DEXA Scan Cost in San Francisco

A single body-composition DEXA scan in San Francisco ranges from about $45-50 (BodySpec mobile units, dropping to ~$40 with a package) to roughly $179 (DexaFit in Cow Hollow), with research-grade scans at the UCSF Human Performance Center running about $100-200. BodySpec advertises a $39 national starting rate, and notes SF studio pricing elsewhere often lands in the $150-300 range, which is why the mobile and academic options matter here. These are advertised prices that change; confirm current pricing directly with the clinic.

On a per-scan basis, BodySpec offers the lowest entry price in San Francisco — about $45-50 standard, dropping toward ~$40 with package or membership pricing (BodySpec advertises a $39 national starting rate). Its units rotate through SF gyms and wellness centers in SOMA, the Mission, the Marina, and Potrero Hill. Cheapest is not always best — also weigh whether you want a fixed studio, a results consultation, or add-on metabolic testing. Verify current pricing with each provider before booking.

Fixed SF studios carry Bay Area commercial rent and staffing, so a storefront scan in neighborhoods like Cow Hollow prices above a mobile van. BodySpec’s own city comparison puts typical San Francisco studio DEXA pricing around $150-300, higher than Los Angeles at roughly $80-200. The practical workaround is that SF still has sub-$100 options — the BodySpec mobile units and university-affiliated labs keep an affordable entry point in the market. Confirm current pricing with each provider.

A DEXA scan ordered for bone-density screening can be covered — Medicare Part B covers a bone-mass measurement once every 24 months for people who qualify, and many commercial plans cover osteoporosis screening. A DEXA scan for body composition (body fat and lean mass) is generally considered elective and paid out of pocket. The cash prices on this page are body-composition scans. Confirm coverage with your insurer and the clinic.

A full-body composition DEXA scan delivers roughly 4-5 microsieverts (µSv) of radiation, per BodySpec’s published figures citing a 2020 review. For context, average U.S. background radiation is about 8-10 µSv per day, and a chest X-ray is roughly 20 µSv — so one scan is about a quarter of a chest X-ray. The dose is low, but it is still ionizing radiation — discuss frequency with a clinician if you are pregnant or scan often. This is information, not medical advice.

A DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan measures body fat, lean (muscle) mass, and bone density, and breaks those down by region — arms, legs, and trunk — plus a visceral-fat estimate. UCSF notes DXA is highly accurate compared with most other body-composition methods and tells a clearer story than BMI; in one UCSF figure, 18.5% of women with a normal BMI had excess fat visible on DXA.