How long does spirometry take? Private cost in 2026 and preparation

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

Basic spirometry usually takes 10 to 20 minutes, while a bronchodilator test takes around 30 to 45 minutes. In 2026, the test most commonly costs PLN 60 privately, with half of facilities charging between PLN 50 ‑ 93. Spirometry is free through the NFZ with a referral.

Spirometry is one of the simplest and least expensive lung tests, yet before their first appointment most people ask the same questions: how long does it take, how much does it cost and do you need to prepare? We answer these questions using clinic and hospital price lists. This article is not a substitute for medical advice: your GP, pulmonologist or allergist will decide whether the test is necessary and how to interpret the result.

How long does spirometry take?

Basic spirometry usually takes 10 to 20 minutes, including instructions and several repeated measurements. Spirometry with a bronchodilator test takes longer, around 30 to 45 minutes, because after the first measurement the patient is given medication to dilate the airways and waits around 10 to 20 minutes before the second measurement.

Allow more time for the appointment than the breathing test itself takes: you will need to rest briefly and have your height and weight measured, as these are used to calculate the predicted values. If a measurement is invalid, for example because you cough, it will be repeated.

How much does private spirometry cost?

Basic spirometry most commonly costs PLN 60 privately, according to 6 price lists collected by indekscen.pl, with half of facilities charging between PLN 50 ‑ 93. The cheapest offers start at PLN 40, while the most expensive reach PLN 110. Details and quotations from price lists are available on the spirometry page.

Factors affecting the price of spirometry:

1. Test type. Spirometry with a bronchodilator test costs more than the basic test because it requires medication and a second measurement. We do not calculate its prices separately, so ask the facility about the cost.
2. Doctor’s report. Some price lists include an assessment in the test price, while others do not.
3. Type of facility. Public hospitals and clinics have price lists for patients without referrals, often with lower prices than private medical centres.
4. Package. Spirometry is sometimes included in an occupational health assessment or health check package.

Spirometry, a chest X-ray or an allergist: how much does respiratory diagnosis cost?

Spirometry costs less than a chest X-ray and several times less than an appointment with an allergist, but each serves a different purpose. Spirometry measures how much air the lungs can hold and how quickly it can be exhaled. An X-ray shows an image of the lungs, while a doctor considers all the results when making a diagnosis.

Test or appointment	Median	Typical range	What it shows
Basic spirometry	PLN 60	PLN 50 ‑ 93	air volumes and flow rates
Chest X-ray	PLN 80	PLN 80	an image of the lungs and heart
Appointment with an allergist	PLN 280	PLN 255 ‑ 285	medical history, assessment and further diagnostic tests

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

You can read more about lung imaging in our article on private chest X-rays. allergist appointment (with tests) with skin tests costs around PLN 315.

What does spirometry involve?

Spirometry involves repeatedly blowing air through a mouthpiece connected to a spirometer while wearing a nose clip. The person conducting the test will ask you to breathe normally, then take the deepest possible breath and exhale as quickly and fully as possible for several seconds. The device draws a graph and calculates the parameters.

For a bronchodilator test, after the first set of measurements the patient inhales medication that dilates the airways. The measurement is repeated around 10 to 20 minutes later. Comparing the two results helps the doctor distinguish asthma from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

How should you prepare for spirometry?

You do not need to fast before spirometry, but following a few rules will make the result more reliable. Facilities most commonly recommend that you:

• Do not smoke for several hours before the test, ideally from the morning of the test.
• Do not eat a large meal immediately before the test, although a light meal is fine.
• Wear loose clothing, without a tight belt or corset that could restrict a deep breath.
• Avoid strenuous exercise for half an hour before the test and arrive a few minutes early so that you can rest.
• Stop taking inhaled medication only if instructed to do so by the referring doctor. Tell the person conducting the test which medication you last took and when.

When should spirometry not be performed?

Spirometry is usually not performed shortly after a heart attack or surgery on the eye, chest or abdomen, or if the patient has a pneumothorax or an acute infection with a fever. Exhaling forcefully raises pressure in the chest, so the test is postponed in these situations. The referring doctor will check the list of contraindications, so tell them about any previous procedures and heart conditions.

