The presence of asbestos in your home poses some serious health risks. For this reason, it is essential to hire a professional with the proper equipment and experience necessary to remove it. Asbestos removal costs an average of $2,050, with most homeowners paying between $1,165 and $2,950.
Asbestos remediation is a complex job, and the prices may vary depending on where the asbestos fibers are located. On average, licensed asbestos professionals charge between $5 to $20 per square foot.
In this cost guide:
- Average Costs
- Cost Estimator by Size
- Other Factors That Affect Cost
- Related Services
- Cost by Location
- FAQ
Average Asbestos Removal Costs in 2024
| National Average Cost | $2,050 |
| Typical Price Range | $1,165 – $2,950 |
| Extreme Low-End Cost | $435 |
| Extreme High-End Cost | $14,525 |
The costs for asbestos removal will depend on the areas where the fibers are located, the number of rooms, and the ease of access to these areas. Prices can be as low as $435 but run as high as $14,525.
Asbestos abatement costs for the entire home will be closer to the higher end, including siding, tiles, ceilings, drywalls, attics, garages, and so on. In contrast, asbestos encapsulation for smaller areas will cost closer to the lower end.
Asbestos Removal Cost Estimator by Size
Asbestos removal generally costs between $5 and $20 per square foot—but that can vary depending on how much work is needed. For example, suppose you have a lot of damaged insulation in your attic. In that case, it’ll cost more than if you only have a little bit of asbestos-containing material on one wall in your bathroom.
In addition, many asbestos professionals charge a minimum of $1,300 per home due to all the trouble with the pre-clean setup and, afterward, with the asbestos disposal.
The table below shows the cost of removing asbestos on flooring tiles based on the square footage.
| Affected Flooring Area | Average Overall Cost |
| 100 sq. ft. | $500 – $2,000 |
| 250 sq. ft. | $1,250 – $5,000 |
| 500 sq. ft. | $2,500 – $10,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft. | $5,000 – $20,000 |
Other Factors That Affect Cost
Asbestos removal is not a one-size-fits-all kind of service. Several factors can impact prices:
Labor
Asbestos abatement can be a time-consuming endeavor. The average labor costs per hour to remove asbestos ranges between $70 and $180 per professional. It usually takes a team of two about 8 hours to complete the job.
That means that, in total, asbestos removal costs between $1,120 and $2,880 for an 8-hour job. The costs will rise if there is a need for more workers and hours of work and will lower if it’s a faster job.
Location
Asbestos removal cost will also depend on the location of the asbestos, its ease of access, and its difficulty to remove. If it’s somewhere accessible, it will cost less to remove than if it’s in a location that has to be sealed off, and there need to be multiple negative air fans used.
The table below shows the average costs for each location or material:
Ceiling Tiles
Asbestos in flooring and ceiling tiles is usually solid and stable because it is non-friable asbestos. That means it won’t crumble or break apart if you leave it alone. However, if you plan on remodeling or adding features to your ceiling, you should consider hiring a pro to remove the asbestos in the tiles.
Removing asbestos tiles from the ceiling costs between $4 and $12 per square foot.
Popcorn Ceiling
Some people find popcorn ceilings outdated and cheap-looking, but what’s worse than that: they can contain asbestos. Removing popcorn ceilings with asbestos costs $5 to $10 per square foot.
The good news is that you can also have an encapsulation spray applied to it, which will cost less, at $2 to $6 per square foot. However, some companies charge a minimum of $1,300 per service, so you should consider that in your budget, even if you have a small space.
Flooring Tiles
The cost to remove floor tiles containing asbestos is similar to ceiling tiles, costing $4 to $14 per square foot. However, it can be tricky, as the pro needs to scrape off the adhesive in the tiles, which could lead to airborne particles.
When the floor is not damaged, some homeowners prefer an encapsulation, costing $2 to $6 per square foot.
