 to $225,000. Tomosynthesis capability is often license-gated, so on a used system it is important to confirm whether the 3D functionality and its software are current and transferable. Mammography rooms also require shielding and a compliant installation, which factor into the total cost.

New Versus Refurbished Imaging

Imaging is one of the few clinical categories with a deep, established refurbished market, so the new-versus-used decision shapes almost every deal. A certified-refurbished CT, MRI or C-arm from a reputable remarketer can bring a system in at a fraction of new pricing while still carrying a warranty and documented refurbishment, which is why so many imaging centers and growing practices build around used equipment rather than new. The trade-off is that a used system concentrates risk in a handful of high-value components, meaning the tube or the magnet, the coil set, the detector panel and the software license, so the age and condition of those pieces matter far more than the model name. A refurbished unit with a current software version, a transferable service contract and a clean maintenance history often underwrites as cleanly as a new one, while an undocumented gray-market system of the same model can be hard to finance at all. For most buyers the practical path is to compare a new system and a certified-refurbished one side by side on total cost, expected service life and monthly payment, then let the collateral quality rather than the sticker price drive the structure. A funding partner who follows the imaging market can size either option against what the specific unit is actually worth today.

What Lenders Evaluate on Imaging Equipment

Across every modality, a few asset factors carry outsized weight. Service and maintenance contract status is central, because a serviceable system holds value and a lapsed or non-transferable contract does not. Software version and the upgrade path can make or break a used system, since obsolete or non-transferable software can strand otherwise sound hardware. Site preparation, including shielding, dedicated power and HVAC, is a large soft cost that is usually not recoverable collateral. Installation, rigging and the eventual de-install cost affect loan-to-value and recovery economics, especially on heavy modalities that take a crane and a specialized crew to move. Finally, certified-refurbished equipment from an established remarketer, with a warranty and documented refurbishment, supports better terms than an as-is gray-market unit. The more clearly the system and its support status are documented, the smoother the financing.

Wrapping Installation and Site Prep Into the Financing

One of the most useful things a practice can do is treat the imaging project as a whole rather than as a bare equipment purchase. Installation, rigging, shielding and site prep are frequently part of getting an imaging system into service and many of these costs can be included in the financing where they are part of the acquisition. That is especially true for CT and MRI, where siting can rival the cost of a lower-end system. Putting the complete turnkey cost on the quote, the system, the coils or panels, the shielding, the power and HVAC work, the rigging and the installation, lets the financing reflect the real project and keeps the practice from having to fund the site work out of pocket.

How Imaging Deals Are Structured

Imaging finance is rarely one-size-fits-all, because a $6,000 handheld ultrasound and a $600,000 refurbished MRI sit at opposite ends of the same category. Smaller modalities such as ultrasound, a mini C-arm or a DEXA scanner often qualify for application-only financing on qualifying transactions, where a short application stands in for full financial statements and an approval can come back quickly. High-value systems such as CT, MRI and full-size C-arms are usually structured with additional documentation, a longer term matched to the useful life of the equipment and, where it applies, the site work folded into the same schedule. Matching the term to how long the asset will actually earn is central, because a durable magnet or generator supports a longer schedule than a fast-moving analyzer that may be replaced as the technology advances. Many practices also benefit from a payment structure that ramps with the revenue, since a new modality takes time to build referral volume, so a lighter early payment that steps up as the schedule fills can keep the cash flow sensible. For an imaging center or a multi-site group adding systems over time, a master lease line lets each new modality come on as its own schedule rather than starting a fresh application every time, which keeps the paperwork light and the buildout predictable. The right structure comes from looking at the specific system, the site and the practice together rather than treating the equipment as a bare line item.

Getting Started

Start your application at ileasecapital.com/apply, it takes about three minutes and there is no hard credit pull. The most useful details to have ready are the modality and configuration, whether the system is new, used or refurbished, the age and software version, the service or warranty status, the vendor or dealer, the purchase price and any shielding, site prep or installation. Smaller imaging purchases may qualify for application-only financing, while larger systems are typically structured with additional documentation and can be presented together with their site costs as one project.

Financing Medical Imaging Through iLease Capital

iLease Capital works with practices, imaging centers and hospitals acquiring new, used and refurbished imaging equipment across every modality. As a broker with more than 50 lender relationships, iLease can match a specific system to a funding partner that understands imaging collateral and financing may be available for transactions up to $5 million plus. Whether you are financing a portable ultrasound, a digital radiography room, a refurbished CT or a used MRI with its full site buildout, send the configuration and site costs, or call us at (866) 545-3273. For the full range of clinical categories, see our medical equipment financing hub.

Frequently asked questions