How much does well water testing cost?

Well water testing is one of the cheapest things you can do as a well owner, and one of the most often skipped. The price depends on what you test for, which lab you use, and whether someone collects the sample for you. This page lists published prices from national cost guides and from public labs so you can see the range before you call. Prices change, so confirm the current fee with the lab.

Typical well water testing costs

National cost guides price testing in tiers. HomeGuide lists these ranges in its well inspection guide, and in its drilling guide puts laboratory well water testing at $100 to $350 overall. HomeGuide: How Much Does a Well Inspection Cost? HomeGuide: How Much Does Well Drilling Cost? [HOMEGUIDE-INSPECT source note] [HOMEGUIDE-WELL source note]

Other guides land in the same range. HomeAdvisor gives $50 to $600 for professional lab testing depending on how many contaminants are screened. HomeAdvisor: How Much Does It Cost to Drill a Well? This Old House puts DIY test kits at $50 to $150 and professional testing at $100 to $500. This Old House: How Much Does Well Installation Cost? [HOMEADVISOR-WELL source note] [THISOLDHOUSE-WELL source note]

What public labs charge

Many state health labs, county health departments and university labs test private well water directly, often for much less than a private service. These are published examples from public labs, recorded in our open cost register and on the labs' own pages: [TWDG-REGISTER-ZENODO source note]

Sources: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories, SCDES: Well Water Quality Testing Services, Montana Environmental Laboratory, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, Maryland Department of Health Laboratories, Public Health Madison & Dane County, Penn State AASL. Many labs only accept samples from in-state residents, and fees cover analysis only; shipping or a collection visit can cost extra. [IN-LAB-WELL source note] [SC-DES-LAB source note] [MT-LAB-BACT source note] [WSLH-PRICES source note] [MD-LAB-WELL source note] [MDC-FEES source note] [PSU-AASL source note]

What raises the price of a well water test?

• More contaminants. Each added test, such as arsenic, lead, uranium, pesticides or PFAS, adds to the bill. Michigan's state lab, for example, listed a PFAS test at $290 in a 2023 announcement, recorded in our cost register. Ask the health department which local contaminants are worth paying for rather than buying the largest package.
• Radon. Radon in water needs a special sampling vial and a fast trip to the lab. Vermont's health department sells a radon-in-water kit for $25. Vermont Department of Health: Radon in Drinking Water See radon in well water.
• Sample collection. A technician's visit adds a fee but documents how the sample was taken, which lenders and buyers often want.
• Real-estate requirements. Lender or state-mandated panels bundle several tests and a chain of custody.
• Follow-up tests. A positive bacteria result means a retest after disinfection. See testing well water for bacteria.

How can you keep well testing affordable?

1. Test the core panel every year. CDC recommends testing at least once a year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, and using a state-certified laboratory. CDC: Guidelines for Testing Well Water
2. Add local contaminants on a schedule. EPA suggests testing for radionuclides every three years. EPA RadTown: Natural Radionuclides in Private Wells
3. Ask about public programs. County health departments and extension offices sometimes run free or reduced-price testing events.
4. Follow the lab's instructions exactly. A sample that arrives late or warm has to be repeated, which doubles the cost.

Do lenders require a well water test?

Often, yes, when you buy a home. The Water Systems Council notes that FHA-insured loans require water testing for homes on private wells, and advises buyers to test before closing and make the purchase contingent on the results. Water Systems Council: Buying or Selling a Home with a Well Some places go further: New Jersey requires water testing as a condition of sale for homes on private wells. New Jersey Private Well Testing Act, P.L.2001, c.40 Lender and state panels usually cost more than a basic annual test because they list specific contaminants and often require a technician to collect the sample. Ask your lender which tests it needs before you order, so you pay for one set of tests rather than two. The well inspection checklist covers the rest of a pre-purchase review. [WSC-REP source note] [NJ-PWTA source note]

For what each test means and how to sample, see well water testing and how often to test well water. If you are buying a home, testing is usually part of a well inspection.