A perc test costs $1,300 on average, and most homeowners pay somewhere between $750 and $1,900 for the service, depending on the property size and the purpose of the test.
A perc test costs around $1,300 on average, and most tests cost somewhere between $750 and $1,900. You could pay as little as $300 for a single hand-dug hole perc test or as much as $3,000 for machine-dug holes on a large, 1-acre property. Your cost can also vary based on the purpose of the test, property accessibility, and more.
Perc test costs can fall anywhere between $300 and $3,000, depending on a few key factors.
The size of your property will often be the biggest cost factor when it comes time to do a perc test. Testing often involves taking data from multiple points across your property to see how the land drains as a whole, and each additional testing site you need will add to your total.
Most municipalities have regulations that dictate the maximum distance apart the holes for testing must be, which means larger properties require more holes. The more holes you need, the more you’ll pay for the labor to dig and test. You can expect to pay around $150 per hole you need dug.
| Property Size (acres) | Holes Needed | Perc Test Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 1–4 | $150–$600 |
| 1/2 | 1–8 | $150–$1,200 |
| 3/4 | 2–12 | $300–$1,800 |
| 1 | 3–20 | $450–$3,000 |
The reason you’re scheduling a perc test may also dictate the number of holes you need and how far apart they must sit on your property, which means it will also have a direct effect on the price you’ll pay.
You may need a perc test for new construction if you’re planning on adding a septic system, if you need to replace or make changes to your existing septic system, or if you want to install a drainage system, like a French drain. Tests related to septic system installation or expansions will often be more expensive, as problems with percolation in a septic drain field lead to sewage backup, which is a health hazard.
There are two main types of perc tests: those using shallow, hand-dug holes and those that require deeper holes dug by an excavator. The type of holes will, once again, depend on the purpose of your test and local regulations for testing percolation rates on your land. If your test calls for larger holes that require the use of an excavator, you’ll pay more per hole. In most cases, deeper, wider holes will require an excavator.
| Type (Hole Depth) | Cost Per Hole |
|---|---|
| Manual (2 feet) | $150–$300 |
| Manual (3 feet) | $200–$300 |
| Excavator (4 feet) | $550–$800 |
| Excavator (5 feet) | $625–$900 |
| Excavator (6 feet) | $700–$1,000 |
The accessibility of your property will also play a role in your pricing, especially if you need an excavator to maneuver onto your property to dig the holes. Homes in remote areas can drive up the costs, as can properties with excessive tree coverage or generally limited access for heavy machinery.
You’ll likely see prices climbing to around $3,000 if your perc test requires larger, deeper holes, but an excavator can’t maneuver onto your property. In that case, your money will go toward manual labor instead of equipment rental fees.
Where you live also has an effect on perc test costs, as each municipality makes its own regulations for how many holes are necessary, as well as the depth of the holes. You can speak with your local building department or health department to discuss what’s necessary in your area for the type of perc test you need.
You can do a DIY perc test for preliminary testing or to see if your soil conditions are suitable for a garden bed or some other landscaping feature, but you’ll always need to hire a professional for a formal perc test if you need permission to construct or make changes to a septic system, to install a drainage system, or to regrade your land.
In many areas, your professional will need to be licensed, and your local health inspector or a building inspector will need to be present to witness the results of the test and make the final decision on whether or not you pass your perc test. As such, you’ll need to hire a local soil tester to get a proper perc test done in most cases.
A perc test is often the first step in a much larger landscaping project, so you should consider budgeting for the following alongside your perc test costs. Perc tests are good for two to five years, depending on local regulations, so saving for the test and the post-testing projects is a good idea.
Cost to install a septic system: $3,600–$12,400
Cost to replace a septic system: $5,000–$12,000
Cost to install a French drain: $500–$18,000
Cost to grade land: $1,000–$3,300
Perc test costs can go up to around $3,000, and unfortunately, there are only a handful of things you can do to save on the total.
Choose the minimum number of holes necessary: Your local building department or health department will likely have requirements for the number of holes you need. You’ll pay an additional $150 per additional hole, on average, so make sure you’re only testing the required number of holes.
Test only the soil you need to test: For some projects, it may not be necessary to test percolation across your entire property, especially if you have a larger plot. Speak with local authorities to determine the smallest portion of your land you’d have to test for building approval.
Get multiple quotes: Your local municipality will often have its own fees for perc tests that aren’t negotiable, but you can always get quotes from multiple soil testing professionals to see which is the most affordable. Just be sure all contractors you’re getting quotes from understand exactly how many holes you need and what size and depth they need to be.
Make sure you need a perc test: Perc tests are more expensive than many other tests, so make sure you need a perc test and not a soil test. Perc tests are required by law for changes to septic systems and, in many cases, land grading and drainage system installation. If you’re looking for soil data for grass and garden health or to check for contamination, it might be time for a soil test instead.
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Soil testers and licensed excavators are often the professionals you hire if you need a perc test. In some cases, structural engineers will also be able to conduct the test for you. In many municipalities, you’ll need your professional on-site to dig and fill the holes with water, as well as a representative from your local building department or health department. That representative is the individual who will determine whether your test passes or fails.
A perc test takes an average of around two hours, but it can range from one hour up to around six hours. Perc tests that require wider or deeper holes and those that require multiple holes dug throughout your property will take longer because there’s more excavation involved. The actual filling of the hole and monitoring to gauge the rate of percolation should take under an hour per hole.
In many municipalities, you can request a second opinion if the initial perc test fails. If that fails, too, you’ll need to make changes to your land before you can carry out the project you’re looking to complete. Those changes could include regrading your land to change the flow rate of water down slopes, installing wells or collection sites to direct water toward a specific area on your property, and more.
