How Much Does Lead Paint Removal Cost in 2025?
Removing lead paint costs an average of $3,499
Lead paint removal costs run from $800 for spot encapsulation to $11,600 for whole-house removal.
On average, most homeowners spend between $1,478 and $5,520, with an average of $3,499.
Labor rates, disposal fees, and containment gear all push costs up or down.
Removing lead paint protects kids’ health and can boost resale value.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
On average, lead paint removal costs between $1,478 and $5,520, with prices averaging $3,499 depending on project size, location, and the pro you hire. Smaller jobs start at $800 while full-house abatement can climb to $11,600 when every room needs treatment.
If your home was built before 1978, removing lead paint is one of the smartest safety upgrades you can make. Tackling the hazard now keeps your family healthier and spares you bigger headaches down the road.
Lead Paint Removal Cost Factors
How much you’ll pay for removing lead paint from your home depends on a variety of factors. Here’s a closer look at how your total breaks down.
Area Size
Lead paint removal costs $8 to $17 per square foot. Expect to spend between $6,000 and $25,000 to paint the walls, windows, and doors of an entire 1,500-square-foot apartment. This is how your home’s square footage relates to your removal costs:
| Square Footage | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 200 | $800–$3,400 |
| 1,000 | $6,000–$25,000 |
| 2,000 | $8,000–$24,000 |
| 2,500 | $10,000–$42,500 |
Labor
Lead paint removal requires special equipment and permits and may involve significant time from the contractor. The time increases if you have complicated moldings or baseboards, high ceilings, or other features that cause accessibility challenges. If you need the crew to collect and safely dispose of large amounts of waste, expect the costs to increase accordingly.
Exterior vs. Interior
Expect to spend $8 to $17 per square foot to strip lead paint from exterior siding and trim. Add another $1.50 to $4 per square foot for labor, disposal, and new exterior painting, and the total can reach five figures on large homes. Enclosure or encapsulation can lower the upfront bill, but remember those methods don’t eliminate the lead for good.
Removing lead paint from interior walls also costs $8 to $17 per square foot. Pros must also seal the home with proper containment products to prevent toxic particles from entering the HVAC system and the outside.
Lead Abatement Costs by Method
Depending on the surface and the strategy you choose, you could spend anywhere from $100 for quick encapsulation to $20,000 for full demolition and replacement. Encapsulation limits exposure, while complete removal or demolition wipes the lead out for good.
| Removal Method | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Manual removal | $8–$17 per sq. ft. |
| Demolition and replacement | $10,000–$15,000 |
| Encapsulation | $4–$8 per sq. ft. |
| Enclosure | $9–$10 per sq. ft. |
Manual Removal
Manual scraping or chemical stripping runs $8 to $17 per square foot. Although pricier, full removal is the one-and-done way to banish lead for good. The National Association of Realtors notes that eliminating lead can lift your home’s resale value because you won’t have to disclose lingering lead paint to buyers.
Demolition and Replacement
The cost of demolition is $1,000 to $15,000 per project. Like lead removal, demolition and replacement can be expensive because they completely remove affected surfaces such as walls, windows, doors, or floors. Affected components sometimes require testing to determine whether the levels are high enough for a special landfill. Pros replace affected surfaces with new, safe materials.
Encapsulation
Encapsulation seals lead paint under an epoxy or cement-based coating for $4 to $8 per square foot, making it the budget-friendly choice. Just remember it isn’t permanent—you’ll need touch-ups over time, and it’s tough to apply on intricate trim without changing the look.
Enclosure
Enclosure costs between $9 and $10 per square foot, depending on the materials and labor involved in each project. This method covers affected surfaces with new panels, drywall, or siding and only works on smoother surfaces. It isn't a permanent solution, but it will limit exposure and keep toxic dust from spreading.
Budgeting for Lead Paint Removal
Consider these cost-saving strategies to make your lead paint removal project more wallet-friendly:
Ask your lead paint removal pro if encapsulation is a good option for your home, as it’s the most affordable choice.
Get multiple quotes from local lead paint removal specialists to ensure competitive pricing.
Research state or local funding or rebate programs that can help ease the financial burden of removing lead paint.
DIY vs. Hiring a Lead Removal Pro
Do not attempt lead paint removal as a DIY project. Lead paint removal is neither easy nor safe, so your best move is to hire a local certified pro. State or EPA certification isn’t optional, and a qualified abatement contractor will recommend the right method for your home and carry it out safely. Hire a certified lead removal specialist to ensure your home is safe.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your standard homeowners’ policy won’t pay for lead paint removal because insurers treat it as a maintenance issue, not a sudden loss. If a covered event like a fire or flood damages a lead-painted wall, the carrier will replace that wall but not cover full abatement. Plan to budget for lead removal yourself, or look into state or local grant programs that offset the cost.
Yes, you can sell, but federal law says you must disclose any known lead paint and share paperwork for past remediation or encapsulation. Honest disclosure protects you from legal trouble and helps buyers understand any work that still needs doing. Many sellers also offer a closing credit to cover future abatement, so talk to your real estate agent about local norms.
Lead paint contains the heavy metal lead, which becomes airborne when the coating chips, peels, or turns into dust. Breathing in or swallowing that dust allows lead to accumulate in your body and can trigger headaches, cognitive delays, organ damage, and other serious issues, especially in children and pets.
Because the danger hides in everyday activities like opening a window or sweeping a floor, complete removal or professional encapsulation is the safest long-term fix.
Plan on spending $200 to $400 on lead inspection costs. A certified tester will scan walls, trim, and other surfaces with an X-ray fluorescence device, zeroing in on high-risk spots throughout your home. The report will spell out where lead is present and how severe it is, giving you the facts you need to budget for removal and keep everyone safe.
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