What lead paint work costs in Montgomery County.
No contractor in this market publishes lead pricing; national cost sites publish averages that ignore Maryland’s specific certificate system. Here are the real working ranges for Rockville and Montgomery County in 2026. Your written quote itemizes against these same numbers, after testing tells us which lines your property actually needs.
| Service | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| XRF lead survey / testing | $300 to $600 | Whole-unit surface map; component-only testing costs less |
| MDE turnover inspection + dust wipes | $250 to $500 | Includes lab fees; the only cost if the unit passes |
| Encapsulation / paint stabilization | $4 to $10 per sq ft | Sound, non-friction surfaces only |
| Single room or component work | $1,700 to $5,000 | Windows, trim, doors, porch elements; the most common job size |
| Rental compliance package | $2,500 to $6,000 | Correction + clearance + certificate on a typical failing unit |
| Full interior abatement | $8,000 to $15,000 | Whole-unit treatment, larger homes higher |
| Exterior abatement | $5,000 to $21,000 | Siding, porches, trim; frame Victorians at the top of the range |
How to read these against a bid
- Per-component itemization or walk away. A lump-sum lead bid hides scope. Ours lists each window, door, and surface with its treatment and price.
- Clearance included. The dust test and lab fees belong in the quote. A bid without clearance is a bid for an unfinished job.
- Accreditation named. Maryland requires MDE-accredited contractors for this work in covered rentals. Ask for the accreditation number; ours goes on every quote.
Era matters as much as size: a Takoma Park Victorian exterior and a 1970s Gaithersburg rental sit at opposite ends of every range above. The area pages carry the era-specific detail, and the landlord guide explains which lines a turnover actually requires.
Cost questions, answered straight
Why does nobody else publish lead abatement prices?
Unpublished pricing lets a contractor quote to the fear in the room, and lead work generates plenty of fear. We publish our ranges so you can sanity-check any bid, including ours. The honest trade-off: condition and scope genuinely move the number, which is why the final quote comes after testing, not before.
What is the single biggest cost variable?
Scope discipline. The Maryland standard requires treating failed components and passing the dust test, not stripping every painted surface in the building. A quote that treats twelve windows when three failed is not thoroughness, it is margin. Testing first is what keeps scope honest.
Is encapsulation really a legitimate cheaper option?
On sound, non-friction surfaces, yes: purpose-made encapsulant coatings are an accepted treatment at a fraction of removal cost. They are not lawful or effective on window friction surfaces and impact edges, and they commit you to monitoring the surface. Where encapsulation fits, it is usually the best value line on the quote.
Does the price include the clearance testing and paperwork?
Our quotes itemize them: the correction work, the independent clearance inspection with lab fees, and the certificate filing. None of it appears later as a surprise line. For rentals, the certificate is the deliverable, so pricing without it is pricing half the job.
Can testing save me from paying for work at all?
Regularly. Later-era units, especially 1960s and 70s stock, often test clean or pass inspection as-is, and units with intact paint frequently need nothing but the inspection. Spending a few hundred dollars to avoid a few thousand is the whole point of testing first.
Want these numbers for your actual property?
Testing first, then a written itemized quote. No obligation.
Get a lead quoteOr call (301) 610-3977.