A DNA paternity test typically costs between $100 and $500, depending on whether you need results for personal knowledge or for legal purposes. Home test kits sold at pharmacies and online start around $100 to $200, while legally admissible tests with chain-of-custody documentation generally run $300 to $500. Court-ordered tests and those required for immigration can cost more, sometimes reaching $600 or above.
Home Tests vs. Legal Tests
The biggest factor in price is whether you need the results to hold up in court. Home paternity test kits, available at drugstores and online retailers, are the least expensive option. You collect cheek swab samples yourself, mail them to a lab, and get results in one to two weeks. These kits typically cost $100 to $200, which usually includes lab processing fees (though some brands charge a separate lab fee on top of the kit price, so check the total before buying).
Legal paternity tests cost more because the sample collection must follow a strict process called chain of custody. You and the child go to an approved collection site, show government-issued ID, and have your cheek swabs taken by a trained collector who documents and seals everything. This prevents tampering and ensures the results are admissible in court for child support, custody, inheritance, or name-change cases. Legal tests typically range from $300 to $500.
The DNA analysis itself is identical in both types. The difference is entirely about documentation and who collected the samples. A home test and a legal test use the same technology and deliver the same level of scientific accuracy.
Additional Costs That Can Add Up
Several factors can push the price higher than the base fee. If you need expedited results (some labs offer next-day or two-day turnaround), expect to pay an extra $100 to $200. Testing additional alleged fathers adds cost as well, usually $100 or more per person.
Prenatal paternity tests are significantly more expensive. A non-invasive prenatal test, which analyzes fetal DNA circulating in the mother’s blood, costs $1,000 to $2,000. This can be done as early as seven to eight weeks into pregnancy. Older invasive methods like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling also carry medical procedure costs on top of the DNA analysis, plus the risks that come with any invasive procedure.
Paternity testing is not eligible for reimbursement through a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). Health insurance does not cover it either, so the full cost is out of pocket. Some labs offer payment plans to spread the expense over several months.
What Makes a Result Legally Valid
For a paternity test to be accepted by courts, government agencies, or immigration authorities, the testing lab needs proper accreditation. AABB (the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies) is the primary accrediting body for relationship DNA testing in the United States. Many state laws specifically require AABB accreditation for legal paternity results. Federal agencies are even stricter: USCIS, passport agencies, and U.S. embassies will only accept DNA test results from an AABB-accredited laboratory or collection site.
If you’re testing for any legal purpose, confirm the lab holds AABB accreditation before paying. A cheaper test from a non-accredited lab could leave you with results no court or agency will accept, meaning you’d need to pay for a second test.
How Accurate These Tests Are
Modern paternity tests analyze DNA at multiple genetic markers to produce a probability of paternity. When the tested man is the biological father, results typically show a probability of 99.9% or higher. Labs routinely report figures like 99.99% or even 99.9999%, depending on how many markers are tested and how common the relevant genetic patterns are in the population.
When the tested man is not the biological father, the result is a clear exclusion: 0% probability of paternity. The test identifies mismatches at multiple markers, making a false exclusion essentially impossible. There are only two outcomes: inclusion with an extremely high probability, or exclusion with certainty.
Accuracy does not differ between home kits and legal tests. Both use the same laboratory methods. The only scenario where accuracy can be complicated is when two possible fathers are closely related (brothers, for example), since they share more DNA. In that case, labs may test additional markers or request both men’s samples to distinguish between them.
What to Expect During the Process
For a home test, the kit contains cheek swabs (small brushes or cotton-tipped sticks) for both the alleged father and the child. You rub the swab inside each person’s cheek for about 30 to 60 seconds, seal the samples in the provided envelopes, and mail them to the lab. Results come back in one to two weeks, usually through a secure online portal or by mail.
For a legal test, you schedule an appointment at an approved collection site. Both the alleged father and child must attend (and the mother, if she is participating, though her sample is not always required). Everyone presents photo ID, has their photographs taken, and signs consent forms before a trained collector takes the cheek swabs. The samples are sealed with tamper-evident packaging and sent directly to the lab. Results go to the requesting party, which may be the court, an attorney, or the individuals involved.
The mother’s DNA is not strictly necessary for a valid result, but including it can strengthen the statistical analysis. Most labs can produce a conclusive result from just the alleged father and child.
Comparing Common Pricing Options
- Pharmacy home kit: $100 to $200 total (kit plus lab fee), results in 1 to 2 weeks, not legally admissible
- Legal test with chain of custody: $300 to $500, results in 1 to 2 weeks, court-admissible
- Expedited legal test: $400 to $700, results in 1 to 3 business days, court-admissible
- Non-invasive prenatal test: $1,000 to $2,000, performed during pregnancy, available as both informational and legal options
Prices vary by lab and region. When comparing options, check whether the advertised price includes all fees. Some companies list a low kit price but charge a separate, sometimes larger, lab processing fee. The total cost is what matters.