About Site Investigation Cost
Honest ground investigation fees for self-builds and developments, with quotes from firms that cover your site.
What is on this site
One question, "site investigation near me", answered with a quote form that works on the page with no account, 4 guides on the questions around it, a data table you can cite (the figures and their method), and the sources every figure rests on.
- Ground investigation cost: what a GI actually costs in 2026: Ground investigation costs: £1,500–£4,000 for a phase 2 intrusive GI on a single plot, £500–£1,200 for a phase 1 desk study (typical 2026 quotes). What moves the fee.
- Site investigation stages: phase 1, phase 2 and what each one buys: Site investigation stages explained: phase 1 desk study (£500–£1,200), phase 2 intrusive investigation (£1,500–£4,000, typical 2026 quotes), and when each is needed.
- Boreholes or trial pits: choosing the cheaper right answer: Trial pits are cheaper than boreholes and often enough for a house; boreholes earn their fee for basements, piles and poor ground. How the methods compare in 2026.
- Site investigation report: what it contains and who relies on it: What a site investigation report includes: logs, lab results, groundwater, and interpretation for foundation design. Factual vs interpretative reports and 2026 fees.
Reach us
Contact for a question about the site, or enquiries@siteinvestigationcost.co.uk. The legal terms are on Terms and Privacy.
Site Investigation Cost is a free introduction service operated by Ellul Solutions Ltd; we pass your details to relevant ground investigation firms who quote you directly. We may receive a fee from providers; you pay nothing and are under no obligation. We are not a ground investigation firm or engineering practice and nothing here is engineering or structural advice; cost figures are typical 2026 quote ranges that vary by region, ground conditions and scope.