HVAC Ducts
HVAC units don’t usually have asbestos in them. Still, the ductwork is likely to contain asbestos, especially if it’s from the 1970s or before. The presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in air ducts is alarming because there might be contamination in your entire home. Thus, it should be acted upon as soon as possible.
Removing asbestos from ducts costs $35 to $55 per square foot, but sometimes it might be better to replace all the ducts and AC units.
Pipe Insulation
If you need to remove asbestos insulation from pipes or wraps, you can expect to pay between $5 and $14 per square foot. The costs will depend on the ease of access to the pipes and whether the insulation is glued or taped on.
If the asbestos is glued to the pipe, it’s more expensive to remove because you have to cut away the pipe itself. On the other hand, it’s cheaper to remove if it’s taped onto the pipe because you only have to cut off the tape and then scrape away any loose debris.
Drywall
Drywall asbestos removal is not a hard job because the pieces of drywall are removed in large sections, disturbing the asbestos minimally. The only difficulty comes when the drywall comprises several layers, making it more challenging to cut out the contaminated area accurately.
Drywall asbestos removal costs between $8 and $11 per square foot.
Garage
Garages are one of the most likely rooms to contain asbestos. That is because they are not often used for living space and have not been updated since before the ban was implemented. There can be asbestos in the walls, roof, insulation, and floor.
The costs to remove asbestos from the garage range between $11 and $30 per square foot, depending on the size of the garage and the amount of asbestos.
Attic Insulation
If you live in an older home built before the 1970s, there is a high probability that your attic contains asbestos insulation. It is durable, inexpensive, and easy to install. Still, it can also fall through the cracks and expose your family to carcinogenic substances.
Removing attic insulation containing asbestos costs between $7 and $17 per square foot, with more extensive attics costing more.
Basement
Removing asbestos from your basement costs $5 to $20 per square foot. You might need to remove asbestos from the walls, pipes, flooring, and insulation. The good news is that if your basement is not finished, it will cost up to 25% less than if it was finished.
Siding
Suppose you’re thinking about remodeling your home exterior. You might be surprised to learn that asbestos siding removal only costs $6 to $8 per square foot.
Some homeowners opt for encapsulation, which costs $2 to $6 per square foot, or they apply new siding over the old panels, which can make removal more difficult afterward.
Gutters
It’s not common to have asbestos in the gutters. It’s far more common for homes with asbestos cement roofs. However, if you perform a test and discover asbestos, it can cost $5 to $10 per square foot to remove it from your gutters.
If you had your gutters removed due to asbestos, it costs between $4 and $12 per linear foot to have new gutters installed.
Soffits
Soffits are the areas beneath the roof, between the ceiling and the exterior walls. If you have asbestos soffits, removing and replacing them with new ones is essential. If the soffits become damaged or loose, asbestos fibers can be released into the air and inhaled by both children and adults alike.
Removing asbestos soffits costs between $10 and $12 per square foot.
Roof and Shingles
Roofs are probably the most expensive location to remove asbestos from. It can be tricky to reach the insulation boards or roof shingles, which increases the cost. It costs, on average, $35 to $125 per square foot to remove asbestos from the roof.
Some roofs are equipped with asbestos-laden tiles, and removing these shingles has its own costs, as the asbestos professional will try to remove them without damaging them, making the job more time-consuming and complex. Removing shingles costs between $40 and $130 per square foot.
Pre-clean and Setup
An important factor to consider in asbestos removal is the cost associated with the setup. When removing asbestos, the professionals have to create a decontamination area by sealing it off, disabling the HVAC system, and using a HEPA vacuum to clean up. Overall, these processes prevent the asbestos fibers from contaminating other parts of the house.
Depending on the area’s size, the pre-clean and removal setup costs between $240 and $350.
Encapsulation
Asbestos removal is expensive, time-consuming, and may cause health problems for on-site workers. Encapsulation can be an alternative method for protecting people from asbestos exposure if it’s not severely damaged or at risk of being disturbed by renovations.
