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Minneapolis radon testing

Radon Test Kits & Monitors in Minneapolis, MN

If you live in Minneapolis and want to test your home for radon, you have several options, from free or low-cost short-term test kits to reusable continuous radon monitors.

This guide explains where you can look for local radon-testing resources, how the different types of tests work, and when buying a continuous monitor may make more sense than using a one-time kit.

Free and low-cost local options See Minneapolis and Minnesota radon-testing resources. Short-term test kits Learn how charcoal and mail-in radon tests work. Continuous radon monitors Compare reusable electronic monitors for ongoing testing.

Where Can I Get a Radon Test Kit in Minneapolis?

Minneapolis and Minnesota agencies periodically offer free or reduced-cost radon test kits, but availability can change. Before you order a kit online, check the local resources below.

City of Minneapolis

Minneapolis free-kit status: Not taking free-kit requests right now

The city says demand is the reason, and it points you to low-cost kits you can buy online. The city page was last updated August 26, 2026.

Last checked: October 1, 2026

Open the City of Minneapolis radon page

Minnesota Department of Health

The MDH radon page is the state starting point. You can find radon education, testing information, and links to state resources there. The MDH testing page explains short-term and long-term kits, where to place a test, and the follow-up path after a first result. MDH also keeps a finder for licensed radon professionals.

Hennepin County

Hennepin County's radon page explains how radon gets indoors, why sealing cracks alone is not a reliable fix, and where Minnesota residents can order a short-term Air Chek kit at a state discount or a long-term kit from RSSI. It also lists environmental health contact information. That page does not describe a Hennepin County free-kit program. Last checked: October 1, 2026.

Nearby county kit programs

These are outside Minneapolis. Each one has its own residency rule. Last checked: October 1, 2026.

Ramsey County

Sells short-term Air Chek kits to Ramsey County residents for $2, by mail only. The county says it does not sell kits to realtors or businesses.

Check Ramsey County kits

Dakota County

Offers radon test kits to Dakota County residents for $10 each, purchased from Public Health.

Check Dakota County kits

Washington County

Lists free short-term kits for Washington County residents, with pickup at county service centers and environmental centers during open hours.

Check Washington County pickup

See the local kit notes on this site

Library lending programs

Some library systems in other parts of the country lend radon monitors. A check of Minneapolis and Hennepin County Library pages on October 1, 2026 did not find a program that lends one. Hennepin County Library's technology loans include energy meters, not radon monitors. Ask your own library before you count on a loaner.

Which Type of Radon Test Should I Use?

A short-term charcoal kit and a mail-in kit are both screening tools. A continuous monitor is for watching the level over time. A professional test is the formal option, including many home sales. The short-term testing steps follow MDH placement and closed-home rules.

Ways to test your Minneapolis home for radon
Testing option Typical use Advantages Things to know
Short-term charcoal kit Initial screening Inexpensive and simple Provides a snapshot over a limited test period
Mail-in test kit Initial screening Low cost and easy to obtain Requires mailing the test for analysis
Continuous electronic monitor Repeated or ongoing testing Reusable and shows how levels change over time Higher upfront cost
Professional radon test Real estate or formal testing situations Conducted using professional protocols More expensive than DIY testing

If you simply want an initial answer, an inexpensive short-term test is a reasonable place to start. A continuous monitor becomes more useful when you want to watch radon over time, repeat the test in different seasons, or use the same monitor in more than one home.

See when a continuous monitor fits

Why Radon Levels Can Change

A radon result is not necessarily a permanent number. Levels can change with weather, soil conditions, seasonal changes, ventilation, heating and cooling operation, and other conditions around your home.

That is one reason a short-term test can be useful as an initial screening tool, while a continuous monitor can be useful if you want to see how the level changes over a longer period.

One Radon Monitor Can Help More Than One Family

A reusable radon monitor does not have to stay in one home forever.

After you have tested your own home, you can lend the monitor to a parent, adult child, neighbor, coworker, friend, or other family member so they can learn what is happening in their home too.

That can make a continuous monitor much more economical than it first appears.

For example, if a $100 monitor is eventually used in five homes, the equipment cost is about $20 per home, and the monitor can still be reused later. MDH says consumer digital monitors usually cost about $100 to $200, so treat $100 as an illustration, not a current Airthings sale price.

The goal is simple: get more homes tested.

Test your home. Then help someone else test theirs.

Lending a monitor this way does not meet a professional testing requirement or a real estate testing requirement. Use the lending checklist if you pass a monitor along. Home sale notes stay on their own page.

When a Continuous Radon Monitor Makes Sense

A continuous monitor may be worth considering if you want to:

  • see how your radon level changes over time
  • repeat testing in different seasons
  • avoid buying and mailing multiple one-time kits
  • test more than one home
  • keep a monitor available for future checks

MDH says consumer digital monitors have not been approved by the national radon proficiency programs, and MDH does not recommend them for a real estate transaction or for the mitigation decision. Use an approved kit or an MDH-licensed measurement professional for those decisions. A monitor is still a practical way to watch patterns between those tests. The full monitor comparison also includes Wave Plus.

