Typical Costs Based upon all the variables described below, the normal range of asbestos testing is between $230-$780. The national average for an asbestos test is $482. According to Angi (formerly Angies list), the low end for the testing is $100 while the high end is $1,992.
Obviously, it varies from lab to lab and region to region and whether you DIY ( not recommended) or engage a professional to come to your home safely, harvest a sample and package it up and label it correctly for the high standards required by the NATA laboratory. The price can range from $60.00 to over $350.00 +GST.
Most asbestos management surveys in 2025 are costed based on the time they will take, so the average asbestos survey cost for a standard commercial asbestos survey can be anywhere between £400 and £800.
So, there's no way to know if asbestos is present in your home without paying for a professional asbestos testing service or buying an at-home test kit and sending the sample to a lab.
The only way to be sure whether a material contains asbestos is to have it tested by a qualified laboratory. EPA only recommends testing suspect materials if they are damaged (fraying, crumbling) or if you are planning a renovation that would disturb the suspect material.
As for how to test for asbestos yourself, only some states allow homeowners to perform a home asbestos test. Check with your state's environmental agency or health department first. If they allow it, you'll be able to purchase a kit with instructions on how to test for asbestos in the air.
Since the presence of asbestos cannot be identified through smell or visual inspection, asbestos testing through sampling and laboratory analysis is the only way to identify asbestos.
Identifying & Testing for Asbestos
To do this, an EPA-certified contractor collects a sample and sends it to an EPA-certified lab for examination. If the test comes back positive, rest assured that yes, it's legal to sell a home with asbestos.
Asbestos abatement and remediation are not generally covered by home insurance. However, due to the potential health risks, it's important to have knowledgeable professionals inspect an older home before major work is done.
The actual process of asbestos testing is fairly quick. On-site inspection and sample collection usually take a few hours, depending on the size of the property. Once samples are collected, lab results can take anywhere from 24 hours to a week, depending on the urgency and lab availability.
A refurbishment or demolition survey must be carried out by a competent surveyor. It involves destructive inspection and potential asbestos disturbance so the area must be vacated during the survey. The surveyor must confirm it as 'fit for reoccupation*' after the survey.
What is the average settlement for asbestos? The average asbestos settlement amount is between $1 million and $1.4 million, according to Mealey's® Litigation Report: Asbestos. Asbestos settlements are affected by many factors, including: Age of the victim.
Homes built before the 1980s likely have asbestos in them. For instance, if these homes have popcorn ceilings or vinyl flooring, they may contain asbestos. A simple rule is the newer a home is, the less likely it has asbestos materials. Homes built before the 1980s are likely to contain the mineral somewhere.
Healthcare providers sometimes diagnose asbestosis in people who haven't worked or been around asbestos for decades. It can take up to 30 years to develop symptoms.
Asbestos that is in good condition and left undisturbed is unlikely to present a health risk. The risks from asbestos occur when it is damaged or disturbed where asbestos fibers become airborne and can be inhaled. Managing asbestos in place and maintaining it in good repair is often the best approach.
You can sue for asbestos exposure if diagnosed with a related illness. Exposure alone is not enough to file a lawsuit—you must have suffered injury and damages due to the exposure. Statutes of limitations require filing an asbestos lawsuit within 1-4 years of diagnosis in most cases.
Even if asbestos is in your home, this is usually NOT a serious problem. The mere presence of asbestos in a home or a building is not hazardous. The danger is that asbestos materials may become damaged over time. Damaged asbestos may release asbestos fibers and become a health hazard.
The low-end estimate is $225 just for an inspection, such as buying/selling a home, and the upper end is closer to $1500 for renovation/demolition projects. The initial survey includes a multifaceted approach to testing for asbestos.
Taking samples yourself is not recommended. If building materials in your home aren't damaged and won't be disturbed, you do not need to have your home tested for asbestos. Material that is in good condition and will not be disturbed (by remodeling, for example) should be left alone.
Asbestos insulation comes in many forms and can look loose, lumpy, and fluffy like wool or hardened like corrugated cardboard or pebbly, and has a gray, gray-brown, or silvery gold color.
Your work history, job site records and witness statements come next. Documentation may include your doctor's statement. It must link your asbestos exposure to your diagnosis and should include blood tests and imaging scans.
Asbestos is no longer added to popcorn ceilings because it's a known health risk. The chances of your ceiling containing asbestos are low for any installations in the late 1980s or after. Newly constructed ceilings don't use asbestos.
One of the most worrying issues with asbestos is that in the event that it does get disturbed, it can be easily released into the air, and remain there for some time. It is thought that disturbed asbestos can stay airborne for as long as 48 to 72 hours before settling.