What to Wear for MRI Scan: Complete Clothing Guide

Your MRI is scheduled, and you're thinking about logistics. Among your questions: What do I wear? Can I wear my own clothes? Do I need to change into a hospital gown?

This guide will explain why clothing matters for MRI, what's safe to wear, what to avoid, and how to dress for a comfortable experience.

MRI machines use powerful magnets—thousands of times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field. Metal in your clothing can:

• Become a safety hazard (though clothing metal is usually minimal risk)
• Create artifacts in images (ruins the pictures)
• Cause you to be asked to change (wastes time)

The goal: Wear clothing with no metal so you can keep your own clothes and avoid changing into a hospital gown.

Bottoms

Best choices:

• Sweatpants or joggers with elastic waist (no drawstring with metal tips)
• Yoga pants or leggings (check for zippers at ankles)
• Athletic shorts (elastic waist)
• Pajama bottoms (elastic waist)

What to check:

• No zippers
• No metal buttons or snaps
• No rivets (common on jeans)
• No grommets or metal embellishments

Materials: Cotton, polyester blends—anything stretchy and comfortable is fine.

Tops

Best choices:

• T-shirt (plain, no graphics with metallic particles)
• Long-sleeve tee (plain)
• Pullover sweatshirt (check for zippers, metal)
• Henley shirt (buttons should be plastic, not metal)

What to check:

• No metal zippers
• No metal snaps or buttons
• No decorative metal studs or rhinestones
• No underwire bras
• No graphics with metallic ink (some do have metal particles)

Underwear and Bras

Best choices:

• Sports bra (no underwire, no metal clasp)
• Bra with plastic closures (check carefully)
• Cotton underwear (avoid lace with metal threads)
• Or no bra if comfortable (for shorter scans)

What to avoid:

• Underwire bras: The wire is metal—unsafe in MRI
• Bras with metal clasps: Most have metal hooks
• Lace with metallic threads: Some lace has metal

Tip: Wear a sports bra or a bra with a front plastic clasp. Or bring a bra to change into afterward.

Socks and Footwear

Socks:

• Wear socks—MRI rooms are cold
• Plain cotton socks are perfect
• Avoid socks with metallic threads (rare, but some do have them)

Shoes:

• You'll likely remove shoes anyway
• Wear slip-on shoes for easy removal
• Avoid shoes you have to lace/tie (metal eyelets)

Definitely Avoid

Surprising Sources of Metal

Some clothing has hidden metal:

• Decorative stitching: May contain metallic thread
• Graphic tees: Some inks have metallic particles
• Athletic wear: Some "performance" fabrics have metallic threads
• Shirts with foil or shimmer: Often contains metal

When in doubt: Bring a change of clothes or plan to change into a hospital gown.

Abdominal or Pelvic MRI

You may need to:

• Change into a hospital gown (common for abdominal/pelvic MRI)
• Remove pants and wear just the gown
• Wear a gown and keep your own top (if top has no metal)

Brain/Head MRI

You can usually wear:

• Your own clothes (if metal-free)
• But you'll remove:
  • All jewelry (including earrings, necklaces)
  • Hair accessories
  • Glasses (some have metal)
  • Hearing aids (may need to be removed)
  • Removable dental work (retainers, some bridges)

Extremity MRI (Arm, Leg, Knee, etc.)

You can often wear:

• Regular clothes (if no metal near the body part being imaged)
• But remove:
  • Jewelry from that limb
  • Watches, fitness trackers
  • Some clothing if it covers the area

You may need to change into a hospital gown if:

If you need a gown:

• You'll change in a private dressing room
• Your belongings go in a locker
• You can wear undergarments if they're metal-free (sports bra, cotton underwear)
• You'll get a sheet or blanket for warmth

Some tattoo inks contain metallic particles, especially:

• Older tattoos
• Certain colors (red, in particular)
• Tattoo styles with heavy shading

What happens:

