What people typically pay
These aren't quotes. They are national numbers from cost guides.Prices near you can be higher or lower.The company looks at the home first.Then it gives you a written price.
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Most biohazard cleanups
$3,000 to $5,000
The national average is $4,000.Small jobs can be about $1,500.The biggest jobs can reach $25,000.
Source: Fixr
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After a crime or a suicide
$400 to $600 an hour
The hardest cases can reach $25,000.
Source: Fixr
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After someone passed away at home
$200 to $300 an hour
The longer before the person was found, the more work it takes.It often adds up to thousands of dollars.
Source: Fixr
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Hoarding
$25 to $150 an hour
Severe cases often run about $1,000 a day.
Source: Fixr
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Odors that won't go away
$75 to $100 an hour
This is for odor work after the main cleanup.
Source: Fixr
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Sewage backup
$2,000 to $10,000 a job
The size of the area makes the biggest difference.
Source: Fixr, Bob Vila
What changes the price
- How big the area is.
- How long before it was found.
- What soaked into floors and walls.
- How much has to be removed and hauled away.
Price guides: Fixr, “Biohazard Cleanup Cost”, updated January 31, 2025. Bob Vila, “How Much Does Sewage Backup Cleanup Cost?”, updated February 15, 2024. We checked these numbers on October 25, 2026.
Does insurance pay?
Home insurance sometimes pays for this cleanup.It depends on your policy.Call your insurer early.Ask what your policy covers.
Ask the company if it will work with your insurer directly.If your insurance applies, the company can help you with the claim.
Do you rent the home, or manage it for an owner?Tell the landlord or the owner.
Usually covered: Homeowner insurance protects your home and belongings from damage caused by specific risks, says the Insurance Commissioner’s page on how home insurance works1. Personal property coverage includes your furnishings and personal items, such as your TV, clothing and dishes, the same page says.
Usually not covered: Exclusions in home contracts may include certain events, such as flood or earthquake, says the Insurance Commissioner’s insurance glossary2. Standard homeowner policies also do not cover sewer or drain backups, says the Commissioner’s page on being underinsured3.
Ask your insurer: “Without filing a claim yet, can you tell me if my policy covers biohazard cleanup in my home, and what limits apply?” Source: Filing a homeowner insurance claim (Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner)4
Does homeowners insurance pay for cleanup after a death in Washington?
Washington’s Crime Victims Compensation Program
This program doesn't pay for crime scene cleanup. The state says so on its own page.
It may help with other costs after a crime:
- Medical and dental care
- Mental health care and grief counseling
- Some lost wages
- Funeral costs
The crime has to be reported to the police.The program pays only after your own insurance.The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries5 runs it.
See who can apply and what the program covers (Washington L&I)