Encapsulation is the process of sealing the asbestos materials using a high-grade sealant coating, and it costs, on average, $2 to $6 per square foot.
Asbestos Disposal
Asbestos is a hazardous material, so the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has national standards for asbestos disposal. In addition, each location has its own disposal fees, with fees in urban areas being higher. On average, it costs $10 to $50 per cubic yard to dispose of asbestos, plus the costs for the permit.
Type of Asbestos
There are seven common types of asbestos:
- Crocidolite (blue asbestos)
- Chrysotile (white asbestos)
- Amosite (brown asbestos)
- Anthophyllite
- Tremolite
- Actinolite
- Vermiculite
White asbestos is the most common type and can be found on walls, ceilings, floors, and ducts. As such, the costs to remove white asbestos are closer to average than the other types.
On the other hand, brown asbestos will cost more to remove, as it causes a higher risk of cancer when inhaled, which will require the asbestos removal company to be more careful. The same goes for crocidolite, or blue asbestos, which has thinner fibers and can be more easily inhaled.
Related Services
If you’re trying to make your home safer by removing asbestos, you might also want to consider the following services:
Asbestos Testing
Testing for asbestos is a great way to prevent the negative consequences of exposure and to see if you need an asbestos removal service. In addition, you may think you’ve removed all the asbestos from a structure, but if you haven’t tested for it after removal, you could still be putting your family at risk, so it’s safer to get an asbestos inspection afterward.
Asbestos testing should be performed before and after removal by a licensed asbestos inspector. It costs an average of $495, with most homeowners paying between $235 and $785.
Roof Replacement
You have asbestos in your roof, and you must get it out. But once the asbestos is gone, what’s next? In most cases, a new roof.
A roof replacement costs an average of $8,446, with homeowners nationwide paying $5,706 to $11,185. Costs vary depending on the roofing material.
HVAC Installation
Asbestos was often used in the HVAC systems of older buildings and homes because it effectively prevented heat from escaping. Removing asbestos from the HVAC system can be costly, and sometimes, it may be more cost-effective to install a new system altogether.
HVAC installation costs between $5,000 and $9,000, with an average of $7,500.
Cost of Asbestos Removal by Location
The cost of asbestos removal can vary widely depending on where you live. The main reason for this is the cost of living in each area. Urban centers with higher living costs tend to have higher pricing for services, equipment, and permits to remove asbestos, so ensure you get multiple quotes from professionals in your region to compare rates.
FAQ
No, you can’t. Removing asbestos is a tricky, dangerous process that should only be done by professionals. If you try to do it yourself, you’ll risk exposing yourself and your family to asbestos fibers that can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.
If you have any suspicion that there’s asbestos in your home or want to start a home improvement project, call a professional immediately.
When you’re exposed to asbestos, it usually takes 10 to 40 years to start developing symptoms of lung disease. However, there are some cases where someone can develop mesothelioma within just a few years of asbestos exposure. In these cases, it’s usually because they were exposed to high levels of asbestos over a long period of time.
masks do not protect against asbestos. As a matter of fact, no masks do. To protect yourself from asbestos, you need respirators equipped with HEPA-filtered cartridges or ratings N-100, P-100, or R-100. That is because regular masks can’t filter microscopic asbestos fibers.
Asbestos is generally safe to leave alone if it’s not deteriorating. You don’t want to disturb it because you might release asbestos fibers into the air, which can be dangerous to breathe. However, if you’re planning on remodeling your home, you should hire a professional to remove asbestos first.
Final Thoughts
Asbestos removal is a necessary investment to protect your family’s health. Whether you need abatement in a single room or throughout your entire property, a trained professional can do it for an average cost of $2,050. Find an asbestos removal pro near you and enjoy the peace of mind of living in an asbestos-free home!
Main Photo by: Mary Lotus / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
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