A pregnancy ultrasound scan is a safe, non-invasive imaging procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your developing baby. During pregnancy, your medical team will use ultrasound to monitor your baby’s development, check for abnormalities, and reassure you that your baby is growing as expected for each stage of pregnancy.
Many parents-to-be opt for private pregnancy scans as well as, or instead of, standard NHS scans during their pregnancy. For example, you may want to see your baby earlier than 12 weeks, or you may want to see them more often. Or you may be concerned about potential complications during pregnancy and how they may impact your baby’s development.
Private pregnancy scans can vary significantly in cost depending on the type of scan, the clinic you choose, and where you’re located in the UK. In this guide, we’ll break down the average costs for different types of pregnancy ultrasounds, compare private and NHS services, and look at other factors that can affect the pricing.
Average Costs for Pregnancy Scans
Private pregnancy scans cost anywhere between £50 and over £300, depending on the type of scan you have, the clinic you opt for and where you live. Below is more information on the average price ranges for specific types of pregnancy scans and what they involve.
Types of Pregnancy Scan Costs
Early Viability Scan
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Costs: £50 - £200
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What it’s for: Confirms your pregnancy from as early as 6 weeks, checks your baby’s heartbeat and reassures you that the pregnancy is developing correctly. It can also give you an idea of your baby’s estimated due date. It’s usually performed between 6 and 8 weeks of pregnancy.
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What you need to know: You’ll need a full bladder for the scan.
Dating Scan
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Costs: £90 - £180
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What it’s for: Helps to determine your baby’s due date by measuring the size of your baby. It’s usually performed between 8 and 14 weeks of pregnancy.
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What you need to know: It’s often combined with early screening tests.
Nuchal Translucency Scan (NT Scan)
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Costs: £190 - £230
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What it’s for: An NT scan helps to accurately assess the probability that your baby has a chromosomal abnormality such as Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome or Patau's syndrome. It’s performed between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy.
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What you need to know: The results of your NT scan are combined with blood test results, which may be an additional cost.
Anomaly Scan (Anatomy Scan)
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Costs: £150 - £315
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What it’s for: An anomaly scan provides a thorough examination of your baby’s development, including their head, chest, limbs and major organs. It’s usually performed between 19 and 24 weeks of pregnancy.
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What you need to know: The scan should be performed by a qualified sonographer with extensive experience in obstetric scanning. If you’re not sure, ask your provider.
Gender Scan
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Costs: £50 - £190
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What it’s for: Many couples now like to know the sex of their baby before the birth. You may want to throw a gender reveal party with the results, which can be provided in a sealed envelope for opening in front of family and friends.
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What you need to know: Gender scans tend to be more accurate from 18 or 20 weeks. A gender scan with an obstetrician costs more.
3D/4D/5D Scans
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Costs: £120 - £300
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What it’s for: Increasingly popular, these scans provide detailed 3D images or real-time 4D video of your baby (best carried out between 26 and 32 weeks). Many also provide growth and well-being assessments as part of the scan package. 5D scans (HS Live) use special cameras and skin tone software to give you a detailed, real-life view of your developing baby.
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What you need to know: Prices can vary depending on what keepsakes you choose to take away, such as digital videos or colour photos.
Growth Scan
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Costs: £100 - £200
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What it’s for: Monitors your baby’s growth and size in the third trimester.
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What you need to know: Growth scans are only offered on the NHS to women whose babies are measuring small for dates or women who are at increased risk of complications.
Reassurance Scan
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Costs: £80 - £180
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What it’s for: You can book a reassurance scan at any stage of your pregnancy. It’s designed to give you peace of mind, especially if you have experienced reduced fetal movement or bleeding during pregnancy and want to make sure your baby is doing well.
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What you need to know: As with most private pregnancy scans, children, family, and friends are welcome to attend.
Presentation Scan (Fetal Position Scan)
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Costs: £80 - £180
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What it’s for: A presentation scan is carried out from around 37 weeks of pregnancy and checks what position your baby is in before labour starts. For example, whether they are head-down (anterior), sideways (transverse), or bottom-first (breech).
