Radon guide
How much does radon mitigation cost?
Minnesota's Department of Health puts a typical radon mitigation system at $1,500 to $3,000. EPA publishes no national figure and compares the expense to an ordinary home repair.
The official numbers, and why there are so few
| Source | What it says about price |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Department of Health | Costs can range from $1,500 to $3,000, depending on the system type and how the home is built. Financial help may be available depending on income, location and funding. |
| US EPA | No dollar range. Puts the job in the same class as routine home repairs, with the price set by the house's size, its design and the techniques it needs. |
| Oregon Health Authority | No dollar range. Get estimates from certified mitigation technicians. |
Contractor and home-service sites often publish lower averages. We list only figures published by government agencies; your own quotes are the number that counts.
What moves the price
The method a contractor chooses depends on your foundation, and each method has a different amount of work behind it. EPA's typical reduction ranges show why a slab house and a crawlspace house get different quotes:
| Home or situation | Usual method | Typical radon reduction |
|---|---|---|
| Basement or slab on grade | Sub-slab suction with a fan | 50 to 99% |
| House with drain tile around the foundation | Drain tile suction | 50 to 99% |
| Basement with a sump pit | Sump-hole suction | 50 to 99% |
| Crawlspace | Plastic sheet over the soil with suction below it | 50 to 99% |
| Crawlspace, ventilation only | Natural ventilation | 0 to 50%, costs vary |
| New home built radon-resistant | Passive pipe, fan added if needed | 30 to 70% passive; more with a fan |
EPA notes that the cost is much less when a passive system was put in during construction; turning it into an active system means adding a vent fan. Your home's size and layout, and whether more than one method is needed, account for most of the rest.
Running costs after installation
Systems with a fan cut radon more than passive ones and add a little to the electric bill, because the fan runs all the time; EPA says it should never be switched off. Fans wear out eventually, and the replacement price depends on labor and parts. Plan on a radon test at least every two years to confirm the level stays low.
Checklist for comparing quotes
Taken from EPA's own contractor checklist. A lower bid can cost more to run or look worse on the outside of the house, so compare what each one includes:
- Proof of state certification or a national proficiency credential, plus liability insurance, bonding and local licenses.
- Diagnostic testing before the system is designed.
- A written guarantee to bring radon to 4 pCi/L or below, and for how long. Many contractors will commit to a lower negotiated level, such as 2 pCi/L.
- The total price with taxes and permit fees, the deposit and when the balance is due.
- Permits and building codes handled by the contractor, cleanup included, and responsibility for any damage during the job.
Is it worth it?
EPA ranks radon as the leading cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked. At 4 pCi/L, its estimate is that about 7 in 1,000 never-smokers and 62 in 1,000 smokers exposed for a lifetime could get lung cancer from radon. Once a system is in, the majority of homes end up at 2 pCi/L or lower. See what your level means and how the systems work.
Sources: EPA, Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction (2016); EPA, How much can a radon mitigation system cost?; Minnesota Department of Health, Radon mitigation systems; Oregon Health Authority, Radon mitigation; EPA, A Citizen's Guide to Radon (2016). Updated October 2026.