--- title: "How Much Does PFAS Water Testing Cost? Lab Prices Explained" description: "PFAS water tests run about $250 to $680 per sample at labs that publish prices. See what drives the cost and what to check first in Missouri." url: https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/how-much-does-pfas-water-testing-cost publisher: Advanced Environmental Services phone: +1-314-865-2662 quote: https://www.aes-stl.com/contact --- PFAS: 6 min read, published September 2, 2026 # How Much Does PFAS Water Testing Cost? Lab Prices Explained Published prices run from about $250 to $680 for one drinking water sample. Wisconsin's state lab lists $380 per sample for the 18-compound EPA 537.1 method, or $680 with a $300 field reagent blank, and $450 for 40 compounds by EPA 1633A. Planet Detroit reports $250 to $490, by lab and scope. AES quotes each job. [Request a Quote](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact)[(314) 865-2662](tel:+1-314-865-2662) ![Red fire suppression tanks and piping in an aircraft hangar during an AES PFAS project](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/pfas-2025-06-24-10.58.33.C9OzVSit_Z1cGw0W.webp) ![Large warehouse floor with AES equipment in the distance](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/pfas-warehouse-2025-12-03-11.52.27.BVKPsHAu_sbKVc.webp) ![AES crew and equipment working across a large aircraft hangar floor on a PFAS job](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/pfas-2025-06-24-11.02.17.C_vRwuNL_Qx0TA.webp) PFAS water tests cost roughly $250 to $680 per sample at the labs that publish prices. The range is wide because labs differ in method, number of compounds and extras such as a field blank. Wisconsin’s state lab lists $380 per sample for the 18-compound EPA 537.1 method, or $680 when the required blank is added. Planet Detroit reports $250 to $490. These are third-party figures from outside Missouri. They show what a fair range looks like. They are not an AES price. AES quotes each job; call (314) 865-2662 or use [/contact](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact). ## What do published PFAS lab prices look like? Look at one public price list. The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene publishes a schedule “effective November 1, 2025.” It is a state lab in Wisconsin, so treat it as a benchmark, not an offer for Missouri samples. Test (Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene) Method Compounds Price listed Municipal or private well drinking water EPA 537.1 18 $380 sample, $680 total with $300 field reagent blank Surface water, groundwater, drinking water EPA 1633A 40 $450 per sample Wastewater effluent EPA 1633A 40 $450 per sample, or $400 for PFOA and PFOS only Sediment, soil, compost EPA 1633A 40 $550 per sample Planet Detroit gives a second view for drinking water: “Testing expenses range from $250 to $490 per sample, varying by laboratory and testing scope.” The two sources overlap at the low end and differ at the top, which is normal when labs sell different packages. ## Are there cheaper ways to test? Yes, but read the conditions. The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team keeps a list of labs that test private wells. Its list “is current as of April 2023,” so treat it as an older benchmark. Most listed labs charge about $250 to $531 for the analysis. One charges “$370 for a 4-week turn around; up to $1,110 for 1-day.” Speed costs money. The Shaw Institute, a nonprofit, says “Typical PFAS testing retails for $300-$350, our tests cost $115.” Its page says it tests freshwater and residential water at a discount, tests up to 55 PFAS chemicals, and normally returns results in 7 to 10 days. Check that it serves your address and that the compound list fits your question before you order. Source Price it states Condition to note Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene $380 sample (EPA 537.1), $450 (EPA 1633A) Schedule effective November 1, 2025. Blank is $300 extra if analyzed Planet Detroit $250 to $490 per sample Varies by laboratory and testing scope Michigan state list of home-testing labs About $250 to $531; $1,110 for one-day service at one lab List current as of April 2023 Shaw Institute $115 Discount program for freshwater and residential water ## Why does the same test cost different amounts? Because you are buying a package, not just a bottle of water. Four things move the price. - **Method.** EPA 537.1 covers 18 compounds. EPA 1633A covers 40. A longer list costs more. - **Blanks and quality checks.** Wisconsin’s lab says the field reagent blank “is required for PWS Compliance testing.” For homeowners not testing for compliance, it is optional. That one rule explains the $300 gap between $380 and $680. - **What you test.** Soil, wastewater and sludge cost more than clean water because the lab has more work to do. - **Lab choice and scope.