Private chest X-ray in 2026: price, referral and report

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

A private chest X-ray, meaning a chest radiograph in two views (PA and lateral), most commonly costs PLN 80 in Poland. In the facility price lists collected, prices range from PLN 45 to PLN 100. The examination is free with a doctor's referral under the NFZ.

A chest X-ray is one of the least expensive imaging examinations and also one of the most commonly ordered: for a persistent cough, pneumonia, before surgery or as part of occupational health checks. Below, we present prices from radiology department price lists, explain when a referral is required, and compare X-rays with ultrasound and CT scans.

How much does a private chest X-ray cost?

A private chest X-ray most commonly costs PLN 80 for a set of two images, in posteroanterior (PA) and lateral views, according to 5 facility price lists collected by indekscen.pl. Most radiology departments charge around this amount, but the highest prices can be twice the lowest: the cheapest offers are PLN 45, while the most expensive are PLN 100.

A single PA image without a lateral view is usually cheaper. The doctor ordering the examination decides whether one view is sufficient, so check what the referral specifies before booking.

Chest X-rays and other examinations: price comparison

A chest X-ray is clearly cheaper than a chest ultrasound or CT scan and costs about the same as other basic X-rays. These are the median prices from facility price lists:

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

Each of these examinations serves a different purpose. A chest X-ray shows the lung tissue, the outline of the heart and changes within the chest. A chest ultrasound (typically PLN 240 ‑ 290) is good at detecting fluid in the pleural cavity and does not use radiation. A CT scan (around PLN 480) provides a much more detailed image, but costs more and involves a higher radiation dose. Spirometry (around PLN 60) is not an imaging examination. It assesses how the lungs function, for example in people with asthma or COPD.

The value of this comparison, which you will not find in a single radiology department’s price list, lies in the median calculated from several facilities and the side-by-side comparison of examinations.

Do you need a referral for a private X-ray?

You need a doctor’s referral for a chest X-ray even when paying privately, as regulations require every examination involving ionising radiation to be justified. In practice, it does not need to be an NFZ referral: radiology departments accept referrals from private doctors, and some facilities have a doctor who can issue one on site after a brief consultation, sometimes for an additional fee.

A chest X-ray is free with a referral from a GP or specialist under the NFZ. Waiting times at public radiology departments can be short because an X-ray is a quick examination, so it is worth asking at your clinic before paying privately.

How much does a chest X-ray without a referral cost?

In practice, a chest X-ray ‘without a referral’ means a private examination with a referral issued at the facility. The X-ray itself then most commonly costs PLN 80, and if the facility charges separately for medical assessment, this fee is added to the total. We do not have separate data on the cost of this assessment in the index, so ask about it when booking.

How much does a chest X-ray with a report cost?

At many radiology departments, a chest X-ray with a report costs the same as one without, because the radiologist’s report is included in the examination price, most commonly PLN 80. However, some price lists show the report as a separate item or charge extra for an expedited report issued on the same day. We do not collect a separate price for reports, so ask the following questions when booking:

1. Does the price include a radiologist’s report?
2. When will the report be ready, and can I access it online?
3. Will I receive the image on a disc, digitally or via a link?
4. Does the price include both PA and lateral views?

The report will be useful to the doctor who ordered the examination, and it is worth keeping the digital image for future comparisons.

How often can you have a chest X-ray?

A chest X-ray may be repeated as often as a doctor considers medically justified because the radiation dose from a single chest image is low, comparable to a few days of natural background radiation. However, it is not performed ‘preventively’ without a reason. When treating pneumonia, a doctor may sometimes order a follow-up X-ray after several weeks.

If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, make sure you tell the doctor and radiographer before the examination. The doctor decides whether and when the X-ray should be repeated.

When is a chest X-ray worth having?

