A lead paint inspection costs around $600 on average, and prices usually fall somewhere between $300 and $700, mostly depending on the size of your home.
A lead paint inspection costs an average of $600, but prices can sit as low as $200 and climb up to $1,500, depending on the size of your home, your home’s age, your location, and more. While the test can be expensive, it’s worth it if your home was built prior to 1978, as it will detect poisonous building materials in your living space.
Lead-based paint inspection costs can fall anywhere between $200 and $1,500, and your specific price will depend on a few key factors.
Lead paint inspection prices vary by home size due to the scope of the inspection required, which increases with bigger homes. Larger homes take longer to inspect and test painted surfaces, which drives up labor costs.
| Home Size (sq. ft.) | Average Lead Paint Inspection Cost |
|---|---|
| Up to 1000 | $200–$500 |
| 1000–2000 | $400–$800 |
| 2000–3000 | $600–$1200 |
| 3000–4000 | $800–$1500 |
| 4000+ | $1000+ |
The age of your home can play a small role in your lead paint inspection costs for a few reasons. First, older homes are more likely to have multiple layers of paint over the base layers that contain lead, which could take more time to get to for testing. Inspectors could opt to use x-ray fluorescence (XRF) to analyze base layers more quickly, but the use of the high-end equipment and safety gear will still drive up the cost of the inspection.
Older homes—especially those that fall under Victorian-style architecture or a similar style—are also more likely to feature things like painted ornate trim and wainscoting that could take additional time to test and come with increased labor costs.
Lead paint inspection costs vary by location, and you’ll often see the highest prices in areas with an above-average cost of living, often near major metropolitan areas. This is due to differences in local economic factors, market demand, and labor costs scaling with the cost of living. High-cost areas also often have higher inspection fees to align with the increased operating expenses and demand for specialized services. Varying regulations and compliance standards in different regions can also influence the complexity and cost of inspections.
| State | Average Lead Paint Inspection Cost |
|---|---|
| California | $870 |
| Florida | $610 |
| Georgia | $550 |
| Illinois | $570 |
| Michigan | $550 |
| New Jersey | $690 |
| New York | $740 |
| North Carolina | $590 |
| Ohio | $570 |
| Pennsylvania | $570 |
| Texas | $560 |
Lead paint inspection costs vary based on the method employed due to differences in complexity, accuracy, and time required for each approach. This could mean paying anywhere from $200 for a visual inspection to $1,500 for a complete risk assessment, which is a comprehensive analysis of your property.
A visual inspection, the most basic method, tests for lead paint by examining painted surfaces for visible signs. A pro will try to identify lead paint based on common signs like chipping, breakage, or odors. Paint sampling involves collecting samples from various surfaces for lab analysis to determine if there’s lead content. An X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) inspection utilizes specialized devices to measure lead levels in the paint, and the use of the specialized equipment can drive your price as high as $1,500.
| Inspection Method | Average Lead Paint Inspection Cost |
|---|---|
| Visual Inspection | $150–$400 |
| Paint Sampling | $200–$600 |
| X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) | $250–$700 |
| Risk Assessment | $300–$800 |
If your inspector finds lead paint on your property, you’ll likely see significantly higher costs to remove it or carry out abatement. In both cases, though, you’ll be paying for your laborers to take the proper safety precautions and use HEPA filters to scrub the air of toxic particles as they work.
Lead paint removal includes removing all of the painted surfaces that have lead paint present on them and carrying out build-back, all while using the proper safety equipment to keep laborers protected. The cost of lead paint removal can vary widely depending on the type and size of surface you discover has lead paint, but you’re looking at prices between $8 and $17 per square foot.
Lead paint is only dangerous if you come in contact directly with the painted surface or if the paint chips or flakes and sends airborne particles into the air. Lead paint abatement is another suitable option for containing lead paint and involves covering the surface with a newer building material to encase the toxic substance. Lead paint encapsulation costs between $4 and $8 per square foot.
While you’re budgeting for your lead paint inspection costs, you may also want to consider the following expenses, which some homeowners couple with lead paint inspections.
Lead paint removal cost: $1,490–$5,600
Cost to paint the interior of a house: $960–$3,100
Cost to paint the exterior of a house: $1,800–$4,500
Whole-home inspection cost: $300–$420
Cost to replace siding: $5,500–$17,600
Plumbing inspection cost: $100–$500
Electrical inspection cost: $100–$400
HVAC inspection cost: $70–$500
Septic inspection cost: $200–$900
Stucco inspection cost: $500–$1,200
Cost to remove paint: $300–$2,000
You can buy a lead paint test kit to conduct a test yourself for between $10 and $50, which means you could save an average of around $550 by doing the testing yourself rather than deferring to a professional. However, it’s always a good idea to hire an expert.
Lead paint is toxic, and while at-home tests can detect lead in some cases, they aren’t as accurate as the tests that professionals use, especially if you don’t collect the samples properly. Additionally, many old homes will have multiple layers of paint on interior walls, siding, or trim, which means the swabs you get with at-home test kits may not even come in contact with the lead paint during testing.
While lead paint inspections cost up to $1,500, it’s always worth hiring a lead testing company near you to get accurate results and recommendations for how to encapsulate or remove any lead paint that the inspector identifies.
Lead paint inspections can get a bit pricey, especially if they reveal lead paint that you then need to remediate. There are a few things you can do to keep costs to a minimum.
Make sure you need testing: If your home wasn’t built prior to 1978, then you don’t need a lead paint test and can save your money. Lead paint was outlawed that year, so lead paint won’t be a risk in homes built from 1978 onward.
Couple with other inspections: In most cases, you’ll be ordering lead paint inspections when buying a property, which means you’d benefit from other inspections, too. Ask your inspector if they can carry out whole-home inspections or dedicated plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or roof inspections as well. Some inspectors will offer discounts if you guarantee them more work.
Consider encapsulation over removal: If your testing does uncover lead paint, you have two options: remove it or encapsulate it. Encapsulation may require some ongoing maintenance, but it costs about half what removal and build-back would.
Get multiple quotes: Finally, get at least three quotes from local home inspectors for your lead paint inspection. Prices vary among professionals, so compare based on cost and value before choosing.
A lead paint inspection is a thorough examination and assessment of a building or structure to determine the presence of lead-based paint. Lead-based paint was commonly used in buildings before 1978 when its health hazards were fully understood. Lead is toxic and can pose health risks, particularly to young children and pregnant women. Getting a lead paint inspection means finding a lead paint inspector to examine the surfaces of the building—such as walls, ceilings, doors, windows, and other painted areas—and identify the presence of lead-based paint.
If your house was built before 1978 and you’re noticing cracking or peeling paint, a lead paint inspection is a good idea. A lead paint inspection gives you accurate information about the presence, location, and condition of lead-based paint in your home. This information is essential for making informed decisions about lead paint removal to ensure your safety and health and that of your family. If your inspector finds lead, you’ll need to take steps to manage or remove the lead-based paint and comply with laws and regulations.
No, a standard home inspection includes the basics and does not offer lead paint testing. Professional lead paint inspectors need specific licenses to perform these inspections, which not all home inspectors have. If you suspect lead paint in the home you are about to purchase, you will need to pay separately to have that done. If the findings come back positive, you may be able to negotiate with the buyer to cover the cost of the removal.
