Cost breakdown
A computed tomography (CT) scanner runs from about $90,000 for a refurbished entry-level unit to $2,000,000 or more for a premium high-slice system. A CT scanner is also sold as a CT scan machine or a CT machine, and you will see the CT scan short form used too, but what changes the price stays the same whatever the listing calls it. Slice count and whether the scanner is new or refurbished set the band. Site preparation and install are quoted on top, so treat the scanner price as the starting figure, not the landed cost.
| Tier | Typical price AUD, scanner only, refurbished to new, before GST | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (16-slice) | $90,000 - $360,000 | General radiology and routine diagnostic work at moderate patient volume |
| Mid (64-slice) | $175,000 - $700,000 | The common hospital class: faster scans, basic cardiac, and higher patient volume |
| Premium (128 to 320-slice) | $675,000 - $2,000,000+ | Advanced cardiac, oncology planning, and interventional work needing the fastest, highest-resolution scans |
Common setups
Slice count
Slice count is the core decision on a CT scanner. It sets how much anatomy the scanner captures per rotation, how fast a scan finishes, and which studies you can run. More slices means faster scans and finer detail, and a higher price. Buy for the studies you actually do, not the highest number you can find.
| Slice count | What it does well | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| 16-slice | General radiology: head, chest, abdomen, trauma, and routine diagnostic work. | Community clinics and moderate patient volume |
| 32 to 64-slice | Faster scans and basic cardiac with heart-rate control. The common hospital class. | Hospitals and busy imaging centres |
| 128 to 320-slice | Advanced cardiac without heart-rate control, low-dose protocols, and the fastest scans. | Cardiac, oncology planning, and interventional work |
Two things travel with slice count. Scan speed rises as slices rise, which matters for patients who cannot hold still and for high daily volume. Dose-reduction technology tends to be stronger on newer, higher-slice machines: automatic exposure control, tube current modulation, and iterative reconstruction lower the radiation dose while holding image quality. If patient dose or throughput matters to you, weigh the software, not just the slice number.
Site and install
A CT scanner is not a plug-in purchase. The room has to be shielded, powered, cooled, and able to carry the weight, and the install is quoted separately from the scanner. Site work commonly adds 10 to 20 percent to the scanner price, so factor it in before you compare quotes.
| Requirement | What it involves | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Radiation shielding | Lead-lined walls, floor, door, and a leaded viewing window, sized by a qualified medical physicist for your room and your scanner. | Sets a large part of the build cost and must be in place before the scanner can be used |
| Power supply | A dedicated supply, often three-phase, rated for the scanner. | An undersized supply means an electrical upgrade, which adds cost and time |
| Cooling | Dedicated climate control for the heat the scanner and its electronics produce. | The scanner will not run reliably in an under-cooled room |
| Floor loading and access | A floor rated for the gantry weight, and an access path wide enough to rig the components in. | A scanner that cannot be moved in, or a floor that cannot hold it, stalls the whole project |
New or refurbished
CT scanners hold clinical value for years, so a large refurbished market sits alongside new. The right call comes down to warranty, the X-ray tube and detector condition, the software you need, and how much you want to spend up front.
Ownership costs
The purchase price is the start. The X-ray tube, the service contract, power and cooling, and software all feed into what the scanner costs over its life. On CT, two of these dominate.
| Cost area | What to expect | What changes the cost |
|---|---|---|
| X-ray tube | The single largest running cost. The tube is a wear part with a limited life, and replacement can run into six figures. | Scan volume, the studies you run, and the tube model |
| Service contract | Most buyers run a contract. Full-service covers parts and labour, including the tube, for a predictable annual cost. Parts-only costs less but leaves you carrying the tube risk. | Coverage scope, scanner age, and original-manufacturer vs independent service |
| Power and cooling | The scanner and its cooling draw steady power whenever the room is live. | Daily scan hours and local power rates |
| Software and detectors | Licences for advanced applications, plus the detector as a long-life component. | The applications you license and the scanner platform |
Before you quote
You do not need every spec finalised to get useful quotes. Pin these five down and suppliers can price the right scanner, and the right install, the first time.
