An echo may cost around Rs 1,000 in a small town and Rs 4,000 at a metro hospital. A government reference rate is also available.
If your doctor wrote “2D echo” on a slip and you searched for the echo test price, most results were in dollars. That is no help when you are booking in Jaipur or Kochi. If you are looking for the echo test price in India, the amount depends mainly on the type of echo, the city, the centre, and what the fee includes. This guide gives the price in rupees, by type and city, alongside the CGHS reference rate.
Quick Answer
- A standard 2D echo costs about Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,000 at private metro centres, from around Rs 1,000 in smaller towns.
- The CGHS reference rate for a 2D echo is Rs 1,475 at an NABH-accredited centre in a metro city.
- Stress echo, fetal echo, and TEE cost more, roughly Rs 2,500 to Rs 10,000 by type and centre.
- No fasting, no radiation, no recovery time for a standard 2D echo. About 20 to 40 minutes.
Echo Test Price by Type
When a prescription says “echo” or “2D echo,” it usually means a standard transthoracic echo. Other types may cost more because they need extra time, monitoring, specialised equipment, or sedation. Private prices below are published figures checked in September 2026.
Aarthi Scans lists a 2D echo from Rs 1,500 in Chennai and Bengaluru. MyDiagnostics puts the metro range at Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,500, and a Pune cardiology clinic quotes Rs 1,800 to Rs 4,000, with smaller towns near Rs 1,000. Stress echo and TEE cost more because a specialist is present throughout, and TEE adds sedation. The wide TEE range reflects standalone centre versus tertiary hospital.
The CGHS Reference Rate for 2D Echo
The Ministry of Health publishes CGHS rates for each echo type, codes RI001 to RI006, effective 13 October 2025. These are what CGHS pays empanelled centres for eligible beneficiaries. They are not a retail price ceiling, and no private centre is obliged to match them. They are one useful government reference point when comparing a quote. The 2D echo rate by city tier:
| City Tier | Cities | CGHS 2D Echo, NABH Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Tier X | Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad | Rs 1,475 |
| Tier Y | Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Patna, Nagpur | Rs 1,328 |
| Tier Z | All other CGHS cities | Rs 1,180 |
Non-NABH centres are paid Rs 1,254, about 15 percent less. Notice how close the CGHS metro rate sits to Aarthi’s starting price. A higher quote may reflect hospital overhead, reporting arrangements, facility costs, or other services included in the package.
Echo Test Price by City
Aarthi lists Rs 1,500 for Chennai and Bengaluru, varying by branch. For Mumbai, Delhi NCR, and Pune, clinic guides place a routine 2D echo between Rs 1,800 and Rs 4,000, the upper end at multi-speciality hospitals. Fetal echo runs Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000 in Pune and Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 in Mumbai.
Good to Know
Ask whether the quoted price includes the cardiologist’s report. Some centres list the scan alone and add a reporting fee of a few hundred rupees.
What an Echo Test Actually Is
An echo, short for echocardiography, is an ultrasound of the heart. A probe moves over your chest and sound waves build a moving picture of the chambers, valves, and pumping strength. No radiation. It is different from an ECG, which records electrical rhythm. Echo shows structure, ECG shows timing. Doctors often order both.
What Changes the Bill
Who Performs and Reports It
At a standalone centre, a trained sonographer often scans and a physician reports. At a hospital, a cardiologist may do both, which raises the fee. Neither is automatically better for a routine check. Ask who performs and interprets the study and whether an appropriately qualified physician reviews the report.
Doppler and Colour Flow
Most modern echo machines include Doppler, which measures blood flow across the valves. Doppler is commonly included in a standard echocardiogram, but billing practices vary between centres. Some list “2D echo with Doppler” as a separate, pricier item. Ask before booking.
Type of Facility
Standalone cardiac centres carry lower overheads than multi-speciality hospitals and often quote less, though the gap varies. Hospital pricing makes sense when you are already admitted or your cardiologist wants to review the images in person.
When Doctors Order an Echo
Breathlessness on mild exertion, ankle swelling, palpitations, a murmur, or an abnormal ECG are the common triggers. Echo is the main test for valve conditions such as aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation, and for heart muscle conditions such as cardiomyopathy. After a stroke, doctors may order one to look for a clot source in the heart, and it is part of many pre-surgery workups. One limit: a standard echo cannot see blockages inside the coronary arteries. That needs a different test.
Illustrative Scenario
A 52-year-old in Jaipur is told to get a 2D echo after a minor ECG change. A hospital quotes Rs 3,200. A standalone cardiac centre quotes Rs 1,600 with the report included. Both quotes are for a routine 2D echo, but only the lower one includes the report. He asks who performs and interprets the study at each, then books the second. Composite example, not a specific patient.
