How Much Does a Lead Paint Inspection Cost in 2025?
A lead paint inspection costs an average of $338
A lead paint inspection costs $338 on average, with most inspections falling within an average range of $238 to $438.
Lead inspection cost factors include the size of the home, your location, the age of the home, and any additional tests that may be required.
If tests confirm lead paint, you can either remove it or encapsulate it under new paint, drywall, or siding. Encapsulation costs far less and is just as safe, but it isn’t a permanent fix.
If a family member has already been harmed by lead, schedule a home lead risk assessment.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
The average lead inspection costs $338, while it’s normal to see a range between $238 and $438. On the lower end, you could pay as little as $130 or up to $650 on the high end. Budgeting for this essential test is crucial because your home’s size, location, and frequency of inspections can all contribute to higher costs. Hiring a lead paint inspection professional protects both your home and your family’s health.
Lead is a chemical substance often found in the soil, pipes, and paint. The government banned the paint in 1978. If you’re remodeling or buying a home built before 1978, a test will reveal any problem areas. You can also assess your lead paint risk based on the home’s age. Contaminated dust from paint is one of the leading causes of poisoning, with children being the most susceptible.
Lead Paint Inspection Cost Factors
Several factors shape your final cost: home size, location, condition, labor, extra testing, and more. Here’s a closer look at how your lead paint inspection total breaks down.
Home Size
Bigger homes take longer to inspect, which drives up costs. Very large houses can push the bill above $1,500.
| Home Size (Square Feet) | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| <1,000 | $200–$500 |
| 1,000–2,000 | $400–$800 |
| 2,000–3,000 | $600–$1,200 |
| 3,000–4,000 | $800–$1,500 |
| 4,000+ | $1,000+ |
Location
Costs shift by region—expect to pay more in areas with a higher cost of living.
| State | Average 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 |
Home Condition
Peeling back those layers takes extra time. Your inspector may also require specialized equipment, which can drive up costs.
Interior vs. Exterior
While the hourly lead paint inspection rates are the same for interiors and exteriors, it often takes more time to inspect interiors due to the variety of surfaces present, including doors, walls, windows, trim, wainscotting, crown molding, and other similar features. If needed, the cost to paint the home interior after lead paint removal ranges from $960 to $3,100.
Exterior lead inspection includes the extra step of inspecting the soil outside your home. This is to check if flaking lead paint from the home’s exterior walls has contaminated the surrounding soil. This extra test adds $25 to $200 to your final cost. If needed, the cost to paint the home exterior after lead paint testing ranges from $1,800 to $4,500.
Labor
Because materials are minimal, most of your bill goes to labor. Local lead paint inspectors will quote a flat price rather than an hourly rate, and that price rises for bigger homes or high-cost regions.
Additional Testing Costs
Homeowners often bundle tests for other hazards, like mold or asbestos, when they schedule a lead inspection. Mold testing costs $670 on average, while asbestos testing costs $480 .
Repairs and Removal
If lead is discovered, you’ll need to take action to make the home safe to live in. You’ll have the choice of either removal or abatement. Lead paint removal costs vary widely depending on the type and size of the surface, with the total cost for lead paint removal ranging from $1,490 to $5,600. Plan to budget for drywall repairs once the hazardous materials are gone.
The other option is abatement, which safely encapsulates the lead paint rather than removing it altogether. This is a less expensive option, though you’ll still need to consider the cost to hire a painter who can safely encapsulate lead paint. On average, lead paint abatement costs $4 to $8 per square foot.
Risk Assessment Cost
Risk assessments range between $300 and $800. A risk assessment is different from a simple inspection. Lead paint assessors investigate the source and severity of the problem. Then, they develop a strategy of suitable solutions tailored to your safety and budget. Typically, a lead risk assessment only occurs after someone has been harmed by lead.
Assessments and inspections differ in several ways:
Assessments follow confirmed lead poisoning in children. The assessor identifies the source and recommends the safest and most cost-effective abatement strategy.
Inspections occur mostly before real estate transactions. These differ because inspectors only inform you if a problem exists and where it is located.
Budgeting for a Lead Paint Inspection
Lead paint inspections are essential for keeping you and your family safe, but they can still present a significant financial expense. Here are a few ways to budget for a lead paint inspection:
Check your build year. Homes built after 1978, when lead paint was banned, rarely contain it, so you can likely skip the test.
Bundle the lead inspection with a general home, HVAC, plumbing, or roof inspection to reduce costs.
If the test reveals lead paint, consider encapsulating it instead of removing it. Encapsulation is just as safe and costs far less.
Remove debris and clutter so the inspector can move quickly, which can trim labor hours.
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
If your home was built before 1978, there’s a strong chance it contains lead-based paint. Many pre-1980 houses also contain lead in their plumbing and decorative materials, so age alone is a significant red flag. Older homes near industrial areas face an even higher risk. Because you can’t confirm lead by sight, scheduling a test is the safest way to protect your family.
In older houses, lead can lurk in painted trim, window sashes, soil around the foundation, plumbing pipes, and even vintage hardware. The metal is toxic, and children and pregnant women are most at risk. Exposure can trigger developmental delays, learning problems, and organ damage. Because the EPA links even low levels to serious health effects, test every suspected surface and address any hazards right away.
A positive test means lead is present somewhere you can touch, breathe, or disturb. The next step is a full risk assessment to map exactly where the hazard lies and outline the safest fix: encapsulation, enclosure, or full removal. Repairs start at $1,000 but can exceed $10,000 for complete elimination, so act quickly and hire certified pros to keep your family safe.
EPA lead certification proves that inspectors, risk assessors, and abatement contractors follow federal safety rules under the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Program. The credential costs an average of $300, and certified professionals can legally test, contain, or remove lead hazards. Hiring a certified pro protects you from fines and ensures the work meets strict health standards.
Lead-based paint looks no different from any other paint, so you can’t identify it by color or sheen. Even flawless walls may hide it. If paint starts chipping, flaking, or peeling, schedule a professional test right away. Only laboratory-grade testing confirms lead and guides the safest fix for your home.
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