Medical Equipment Financing by Device Type: 2026 Guide

If you already know what you are financing, choose the matching path below and move on it. MRI, CT, PET-CT, ultrasound, and full center buildouts underwrite differently, so the fastest approval usually comes from the page that matches your actual asset and cash-flow profile.

What to know

Situation	What usually matters most	Common 2026 underwriting pressure point
MRI or CT purchase	Higher ticket size, longer payback, stronger cash-flow proof	MRI financing and CT financing often need more documentation than portable gear
PET-CT acquisition	Specialized use case, stronger lender scrutiny, tighter borrower profile	PET-CT financing works best when volumes and referral sources are clear
Ultrasound or portable imaging	Speed, flexibility, smaller monthly payment	Ultrasound and portable imaging is often the easiest fit for newer operators
Multi-modality buildout	Equipment plus tenant improvements, soft costs, and working capital	Buildout capital is the right page when the deal is bigger than one machine

The practical split is simple: MRI and CT deals usually live in the “prove the revenue” bucket, while ultrasound and portable systems often win on speed and lighter paperwork. For most equipment loans in 2026, lenders are still looking for 15–25% down, and pricing commonly lands around 10–14% APR for standard equipment financing. SBA-style underwriting is often more conservative on paperwork, but it can extend equipment terms to 84 months, which lowers the monthly payment when the machine has a long useful life. If you are comparing lender paths, the sibling guide on financing MRI and diagnostic imaging machines is a useful lender-side companion.

Credit and time in business matter more than most buyers expect. A 640+ FICO is a common floor for SBA-style borrowing, while 740+ is usually treated as prime. Many lenders also want 24+ months in business, a minimum 1.25x debt service coverage ratio, and enough monthly cash flow to keep total debt service under roughly 40–43% of gross revenue. If your center is a startup or acquisition, those thresholds can push you toward a bigger equity injection or a structure that blends equipment debt with working capital. That is why the multi-modality buildout path is often the right starting point for independent imaging centers opening from scratch.

Tax treatment can also change the decision. Section 179 in 2026 allows up to $1,220,000 of qualifying equipment expensing, and loan-financed equipment can still qualify if IRS rules are met. That matters when you are deciding whether to lease or buy, especially for radiology groups that want to preserve cash while still taking the deduction. For a used machine, a portable unit, or a lower-capex upgrade, the ultrasound and portable imaging financing page is usually the fastest fit. For a larger system where lender appetite and residual value drive the structure, start with the MRI, CT, or PET-CT guide that matches the device.

If the real question is acquisition capital, not just equipment, the broader healthcare financing hub at practice and expansion capital gives the context for loans that combine equipment, transition costs, and working capital.