Before You Go
A standard 2D echo needs no preparation. Eat normally, take your usual medicines, and wear a top that is easy to remove. You lie on your left side while gel and a probe move across your chest, about 20 to 40 minutes, then go straight back to your day. Stress echo preparation varies by centre. A TEE needs several hours of fasting because of sedation, and someone should take you home. Follow the instructions given when you book.
Patient Tip
Your report will include a number called ejection fraction, or EF. Our guide on what EF 60 percent means on a 2D echo report explains it in plain terms.
How to Book at the Right Price
Take the exact wording from your prescription, as 2D, stress, and fetal echo can have very different prices. Ask two or three centres for an all-inclusive price with the report. Check NABH accreditation and who interprets the scan. Compare the quote with the CGHS table and ask what is included if the price is much higher than the published ranges above. For complex imaging, our MRI scan cost guide follows the same approach.
Keep in Mind
Sudden chest pain, pain spreading to the arm or jaw, or breathlessness at rest need emergency care now, not a booked echo.
Key Takeaways
- Confirm which type of echo is on your prescription before comparing quotes.
- Use the CGHS figure of Rs 1,475 as a reference point, not a ceiling.
- Ask whether the report and Doppler are included in the price.
- Ask who performs and who interprets the scan before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the echo test price in India?
A standard 2D echo costs about Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,000 at private centres in metros and from around Rs 1,000 in smaller towns. The CGHS reference rate is Rs 1,475 at an NABH centre.
What is the 2D echo test price?
Aarthi Scans lists a 2D echo from Rs 1,500 in Chennai and Bengaluru. Clinic guides place metro prices between Rs 1,800 and Rs 4,000 depending on the facility.
How much does a fetal echo cost?
Fetal echo runs about Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000 in Pune and Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 in Mumbai. It is usually done at 18 to 24 weeks of pregnancy when there is a family history or screening concern.
What is the stress echo test price?
Published guides put a stress echo at Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,500. It costs more because a cardiologist monitors you throughout while your heart is under exercise or medication stress.
What is the CGHS rate for an echo test?
Under the October 2025 schedule, 2D echo is Rs 1,475 at NABH centres in metros, Rs 1,328 in Tier Y, and Rs 1,180 in Tier Z. Fetal echo is Rs 1,600 and stress echo Rs 2,400. These apply to scheme beneficiaries, not self-paying patients.
Do I need to fast before an echo test?
Only for TEE, which needs several hours of fasting because of sedation. A standard 2D echo needs no fasting. Stress echo preparation varies by centre, so follow the instructions given when you book.
How long does an echo test take?
Around 20 to 40 minutes for a standard 2D echo. There is no recovery time, and you can return to normal activities immediately.
Can an echo test detect a heart blockage?
Not directly. A standard echo cannot see blockages inside the coronary arteries, though it can show the effects of a past heart attack on the muscle. Blockages are assessed with a stress test, CT angiography, or angiography.
Is echo the same as ECG?
No. An ECG records electrical rhythm and is cheaper and quicker. An echo is an ultrasound showing structure, valves, and pumping strength. Doctors often order both because they answer different questions.
Is an echo test safe?
Generally, yes. A standard transthoracic echo uses ultrasound rather than ionising radiation and is considered safe, including in pregnancy. TEE has additional risks because the probe passes through the food pipe and sedation may be used.
References and Sources
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate General of CGHS. Office Memorandum F.No.5-16/CGHS(HQ)/HEC/2024(PartI) dated 3 October 2025, Tier X rate list, codes RI001 to RI006 for echocardiography.
- CGHS Hospitals directory. 2D echocardiography rate lookup by city tier, indexed from the same Office Memorandum.
- Aarthi Scans and Labs. 2D Echo Test price, preparation, and FAQs, Chennai and Bengaluru pages.
- MyDiagnostics. 2D Echo Test Price in India: Complete Cost Guide, May 2026, including stress echo and TEE ranges.
- Dr Khadkikar, Cardiologist, Pune. 2D Echo Test Price explained, including fetal echo and TEE in Pune and Mumbai, June 2025.
- Medicover Hospitals. 2D Echo Test Procedure and Its Cost Across India.
- American Heart Association. Echocardiogram (Echo): what it shows and how it is done.
Written by
Iraphan Khan, BSN, RN, D.Pharm, Public Health Researcher
Founder of RealMedVision, writing patient-focused health content based on clinical guidelines and peer-reviewed research. This article is not a substitute for consultation with a licensed physician.
Medically reviewed by
Dr Praveen Verma, MBBS, MD (Pathology), Pathologist and Clinical Laboratory Specialist
Dr Himanshu Morya, MBBS, Medical Educator
This article is for information and education only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. CGHS rates apply to scheme beneficiaries at empanelled centres and are shown as a reference. Private prices are published figures for 2025 to 2026 and change by centre, city, and the type of echo. Always talk to your doctor before interpreting a scan or changing any treatment.