How Long Does An MRI Take: Lumbar, Heart, Pelvic, And More

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MRI Duration by Type of Scan

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — Written by Daniel Yetman — Updated on December 12, 2025

Knee
Shoulder
Brain or head
Lumbar spine
Cervical
Cardiac MRI
Chest
Breast
Abdominal
Hip
Pelvic
Ankle
Factors that affect duration
Takeaway

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can be quick, sometimes taking as little as 15 minutes. However, it may take longer depending on the number of images that need to be taken, the part of your body being scanned, and whether sedation or contrast dye is required.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of scan that produces a 3-dimensional image of your internal body parts. MRIs produce a clearer image of soft tissue than CT scans and X-rays, so they’re often used to help diagnose conditions involving:

nerves and your brain
muscles
blood vessels
organs
tendons
ligaments

Read on to learn more about how long some of the most common types of MRIs typically take.

How long does a knee MRI take?

An MRI of the knee usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes. During the procedure, small devices containing coils may be put around your knee to help produce a clearer image.

»Learn more:Knee MRIs

How long does a shoulder MRI take?

An MRI of your shoulder typically may take up to 45 minutes. In some cases, the procedure may be as quick as 15 minutes.

Procedures that require sedation may take 15 to 30 minutes longer.

»Learn more:Shoulder MRIs

How long does a brain or head MRI take?

An MRI of your head can help identify conditions affecting your brain. The scan typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

Scans that don’t require a contrast dye are generally shorter and may only take 30 to 45 minutes. A limited brain MRI, which takes a quick sequence of brain images, may take less than 15 minutes.

»Explore:Head MRIs

How long does a lumbar spine MRI take?

An MRI of your lumbar spine can potentially help identify causes of back pain and conditions involving your spinal cord, and typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes. If a contrast dye is needed, the procedure may take 45 to 80 minutes.

»Learn more:Lumbar MRI scans

How long does a cervical spine MRI take?

According to a 2019 study, an MRI of your cervical spine can be as quick as 20 minutes. Typically, they take about 30 to 45 minutes. A plastic coil may be placed at the top of your neck to help produce a clearer picture.

»Explore:Cervical spine MRIs

How long does a cardiac MRI take?

An MRI of your heart generally takes more than 45 minutes. This scan may be able to identify if you’re at risk of developing heart failure or if you currently have a heart condition.

»Discover:Heart MRIs

How long does a chest MRI take?

A chest MRI typically takes less than 90 minutes. You may need a chest scan if you have an injury or a suspected condition in your chest area.

»Explore:Chest MRIs

How long will a breast MRI take?

A breast MRI typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes. In some cases, you may have a contrast dye injected into your arm via an intravenous (IV) line before your procedure. If you require contrast dye, your procedure may take up to 90 minutes.

»Learn more:Breast MRIs

How long does an abdominal MRI take?

An abdominal MRI generally takes about 30 to 90 minutes. In some cases, it may take up to about 2 hours. Abdominal MRIs are used for a variety of reasons, such as examining:

blood flow
abdominal swelling
fetal development

»Learn more:Abdominal MRIs

How long does a hip MRI take?

A hip MRI generally takes around 45 minutes. Most MRIs for hip pain take roughly 30 to 60 minutes.

»Explore:Hip disorders

How long does a pelvic MRI take?

A pelvic MRI generally takes about 30 to 60 minutes. If many pictures are needed, the procedure may take longer.

»Learn more:Pelvic MRIs

How long does an ankle MRI take?

According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), an ankle MRI typically takes about 40 minutes. In some cases, it may take longer.

»Dive deeper:Ankle disorders

Check with your doctor

Ask your doctor how long your MRI may take. They can help you prepare for your procedure and help you understand how long the entire process, from arrival to discharge, may last.

Factors that affect MRI duration

The following factors play a role in determining how long your MRI will take.

The number of images: If many images are needed for a detailed analysis, your MRI will take longer than a scan taking fewer images.
The part of your body getting scanned: In general, the larger the area of your body that needs to be scanned, the longer the MRI will take.
Contrast dyes: Sometimes a contrast dye is given through an IV to help small structures appear more clearly on the images. MRIs that require a contrast dye may take an extra 15 to 30 minutes.
Sedation: Movement can blur the images taken during an MRI scan, so people who can’t stay still, like some young children and people with claustrophobia, may require sedation before the procedure. Sedatives may be oral or administered through an IV line.

Dive deeper

Check out these articles to learn more about MRIs:

The difference between MRIs and X-rays
Everything you need to know about MRIs
Preparing for an MRI
How long it may take to get MRI results
The difference between MRIs and CT scans

Takeaway

Most types of MRIs take between 15 and 90 minutes to complete. In some cases, your MRI might be shorter or longer. The part of your body getting scanned and the number of images needed play a role in determining how long the MRI will take.

If your MRI requires contrast dye, it will typically last a little longer than MRIs that don’t require it.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Ashby K, et al. (2022). Appropriate magnetic resonance imaging ordering. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565857/
Breast MRI. (2024). https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/breastmr
Kessler BA, et al. (2021). Rapid-sequence MRI for evaluation of pediatric traumatic brain injury: A systematic review. https://thejns.org/pediatrics/view/journals/j-neurosurg-pediatr/28/3/article-p278.pdf
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) knee, foot or ankle scan [Fact sheet]. (2022). https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/UHS-website-2019/Patientinformation/Scansandx-rays/MRI-scans/Magnetic-resonance-imaging-MRI-knee-foot-or-ankle-scan-2295-PIL.pdf
MRI scan. (2025). https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/mri-scan/
Sartoretti E, et al. (2019). Reduction of procedure times in routine clinical practice with Compressed SENSE magnetic resonance imaging technique. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6461228/
Shoulder MRI. (2023). https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/shouldermr
Spine MRI. (2024).https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/spinemr

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — Written by Daniel Yetman — Updated on December 12, 2025

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