The age of your home is the single best clue to whether it has lead paint, and a few more questions about pipes, paint condition, soil and recent work fill in the rest. Answer them below to see which possible lead sources in your home are worth checking first.
In short: this checker is a screening guide, not a lead test or a formal risk assessment. It cannot tell you whether your home has lead. It helps you decide what to test and who to call.
Lead paint was banned for homes in 1978. Source: EPA
How to use the risk checker
- Year built. Use the year from your deed, tax record or listing. If you only know the decade, pick that.
- Paint. Tell the tool whether paint inside or outside is peeling, chipping or worn, especially on windows, doors, stairs and porches.
- Water. Say whether you know what your service line is made of, or whether your utility has sent a lead notice.
- Yard. Note bare soil where children play or near the walls of the house.
- Work and people. Recent or planned renovation, jobs or hobbies that involve lead, and whether children under 6 or a pregnant person live or visit there.
How to read the results
The checker lists possible lead sources from most to least worth checking, with the test that fits each one. “Worth checking” means your answers match situations that official sources link to lead; it does not mean lead is present. A short list does not mean your home is lead-free.
Lead paint by year built
CPSC banned paint containing more than 0.06 percent lead for consumer use, including paint for homes, for products manufactured after February 27, 1978 (the limit was later lowered to 0.009 percent in 2009). That is why 1978 is the dividing line in lead rules for housing. EPA estimates that about three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint, and that older homes are much more likely to have it:
| Home built | Homes likely to have lead-based paint (EPA) |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 87% |
| 1940 to 1959 | 69% |
| 1960 to 1977 | 24% |
Source: EPA, “Protect Your Family from Sources of Lead,” chart “Older homes are more likely to contain lead-based paint” (page last updated October 5, 2026). These are national estimates. Your own home can differ either way, which is why testing matters.
EPA also says lead paint in good condition is usually not a problem. The hazard comes from paint that is peeling, chipping or chalking, from friction surfaces like windows and doors, and from renovation work that creates lead dust. A home built in 1925 with intact paint and a home built in 1965 with peeling window sills can both deserve a closer look.
Pipes, soil and other sources
- Water. EPA says lead pipes are more likely in older cities and in homes built before 1986, and that in homes without a lead service line, brass faucets and lead solder are the most common sources. See lead pipes.
- Soil. Soil near the walls of an older house can collect lead from exterior paint, and soil near highways, airports or factories can hold lead too. Children can track it inside. See lead in soil testing.
- Jobs and hobbies. Work in construction, renovation, battery manufacturing or firing ranges, and hobbies such as stained glass or casting fishing weights, can bring lead dust home on clothes and shoes.
Official references
- EPA, Protect Your Family from Sources of Lead (lead paint by construction era, paint condition, soil)
- CPSC regulation, 16 CFR Part 1303, Ban of Lead-Containing Paint
- EPA, Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water (lead pipes and plumbing)
- EPA, Hazard Standards and Clearance Levels for Lead in Paint, Dust and Soil
Limitations
The checker works only from your answers and national figures. It cannot see your paint, pipes or soil, and it is not the lead inspection or risk assessment that federal rules describe, which only a certified professional can do. If you are buying or renting a pre-1978 home, the seller or landlord must disclose known lead paint; ask for any past reports. If a child or pregnant person may have been exposed, talk with a doctor about a blood lead test.
Frequently asked questions
Does my house have lead paint if it was built before 1978?
Not necessarily, but it is more likely the older the house is. Only testing can tell. A certified inspector tests each painted surface; see lead paint inspection.
Can a house built after 1978 have lead?
Lead paint is unlikely, but other sources are possible: brass fixtures and older solder in plumbing, soil near roads or older buildings, and some imported products. The checker asks about these too.
Is lead paint dangerous if it is not peeling?
EPA says paint in good shape is usually not a problem. Watch friction surfaces like windows and doors, and never sand or scrape old paint without lead-safe practices. See is lead paint dangerous.
What should I test first?
Whatever the checker lists at the top, usually deteriorated paint and the dust near it in older homes. Use our test picker to choose the test.