Penetration Test Cost

Our free Penetration Test Cost helps you estimate costs based on 5 key business variables. The calculator provides 3 detailed outputs using vendor benchmarks and company-size adjustments.

Enter your business details to get market-adjusted estimates as of 2026.

What you'll learn:

• Accurate penetration test cost estimates based on your specific inputs
• Low, average, and high cost ranges for budgeting
• How local factors impact pricing
• Tips for optimizing vendor selection and reducing total cost of ownership

Understanding the cost breakdown helps you budget effectively for your penetration test cost project. Here are the typical cost components:

Our penetration test cost uses a multi-variable formula that accounts for the following inputs:

1. Test Type — Choose from: Network penetration test, Web application assessment, Mobile application assessment, Cloud configuration + attack path review, Red team / adversary simulation
2. Testing Scope — Choose from: Focused target set, Standard production scope, Broad / multi-surface scope
3. Applications in Scope — Range: 1 to 200
4. Network Scope (IPs / hosts) — Range: 1 to 50,000
5. Retest Included — Choose from: No retest included, Include remediation retest

Based on your inputs, the calculator provides:

• Estimated Engagement Cost — Shows low, average, and high estimates
• Estimated Timeline (Weeks)
• Recommended Report Depth (1-3)

All calculations incorporate location-specific cost adjustments when a ZIP code is provided, using data from industry databases updated for 2026.

Several factors influence your penetration test cost estimate:

Test Type

Ranges from "Network penetration test" to "Red team / adversary simulation." Choosing Red team / adversary simulation can cost 1.9x more than Network penetration test.

Testing Scope

Ranges from "Focused target set" to "Broad / multi-surface scope." Choosing Broad / multi-surface scope can cost 1.6x more than Focused target set.

Applications in Scope

A key variable in determining your penetration test cost estimate.

Network Scope (IPs / hosts)

A key variable in determining your penetration test cost estimate.

Retest Included

Ranges from "No retest included" to "Include remediation retest." Choosing Include remediation retest can cost 1.2x more than No retest included.

Company Size & Scope

Enterprise pricing often differs significantly from SMB pricing. Vendor volume discounts, implementation complexity, and support tiers all scale with company size.

Market Timing

Vendor pricing changes quarterly or annually. End-of-quarter negotiations and competitive bids can reduce costs by 10-25%.

After you run the calculator, your results include interactive sections that help you make informed decisions:

Detailed Breakdown

Your results are broken down into individual components so you can see how each factor contributes to the total. Use this to identify the biggest cost drivers and focus your research or negotiation where it matters most.

Visual Chart

The chart provides a visual summary of your results, making it straightforward to compare components at a glance. This is helpful when sharing estimates with a spouse, business partner, or advisor — the visual format communicates the key story faster than numbers alone.

Save and Share Your Results

Download your complete results as a CSV spreadsheet or PDF report. The PDF includes all your inputs and key results — ready to share with contractors, service providers, or anyone else who needs to review the numbers. No account or signup required.