Diagnostics and laboratory tests
How much does an X-ray cost?
An X-ray for extra-large dogs typically costs £506 at a UK vet. That is the middle price across 8 practices that publish one. Below: how much it varies, where it costs least, and what the price usually includes.
What this covers: Production of up to three images for a non-complex case. Price to include third-party fees if used in part.
Size of pet:
How much it varies
How many vets charge each amount for an X-ray, extra-large dogs, in £50 steps. The dark bar holds the typical price.
By region
Typical price in each part of the UK, cheapest first.
| Region | Typical | Vets |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £506 | 3 |
The cheapest vets in the UK for an X-ray
Extra-large dogs. Check what each price includes before you compare.
| Practice | Town | Owner | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Bears Vets | Potters Bar | Independent | £224.87 | sedation, images |
| Abbey Vet Centre | Market Rasen | Independent | £505.98 | GA, images, report |
| Abbey Vet Centre | Immingham | Independent | £505.98 | GA, images, report |
| Abbey Veteinary | Grimsby | Independent | £505.98 | GA, images, report |
| Abbey Veterinary Centre | Grimsby | Independent | £505.98 | GA, images, report |
| The Hadleigh Vets | Hadleigh | Independent | £538 | sedation, GA, images |
| Heathfield Vets | Heathfield | Independent | £558.45 | sedation, images |
| RVC Small Animal Practice, London | Camden | Independent | £980 | GA, hospitalisation, images |
A low price with nothing in the "included" column may mean the vet has not said, not that nothing is included. Open the practice for the detail.
What the price covers, and why it varies
The standard definition: X-ray (including sedation/general anaesthesia and three images)
The price depends on the size of your pet. Practices set their own weight bands, so a "medium dog" at one vet may be a "large dog" at another. If your dog is near a boundary, ask which band applies.
Other prices in the same group: Ultrasound (abdominal), Echocardiogram, Ear swab cytology, Fine needle aspiration cytology, Basic urine screen, CT scan (per body part), MRI scan (per body part), Pre-anaesthetic blood test. All 36 treatments.
Common questions
How much does x-ray cost at the vet in the UK?
Typically £505.98 for extra-large dogs. That is the middle price across 8 UK practices that publish one, so half charge less and half charge more.
Does the price of x-ray depend on the size of my pet?
Yes. Most practices price x-ray by weight. Typical published prices: all pets £337; cats £474.48; dogs (all sizes) £440; medium dogs £485.92; small dogs £474.48; extra-large dogs £505.98; large dogs £632.61; giant dogs £270. The standard list uses cats and five dog sizes (small, medium, large, extra large and giant), but each practice sets its own kilogram limits, so ask which band your pet falls in.
How can I pay less for x-ray?
Compare the vets in your own town first: the gap between the cheapest and dearest is often larger than the gap between towns. Ask for a written estimate before you agree to anything, which practices must give for treatment over £500.
What does the x-ray price include?
The standard list defines it as: Production of up to three images for a non-complex case. Price to include third-party fees if used in part. Published prices include VAT and are for a typical case. Complications cost more.
Why do vets publish the price of x-ray?
Because the competition regulator told them to. It found in 2026 that owners could not compare vet prices and that prices had risen faster than inflation, so every practice now has to publish the same 36 prices, including x-ray, on its website one click from the home page. The big chains must do it by 23 December 2026 and everyone else by 23 March 2027.
Not veterinary advice. This page compares what practices charge. It does not say whether a treatment or a medicine is right for your animal, and nothing here should be used to start, stop or change any treatment. Only your own vet, who can examine your animal, can advise you. If your animal is unwell, ring a vet. In an emergency, use an out-of-hours vet.
How this is ordered. By price, lowest first, unless you sort it yourself by clicking a heading. Nobody pays to appear here, to appear higher, or to be left out, and no practice has any say in the order. How we collect prices.
About these prices: each figure is as published on the practice's own website on the date shown, VAT included where the practice says so, for the size of pet and the inclusions stated. Practices now have to publish a standard price list and keep it current (the rules), but the price you pay depends on your pet, so confirm with the practice before you book. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will re-check the source within two working days.