CostGuideHQ

Home Inspection Cost: $150–$800 (Average $360) in 2026

Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·7 min read·4 sources·US national averages, USD
Quick answerQuick answer: A general home inspection typically costs $296 to $424, averaging around $360 nationally. Price scales with home size — from about $200 for a home under 1,000 sq ft to $500 near 3,000 sq ft. Specialty inspections like radon, mold, or sewer scope cost extra.
  • A general home inspection typically costs $296 to $424, averaging about $360 nationally (HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack).
  • Price scales directly with home size — HomeAdvisor's table runs from $200-$250 under 1,000 sq ft to $300-$500 at 2,500-3,000 sq ft.
  • New construction and pre-listing/seller inspections cost about the same as a standard buyer's inspection, $300 to $500 (Fixr).
  • Specialty add-ons like radon ($125-$400), mold ($450-$800), and sewer scope ($200-$1,000) are quoted separately from the base inspection (Fixr).

How much does home inspection cost?

National average
$360
per inspection
Typical range
$150–$800
Most projects
Whole project
$296–$424
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Cost by material / type

TypeLowHigh
Under 1,000 sq ft$200$250
1,000–1,500 sq ft$225$325
1,500–2,000 sq ft$250$375
2,000–2,500 sq ft$275$400
2,500–3,000 sq ft$300$500
Estimate your cost
—

Rough estimate only — get local quotes for exact pricing.

What affects the cost?

  • Home size — cost climbs with square footage: HomeAdvisor's table runs from $200-$250 under 1,000 sq ft to $300-$500 at 2,500-3,000 sq ft, and Fixr and Thumbtack show the same climbing pattern across their own size tables (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, Thumbtack)
  • Home age — older homes generally take longer to inspect thoroughly; Fixr notes a newer house can be inspected in about 2-3 hours while an older house can take 4 hours or more, which adds cost on an hourly-billed job (Fixr)
  • Home type — condos and mobile homes run cheaper than single-family houses, and multi-family properties cost the most: Fixr prices a condo at $200-$400, a single-family home at $300-$500, and a multi-family property at $400-$800 (Fixr)
  • Inspector certification and experience level (HomeAdvisor)
  • Geographic location and local market rates — HomeAdvisor's city figures range from $300 in Miami up to $450 in New York and Philadelphia (HomeAdvisor)
  • Specialty add-on inspections — radon, mold, asbestos, lead paint, well, septic, sewer, and pool testing are quoted separately from the base visit; HomeAdvisor prices radon at $250 and mold at $660, while Fixr's ranges run $125-$400 for radon and $450-$800 for mold (HomeAdvisor, Fixr)
  • Property extras — outbuildings, guest houses, pools, and sprinkler systems add to the base fee; Thumbtack prices a sprinkler check at $20, outbuildings at $25-$50 per building, and a guest or pool house at $250 (Thumbtack)

How much does a home inspection cost?

A standard home inspection typically costs $296 to $424, averaging around $360 nationally (HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack). Fixr’s figures sit in the same range, with a national average of $400 and a typical band of $300 to $500. The number one driver is home size: HomeAdvisor’s table shows a home under 1,000 sq ft averaging $200 to $250, while a home in the 2,500 to 3,000 sq ft range averages $300 to $500 — and Fixr’s and Thumbtack’s own size tables climb at almost the same pace. Home type matters too. Fixr prices a condo inspection at $200 to $400, a single-family home at $300 to $500, and a multi-family property at $400 to $800, which is why the realistic floor-to-ceiling spread across every home type and size runs from about $150 to $800. Location adds another layer of variation: HomeAdvisor’s city figures range from $300 in Miami to $450 in New York and Philadelphia.

What does a standard home inspection cover?

A general home inspection is a visual, non-invasive review of a home’s major systems and structure: the roof, foundation, exterior grading and drainage, attic and insulation, electrical panel and visible wiring, plumbing fixtures and visible pipes, heating and cooling equipment, water heater, and interior structure including walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and windows. As Joe Corsetto, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors, puts it: “The inspector will analyze all the systems and help prioritize repairs” (This Old House). The inspector documents what they find in a written report, typically the same day or within 24 hours. A standard inspection does not include specialty testing for radon, mold, asbestos, lead paint, wood-destroying insects, or the condition of a well, septic system, or sewer line — those are separate visits with their own pricing (HomeAdvisor, Fixr). If a general inspection turns up a specific red flag, such as suspected foundation movement or an aging sewer line, it’s common to follow up with a targeted specialist; see our foundation inspection, sewer scope inspection, mold inspection, termite inspection, chimney inspection, roof inspection, and structural engineer inspection cost guides for pricing on those individually.