Doctors most commonly order a chest X-ray for a cough lasting longer than a few weeks, suspected pneumonia, shortness of breath, chest pain, before planned surgery and as part of medical checks for certain jobs. A chest X-ray may form part of periodic medical examinations in occupations involving exposure to dust, as explained in our article on occupational health examinations. For heart-related symptoms, a doctor may order an echocardiogram instead of or alongside an X-ray, as described in the article echocardiogram: cost.

How much does a chest X-ray cost in different cities?

A chest X-ray costs about the same in most cities, most commonly PLN 80, with differences depending more on the facility than on the city. In the price lists collected, the same price appears at radiology departments in different parts of the country, while higher and lower prices are limited to individual facilities. We do not yet have separate medians for cities such as Łódź or Koszalin because there are too few price lists from each city to calculate a reliable median. Instead of looking for a ‘cheap city’, it is better to compare two or three radiology departments in your area. Our article on where services are cheapest shows how cities compare for other services.

What happens during a chest X-ray?

A chest X-ray usually takes a few minutes and does not hurt. The radiographer will ask you to undress to the waist, remove any necklaces and tie up long hair. For a PA image, you stand facing the detector plate, with your hands on your hips and your shoulders pushed forwards so that your shoulder blades do not obscure the lungs. When instructed by the radiographer, you take a deep breath and hold it for a second or two. For a lateral image, you stand side-on with your arms raised above your head. Children and people who cannot stand are examined while sitting or lying down, with the image taken in an AP view.

Where can you have a chest X-ray?

You can have a chest X-ray at a hospital radiology department, a clinic with diagnostic imaging facilities or a private diagnostic centre. The examination takes a few minutes and requires no preparation or fasting. You need to remove clothing above the waist, jewellery from your neck and any bra containing metal components.

How to avoid overpaying:

• Compare two or three radiology departments in your area. With a median of PLN 80 and prices ranging from PLN 45 to PLN 100, the difference can be noticeable.
• Check hospital radiology departments. Public hospitals also provide examinations for a fee and often charge less than private clinics.
• Do not book a CT scan just in case. A CT scan costs several times more and makes sense when a doctor orders one after an X-ray.

„RTG płuc PA + boczne, 100 zł”

pro-familia.pl, source

„RTG klatki piersiowej pa i bok. 80,00 zł”

dzieciecyszpital.pl, source

„Klatka piersiowa | 80 PLN”

diagnostykaobrazowa.eu, source

„zdjęcie klatki piersiowej (p-a + boczne), 80 zł”

przychodnia.gdynia.pl, source

You can find prices for other imaging examinations and laboratory tests in the health category, with details on the cost of a chest X-ray page.

The prices in this article come from publicly available medical facility price lists. Each service page includes the source, date and verbatim quotation. This article is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an X-ray cost without insurance?

Bez ubezpieczenia płaci się jak za badanie prywatne: prześwietlenie płuc kosztuje najczęściej PLN 80, a w cennikach placówek od PLN 45 do PLN 100.

Can you have an X-ray privately?

Tak, RTG klatki piersiowej robi wiele prywatnych pracowni i przychodni, zwykle bez długiego czekania. Prześwietlenie płuc kosztuje tam najczęściej PLN 80.

How long does it take to receive chest X-ray results?

Samo zdjęcie jest gotowe od razu, a opis radiologa zwykle w ciągu jednego do kilku dni roboczych, zależnie od placówki. Część pracowni wydaje opis tego samego dnia.

How much does a spinal X-ray cost compared with a chest X-ray?

RTG jednego odcinka kręgosłupa kosztuje najczęściej PLN 80, typowo PLN 80 ‑ 110, czyli podobnie jak prześwietlenie płuc (PLN 80).

Will a chest X-ray detect pneumonia?

Prześwietlenie płuc to podstawowe badanie przy podejrzeniu zapalenia płuc i pozwala zobaczyć zmiany zapalne w miąższu. Wynik zawsze ocenia lekarz razem z objawami i badaniem osłuchowym.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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