How Much Does Biohazard Cleanup Cost? (2026 Complete Guide)

Cost Ranges by Service Type

These ranges reflect national averages. Costs in major metro areas (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston) typically run 20–40% higher than the national midpoint; rural markets may be slightly lower.

What Actually Drives the Price

Understanding the cost variables helps you evaluate quotes, avoid surprises in the final invoice, and have informed conversations with your insurance company.

Square Footage and Number of Rooms Affected

Scale is the most obvious factor, but contamination spreads further than most people expect. Bloodborne material, bodily fluids, and decomposition byproducts seep through carpet, penetrate subflooring, and wick up drywall. A contained biohazard in a single tiled bathroom costs meaningfully less than one in a carpeted bedroom where fluids have reached the subfloor.

A single-room cleanup with minimal porous surface involvement might run $1,500–$3,500. That same event in carpet where fluids penetrated the subfloor can reach $5,000–$8,000 once material removal and structural drying are included.

Decomposition Stage and How Long Since the Event

For unattended deaths, this is the single largest cost variable. The longer a body goes undiscovered, the more severe — and expensive — the contamination:

Porous vs. Non-Porous Surfaces

Tile, sealed concrete, and glass can be decontaminated. Carpet, drywall, unsealed wood, mattresses, upholstered furniture, and insulation typically cannot — they must be removed as biohazardous waste. Every additional porous surface affected adds disposal volume and labor. Subfloor removal down to the joists is required in serious decomposition cases involving carpeted rooms.

HVAC System Contamination

This is one of the most consequential and most-overlooked cost drivers. When odor-causing compounds — particularly from decomposition — circulate through a property's HVAC system, they embed in ductwork, coils, and air handlers. Standard decontamination doesn't reach them.

Labor: Crew Size and Hours On-Site

Most companies deploy 2–4 technicians at $150–$300 per technician-hour. A contained single-room cleanup may take 4–8 hours. Advanced decomposition across multiple rooms can require 16–32 hours over 2–3 days. This is one cost line that cannot be safely rushed.

Hidden Costs People Don't Expect

Several line items regularly catch clients off-guard because they're not included in the initial quote or aren't clearly explained upfront.

Biohazardous waste transport and disposal is a licensed, regulated activity governed by federal DOT regulations and state environmental agencies. Every piece of removed flooring and every bag of contaminated material must be transported by a licensed medical waste hauler to an authorized facility. This is not optional. Disposal fees typically add $300–$1,500 to a job depending on volume and your state's facility network.

Post-remediation clearance testing is increasingly required by insurance companies and should be standard practice on any serious cleanup. An independent industrial hygienist takes surface samples and air quality readings to certify the space is free of detectable pathogens. This independent testing costs $300–$800 and should be conducted by a third party — not the company that did the cleanup. Insurance companies increasingly require it before paying claims.

Structural replacement materials — new subfloor, drywall, flooring — are typically not included in a biohazard cleanup quote. Remediation companies remove and decontaminate; general contractors replace. Budget a separate $1,500–$8,000 for reconstruction depending on scope.

Odor treatment and fogging may be a separate line item. Thermal fogging, hydroxyl generators, and ozone treatment are specialized techniques beyond standard cleaning. If odor is severe, budget an additional $500–$2,500.

The Low-Ball Bid Problem

In a crisis, the instinct is to take the lowest quote. In biohazard cleanup, this is frequently a costly mistake.

A thorough company prices based on an on-site assessment that accounts for subfloor penetration, HVAC condition, total material volume, disposal costs, and post-remediation testing. A low-ball bidder often skips the assessment, underestimates scope, uses less protective equipment, generates less waste by removing less material, and excludes disposal and testing from the quoted price. The contamination remains. The smell returns. You pay again — or face health consequences.

A legitimate company provides a written scope of work, explains exactly what will and will not be removed, specifies how waste will be disposed of, and provides completion documentation. That documentation directly affects your insurance claim and your legal disclosure obligations if you sell the property.

How Insurance Affects Your Out-of-Pocket Cost

This is one of the most common questions — and the honest answer is that it depends entirely on your policy type and the circumstances of the event.

Filing a Successful Insurance Claim

Your cleanup company's documentation is the foundation of a successful claim. A reputable company will provide: a detailed scope of work and itemized invoice, before-and-after photographs, a waste disposal manifest, and a certificate of decontamination from an independent industrial hygienist. Without this, claims are routinely delayed or denied. This is one of the most practical reasons to choose a professional, certified company over a cheaper alternative.

If Insurance Doesn't Cover It

Many legitimate cleanup companies offer payment plans. In states like California, the California Victim Compensation Board provides crime scene cleanup coverage for qualifying crime victims. Some counties have similar assistance programs — contact your local police department's victim services unit. If meth lab decontamination is needed, check whether a state environmental remediation fund applies to your situation.

How to Get an Accurate Quote

Give the company as much information as possible upfront:

• Type of event — crime scene, unattended death, meth lab, hoarding, sewage
• Time since the event — for deaths, how long ago the person was discovered
• Room types and flooring — carpeted vs. hard surface, basement vs. above grade
• Whether the scene has been released — law enforcement must officially release a crime scene before cleanup can begin

A reputable company will schedule an on-site assessment before providing a final written quote — this assessment is always free. Be cautious of any company that provides a firm price without seeing the property.