| 1 | Study mix and volume: your main studies (general, cardiac, oncology, interventional) and your daily patient count. This sets the slice count. |
| 2 | Slice count and dose needs: the detector configuration you are targeting, and whether low-dose protocols matter for your patients. |
| 3 | Site and install: your room size, your power supply, and whether shielding and cooling are already in place or need building. |
| 4 | New or refurbished: whether you want a new scanner or a refurbished unit, and the warranty and service cover you expect. |
| 5 | Budget and finance basis: your budget, whether you compare on purchase price or monthly finance, and your delivery location. |
Finance options
A CT scanner is a large upfront cost, and the install and first service term add to it. To spread that into a regular repayment, many buyers weigh equipment finance alongside the quote comparison. What finance looks like for your practice comes down to the answers below. It is also worth checking how the purchase sits under the ATO depreciation rules for business assets with your accountant.
| Finance question | What it helps you decide | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| What could the repayment be? | Whether the scanner fits your cash flow before committing to a quote. | Scanners sit in a price range where a regular repayment is easier to weigh against the work it does than the upfront cost alone. |
| Am I likely to get approved? | Whether your practice, trading history, and the scanner's value are financeable. | MedicalSearch finance works across a panel of lenders, which can improve the chance of finding a suitable approval pathway. |
| Which finance structure suits the purchase? | Whether to compare a chattel mortgage, lease, rental, or a balloon payment. | The right structure can affect ownership, cash flow, and how repayments line up with your income through the year. |
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Common questions
Quick answers to the most-searched questions about CT scanners and how MedicalSearch works.
MedicalSearch helps you compare multiple reputable Australian suppliers with a single enquiry, saving you time and effort. Instead of contacting suppliers individually, you can compare suitable devices, technology, compliance requirements, service support, and ongoing consumables in one place. This helps you find the right scanner for your treatments while avoiding costly mistakes and making a more informed purchasing decision.
MedicalSearch has connected Australian healthcare buyers with medical equipment suppliers since 2011. Suppliers list with us because they get genuine enquiries from buyers who are actively in market. Every supplier is vetted before listing, so you compare reputable Australian suppliers with the capability to install and service what they sell.
A CT scanner runs from about $90,000 to $360,000 for an entry 16-slice unit, $175,000 to $700,000 for a mid 64-slice scanner, and $675,000 to $2,000,000 or more for a premium 128 to 320-slice system. These are scanner-only bands before GST, with refurbished at the low end and new at the high end. Whether you search for a CT scan machine or a CT machine, slice count and condition set the band, and site work is quoted on top.
Work back from the studies you run. 16-slice suits general radiology and routine diagnostic work at moderate volume. 64-slice is the common hospital class, with faster scans and basic cardiac. 128 to 320-slice is for advanced cardiac, oncology planning, and interventional work. Tell suppliers your study mix and daily patient count so they size it right.
Often, yes. A used or refurbished CT scanner can sit 30 to 50 percent below a new one of the same slice count, and frequently installs sooner. The real risk is the X-ray tube and detector, so check the tube usage and remaining life, the detector condition, the scan counts, and the full service history, not just the install year. A properly refurbished, register-included unit with a warranty and a service plan gives much of new for less, and is usually worth the premium over an as-is machine.
Yes, when it is properly refurbished. A refurbished scanner can save a large amount against new. Check the X-ray tube usage and remaining life, the detector condition, and the full service history. Confirm the unit is included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and comes with a warranty, installation, commissioning, and a service plan.
Site work is quoted separately and commonly adds 10 to 20 percent to the scanner price. It covers radiation shielding sized by a medical physicist, a dedicated power supply, cooling, and rigging the scanner into the room. The exact figure depends on whether your room already has shielding and power in place. Have the supplier survey the room and quote it before you compare scanners.
Yes. Unless exempt, a CT scanner must be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to be legally supplied in Australia, which the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) maintains. Ask the supplier for the scanner's register details before you buy.
The scanner and the room usually need a radiation use licence or registration from your state radiation regulator, and operators must be qualified to use it. The scanner should be commissioned and tested to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency standard for diagnostic imaging apparatus. Requirements vary by state, so check with your regulator and the supplier early.
The X-ray tube is a wear part, and its life is measured in scans rather than years. How long it lasts depends on your scan volume, the studies you run, and the tube model. Plan for an eventual replacement, which is a large single cost, and factor it into the service contract you choose.
Equipment finance pre-approval is usually quick, often within a few business days once you provide basic practice and financial details. Pre-approval lets you compare quotes knowing your repayment and borrowing capacity, without committing to a purchase.
For most equipment finance under a set threshold, lenders ask for limited paperwork: your business ABN and trading history, recent bank statements, and details of the scanner being financed. Larger amounts can need business financials or tax returns. MedicalSearch finance works across a panel of lenders, so the exact requirements vary by amount and lender.
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