** Planet Detroit says the price varies by laboratory and testing scope. Ask every lab what is in the price. Ask if the bottles, shipping and report are included. Ask if a blank is required. ## Should you check Missouri data before you pay for a test? Yes, if you use public water. Missouri DNR says its PFAS occurrence monitoring “represent\[s\] public water supplies that serve more than 76% of Missouri’s population,” and that its Missouri PFAS Viewer shows the location of voluntary sampling in public drinking water systems. Your utility may already have results. Ask the utility for its latest PFAS data before you order your own. A private well is different. Public monitoring does not cover it. If you use a well, test the well. Our [PFAS drinking water](https://www.aes-stl.com/pfas-drinking-water) page covers what the results mean for a home. ## Which test do you need? Match the test to the question. A wrong match is the most common way to pay twice. Your situation What to test Why Home on a private well Drinking water at the tap or wellhead Public monitoring does not cover private wells Home on city water Ask the utility first The utility may have results Buying or selling land near a possible source Water and soil, 40-compound list Sale and cleanup decisions use more compounds Business with a stormwater or wastewater permit Effluent, as your permit or consultant directs Effluent tests have their own price line Suspected soil contamination Soil samples plus groundwater Soil can release PFAS slowly into groundwater ## How do you collect a PFAS sample without ruining it? PFAS are measured in parts per trillion, so small mistakes can change a result. Our glossary explains [parts per trillion](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/parts-per-trillion-ppt). Follow these steps: 1. Ask the lab for its own bottles and written collection steps. Do not use your own containers. 2. Keep the bottles closed until the moment you fill them. 3. If the lab sends a field reagent blank, use it exactly as told. It is a bottle of PFAS-free water that travels to the site and back with your sample. 4. Label the bottle, record the date and place, and ship it as the lab directs. 5. Keep the chain of custody form with the sample. If the result will support a sale, a permit or a cleanup, have a qualified team collect it. AES describes its sampling on the [PFAS sampling](https://www.aes-stl.com/pfas-sampling) page and its analysis on the [PFAS testing](https://www.aes-stl.com/pfas-testing) page. ## What should you do with the result? Compare it to a standard before you decide anything. Read the unit, the compound names and the detection limit first. The [PFAS drinking water rule guide](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/pfas-drinking-water-rule-explained) explains the federal limits. For a [PFAS](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/pfas) result near a limit, retest. If you want to know how treatment compares, read our post on [whether PFAS can be removed from drinking water](https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/can-pfas-be-removed-from-drinking-water). For a result in soil, plan sampling of groundwater too. A single number rarely settles the question. If a result is high, the next costs come from treatment or cleanup. Our [PFAS water treatment](https://www.aes-stl.com/pfas-water-treatment) page describes the options, and the [granular activated carbon](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/granular-activated-carbon-gac) entry explains one common filter type. We do not publish a price for that work. It depends on the compounds, the flow and the site. ## What to ask before you order - Which method do you use, and how many compounds are on the report? - Is the field reagent blank required or optional for my case? - Are bottles, shipping and the written report in the price? - How long until I get results? - Will the report list detection limits for each compound? - Who explains the result if it comes back high? Cost and quote: AES quotes each job; call (314) 865-2662 or use [/contact](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact). ## Next step If you need PFAS water testing in St. Louis or within 300 miles, start with our [PFAS testing](https://www.aes-stl.com/pfas-testing) page, then call (314) 865-2662 or send the details through [/contact](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact). ## Frequently asked questions ### How much does a PFAS water test cost? Published figures run from about $250 to $680 per drinking water sample. Planet Detroit reports $250 to $490 per sample, varying by lab and scope. Wisconsin's state lab lists $380 per sample for EPA 537.1, or $680 with the field reagent blank, and $450 for EPA 1633A. Prices depend on lab, method and compound list. ### Why is the Wisconsin price $680 and not $380? The $680 total adds a $300 field reagent blank to the $380 sample cost. Wisconsin's lab says the blank is required for public water system compliance testing and optional for homeowners who are not testing for compliance. A homeowner may pay the $380 sample cost alone. ### Do I need to test if I am on city water in Missouri? Start with your utility and Missouri DNR. DNR says its PFAS monitoring has covered public water supplies serving more than 76% of Missouri's population, and its PFAS Viewer maps voluntary sampling. If your system appears there, you may have data. If you use a private well, test the well. ### Which PFAS method should I ask for? Ask what the result will be used for. EPA 537.1 tests 18 compounds in drinking water. EPA 1633A tests 40 compounds in water, soil and other media. Wisconsin's