Asbestos Removal Cost in Philadelphia [2025 Data]

Asbestos removal in Philadelphia costs an average of $1,925, and most residents pay between $1,156 and $2,695 for asbestos removal services. Prices vary mostly due to the amount of material you need to remove, with most pros charging by the square foot. The above-average cost of living in Philly drives up labor costs, but the relatively lax regulations mean a total removal cost that’s below the national average.

Asbestos Removal Cost Factors

Asbestos removal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, depends mostly on how much material you need your professional to remove from your home, but the type of asbestos you’re dealing with, how accessible the material is, and even permit costs can affect your total.

Size of the Affected Area

An indoor asbestos remediation project costs between $5.50 and $23 per square foot, depending on the location. The bigger the space, the more you'll pay. Removing asbestos from exterior locations, like a roof or siding, costs $57 to $170 per square foot.

Whole-home remediation can cost $6,500 or more. Unfortunately, since most homes in Philadelphia were built when asbestos was still a common material for residential construction, the risk of needing large-scale removal like this is higher than it would be in cities with newer construction.

The size of the affected area also affects your permit costs, which the city bases on the size of your project. You’ll pay a minimum of $150 for an asbestos removal permit, but Philadelphia charges 3.75% of your total as a permit fee up to $50,000 worth of work. Most projects will include that $150 minimum, but larger projects can drive permit fees higher. The table below includes local estimates based on project size, including the permit fee.

Type of Asbestos

The removal process is similar for all types and colors of asbestos, but some fibers are smaller than others, requiring greater attention to detail during setup and removal. There are six common asbestos types in residential construction, and while most have similar removal costs, amosite and crocidolite cost more to remove and dispose of because they have smaller fibers that are more challenging to contain.

Location in the Home

It costs less to remove asbestos from accessible locations because they’re easier to seal off for safe removal and can help reduce labor costs if they make access to the work area easier and faster.

For example, to remove asbestos from a floor pipe spanning three rooms, your pro would need to seal each room, install negative-pressure fans in each sealed area, and then carry out the demolition. If a pipe of similar length is in an exposed basement, your pro would only need to seal and prep one area, and demolition may not be required to access the material at all.

Exterior areas are the exception to this, as sealing isn’t realistic. Instead, your professionals will have to spend more time carefully removing the asbestos and moving it into a disposal container without breaking or disrupting the material. For this reason, the cost to remove dangerous asbestos siding and roofing is much higher than that to remove most interior materials.

Disposal Fees

While demolition and renovations in residential properties that have asbestos materials present aren’t regulated by the state or city, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) does regulate asbestos transportation and dumping. Your pro will need to double-bag materials in leak-proof containers, label the material appropriately, and then transport it to an approved dump site that is certified to accept and manage asbestos waste.

The actual hauling fees will cost between $85 and $285, but the added requirements for your professional, which will make the job take longer, will also drive up labor costs.

Asbestos Removal Pro Costs

Labor accounts for between 80% and 95% of your total, which means between $1,540 and $1,830 will go toward labor alone when you hire an asbestos removal company in Philadelphia. On a per-hour basis, labor costs more in Philly than it would in most other states, largely because the local cost of living, which drives labor fees, is 14% higher than the national average. The Pennsylvania DEP regulations for transporting and dumping asbestos waste also contribute to the high cost of labor.

While labor is expensive, and deferring to a professional is not mandated in Pennsylvania, it’s always worth it to hire an expert to check for asbestos and remove it promptly. Asbestos can cause severe health issues, including cancer and respiratory system damage. Not only is handling the material dangerous, but a professional can clean your home after asbestos exposure to ensure there aren’t lingering dangers in your living space.

Does Removing Asbestos Increase Home Value?

Removing asbestos won’t increase your home value, but it can help avoid dips in value that stem from buyer concerns about safety and post-closing projects they may need to undertake themselves. The State of Pennsylvania requires that you disclose known asbestos problems to potential buyers, who may offer less or walk away entirely if they’re uncomfortable with the idea of buying a home with asbestos in it.

While there might not be a direct bump in property value after removing asbestos, it’s still a worthwhile project. Disrupted asbestos can cause major health problems, so from a safety perspective, it’s always worth hiring a professional to remove the material.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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