How much does a paternity test cost?
A paternity test in the U.S. costs $79–$200 for a personal home test, $199–$500 for a court-admissible legal test with chain of custody, and $795–$1,500 for a non-invasive prenatal test. Drugstore kits often advertise $15–$30 but charge a separate $139+ lab fee to actually run the test.
| Test type | Typical range | Includes lab fee? | Court-admissible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugstore home kit | $15–$30 + $139 lab | No (surprise fee) | No |
| Online home test (like ours) | $79–$200 | Yes — all-in | No |
| Legal / court-admissible | $199–$500 | Yes | Yes |
| Non-invasive prenatal (NIPP) | $795–$1,500 | Yes | Sometimes |
| Court-ordered | Varies (state pays or splits) | Yes | Yes |
Why drugstore kits actually cost more
Kits sold in drugstores advertise a $15–$30 price on the shelf. What most people don't realize until they mail the swabs in is that the sticker price only covers the collection materials. To have the sample actually analyzed, you pay a separate lab fee — typically $139 to $170 — before you'll see any results. Total: usually $154–$200, sometimes more.
Why our test is $99 flat
We designed our pricing to eliminate the surprise: $99 covers the kit, prepaid return shipping, the full AABB-accredited lab analysis, and your secure PDF results. Nothing else. If you want to add another child or another alleged father, that's $79 each — quoted before you check out.
What legal tests cost
Legal (court-admissible) tests run $199 to $500 nationally. The higher price covers what makes them court-admissible: identity verification with government ID, collection witnessed by a neutral third-party technician, sealed and tracked chain of custody, and a signed report on court-ready letterhead. Our legal test is $249 all-inclusive — including scheduling a collection at a partner facility near you.
What prenatal tests cost
Non-invasive prenatal paternity (NIPP) is the most expensive because it uses the same fetal-DNA sequencing technology as clinical NIPT screening. It's safe from 7 weeks, requires only a maternal blood draw plus a paternal cheek swab, and typically runs $795 to $1,500. Ours starts at $795.
Are paternity tests covered by insurance?
Generally no. Health insurance treats personal paternity testing as elective. Court-ordered testing is sometimes paid or reimbursed by state child support agencies. Some medical NIPP testing may be partially covered when ordered by a physician for medical reasons — check with your carrier.
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