Top Pick
First Alert
Radon Gas Test Kit
- Highlights
- Made in USA, Short-term (2-7 days), Charcoal canister, Lab analysis included
7.9
Performance score
010
Where to buy
- AmazonSee price
Pros
- Instructions are clear and the test process is straightforward: expose the charcoal tray for 2-4 days, seal it up, and mail it to the lab.
- Results include detailed data with explanations of the numbers and recommended next steps if radon is detected.
- Several people received results quickly, with one noting text alerts were included for status updates.
Cons
- Return shipping to the lab is not included; multiple people paid $12 or more out of pocket to mail the kit back.
- Two kits placed in the same spot returned noticeably different readings (6.6 vs. 5.3), raising accuracy questions for a single test.
- Only works within the US; buyers in Canada and the UK faced major additional costs, customs hurdles, and potential timing issues that can invalidate results.
- Does not warn about high humidity limitations, which can ruin the test in basements and crawlspaces where radon is most common.
- Uses activated charcoal to passively absorb radon from the air over a two-to-four-day sampling period. You then seal it up, mail it to a lab, and get results back by email.
- Designed for the lowest livable level of your home, since radon (a naturally occurring radioactive gas) tends to accumulate in basements, crawl spaces, and below-grade areas. The EPA recommends testing below the third floor.
- Lab fees are included in the purchase price, so there's no surprise cost when you send it in. You do need to cover your own postage, and a pre-addressed return envelope comes in the kit.
- This is a short-term, single-use test. If results come back elevated, you'd likely need follow-up long-term testing or professional mitigation, and the kit includes guidance on next steps.
- As a non-toxic radon test kit, the process itself is straightforward: no batteries, no power source, no digital equipment. It's just a charcoal sampler you leave sitting out undisturbed.
- Only available for use within the United States. If you're in New Jersey, note that additional state lab fees apply and aren't covered.