• Most tattoos are fine
• Metallic ink can cause:
  • Warming or tingling at the tattoo site
  • Rarely, skin irritation

Tell the technologist if:

• You have a large tattoo
• You have a tattoo in the area being scanned
• You've had reactions during previous MRIs

Solutions:

• Cold compresses over the tattoo
• Monitoring during the scan
• Rarely, you might need a different imaging method

Temperature

• MRI rooms are cold—the machine needs to be cool
• Wear layers if possible (but check for metal)
• Bring socks
• You may be offered a blanket

Positioning

• You'll lie still for 30-60 minutes
• Wear comfortable, loose clothing
• Elastic waists are more comfortable than buttons/zippers
• Sweat-wicking fabric can help if you're warm-natured

Bathroom Access

• Use the restroom before your scan
• You'll be lying still for 30-60 minutes
• Plan ahead—you don't want to need the bathroom halfway through

Claustrophobia

If you're claustrophobic:

• Wear comfortable, non-restrictive clothing
• Layers can be comforting
• Bring a sweater or familiar item (if no metal)
• Ask about an "open" MRI option

Before You Leave Home

• Choose metal-free outfit (sweatpants + t-shirt + socks)
• Avoid underwire bra—wear sports bra or bra with plastic closure
• Remove all jewelry (leave at home)
• Remove hair accessories with metal
• Check for hidden metal in clothing
• Bring a sweatshirt if you tend to get cold (check for metal zippers)

At the Imaging Center

• Let staff know if you have any implants
• Tell them about any tattoos in the scan area
• Remove all metal (jewelry, phone, keys, coins)
• Ask if you need to change into a gown
• Use the restroom before the scan
• Ask for a blanket if you're cold

Pregnant Women

MRI without contrast is generally considered safe in pregnancy (after the first trimester):

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing
• No underwire bras
• You may need to change depending on the area being scanned
• Tell the technologist you're pregnant

Children

For children having MRI:

• Dress them in comfortable, metal-free clothes
• Sweatpants and t-shirt work well
• No zippers, buttons, or metal decorations
• Bring a favorite comfort item (if it has no metal)
• Some facilities allow a parent to stay in the room with the child (if parent has no metal implants)

People with Implanted Devices

If you have:

• Pacemaker or defibrillator: Usually cannot have MRI (some newer models are MRI-conditional)
• Metal implants: Most are fine, but tell the technologist
• Shrapnel or metal fragments: May need X-rays first to confirm location

Always tell the MRI staff about any implants.

1. "Should I wear my own clothes or change into a gown?"
2. "Are there any clothing restrictions for my specific scan?"
3. "Can I wear my jewelry if it's not near the scan area?"
4. "Is the room cold? Should I bring extra layers?"
5. "Can I use the restroom before the scan?"
6. "Will I need to change into a hospital gown?"
7. "Do I need to remove my wedding ring?"

What to wear for MRI: Simple, loose, comfortable clothing with no metal.

Perfect MRI outfit:

• Sweatpants or yoga pants with elastic waist (no zippers)
• Plain t-shirt (no graphics with metallic particles)
• Sports bra (no underwire)
• Socks (it's cold!)
• Slip-on shoes (you'll remove them anyway)

What to avoid:

• Jeans (zippers, rivets)
• Underwire bras
• Clothing with zippers, buttons, snaps
• Jewelry of any kind
• Hair accessories with metal
• Anything with embellishments that might contain metal

The safest approach: If you're unsure about any clothing item, leave it at home or bring a change of clothes. Changing into a hospital gown only takes a few minutes, and it guarantees you won't have to reschedule due to inappropriate clothing.

Remember: The goal is to get high-quality images safely and comfortably. Dressing metal-free helps you keep your own clothes, stay comfortable, and get through your MRI without delays.

Related articles on WellAly:

• How to Prepare for Abdominal MRI: Complete Guide
• What to Expect During an MRI Scan
• Claustrophobia and MRI: How to Cope
• MRI vs CT Scan: What's the Difference?