How much does Biohazard cleanup cost?

When you hear the term biohazard cleanup, it’s easy to imagine TV or movie scenes in which  hazardous-materials (or “hazmat”) teams are brought in to handle trauma scenes, crime-scene cleanups, blood cleanup, or dangerous pathogens.

But homeowners are more likely to face mundane biohazard situations—such as mold-infested drywall, waste removal following chemical spills, sewage backups, human or animal bodily fluids, or biohazard waste in a home where a hoarder has lived. These hazardous materials, while not as dramatic as TV, can pose a serious threat to family members and other occupants. 

Biohazard cleanup should only be handled by a professional biohazard cleaning service, which has all the necessary personal protection equipment (PPE)—such as respirators and hazmat suits—and whose staff is trained in biohazard remediation (that is, safe removal and cleanup), plus decontamination of biohazard material with disinfectants. 

Biohazard services don’t need to be specially certified in most states, but it’s a good idea to ask a prospective company about their credentials and experience. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that any employee who could be exposed to bloodborne pathogens must be trained in proper use of PPE. 

In this guide, you’ll learn about the typical costs of biohazard cleanup services.

Worried about hazards due to extreme weather? Read Preparing your home for a hurricane and How to survive a flood.

The average cost of residential biohazard cleanup ranges from $1,800–4,500, including materials and labor. Most biohazard cleanup companies will submit a bid for the services required for a specific job.

On the low end, a landlord might pay $1,800–3,500 for a biohazard and waste removal company to clean out and sterilize a house after a hoarding tenant has left. On the high end, a home or facility that has been contaminated with highly infectious hazardous materials, such as E.coli or tuberculosis, might pay $4,000–8,000+ for a full cleanup process.

Here are other aspects of a biohazard situation that can affect your cleaning costs.

What is considered biohazard cleanup?

Biohazard cleanup can refer to the removal of any dangerous substance—often organic, like contamination from a virus, bacteria, body fluids, sewage, or the like—from a home, dwelling, or immediate surroundings where it can pose a health risk to people. It’s best to hire a specialized biohazard remediation company for this work, at a typical cost of $1,800–4,500.

What does a biohazard cleaner do?

Hazmat cleanup providers typically specialize in removing dangerous waste and sterilizing the area. They’re trained in safe removal, cleanup, and disinfection, as well as the proper use of personal protection equipment. Sometimes if undesirable odors still remain, the homeowner will need to hire a firm specializing in removing foul smells to complete the job, at a typical cost of $80-–100 per hour. 

How much does it cost to clean up human waste?

The average cost of human waste cleanup by a biohazard company is $400–1,500. But it can be more if multiple rooms are affected. 

Find a biohazard cleanup professional in your area.