A perc test costs $750 to $1,900 for most homeowners, with Angi publishing a $1,300 national average.1 HomeAdvisor publishes the same average and normal range, and both put the overall span at $300 for a single hand-dug hole to $3,000 for machine-dug holes on a larger property.2 Fixr separately publishes a $725 national average for a test with one or two holes more than 2 feet deep, within a $600 to $800 average range.3 Prices below are national averages*.
*National averages, not local quotes. Angi figures are from a 2026 guide updated September 2026, HomeAdvisor figures are from a 2025-data guide updated June 2026, and Fixr figures are from a guide updated January 2025. Your price depends on property size, the number and depth of holes, and accessibility.
$1,300
national average (Angi)
$750–$1,900
typical range (Angi)
$725
national average (Fixr, 2025)
$600–$800
average range (Fixr, 2025)
What the sources say
| Source | Headline figures | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angi (2026 data, updated Sep 2026) | $1,300 national average; most pay $750 – $1,900; overall span $300 – $3,000; about $150 per hole | Corporate sibling of HomeAdvisor – matching figures alone don’t establish independent corroboration |
| HomeAdvisor (2025 data, updated Jun 2026) | $1,300 average; $750 – $1,900 normal range; $300 for a basic single-hole test to $3,000 or more for complex tests | Matches Angi at the headline; sibling relationship disclosed |
| Fixr (updated Jan 2025) | $725 national average for one or two holes more than 2 feet deep; $600 – $800 average range; $150 low end (shallow hand-dug holes) to $2,000 high end (multiple 6-foot holes with backhoe, engineer, and septic designer on site) | Separately published from the figures above, with no shared sourcing stated |
Cost by property size (Angi & HomeAdvisor, matching)
| Property size | Holes needed | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 acre | 1 – 4 | $150 – $600 |
| 1/2 acre | 1 – 8 | $150 – $1,200 |
| 3/4 acre | 2 – 12 | $300 – $1,800 |
| 1 acre | 3 – 20 | $450 – $3,000 |
The two sibling publishers carry this table at identical figures – matching figures alone don’t establish independent corroboration.
Cost by property size (Fixr, 2025)
| Property size | Holes needed | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 acre | 1 | $150 – $250 |
| 1/2 acre | 1 – 2 | $300 – $500 |
| 3/4 acre | 1 – 2 | $450 – $750 |
| 1 acre | 2 | $600 – $900 |
| 2 acres | 2 | $900 – $1,400 |
| 5 acres | 3 | $1,100 – $2,000 |
Fixr assumes fewer holes per property size than the Angi/HomeAdvisor table and prices accordingly – different assumptions, kept separate rather than compared directly.
Cost per hole
| Hole type and depth | Cost per hole | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manual (2 feet) | $150 – $300 | Angi (2026) |
| Manual (3 feet) | $200 – $300 | Angi (2026) |
| Excavator (4 feet) | $550 – $800 | Angi (2026) |
| Excavator (5 feet) | $625 – $900 | Angi (2026) |
| Excavator (6 feet) | $700 – $1,000 | Angi (2026) |
| Hole size | Price for two holes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 6 in. x 2 ft. | $675 – $800 | Fixr (2025) |
| 1 ft. x 2 ft. | $725 – $875 | Fixr (2025) |
| 2 ft. x 2 ft. | $800 – $950 | Fixr (2025) |
| 2 ft. x 3 ft. | $900 – $1,200 | Fixr (2025) |
| 3 ft. x 3 ft. | $1,100 – $1,450 | Fixr (2025) |
| 3 ft. x 4 ft. | $1,175 – $1,550 | Fixr (2025) |
| 3 ft. x 5 ft. | $1,250 – $1,800 | Fixr (2025) |
| 3 ft. x 6 ft. | $1,400 – $2,000 | Fixr (2025) |
Angi prices per hole while Fixr prices pairs of holes – different scopes, not compared directly. Fixr notes that needing a backhoe for depth or width can add $200 or more to the test.
Labor and related professional fees
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Soil testing professional | $100 – $250 per hour | HomeAdvisor/Fixr (matching) |
| Flat fee option | $300 for simple tests to $1,900 or more | HomeAdvisor (2025 data) |
| Flat fee alternative | from $300 | Fixr (2025) |
| Excavation contractor | $100 – $300 per hour (operator included) | HomeAdvisor (2025 data) |
| Land survey | $370 – $770 | HomeAdvisor (2025 data) |
| Land survey | about $600 | Fixr (2025) |
| Laboratory soil testing | $1,200 average | Fixr (2025) |
The hourly rate match is a separately published figure with no shared sourcing stated. The land survey figures differ and are kept separate rather than compared directly.
Understanding the results (Fixr, 2025)
Soil permeability is measured in minutes per inch (MPI). Fixr puts the ideal range for a septic system at 5 to 60 MPI, and a good perc rate at 1 to 30 minutes per inch.
| Permeability level | Rate (MPI) | Typical measures |
|---|---|---|
| High | under 5 | Adding dense soil near trenches |
| Medium / ideal | 5 – 60 | Pressure treatment |
| Low | 60 – 110 | Mound systems, pressurized dosing |
| Extremely low | 120 or higher | Specialized wastewater treatment |
| Soil type | Permeability |
|---|---|
| Sand | High |
| Sandy loam | Medium to high |
| Loam | Medium |
| Clay loam | Medium to low |
| Silty clay | Low |
| Clay | Extremely low |
Related project costs
| Project | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Septic tank repair | $600 – $3,100 | HomeAdvisor (2025 data) |
| Full septic system replacement | $3,610 – $12,420 | HomeAdvisor (2025 data) |
| Drainage system installation | $2,100 – $7,200 | HomeAdvisor (2025 data) |
| Geotechnical testing (new builds) | $1,000 – $5,000 | HomeAdvisor (2025 data) |
Septic system alternatives if drainage is poor (Fixr, 2025, materials only)
| Alternative | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Storage units | $300 – $900 |
| Plastic chamber leach fields | $3,500 – $10,000 |
| Drip irrigation | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Pressurized dosing | $5,000 – $7,000 |
| Sand filters | $6,000 – $10,000 |
| Constructed wetland systems | $6,000 – $10,000 |
| Aerobic treatment systems | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Mound septic system | $10,000 – $20,000 |
How long testing takes
| Scope | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Test itself | 1 – 8 hours | Angi (2026) |
| Test itself | 1 – 6 hours; half a day to a full day with travel and prep | HomeAdvisor (2025 data) |
| Test itself | 1 – 3 hours (undeveloped site); 1 – 2 hours (septic replacement); up to 6 hours (complex sites) | Fixr (2025) |
| Whole process including soil prep | 24 – 48 hours | Fixr (2025) |
The publishers’ durations differ and are kept separate rather than compared directly. Fixr also notes winter testing costs more because contractors must drill through cold or frozen ground.
Related guides
Soil Testing Cost
Septic Tank Cost
Septic Tank Repair Cost
French Drain Installation Cost
All cost guides
Sources
1. Angi — How Much Does a Perc Test Cost? (2026)
2. HomeAdvisor — How Much Does a Perc Test Cost? (2025 data)
3. Fixr — Perc Test Cost (2025)