Typical borescope inspection prices by job
Ranges for US inspection companies, for budgeting before you request quotes. Remote sites, night shifts and rush mobilization sit at the top of each band.
| Job and scope | Typical planning range | What to confirm in the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Half day on site, general equipment | $600 to $1,500 | Minimum hours, travel billed or not |
| Full day on site with written report | $1,000 to $2,800 | Photo count, report format, who owns the images |
| Gas turbine or aircraft engine, per engine | $1,500 to $6,000 | Stages covered, borescope ports, engine manual criteria |
| Wind turbine gearbox, per turbine in a campaign | $500 to $1,500 | Turbines per day, climb time, gearbox model |
| Boiler tubes, heat exchangers and tanks | $800 to $2,500 per day | Cleaning, confined space entry, lighting |
| Piping and ductwork, per run | $300 to $1,200 | Length, bends, push camera or tractor |
| Casting passages in the lab, per part | $50 to $300 per part | Sample size, measurement needed, report per part |
| Probe measurement and defect sizing | Often +$200 to $600 per day | Stereo or shadow measurement, calibration record |
| Mobilization and travel, remote sites | $500 to $3,000 per trip | Mileage, travel days, hotel |
Our borescope inspection page explains what a borescope finds and where another method fits better, and the broader NDT inspection cost guide shows how crews price other methods.
What drives borescope inspection pricing
- Access. An open port the probe slides straight into is cheap. A hot gearbox with a plug that needs removal, an engine with limited ports or a pipe with three bends needs a smaller probe, more time and often a second person.
- Probe and equipment. A basic videoscope is a fraction of the cost of an articulating 4 way probe with stereo measurement. Quotes that include measurement and recorded video cost more than visual only.
- Who does it. Aviation work follows the engine manual and often needs certified staff. A general plant inspection by a Level II in visual testing prices lower than an engine borescope inspection with a mechanic sign off.
- Downtime. If the asset has to be stopped, cooled or locked out, the inspection often costs less than the lost production. Plan the shutdown first, then price the inspection into it.
- Reporting. A folder of images is cheap. A numbered report with every finding measured, located by stage and blade and compared to acceptance limits takes hours of post processing.
- Volume. Inspecting twelve gearboxes in a campaign costs far less per unit than one call out, because travel and setup spread across turbines.
Illustrative quotes with the scope added up
These examples show how the pieces combine. They are planning illustrations, not offers.
- One industrial gas turbine, hot section stages, two inspectors, one day, written report with blade findings. Roughly $2,000 to $4,500 plus travel.
- A wind farm campaign of ten turbines, gearbox borescope with photos at each gear stage. Roughly $500 to $1,500 per turbine, with a lower rate when crews do two a day.
- A refinery heat exchanger bundle, tube side visual with a push camera, one shift. Roughly $1,000 to $2,500 plus confined space support.
- Lab inspection of internal passages on 20 aluminum castings, with a photo and a pass fail per part. Roughly $50 to $300 per part, or a lot price near $1,000 to $4,000.
Per hour, per day or per asset
Hourly pricing suits unclear scope, and it carries the risk that the crew finds more to look at. A day rate suits a set of accessible assets. A price per asset suits repeat work such as gearbox campaigns and fleet engine checks, because the vendor can optimize the route. For a first job with an unknown inspector, ask for a day rate with a not to exceed number and a clear definition of what counts as standby.
Charges to settle before the technician arrives
- Minimum charge, often a half day even for a one hour look.
- Travel time, mileage and per diem, billed separately or inside the rate.
- Cleaning, draining, cooling or removing covers, which may be your crew or theirs.
- Confined space permits, rescue standby and safety training for the inspector.
- Extra days when ports are blocked or probes do not fit and the plan changes on site.
- Re inspection after repair, and whether it uses the same rate.
- Report revisions, extra copies and long term storage of video files.
How to lower borescope inspection cost without losing data
Group assets into one visit and have them open, cool and ready when the crew arrives. Tell the vendor the port sizes and the manual criteria you need to meet before they quote, so they bring the right probe the first time. Choose recorded video plus numbered photos instead of a custom report when the findings are routine. Use the same company for repeat inspections so the baseline images are comparable and the report format stays fixed. Ask for a measured finding only where a limit exists, because measurement is the slowest part of the job.
What to send for comparable borescope quotes
- Asset type, make and model, and what you want to know, for example blade condition after an event or a gearbox oil debris alarm.
- Port or access sizes, probe diameter limits and working length required.
- Operating condition during the inspection, temperature and whether the asset can be stopped.
- Standard or manual to follow, and any acceptance limits for cracks, erosion or wear.
- Number of assets, sites and a preferred window.
- Deliverables, such as photos, video, a measured report or a pass fail table.
- Qualification asked, for example ASNT Level II visual or aviation certified staff.
- Site safety rules, confined space needs and who supplies lighting or power.
How much does a borescope inspection cost?
A borescope inspection service in the US usually costs $600 to $1,500 for a half day and $1,000 to $2,800 for a full day with a written report. Engine or turbine inspections run about $1,500 to $6,000 per engine. Travel, minimum charges and report depth change the final number.
How much does an engine borescope inspection cost?
An engine borescope inspection typically costs $1,500 to $6,000 per engine for a gas turbine or aircraft engine, depending on how many stages and ports are covered, whether measurement is needed and who must sign the report. Fleet or campaign pricing lowers the per engine rate.
How much does a wind turbine gearbox borescope inspection cost?
In a campaign, a wind turbine gearbox borescope inspection costs about $500 to $1,500 per turbine. A single call out costs more because travel and setup are not shared. Climb time, gearbox design and the number of photographed stages move the price.
Is a borescope inspection worth it compared to a teardown?
Often yes. A borescope inspection costs hundreds to a few thousand dollars and needs little or no disassembly, while a teardown costs many times that in labor and downtime. It cannot replace a teardown when you need to measure wear or confirm a crack that the probe cannot reach.
What is included in a borescope inspection report?
A good report lists the asset, date, probe and technician, then each finding with location, a photo, a measurement where a limit exists and an accept or reject statement against the stated criteria. Ask for the original images as well as the PDF.