Does a new home or a home you’re selling need a different inspection?

Yes to both, and neither costs more than a standard buyer’s inspection. A new-construction inspection checks a freshly built home for defects before or shortly after the builder hands over the keys, and Fixr prices the full walkthrough at $300 to $500 — about the same as inspecting an existing house. Many buyers of new builds also order a cheaper pre-drywall inspection, $100 to $300, which checks framing, wiring, and plumbing while the walls are still open and problems are far easier to fix. On the seller’s side, a pre-listing inspection averages $300 to $500 (Fixr) and lets a seller find and address issues, or price around them, before a buyer’s own inspector finds them during the contract period.

How can you keep the cost down?

  • Skip specialty add-ons you don’t need. Radon, mold, asbestos, well, septic, and sewer scope testing are all quoted separately (HomeAdvisor, Fixr) — order them only if your home’s age, location, or a visible red flag makes them relevant.
  • Ask about a 4-point inspection if that’s all your insurer requires. It covers just the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems and runs $50 to $175, versus $300 to $500 for a full inspection (Fixr).
  • Compare quotes by home size, not just headline price. A $250 quote on a 2,500 sq ft home is a shorter, less thorough visit than a $250 quote on an 800 sq ft home — make sure you’re comparing similar scope.
  • Bundle a pre-drywall check into your new-construction budget early. At $100 to $300, it’s cheaper than the full $300 to $500 inspection and catches framing or wiring issues while they’re still cheap to fix (Fixr).

Prices vary by region, home size, and home type, so treat the figures above as a planning budget. Confirm exactly what’s covered in the base inspection, and ask which specialty tests — if any — you should add before booking.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a home inspection cost on average?
Most buyers pay $296 to $424 for a standard home inspection, averaging around $360 nationally (HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack). Fixr's figures land in the same neighborhood, with a $300 to $500 average range. Factoring in the full spread of home types and sizes, prices run from about $150 for a small condo up to $800 for a multi-family property (Fixr).
Does the cost depend on the size of the house?
Yes, more than any other factor. HomeAdvisor's data shows a home under 1,000 sq ft averaging $200 to $250, climbing to $300 to $500 for a home in the 2,500 to 3,000 sq ft range. Fixr and Thumbtack both show the same upward trend across their own by-size tables.
Does an older home cost more to inspect than a newer one?
It often takes longer, which can push the price up on an hourly-billed job. Fixr notes that a newer house can typically be inspected in about 2 to 3 hours, while an older house can take 4 hours or more, since there's usually more wear, more outdated systems, and more potential issues to document.
Does a brand-new construction home need an inspection?
Yes, and it's priced about the same as inspecting an existing home. Fixr puts a full new-construction inspection at $300 to $500, or $100 to $300 for a pre-drywall inspection that checks framing, wiring, and plumbing before the walls go up — issues that are far cheaper to fix while they're still exposed.
How much does a pre-listing (seller's) inspection cost?
About the same as a buyer's inspection: $300 to $500 (Fixr). Sellers order these before listing to catch problems ahead of a buyer's own inspection, giving them time to repair or price around any issues rather than getting surprised mid-contract.
What inspections aren't included in a standard home inspection?
Radon, mold, asbestos, lead paint, well, septic, sewer line, and swimming pool inspections are typically quoted and scheduled separately. HomeAdvisor prices radon testing at $250 and mold testing at $660, while Fixr's ranges run $125 to $400 for radon and $450 to $800 for mold. If you're specifically worried about the roof, foundation, chimney, or a sewer line, see our dedicated roof inspection, foundation inspection, chimney inspection, and sewer scope inspection cost guides for pricing on those services alone.
Does home inspection cost vary by city?
Yes. HomeAdvisor's city-level data shows Miami averaging $300, Chicago and Atlanta around $320, Los Angeles $330, Houston $350, and New York and Philadelphia both averaging $450 — nearly a 50% swing between the cheapest and priciest metro shown.
What's a 4-point inspection, and does it cost less?
Yes — a 4-point inspection is a narrower check limited to the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, usually requested by an insurance company rather than a buyer. Fixr prices it at $50 to $175, well below the $300 to $500 cost of a full inspection.

