A lead-safe certificate comes from a dust-wipe test: a certified technician wipes floors and windowsills, an accredited lab measures the lead in each wipe, and if every sample is under the limits you get the certificate. The price covers the visit, the lab analysis of every sample, and the certificate and report. Four things move it.
1. Bedrooms: how many samples the lab runs
Each bedroom gets one floor wipe and one windowsill wipe. So does one common room (usually the living room or kitchen). Every set also gets a blank control wipe. The lab charges per sample, so bigger units cost more:
| Unit size | Samples |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | 5 |
| 2 bedrooms | 7 |
| 3 bedrooms | 9 |
| 4 bedrooms | 11 |
| 5 bedrooms | 13 |
Our quote is priced per unit by bedroom count, so you know the full price before you book. Five or more bedrooms are priced as five.
2. How many units you test at once
One trip, several units: test 2 to 5 units in the same visit and every unit is 20% off. A duplex or a triplex is the most common case. Buildings with 6 or more units get a custom quote with one visit and one invoice; see property managers and buildings.
3. How fast you need results
Standard lab turnaround is 3–5 business days after the lab receives the samples. If a lease date is close, you can pay for 48-hour, 24-hour or same-day results. Rush samples also ship to the lab overnight, which adds one shipping charge per visit. Waiting until the week of a move-in is the most expensive way to get a certificate.
4. Whether the unit passes the first time
A failed sample means cleaning or repairing that spot and testing again. Re-tests are 20% off, but passing the first time is cheaper still. Under the 2026 limits (floors 5, sills 40, troughs 100 µg/ft²) the usual culprits are windowsills and dust from recent work. The prep checklist is free and covers what to do.
What you should get for the price
- A technician with EPA dust-sampling certification. Ours: EPA Certified Firm NAT-F243427-1.
- Analysis at an accredited lab. Ours: Accurate Analytical Testing LLC, accreditation #100986.
- The certificate and the full lab report, with every sample’s result.
- Help filing with the City (the portal) and a reminder before the four years are up.
- If something fails: which room and surface, why, and how to fix it.
A very low price can mean fewer samples, a slower lab, or extra charges later. Ask how many samples are included and which lab analyzes them.
What isn’t included
A lead-safe certificate is not a lead-free certificate. Lead-free needs a full lead paint inspection with an XRF analyzer, which costs more and never expires. We don’t do XRF; our partner Viva EHS does. Read lead-safe vs lead-free to choose.
How to pay less
- Test all the units in a building in one visit (20% off each, 2–5 units).
- Book early and take standard turnaround instead of a rush.
- Prep the unit so it passes the first time.
- Keep track of the four-year expiry; we remind you before it’s due.
Your exact price takes about a minute: pick units, bedrooms and speed. Get an instant quote.