Typical magnetic particle inspection prices by job
Ranges for US labs and field crews, for budgeting before you request quotes. Remote sites, short notice and certification to a strict code sit at the top of each band.
| Job | Typical planning range | What to confirm in the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Field technician, hourly | $85 to $160 per hour | Travel time billing, overtime, equipment charge |
| Field call out minimum | $400 to $1,200 | Half day or full day, mileage |
| Lab wet fluorescent, small parts in batches | $15 to $120 per part | Batch size, cleaning, demagnetizing |
| Large forging or shaft in a lab | $150 to $600 per part | Handling, coil or head shot setup, report |
| Weld MT on a structure or vessel | $4 to $15 per linear foot | Coating removal, access, acceptance code |
| Crane hook and lifting gear | $150 to $500 per item | Load rating tag, written report |
| Wet fluorescent on aerospace parts | $50 to $400 per part | Nadcap or customer approval, record format |
| Surface preparation and paint removal | $50 to $200 per hour | Who removes coating and who repaints |
| Mobilization and travel | $500 to $3,000 per trip | Remote site, hotel, per diem |
For the method itself, see our magnetic particle inspection page, which explains what MT finds and misses.
What drives magnetic particle inspection pricing
- Part count and size. A lab can run hundreds of small parts through a bench unit in a day, which is why per part price falls with volume. A single large shaft needs setup, handling and several magnetizing shots.
- Wet fluorescent or visible. Wet fluorescent with UV light finds finer cracks and costs more, because it needs a dark area and higher grade equipment.
- Lab or field. Field work bills hours plus travel. Lab work bills per part or per batch but adds shipping and handling.
- Surface condition. Paint, scale and rust must be removed before testing. This prep often costs as much as the inspection.
- Code and acceptance criteria. ASTM E1444, ASME Section V or an aerospace specification each set record and certification demands that change the price.
- Demagnetizing and cleaning. Parts that rotate or sit near sensitive instruments need residual field checks, which add time.
- Reporting. A pass or fail tag is cheap. A report with photos, indication maps and traceable serial numbers costs more.
Illustrative budgets with the scope added up
These examples show how the pieces combine. They are planning illustrations, not offers.
- 200 small steel brackets, wet fluorescent in a lab, batch report. Roughly $3,000 to $8,000, or $15 to $40 per part.
- One 8 ft drive shaft, lab inspection with two shots and a written report. Roughly $250 to $600.
- 300 linear feet of structural welds on a crane runway, field crew for two days with prep. Roughly $2,500 to $6,000 including mobilization.
- Annual load test and MT on 12 crane hooks and lifting beams. Roughly $1,800 to $5,000.
How to lower magnetic particle inspection cost without cutting coverage
Batch parts into one lab shipment and say how many per lot. Strip coatings in house or with your own crew when the code allows, since technician hours are the most expensive input. Specify the acceptance code once and avoid asking for a record format you will not use. Schedule field work for several inspections in a single visit so mobilization is shared. Accounting teams that process the resulting invoices can pull line items into Excel with a tool such as invoicexlsx.com, which helps when you track NDT spend per part or per job. Also ask whether UT or penetrant testing answers the question cheaper, for example liquid penetrant testing on non ferrous metal where MT does not work at all.
Standards that change the price
ASTM E1444 covers MT practice, and ASME Section V Article 7 governs MT on code fabricated vessels and piping. Aerospace parts often need Nadcap accredited labs and ASTM E1444 plus customer specifications. Technicians should hold ASNT SNT-TC-1A or CP-189 Level II certification. Read the ASNT recommended practice before you ask for a level that adds cost without a reason.
What to send for comparable MT quotes
- Part list with material, size, quantity and whether parts are ferromagnetic.
- Lab or field, and the site address for field work.
- Wet fluorescent or visible, and the acceptance code.
- Surface condition and who removes coatings.
- Demagnetizing requirement and cleaning after test.
- Report format, with photos, indication maps and serial numbers if needed.
- Turnaround and any rush rules.
- Price per part or per hour, the minimum charge and a not to exceed total written out.
How much does magnetic particle inspection cost?
Magnetic particle inspection in the US costs about $85 to $160 per hour for a field technician with a $400 to $1,200 minimum, or $15 to $120 per part for small parts in a lab batch. Large forgings and shafts run $150 to $600 each.
How much does MT cost per weld?
Weld MT is usually priced per linear foot or per hour, roughly $4 to $15 per foot on structures and vessels, plus coating removal. Short repair welds are billed at the call out minimum instead.
Is wet fluorescent MT more expensive than visible MT?
Yes, usually 20 to 50 percent more, because it needs UV lighting and a dark area. It finds finer cracks, so aerospace and critical rotating parts are specified that way.
Can magnetic particle testing be done on stainless steel or aluminum?
No for austenitic stainless steel and aluminum, because they are not ferromagnetic. Use dye penetrant testing on those, which is priced by area or by part in a similar range.
What is the minimum charge for MT?
Most field crews bill a call out minimum of $400 to $1,200 for a half or full day. Labs often set a minimum order of $100 to $300. Ask for the minimum in writing before you compare per unit prices.
