How Much Does a Radon Inspection Cost in 2025?
This project can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,200, so take a look at what could affect this price and get a quote from a pro.
The average cost for a professional radon inspection is $420, ranging from $146 to $713.
Professional radon inspections can be influenced by the size and layout of your home, your geographic location, and the type of testing performed.
Short-term tests provide quick results but may be less accurate due to fluctuations in radon levels, while long-term tests offer more precise readings over extended periods.
Professional testing offers reliable results, which are crucial for safety and compliance, especially during real estate transactions.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
Investing in radon testing is crucial for the safety of your household. Professional radon inspections typically cost between $146 and $713, with an average cost of $420. Hiring a professional ensures accurate results and peace of mind, safeguarding your home from this invisible threat.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that all homes be tested to ensure the gas is below recommended safety levels. Radon is a radioactive, odorless, colorless gas and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Exposure to elevated levels of radon poses serious health risks to you and your family.
Cost Factors for Radon Inspection and Testing
Radon inspection costs can vary based on several factors. Different testing methods, such as short-term and long-term tests, vary in cost and accuracy. Additional services, like continuous monitoring or combining radon testing with a general home inspection, can also impact the overall cost.
Home Size
The size and layout of your home significantly affect radon testing costs. Larger or multi-level homes often require multiple testing devices to accurately measure radon levels throughout the property. This need for additional equipment can increase the total cost by $30 to $300, depending on your home's characteristics and the inspector's methods.
Some professionals utilize advanced digital measurement tools that efficiently test larger homes without extra fees, providing comprehensive results regardless of home size.
Region
Living in an area with an active housing market may drive up costs. High demand for inspections, especially during real estate transactions, can affect prices. Contacting multiple professionals in your area can help you find the best value and highest quality service.
Travel Expenses
Some testing companies may add a travel expense if your home is outside their service radius. Contact a local radon testing pro near you for a quote to ensure there are no unexpected fees.
Price of a Radon Test with a Home Inspection
Most inspectors offer radon testing as part of a standard home inspection during real estate transactions. Adding radon testing typically costs between $90 and $250. Because the inspector is already on-site, it's often more cost-effective to include radon testing with an overall inspection rather than scheduling a standalone measurement.
Cost of a Radon Test Kit
Radon test kits range in cost from $10 to $200, depending on the model and features.While DIY kits are less expensive, they may not provide the same level of accuracy and reliability as professional testing. Passive devices, which can be either short-term or long-term, don't require power and are usually sent to a lab for analysis. Active devices are long-term and need power to continuously monitor radon levels in your home.
Although DIY kits may seem cost-effective, they are susceptible to user error and environmental interference, potentially leading to inaccurate results. Hiring a certified professional ensures accurate and reliable testing using advanced equipment and expertise. Professionals follow strict protocols to deliver precise results, safeguarding the health and safety of your household.
Short-Term Home Kits
Short-term kits use charcoal for a passive reading and cost around $100 at hardware stores or online retailers. You leave these kits in the lowest part of your home for two days, mail in the results, and await a response. Since radon levels can fluctuate due to weather, season, and ventilation, using more than one short-term kit can provide a more reliable reading.
Long-Term Home Kits
Long-term kits, which can be passive or active, measure radon levels over an extended period, providing more accurate results. If a short-term test detects a problem, homeowners often use long-term tests to confirm the results and monitor levels over time.
Active long-term sensors or continuous monitors: $200 and display regular reports of current radon levels in your home.
Passive long-term kits: $10-$30 in hardware stores or online. The alpha-track model collects particles for up to 91 days to a year with a plastic strip.
Inspection vs. Testing for Radon in Water
Hiring a radon testing professional to measure radon levels in your water costs around $200. This involves collecting a water sample and sending it to a lab for analysis.
The EPA enforces testing for public water suppliers, but private ground wells require regular attention. The Center for Disease Control recommends searching state-certified laboratories to check private ground wells once a year. Kits cost an average of $146 at hardware stores and online. If it's found in the well, then a pro will install a water mitigation system. These average around $4,500.
