Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is rapidly increasing clinical acceptance to evaluate the small bowel and can be the initial imaging method to investigate small bowel diseases. MR examinations may provide the first opportunity to detect and characterize tumours of the small bowel. Intra- and extraluminal MR findings, combined with contrast enhancement and functional information, help to make an accurate diagnosis and consequently characterize small bowel neoplasms. MR enteroclysis should be recommended for the initial investigation in patients suspected of having small bowel tumours. In this article, the MR findings of primary small bowel neoplasms are described and the MR findings for the differential diagnosis are discussed.