Biohazard cleanup cost: crime scene, unattended death and hoarding
Short answer
As of October 19, 2026, Fixr and HomeGuide put most biohazard cleanups at about $1,500 to $5,000, with Fixr's average at $4,000 for a roughly 2,000 sq ft home. Complex homicide or suicide scenes can reach $25,000 (Fixr). Crime scene work runs $400 to $600 per hour on Fixr, unattended death $200 to $300 per hour, and hoarding cleanup $1 to $2 per square foot or $1,000 to $4,000 total (HomeGuide). Insurance, state victim compensation, an estate or a landlord may pay part of the bill.
On this page
- What do the published biohazard cleanup cost guides say?
- Biohazard cleanup cost by scenario
- Hoarding cleanup cost by home size
- Why the published numbers disagree
- What drives your biohazard cleanup price
- What should be on a biohazard cleanup quote?
- How to compare biohazard cleanup quotes
- Getting help when the cleanup involves a death
- What does insurance usually cover for biohazard cleanup?
What do the published biohazard cleanup cost guides say?
Only two major cost guides publish detailed biohazard figures, and both are more than a year old. Both were re-checked on October 19, 2026.
| Source | Low | High | Average | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixr | $3,000 | $5,000 | $4,000 (about 2,000 sq ft home) | 2025-01-31 |
| HomeGuide | $1,500 | $5,000 | Range given as the average | 2024-05-03 |
| SERVPRO, as quoted by HomeGuide | $1,000 | $7,000 | Not stated | As quoted 2024-05-03 |
At the extremes, Fixr’s full range runs from about $1,500 to $25,000, and HomeGuide says some life-threatening hazards may reach $25,000. Neither guide publishes a per-square-foot rate for biohazard work. Both price it by the hour, by the scenario or by the project.
Biohazard cleanup cost by scenario
The type of incident drives the price more than anything else. The table compares the scenario figures each source publishes.
| Scenario | Fixr (2025-01-31) | HomeGuide (2024-05-03 and 2024-09-17) |
|---|---|---|
| Crime scene and after-death cleanup | $400–$600 per hour; homicide or suicide up to $25,000 | No figure published |
| Unattended death | $200–$300 per hour; thousands depending on how long undiscovered | Up to $10,000 (citing SERVPRO) |
| Hoarding | $25–$150 per hour; severe cases about $1,000 per day | $1–$2 per sq ft; $1,000–$4,000 total; $25–$100 per hour |
| Sewage backup | $2,000–$10,000 per project | Deodorization about $100 per hour |
| Virus decontamination | $1,500–$3,500 per project | Not listed |
| Drug lab chemicals | $30–$50 per barrel | No figure published |
| Animal waste or remains | $20–$25 per 50 lb bag (disposal fee) | No figure published |
| Medical waste | $2–$20 per pound | Disposal $50–$500 total |
| Odor control | $75–$100 per hour | About $100 per hour |
| 24-hour emergency response | $500–$1,000 per visit | Not listed |
HomeGuide also prices work by biosafety level: $25 to $50 per hour at BSL-1, $30 to $80 at BSL-2, $50 to $150 at BSL-3 and $150 to $600 at BSL-4. Our guide to crime scene cleanup explains what crews do at each stage.
Hoarding cleanup cost by home size
HomeGuide is the only source that publishes hoarding costs by home size. Its figures (2024-09-17) assume $1 to $2 per square foot.
| Home size | Cost range |
|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $500–$1,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $1,000–$2,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $1,500–$3,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $2,000–$4,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $2,500–$5,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $3,000–$6,000 |
HomeGuide describes five hoarding severity levels but gives no price for each, and notes that some hoarding jobs require biohazard cleanup, which it prices at $1,500 to $5,000. Junk disposal alone runs $150 to $350 per load, though most cleanup companies include disposal in their quotes. Our hoarding cleanup guide covers how to work with the person who lives there.
Why the published numbers disagree
The two guides agree on the top of the typical range, $5,000, but differ on the bottom: Fixr says $3,000 and HomeGuide says $1,500. Fixr’s average is tied to a specific home size of about 2,000 square feet, while HomeGuide’s range is not.
The bigger issue is age and sample. HomeGuide’s biohazard page dates from May 2024 and its hoarding page from September 2024. Fixr’s is from January 2025. Neither describes how many jobs its figures are based on. Biohazard work is also unusually variable: a scene cleaned the same day and one discovered weeks later can differ by tens of thousands of dollars.
Hourly rates differ for a reason. Fixr’s $400 to $600 per hour for crime scenes likely reflects a whole crew billed together, while its note that individual professionals often earn $200 to $300 per hour describes one technician. Ask every company whether its rate is per person or per crew.
What drives your biohazard cleanup price
- Scenario. Crime scenes and unattended deaths sit at the top of every hourly range.
- Time before discovery. Fixr says unattended death costs rise with how long the body went undiscovered, because fluids reach subfloor, drywall and HVAC.
- Materials removed. Carpet, pad, subfloor and drywall that absorbed fluids are cut out and disposed of as regulated waste.
- Waste disposal. Fixr lists medical waste at $2 to $20 per pound.
- Odor control. $75 to $100 per hour (Fixr) or about $100 per hour (HomeGuide).
- Emergency timing. Fixr lists 24-hour response at $500 to $1,000 per visit.
