The short answer
Published guides put lab analysis of a single sample at roughly £20 to £60, a postal kit at about £35 to £50, and a sample taken by a professional at around £50 or more. Clearance air testing after removal costs more, roughly £150 to £350 in one guide.
These are other companies’ figures, checked when we checked in October 2026. We quote each job individually. Ask us for a quote.
Three kinds of testing
- Bulk sample analysis. A small piece of a suspect material is sent to a lab, which tells you whether it contains asbestos and which type. This is what most people mean by an asbestos test.
- A survey. A surveyor inspects a whole building or area, samples each suspect material and writes a report. See survey costs.
- Air testing. An analyst draws air through a filter and counts fibres. It is used to check exposure during work and to clear an area after removal. It doesn’t tell you whether a material contains asbestos.
What published price guides say
We opened each page ourselves when we checked in October 2026. None says whether VAT is included.
| Source (page date) | Figure |
|---|---|
| MyBuilder’s asbestos survey price guide (21 August 2026) | DIY testing kits £35–£50 per kit; standard sampling £50 per sample (its FAQ gives a lower range of about £10–£30 per sample) |
| MyBuilder’s asbestos removal price guide (21 August 2026) | Asbestos testing £50–£245 |
| Less.co.uk’s survey cost guide (April 2026) | DIY test £20–£40 per sample; standard lab results in 1–3 working days, faster at extra cost |
| BestBuilders’ garage roof guide (22 August 2026) | Sample and lab test £30–£60; air or four-stage clearance test £150–£350 |
The spread reflects different things being priced: a kit you use yourself, a lab fee only, or a visit by someone who takes the sample and seals the area.
What lab analysis involves
For bulk samples, the lab examines the material under a microscope to identify any asbestos fibres and their type. HSE says bulk analysis should be done by labs accredited to ISO/IEC 17025, and that it recognises only UKAS accreditation for asbestos labs in Great Britain. UKAS lists these labs as testing laboratories. See HSE’s page on analysts and surveyors.
Before you use a kit or a surveyor, ask which lab will analyse the sample and whether that lab is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for asbestos identification.
For air testing, the rules are tighter. The law requires air testing to meet ISO 17025 standards, and anyone certifying an area fit for reoccupation must be accredited to ISO 17020 and ISO 17025 (regulation 20).
DIY kit or a professional sample?
A postal kit is usually the lowest-cost way to get one material tested. A professional sample costs more, but someone else does the disturbing.
| Postal kit | Professional sample | |
|---|---|---|
| Who disturbs the material | You | A trained person |
| Protective kit | Usually supplied, you fit it | Their own RPE and equipment |
| Sealing the sample point | You | Them |
| Advice on the result | Varies | Usually included |
| Best for | One accessible, sound material | Several materials, awkward places, or before work |
Is it safe to take your own sample?
HSE doesn’t publish a guide for householders taking their own samples. Its advice to homeowners is to leave asbestos materials in good condition alone, check them from time to time, and not try to repair or remove them without training (HSE’s asbestos FAQs). HSE lists collecting samples as non-licensed work, which for workers means a risk assessment, training and controls. Its HSE’s Asbestos essentials introduction (A0) talks about having a sample “taken by a competent person and analysed”.
If you still choose a kit, follow its instructions closely. In general:
- Pick a material in sound condition. Don’t sample something crumbly, such as lagging, sprayed coating or damaged insulating board. Leave those to a professional.
- Keep other people and pets out, and close doors.
- Dampen the area first, and take the smallest piece the lab needs.
- Use hand tools only. Never drill, sand or use a power tool.
- Seal the sample in the bag provided, and seal the sample point (for example with tape or filler).
- Wipe tools and the area with a damp cloth, and bag the cloth and disposable kit as asbestos waste.
What the results mean
- “No asbestos detected” applies only to the sample you sent. A different-looking material, or a patch from a later repair, can be different.
- “Asbestos detected”, with a type such as chrysotile (white), amosite (brown) or crocidolite (blue). The type helps a contractor plan, but the decision on what to do depends mainly on the material and its condition.
- The result doesn’t tell you how risky the material is in place. A sound cement roof and a damaged pipe lagging are very different, even if both contain asbestos.
If asbestos is found and you plan work, the next step is usually a quote for removal, or advice on leaving it in place. See licensed and non-licensed work.
Air testing and clearance
Air testing is not a way to find out whether a material is asbestos. It is used:
- during work, to check exposure and controls
- after licensed removal, as part of four-stage clearance, which must be carried out by a UKAS-accredited analyst (HSE strongly recommends one independent of the removal contractor) and ends with a certificate for reoccupation
- sometimes for reassurance after an incident, when a qualified analyst can advise what testing is useful
Our guide to air testing and clearance explains the four stages.
Quick answers
How long do results take?
Less.co.uk’s survey cost guide says standard lab results take 1–3 working days, with faster results at extra cost (when we checked in October 2026).
How many samples do I need?
Usually one per distinct material. A garage roof made of one type of sheet often needs only one.
Can air testing tell me if my ceiling is asbestos?
No. Air testing counts fibres in the air. To find out whether a material contains asbestos, a sample of it must be analysed.
Do you take samples?
Yes. We take samples for lab analysis. See asbestos testing.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For the law itself, see the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE’s asbestos pages. Not sure what you’re dealing with? Ask us.