Which conditions can spirometry detect and how should percentage values be interpreted?

Spirometry helps diagnose and monitor asthma and COPD. It can also detect reduced lung capacity that requires further investigation. The key parameters are FEV1, the amount of air you exhale in the first second, FVC, the total amount exhaled, and the ratio between them.

The result is usually given as a percentage of the predicted value, meaning the value expected for your age, height and sex. However, current guidelines use the lower limit of normal (LLN) and the z-score rather than a single fixed percentage. You should therefore not interpret the result yourself by comparing it with reference tables found online: a doctor assesses it together with your symptoms.

Can you have spirometry without a referral?

You can have private spirometry without a referral, usually paying PLN 50 ‑ 93. The test is free through the NFZ, but you need a referral, for example from a GP or pulmonologist. Spirometry is also performed as part of occupational health assessments for certain jobs. You can read more in our article on occupational health assessments.

If you are having a private test without a referral, bring any previous results with you. If the result is abnormal, you will still need to see a doctor, who will decide on the next steps.

Spirometry through the NFZ or privately: which is better value?

Spirometry is free through the NFZ and usually costs PLN 50 ‑ 93 privately, less than most private imaging tests. At this price, the choice mainly depends on the waiting time and whether you already have a referral.

• Choose the NFZ if your doctor has already issued a referral and the waiting time at a nearby clinic is short.
• Choose a private test if the wait through the NFZ is long and you need the result quickly, for example before an appointment with a pulmonologist or to monitor asthma treatment.
• Consider the total cost. Having a private test without a private medical appointment means that you will still take the result to an NFZ doctor, which is usually not a problem.

How can you avoid overpaying for spirometry?

• Check the price list of a hospital or public clinic. The less expensive offers in the price lists collected come from facilities of this type.
• Ask whether the price includes a doctor’s report, as the graph alone will tell you little without one.
• Do not pay for a bronchodilator test immediately unless your doctor has ordered it. It is usually performed when the basic result is abnormal.
• Combine tests. If your doctor has also ordered a chest X-ray, having both done during one visit to a hospital with an X-ray department saves time.

„Spirometria z oceną. 70,00.”

Wojewódzki Szpital Specjalistyczny w Lublinie, source

„Spirometria 100zł”

KCDK, source

„13 Spirometria. 110,00.”

USK1, source

„Spirometria. 50,00 zł.”

Na Rondzie NZOZ, source

You can find prices for other tests in the health category. We are still collecting city-level spirometry prices, so we currently provide national medians.

The prices in this article come from public price lists published by medical facilities. Each entry on the how much does spirometry cost page includes the source, date and a verbatim quotation.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the wait for spirometry through the NFZ?

Czas oczekiwania na spirometrię na NFZ zależy od poradni i regionu, od kilku dni do kilku tygodni. Terminy można porównać w wyszukiwarce https://terminyleczenia.nfz.gov.pl/, a prywatnie badanie kosztuje zwykle PLN 50 ‑ 93.

Is spirometry safe during pregnancy?

Spirometria nie wykorzystuje promieniowania ani leków, poza próbą rozkurczową, dlatego bywa wykonywana także w ciąży. Decyzję zostaw lekarzowi prowadzącemu ciążę i uprzedź o niej osobę wykonującą badanie.

What happens if my spirometry result is abnormal?

Nieprawidłowy wynik spirometrii nie jest jeszcze rozpoznaniem. Lekarz porównuje go z objawami i często zleca powtórkę albo próbę rozkurczową, która prywatnie kosztuje więcej niż badanie podstawowe za PLN 60.

Does spirometry hurt?

Spirometria nie boli, ale wymaga wysiłku: kilka razy trzeba wziąć bardzo głęboki wdech i z całej siły wydmuchać powietrze. U części osób wywołuje to kaszel albo chwilowe zawroty głowy.

Do you get spirometry results immediately?

Wykres i liczby ze spirometru są gotowe od razu po badaniu. Opis lekarza bywa w cenie albo dostępny po kilku dniach, dlatego przy cenie PLN 60 zapytaj, czy obejmuje ona ocenę wyniku.

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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