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What you need to know: Your baby could move at any time before, and even during, labour, so there’s no guarantee that they will stay in the position your presentation scan confirms.
Private vs NHS Pregnancy Scans
Ultrasound pregnancy scans are vital for checking your baby’s health and growth. In the UK, we’re lucky enough to have a choice between accessing ultrasounds free through the NHS or through private clinics, which come with a cost. Apart from prices, here is a breakdown of some of the key differences between the two:
Availability and waiting times
NHS pregnancy scans are scheduled for specific points in your pregnancy (12 weeks and 20 weeks), and there is limited flexibility on times and dates. You won’t usually have a choice of when your scan appointment takes place.
Certain scans, such as the growth scan or the presentation scan, will only be offered to you if your doctor or midwife thinks there may be a problem with your baby’s development or position in the womb.
Private clinics can offer ultrasounds without a referral within a day or two, sometimes even on the same day. You can pick a time slot that’s convenient for you, including evenings and weekends at some clinics, so you don’t have to take time off work. You can ask for a reassurance scan at any point in your pregnancy, and you don’t need a medical reason to have a growth or a presentation scan either.
Quality of service
NHS sonographers often work under significant pressure due to high demand, so you may find your scan is shorter due to high demand or that you are given less information or time to ask questions about your baby’s growth because of these constraints. The equipment, while reliable, may be older than the equipment used in a private clinic, so they may not have the latest imaging technology.
Private clinics, on the other hand, tend to offer longer, more personalised pregnancy scans with plenty of information and explanations. They can also provide extra visualisations, such as 3D or 4D scans, that the NHS only provides if deemed medically necessary.
What’s Included in the Price of a Private Pregnancy Scan?
Most private ultrasound packages include:
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A scan performed by a qualified sonographer
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Printed or digital images that you can take away with you
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A summary of findings, such as a well-being assessment
You may have to pay extra for:
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Additional photos or videos
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Blood tests or specialist consultations
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Extended scan times
How Do Prices Differ Across the UK?
The cost of pregnancy scans can vary considerably depending on your location. Typically, scans in London can cost around 30% more than scans in different parts of the country, while areas such as the southwest offer some of the cheapest scans. However, London and other big cities have more availability and options, while you may be limited by what’s on offer in rural areas.
How Do Chain Clinics vs Independent Providers Compare?
Chain clinics can offer standardised and competitive prices across the country and pregnancy packages that include several scans. However, you may struggle to find big-name chain clinics outside cities or large towns.
Independent providers may have the freedom to offer lower prices during quieter periods, and they may be able to offer a more personalised service.
What Additional Costs Should I Consider?
Some clinics may ask for a referral letter from your GP for specific scans, which can cost between £20 and £50. You may also be asked to pay extra for a senior sonographer or a consultant obstetrician to carry out the scan, or it may cost extra for a pre- or post-scan consultation with a clinician. It’s worth asking what’s bundled into the overall price and what’s not when booking.
Depending on your scan results, you may need a repeat scan to monitor your baby or extra imaging if the initial results are unclear. Or your scan results may need to be reviewed by a specialist. These extra follow-up costs can amount to a lot of money, so it’s worth considering whether you have the funds for them or should wait for an NHS scan.
Get a Private Pregnancy Scan
If you need a pregnancy ultrasound scan, it's easy to find and book one via Scan.com, and get guidance from a healthcare professional included in your ultrasound scanning package. Find out how much private pregnancy scans cost near you by searching the whole of the UK in just a few clicks.
Sources
Can I have a pregnancy scan before 10 weeks? (2023). https://www.babycentre.co.uk/x1014511/can-i-have-a-scan-before-10-weeks
NHS and private ultrasound scans during pregnancy. (2024). https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/scans-appointments-and-classes/article/nhs-and-private-ultrasound-scans-during-pregnancy-aIETL6c9II7n
Ultrasound scans in pregnancy. (2023). https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/ultrasound-scans/
What is a Private Scan? (2024). https://www.iuslondon.co.uk/blog/general-health/what-is-a-private-scan/