What Happens if Radon Levels Test Positive?
If your home shows high radon levels, it's crucial to consult a professional. Learn about your mitigation options and consider the cost of radon remediation methodsto choose the best solution for your home and safety.
Mitigation systems may involve installing fans, pipes, and filters in specific areas of your house. These systems function similarly to installing a central humidifier or air purifying system.
Sealing
Sealing gaps around utility pipes, basement floor cracks, and foundation cracks can reduce radon entry from the soil, lowering mitigation costs and decreasing radon levels.
Ventilation
Ventilation systems use fans to draw fresh air into the house, forcing existing air to exit through windows and vents. While ventilation can help reduce radon levels, maintaining indoor temperatures during colder months can be challenging. Heat recovery ventilators mitigate heat loss by using exhausted air to warm or cool incoming air.
Suction
Various suction methods draw radon gas outdoors, diluting its concentration inside the home.
Submembrane suction works similarly to sub-slab suction for houses with crawlspaces. A heavy plastic sheet covers a dirt floor. Then, a pro inserts a pipe into the ground beneath. A fan connected to the pipe above or outside the home creates a vacuum to expel the gas.
Block-wall suction attaches to basements with hollow block foundation walls.Suction can also connect to water drainage systems like drain tiles or sump pumps. Learn more about the cost of waterproofing your basement or foundation.
Sub-Slab
Sub-slab suction, or depressurization, is used for homes with a basement or slab-on-grade foundation. Pipes inserted through or beneath the floor slab reach into the soil below. A fan creates a vacuum that draws radon from beneath the house and vents it outside. This method is the most common and effective system but also the most expensive.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
While DIY radon test kits are inexpensive, they have significant limitations due to potential user error and environmental interference, leading to inaccurate results. Professional radon inspectors possess the expertise, advanced equipment, and strict adherence to testing protocols necessary to provide accurate and dependable readings. By hiring a professional, you ensure comprehensive testing of your entire home, leading to precise results and peace of mind. Investing in professional radon testing is a crucial step in safeguarding your household against radon hazards.
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. We surveyed thousands of real customers about their project 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
Radon gas is a serious health hazard, as it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. When inhaled, radon breaks down into radioactive particles that can damage lung tissue. Because radon is odorless and invisible, regular testing every two years is crucial to detect its presence. If you have recently remodeled or started using different areas of your home, like the basement, additional testing is essential to ensure your family's safety.
Yes, you need a radon test to ensure your home is safe. The EPA recommends testing your home for radon every two years and after any renovations. Since about one in every 15 homes has elevated radon levels, regular testing is essential. Including a radon test in your home inspection is crucial when buying or selling a property, and some areas require disclosure of radon levels by law. Don't rely on neighboring homes or regional data; the only way to know your home's radon levels is through testing.
Certified professionals conduct radon testing, including accredited home inspectors and specialized radon mitigation companies. These experts follow strict EPA guidelines and use calibrated instruments to accurately measure radon levels throughout your home. Choosing a certified provider ensures you receive reliable results that protect your family's health and property.Professional testing is crucial for accurate detection and effective mitigation if needed.
Radon inspectors typically specialize in testing and assessing radon levels but may not perform mitigation services themselves. If your radon inspector identifies elevated levels of radon in your home, they will recommend a qualified radon mitigation specialist to address the issue. These mitigation experts install systems designed to reduce radon concentrations effectively, ensuring your home is safe.
No, air purifiers are not effective in removing radon gas from your home. Air purifiers are designed to filter out particles like dust and pollen, but radon is a radioactive gas that cannot be captured by standard air filters. To reduce radon levels, you need a specialized radon mitigation system that removes the gas from your home, ensuring your indoor air remains safe.
While opening windows may temporarily reduce radon levels by allowing some gas to escape, it is not an effective long-term solution. Radon continuously enters your home from the soil, and relying on open windows is not practical or sufficient to reduce levels significantly. To effectively lower radon concentrations, you need a professional radon mitigation system that actively removes the gas, ensuring consistent and safe indoor air quality.