Sources

Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-28):

  • HomeAdvisor — Average cost $344; typical range $296-$424. By home size: under 1,000 sq ft $200-$250; 1,000-1,500 sq ft $225-$325; 1,500-2,000 sq ft $250-$375; 2,000-2,500 sq ft $275-$400; 2,500-3,000 sq ft $300-$500. By city: New York $450, Los Angeles $330, Chicago $320, Houston $350, Philadelphia $450, Miami $300, Atlanta $320. Add-on inspections: radon $250, asbestos $490, mold $660, lead-based paint $340, chimney $450, roof $230. Cost factors cited: size and type of home, inspector certification and experience, and location.
  • Fixr — National average $400; average range $300-$500; $0.18-$0.25 per square foot. By home size: 800 sq ft $145-$200; 1,000 sq ft $180-$250; 1,200 sq ft $215-$300; 1,400 sq ft $250-$350; 1,600 sq ft $290-$400; 1,800 sq ft $325-$450; 2,000 sq ft $360-$500; 2,200 sq ft $395-$550. By home type: tiny home $150-$250, condo $200-$400, cottage $250-$300, bungalow $250-$325, chalet $250-$350, mobile home $250-$400, townhouse $300-$500, single-family $300-$500, multi-family $400-$800. Specialty inspections: radon $125-$400, pool $150-$300, septic $150-$300, sewer $200-$1,000, asbestos $250-$750, well $300-$500, lead $350-$500, mold $450-$800, thermal imaging $200-$800. 4-point inspection $50-$175; full inspection $300-$500. New construction: pre-drywall $100-$300, full $300-$500, averaging about the same as inspecting an existing house. Pre-listing/seller inspection averages $300-$500. Home age affects inspection time and cost: newer houses can be inspected in around 2-3 hours, older houses can take up to 4 hours or more.
  • Thumbtack — Average range $290-$449; typical cost around $360; low-end $208; high-end $631. By home size: 0-1,000 sq ft $242; 1,001-1,500 sq ft $280; 1,501-2,000 sq ft $290; 2,001-2,500 sq ft $307; 2,501-3,000 sq ft $323; 3,001-3,500 sq ft $338; 3,501-4,000 sq ft $365; 4,001-6,000 sq ft $421. Add-ons: sprinkler systems $20, outbuildings without utilities $25 per building, outbuildings with utilities $50 per building, guest/pool houses $250, water testing $125, radon testing $150, final walk-through $100, annual check-up $250, plumbing inspection $180-$225, crawl space inspection adds $25. By property type: condo minimum $200, single-family minimum $425, mobile home $250.
  • This Old House — Home inspection prices start around $300.

Three primary sources with clean by-size breakdowns cluster close together: HomeAdvisor (average $344, typical range $296-$424), Fixr (national average $400, average range $300-$500), and Thumbtack (typical cost $360, average range $290-$449). national_average_usd is set to $360 — the median of these three averages and the exact figure Thumbtack cites as its typical cost. project_low_usd/project_high_usd ($296-$424) uses HomeAdvisor's stated typical range verbatim, representing what most buyers pay for a standard single-family inspection. range_low_usd/range_high_usd ($150-$800) widens the headline range to cover Fixr's full home-type spread, from a tiny-home/condo inspection on the low end to a multi-family property on the high end, capturing the realistic floor and ceiling once home type (not just square footage) is factored in. This Old House corroborates the low end only, noting that home inspection prices 'start around $300,' consistent with the $296-$424 typical band from HomeAdvisor and Thumbtack. by_type figures (pricing by home square footage) are taken verbatim from HomeAdvisor's size table, which tracks closely with Fixr's and Thumbtack's own by-size tables at comparable buckets — for example HomeAdvisor's 2,000-2,500 sq ft tier ($275-$400) sits between Fixr's 2,000 sq ft figure ($360-$500) and Thumbtack's 2,001-2,500 sq ft figure ($307). Fixr also confirms that a new-construction inspection (full walkthrough $300-$500, or a pre-drywall check $100-$300) and a pre-listing/seller inspection ($300-$500) both price about the same as a standard buyer's inspection of an existing home. No source breaks home age out with its own dollar figures, but Fixr ties age to inspection time (2-3 hours for newer homes versus 4+ hours for older ones), the mechanism by which age indirectly affects cost. Figures here cover a standard general home inspection only. Specialty add-on inspections (radon, mold, asbestos, lead paint, well, septic, sewer, pool, thermal imaging) are priced separately in cost_factors, and this site covers several of them in dedicated guides (roof, foundation, mold, termite, sewer scope, chimney, structural engineer inspections).