A simple radon monitor option

View Radon is the simpler Airthings model for straightforward radon monitoring. On the official product page it measures radon, humidity, and temperature, and it shows readings on an ePaper display. Setup uses the free Airthings app on a recent iPhone or Android phone. The app includes current readings, short-term and long-term averages, and historical graphs. You can power it with batteries or the included USB cable, set it on a table or mount it, and move it to another room or another home. It uses Wi-Fi. It fits when you mainly want a radon trend, not a full indoor-air panel.

A connected monitor option

View Plus is the connected option if you also want the wider indoor-air picture. The official product page says it measures radon, particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon dioxide, airborne chemicals (VOCs), humidity, temperature, and air pressure. It requires the Airthings app. Wi-Fi lets you check readings when you are away from home, and the app keeps the history. When the monitor is plugged in, Airthings says it can act as a hub for Airthings Wave devices. It fits when you want radon plus those extra sensors and app alerts.

Want Your Own Reusable Radon Monitor?

The link does not apply this discount. Add the monitor to your cart and enter your name and shipping. After those are in the cart, type ARS10 at checkout. The code is 10% off eligible Airthings products. It does not apply to items that are already discounted, and it does not stack with other offers.

We recommend buying directly from Airthings if you decide a continuous monitor is the right option for your home.

  1. Airthings View Radon View Radon Wi-Fi monitor focused on radon, with a display and app access for checking patterns over days and weeks. Measures: Radon, humidity, temperature List price: $219.99 With ARS10 (10% off): $197.99 Save $22.00 Price checked Oct 1, 2026 at Airthings. Buy this directly from Airthings
  2. Airthings View Plus View Plus Wi-Fi monitor for radon and the wider indoor air picture, with an always-on display and remote app access. Measures: Radon, particulates, CO2, chemicals, humidity, temperature, air pressure List price: $329.99 With ARS10 (10% off): $296.99 Save $33.00 Price checked Oct 1, 2026 at Airthings. Buy this directly from Airthings

Product photos: Airthings.

ARS10 is 10% off, and it is not filled in by the product link. Enter it at checkout only after your name and shipping are in the cart. Follow the manufacturer’s placement instructions. A consumer monitor is not a real-estate report and not a mitigation decision by itself.

Save 10% on eligible Airthings products through our link.

View Airthings Radon Monitors

Affiliate disclosure: If you purchase through our Airthings link, we receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. That helps support these radon-testing guides and our effort to get more homes tested. We may earn a commission if you buy through the Airthings links on this page.

Where can I get a free radon test kit in Minneapolis?

The City of Minneapolis says it is not taking requests for free radon kits right now, because of demand. Its page, last updated August 26, 2026, points you to low-cost kits you can buy online. If you live in a nearby county, Ramsey County sells a $2 short-term Air Chek kit by mail to county residents, Dakota County sells kits to county residents for $10, and Washington County lists free short-term pickup for county residents. Hennepin County's page does not list a county free-kit giveaway. Last checked October 1, 2026.

Does Minneapolis still offer free radon test kits?

Not as of the last check on October 1, 2026. The city page says it is no longer taking free-kit requests and tells you to buy a low-cost kit online. That status can change, so check the official city page before you order.

How much does a radon test cost?

The cost depends on the method. A local program may be free or only a few dollars when you qualify and kits are in stock. A short-term mail-in kit is the inexpensive screening option, and some kits add a lab fee when you mail them in. A professional test costs more than a mail-in kit. The Minnesota Department of Health says consumer digital monitors usually cost about $100 to $200. The Airthings list prices on this page were checked at the Airthings discount store on October 1, 2026.

Is a continuous radon monitor better than a charcoal test?

Neither option is automatically best for every home. A short-term charcoal test can be an inexpensive way to screen your home, while a continuous electronic monitor is reusable and can show how radon levels change over time. The better choice depends on whether you want a one-time screening result or longer-term monitoring. Minnesota does not recommend a consumer digital monitor for a real estate test or for the mitigation decision.

Where should I place a radon test?

Test the lowest level you use regularly. If you spend more than about 10 hours a week in the basement, the Minnesota Department of Health recommends testing there. Place the kit at least 20 inches above the floor, preferably around breathing height. Keep it 1 foot from exterior walls, 3 feet from exterior windows, and away from drafts, kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, fireplaces, and furnaces. For a test shorter than three months, keep windows and exterior doors closed except when you come and go, and run heating and cooling as you normally do. Follow the instructions that come with the device.

What should I do if my radon result is high?

Use the follow-up path from the Minnesota Department of Health, and do not treat one short test as the final word. MDH says to complete two tests before you decide on a mitigation system, unless a professional uses a continuous monitor for a real estate transaction. If the follow-up result is 4.0 pCi/L or higher, MDH recommends mitigation. From 2.0 to 3.9 pCi/L, MDH says a system can be considered. You can confirm the result with that follow-up test and talk with an MDH-licensed radon professional about your options.

Placement and follow-up rules are from the MDH testing page. The national placement overview is the EPA Citizen's Guide to Radon. More Minneapolis questions are on the FAQ page.

The Most Important Thing Is to Test

Whether you use a free local kit, an inexpensive mail-in test, a professional test, or a reusable monitor, the most important step is finding out what the radon level is in your home.

If you choose a reusable monitor, consider sharing it after you are finished. One monitor can help several families learn whether they should take a closer look at radon in their homes.

View Airthings Radon Monitors

How to test Near 4.0?