X-ray (single view)
Typical UK price: £100–£280
Prices from local practices
Cheapest found
£70
Hoylake Veterinary Surgery: Per plate
Average
£265
Most expensive
£561
Based on 60 prices submitted to VetPricelist. Prices may not include all additional fees — confirm with your vet.
X-ray (single view) cost by city
What is x-ray (single view)?
An X-ray (radiograph) produces an image of your pet's bones and certain soft tissue structures, and is used to diagnose fractures, joint disease, swallowed foreign objects, chest conditions, and bladder stones. A single radiographic view captures one angle of the area of interest. Most pets require sedation or a short general anaesthetic to achieve the stillness needed for a diagnostic quality image.
Why do prices vary between vets?
- Whether sedation or anaesthesia is required — conscious radiography is possible in very calm patients but most require chemical restraint, adding cost
- Body part imaged — chest and abdominal radiographs require different positioning and effort than limb radiographs
- Digital vs analogue equipment — digital radiography is now standard but capital costs are reflected in procedure pricing
- Specialist interpretation — some practices send images to a veterinary radiologist for a formal report, adding a reporting fee
Frequently asked questions
Will my pet need to be sedated for an X-ray?
Most pets do require sedation or short anaesthesia for X-rays because the diagnostic position must be held precisely still and is often uncomfortable. Conscious radiography is attempted in very calm or very unwell animals where sedation risk is high. Your vet will assess what is most appropriate.
Are X-rays safe for my pet?
The radiation dose from veterinary radiography is very small. The frequency of X-rays required during a typical animal's lifetime does not represent a meaningful health risk. The risk-benefit analysis strongly favours X-rays as a diagnostic tool when clinically needed.
What's the difference between X-ray and ultrasound?
X-rays show bony structures clearly and are good for identifying fractures, some foreign bodies, and chest changes. Ultrasound uses sound waves and is better for examining soft tissue organs such as the liver, spleen, bladder, and heart. The two are complementary and both may be recommended for a full assessment.
CMA Veterinary Market Investigation Order
Under the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) reforms — with the Order due by September 2026 and price lists phased in through 2027 — UK vet practices will publish prices for this procedure. VetPricelist aggregates these published prices so you can compare them in one place.