lab lists both. A site cleanup or a sale usually needs more compounds than a home well check. ### Can a cheap PFAS test kit replace a lab test? Low-cost mail-in programs exist. The Shaw Institute says typical PFAS testing retails for $300 to $350 and its tests cost $115. Check the compound list and whether it serves your address. PFAS are measured in parts per trillion, so follow the bottle and collection steps exactly or hire a team to sample. ## Terms on this page - [Granular activated carbon (GAC)](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/granular-activated-carbon-gac) - [Parts per trillion (ppt)](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/parts-per-trillion-ppt) - [PFAS](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/pfas) - [PFOA](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/pfoa) - [PFOS](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/pfos) ## Sources 1. [Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene: PFAS test options and prices, EPA 537.1](https://www.slh.wisc.edu/environmental/pfas/) 2. [Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene: PFAS, homeowner blank](https://www.slh.wisc.edu/environmental/pfas/) 3. [Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene: PFAS, price schedule date](https://www.slh.wisc.edu/environmental/pfas/) 4. [Planet Detroit: How to test your drinking water for PFAS in Metro Detroit](https://planetdetroit.org/2024/06/pfas-drinking-water-test/) 5. [Michigan PFAS Action Response Team: Laboratories Offering Home Testing, list date](https://www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse/drinking-water/laboratories) 6. [Michigan PFAS Action Response Team: Laboratories Offering Home Testing, rush price](https://www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse/drinking-water/laboratories) 7. [Shaw Institute: PFAS Testing](https://shawinstitute.org/services/pfas-testing/) 8. [Missouri DNR: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)](https://dnr.mo.gov/contaminant-spotlight/perfluoroalkyl-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas) Written by Advanced Environmental Services and checked against the sources above on September 2, 2026. Rules change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [The EPA PFAS drinking water rule explained: limits, deadlines and what is proposedEPA's 2024 rule sets legally enforceable limits for six PFAS in public drinking water, including 4.0 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS. Compliance is due in 2029. As of October 30, 2026, EPA has proposed, but not finalized, an optional extension to 2031 and the removal of four other limits.](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/pfas-drinking-water-rule-explained) - [Can PFAS Be Removed From Drinking Water? What WorksYes. EPA names granular activated carbon, anion exchange, reverse osmosis and nanofiltration as the best available technologies for meeting its PFAS limits. EPA says a home filter could also be an effective way to reduce PFAS, if it is certified for PFAS and maintained. A filter may not help if your water has no PFAS.](https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/can-pfas-be-removed-from-drinking-water) - [What drives asbestos removal costAsbestos removal cost depends mainly on how much material there is, where it sits, how hard it is to reach, and what testing, notice fees and disposal the job needs. Angi's 2026 national average is $2,260. AES publishes no asbestos prices and quotes each job after a survey.](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/asbestos-removal-cost) - [PFAS testing for property owners: when to test, how sampling works and what results meanTest for PFAS if your property sits near an airport, military base, landfill or industrial site, used firefighting foam, or draws from a private well. A site assessment picks sample points, trained staff collect clean samples, and an accredited lab reports results in parts per trillion. AES says most results arrive in two to four weeks.](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/pfas-testing-for-property-owners) - [How Much Does Asbestos Testing Cost? Ranges and Missouri RulesThumbtack reports $255 to $579 for asbestos testing, with most people paying about $369. HomeGuide says $250 to $850 on average for an inspector to assess, sample and report. Missouri requires a certified asbestos inspector to inspect a regulated structure before demolition or renovation. AES quotes each job.](https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/how-much-does-asbestos-testing-cost) - [How Much Does a Mold Inspection Cost? Prices and What to AskRedfin reports a national average of $680 for a mold inspection. Fast Mold Testing reports $450 to $800, and Wini reports $300 to $400 for homes under 4,000 square feet. Size and sample count drive the price. EPA says that in most cases, if visible mold is present, sampling is unnecessary. AES quotes each job.](https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/mold-inspection-cost) ## Request your custom environmental remediation estimate Contact us for a free environmental remediation or restoration estimate and a personalized solution to your problems. [Or call (314) 865-2662](tel:+1-314-865-2662)