What should be on a biohazard cleanup quote?
| Line item | What to ask | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency response | Is there a call-out fee? | $500–$1,000 per visit (Fixr) |
| Crew labor | Hours, crew size, rate per person or per crew | $25–$600 per hour by risk level (Fixr) |
| Removal of contaminated materials | Square feet and materials | Not priced separately by these guides |
| Cleaning and disinfection | Products and surfaces | Included in hourly rates |
| Odor control | Method and hours | $75–$100 per hour (Fixr) |
| Regulated waste disposal | Pounds or containers, hauler | $2–$20 per lb (Fixr); $50–$500 total (HomeGuide) |
| Verification | How the crew confirms the area is clean | Not priced by these guides |
| Rebuild | Separate contractor or same company | Not priced by these guides |
Ask for proof of bloodborne pathogen training under OSHA’s standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, and the name of the licensed medical waste hauler.
How to compare biohazard cleanup quotes
Biohazard cleanup is often arranged in the worst week of a family’s life, and many companies quote by phone. Get the scope in writing before work starts, even if the company is on site within hours.
Ask each company to describe exactly what it will remove: which rooms, which flooring, how much subfloor or drywall, and whether furniture will be cleaned or discarded. Ask whether its hourly rate is per technician or per crew, how many people it expects to send, and how many hours it expects the job to take. A quote that says only “complete cleanup” cannot be compared with anything.
Ask how the company verifies the area is clean when it finishes, and whether that check is documented. Ask who will haul the regulated waste and whether the hauler is licensed. If the company offers to bill your insurer or a victim compensation program directly, ask what you will owe if the claim is reduced or denied.
If discretion matters to you, ask before you book whether the company can arrive in unmarked vehicles.
Getting help when the cleanup involves a death
If the cleanup follows the death of someone you knew, you do not need to be present while the work is done. A trusted friend, relative, executor or property manager can meet the crew, sign the scope and receive the final report. Ask the company whether it can photograph the work for the insurer so you do not have to walk the scene. If the death was a crime, the state victim compensation program may also cover counseling and funeral costs, according to the Office for Victims of Crime, and your local victim advocate can help you file.
What does insurance usually cover for biohazard cleanup?
The two guides make broadly similar claims about insurance but with different confidence. Fixr says most homeowners policies cover biohazard removal, that coverage amounts vary by policy, and that when covered, the company typically bills the insurer and you pay the deductible. HomeGuide says homeowners insurance covers most biohazard cleanup because most result from accidents rather than neglect or intentional harm. Neither cites a policy form. Coverage depends on your wording, and hoarding conditions that built up over time may be treated as neglect.
Other payers exist. Federal funds administered by the Office for Victims of Crime support compensation programs in every state. In Florida, the program rules list crime scene cleanup as a compensable loss when the crime happened in the victim’s home or vehicle and the work is done by a government-authorized provider (Fla. Admin. Code R. 2A-2.2001). Florida’s statute makes the award a payment of last resort after insurance and generally requires the crime to be reported to law enforcement within five days (s. 960.13).
An estate may pay after a death, and in rentals the landlord or property manager may be responsible. Our guide to who pays for biohazard cleanup walks through each payer, and our denied claim guide explains what to do if an insurer refuses. For the first steps after a death or crime, see our biohazard emergency page and the biohazard hub.
When to call a pro
- Any blood or body fluids beyond a minor household cut.
- A death that went undiscovered for any length of time. Fixr notes cost rises with how long the body went undiscovered.
- Any crime scene, after law enforcement releases it.
- Hoarding with animal or human waste, mold, pests or blocked exits.
- Possible drug lab residue. Chemical contamination needs a specialist and often state or local health department involvement.
- You need documentation for an insurer, a landlord or a victim compensation claim.
Common mistakes
- Cleaning the scene yourself out of a wish to spare others. Family members should not be exposed to blood or decomposition, physically or emotionally.
- Waiting to file with the state victim compensation program. Florida generally requires the crime to be reported to law enforcement within five days (s. 960.13).
- Accepting a flat quote without a scope. Ask what is being removed, how many hours and crew members, and how waste will be disposed of.
- Throwing items away before the insurer, estate executor or landlord has documented them.
- Hiring a general cleaning company. Ask for proof of bloodborne pathogen training and licensed medical waste disposal.
Questions people ask
How much does crime scene cleanup cost?
Fixr lists crime scene and after-death cleanup at $400 to $600 per hour, and says homicide or suicide cleanup can reach $25,000. HomeGuide does not publish a crime-scene-specific figure. Total cost depends on how far fluids spread, what materials must be removed and how long the job takes.
How much does unattended death cleanup cost?
Fixr lists unattended death cleanup at $200 to $300 per hour, and says thorough cleaning can cost thousands depending on how long the body went undiscovered. HomeGuide cites SERVPRO's figure of up to $10,000 for unattended death cleanup. Odor control, subfloor removal and HVAC work drive the total.
How much does hoarding cleanup cost?
HomeGuide puts hoarding cleanup at $1 to $2 per square foot, or $1,000 to $4,000 total, with hourly rates of $25 to $100. A 2,000 sq ft home runs $2,000 to $4,000 on its table. Fixr lists $25 to $150 per hour and about $1,000 per day for severe cases. Biohazard conditions cost more.
Who pays for biohazard cleanup?
It depends on what happened. Fixr and HomeGuide say most homeowners policies cover biohazard cleanup, but coverage varies. In Florida, victim compensation can cover crime scene cleanup as a last-resort payer after insurance. An estate, landlord or property manager may also be responsible. Check your policy and ask your insurer.
Sources
- Biohazard cleanup cost, Fixr (January 31, 2025)
- Biohazard cleanup cost, HomeGuide (May 3, 2024)
- Hoarding cleanup cost, HomeGuide (September 17, 2024)
- Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Victim Compensation, Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Florida Statutes s. 960.13, Awards, The Florida Senate (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 2A-2.2001, Definitions, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (accessed 2026-10-19)
How this page was made. Drafted with AI assistance from the public agency, statute and industry sources listed above, then edited and published by Vincent Wallace. An independent expert has not yet reviewed this page; when one does, their name and the review date will appear at the top. See our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.