The present invention relates to a gradient coil system for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprising such a gradient coil system. Magnetic resonance imaging systems comprise at least a main magnet system, a gradient coil system, a RF system and a signal processing system. The gradient coil system according to the present invention comprises at least two X primary coil-like elements (X1pc, X2PC), at least two Y primary coil-like elements (Y1pc, Y2pc) and one Z primary coil-like element (ZPC) providing a modular gradient coil system, wherein the at least two X primary coil-like elements (X1PC, X2PC) have mutually different linearity volumes by themselves or in combination with each other, the at least two Y primary coil-like elements (Y1PC, Y2PC) have mutually different linearity volumes by themselves or in combination with each other, and the one Z primary coil-like element (ZPC) is placed between the X primary coil-like elements (X1PC, X2PC) and the Y primary coil-like elements (Y1PC, Y2PC).