Last checked: October 21, 2026

How much does well water testing cost?

Testing a private well can cost as little as $10 for one test at a state lab or a few hundred dollars for a broad panel. The price depends on which lab you use and which tests you order. Below are published fees from public and university labs, with the date we checked them.

Start with your county

The U.S. Geological Survey says some counties offer free well water testing, so check with your county first. If yours doesn't, it points to EPA's list of state-certified labs, your county or state health department, or your State Certification Officer. It says prices vary by lab and test.¹ Find your county page for local contacts.

Published fees from public and university labs

These are examples. They show what a few public programs charge, not what every lab charges.

Indiana Department of Health lab

For private citizens using well water for drinking, Indiana's state lab lists:²

• $10 for bacteria
• $10 for nitrate
• $10 for fluoride
• $20 for arsenic, lead and copper

Shipping isn't included. Indiana recommends testing every year for bacteria and nitrate, and at least every 5 years for fluoride, arsenic, lead and copper, or whenever major maintenance is done.²

Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories

Florida's state labs in Jacksonville and Miami test for E. coli and coliform bacteria. The listed cost is $40 for private testing through the state lab, or $17 for county health departments. Kits come from a county health department. Samples have to be delivered the same day they're collected and be colder than 50°F at delivery.³ Florida recommends testing for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year, and points to the NELAP certified lab search for other tests.³

South Carolina Department of Environmental Services

South Carolina lists:⁴

• Coliform bacteria test: $20. If coliform is found, the same sample is tested for E. coli. Results come by mail in two to three weeks.
• Metals and minerals analysis: $50. It covers alkalinity, calcium, chloride, copper, hardness, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, nitrate/nitrite, pH and zinc. Fluoride, sodium, total dissolved solids and some other tests can be added for $25 each.

Two things to know about South Carolina right now:

• The state lab isn't accepting metals and minerals samples from June 1 to October 31, 2026, with a tentative restart on November 1, 2026.⁴
• People over 65 or on public assistance (food stamps, WIC, Medicaid and similar) can get one bacteria test and one metals and minerals analysis free each year with proof.⁴

South Carolina sends people to commercial labs for volatile organic chemicals, herbicides and pesticides, and recommends that its tests not be used for real-estate transactions.⁴

Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory (Pennsylvania)

Penn State's lab is accredited by the Pennsylvania DEP for drinking water analysis. Its packages include:⁵

Single tests start at $15 (for example iron, manganese, chloride or pH). Bacteria alone is $40, arsenic $30, lead $25 and fluoride $20.⁵ Kits are available at many county extension offices.⁵ For gas-drilling baseline testing, Penn State recommends an accredited lab that collects the sample itself with full chain of custody.⁵

When testing costs much more

Testing that a law requires, or that a lab collects in person, can cost far more. New Jersey's Private Well Testing Act requires testing for up to 43 parameters when a property with a well is sold, and every five years for leased properties with private wells. NJDEP estimates a full test averages $1,200 to $1,500, depending on how hard the sample is to collect, how far the property is from the lab, and which parameters are required.⁶ See our Hunterdon County, NJ page for what that test covers.

How to keep the cost down

• Ask your county first. Some offer free testing.¹
• Test for what's likely where you live. Your county page lists the contaminants found locally, and best way to test well water explains what a full panel includes.
• Follow a schedule instead of testing everything every year. Indiana recommends bacteria and nitrate every year and other tests every 5 years.² See how often to test a private well.
• Use a certified or accredited lab so the result is worth the money. Your state's list is linked on each county page.

Where to get tested and treatment options

Related guides

• Free tool: Well Test Results Checker: type in your lab numbers and see each one next to the EPA benchmark.
• Best way to test well water
• How often to test a private well
• How to read your well water test results
• Private well vs city water: pros, cons and costs