ILLINOIS· UNIVERSITY & EXTENSION LABS
Where to get a soil test in Illinois
A soil test is how you stop guessing at fertilizer and fix the one thing your lawn actually needs. In Illinois, the public program below tests homeowner samples and interprets the results for local soils.
ILLINOIS STATE LAB
University of Illinois Extension soil testing labs list
Extension directory for Illinois soil testing options.
Visit the lab & sampling instructions →County drop-off & extension offices
County extension offices across Illinois hand out sample forms and can walk you through submitting to the lab. 93 of the most populous counties are listed below.
University of Illinois Extension, Adams County office
Quincy, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Bond County office
Pocahontas, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Boone County office
Belvidere, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Brown County office
Mount Sterling, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Bureau County office
Princeton, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Calhoun County office
Hardin, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Carroll County office
Mount Carroll, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Cass County office
Virginia, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Champaign County office
Champaign, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Christian County office
Taylorville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Clark County office
Marshall, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Clay County office
Louisville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Clinton County office
Breese, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Coles County office
Mattoon, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Cook County office (Chicago South)
Chicago, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Cook County office (Matteson main office)
Matteson, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Cook County office (North Suburban, Des Plaines)
Des Plaines, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Cook County office (West Suburban, Westchester)
Westchester, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Crawford County office
Robinson, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Cumberland County office
Toledo, IL
University of Illinois Extension, DeKalb County office
Sycamore, IL
University of Illinois Extension, DeWitt County office
Clinton, IL
University of Illinois Extension, DuPage County office
Naperville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Edgar County office
Paris, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Effingham County office
Effingham, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Fayette County office
Vandalia, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Ford-Iroquois County office
Gilman, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Franklin County office
Benton, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Fulton County office
Lewistown, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Greene County office
Carrollton, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Grundy County office
Morris, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Hamilton County office
Mc Leansboro, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Hancock County office
Carthage, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Hardin-Pope County office
Simpson, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Henderson County office
Stronghurst, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Henry-Stark County office
Galva, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Jackson County office
Murphysboro, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Jasper County office
Newton, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Jefferson County office
Mount Vernon, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Jersey County office
Jerseyville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Jo Daviess County office
Elizabeth, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Johnson County office
Vienna, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Kane County office
Saint Charles, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Kankakee County office
Bourbonnais, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Kendall County office
Yorkville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Knox County office
Galesburg, IL
University of Illinois Extension, LaSalle County office
Ottawa, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Lake County office
Grayslake, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Lee County office
Amboy, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Livingston County office
Pontiac, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Logan County office
Lincoln, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Macon County office
Decatur, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Macoupin County office
Carlinville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Madison County office
Edwardsville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Marion County office
Salem, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Marshall-Putnam County office
Henry, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Mason County office
Havana, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Massac County office
Metropolis, IL
University of Illinois Extension, McDonough County office
Macomb, IL
University of Illinois Extension, McHenry County office
Woodstock, IL
University of Illinois Extension, McLean County office
Bloomington, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Menard County office
Petersburg, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Mercer County office
Viola, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Monroe County office
Waterloo, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Montgomery County office
Hillsboro, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Morgan County office
Jacksonville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Moultrie-Douglas County office
Arthur, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Ogle County office
Oregon, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Peoria County office
Peoria, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Perry County office
Pinckneyville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Piatt County office
Monticello, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Pike County office
Pittsfield, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Pulaski-Alexander County office
Mounds, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Randolph County office
Sparta, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Rock Island County office
Milan, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Saline-Gallatin County office
Harrisburg, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Sangamon County office
Springfield, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Schuyler County office
Rushville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Scott County office
Winchester, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Shelby County office
Shelbyville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, St. Clair County office
Belleville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Stephenson County office
Freeport, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Tazewell County office
Pekin, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Union County office
Anna, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Vermilion County office
Danville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Warren County office
Monmouth, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Washington County office
Nashville, IL
University of Illinois Extension, White County office
Carmi, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Whiteside County office
Sterling, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Will County office
Joliet, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Williamson County office
Marion, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Winnebago County office
Rockford, IL
University of Illinois Extension, Woodford County office
Eureka, IL
Not your county? Find your local office in the full Illinois directory.
How it works
- 01
Get a form and sample the way your lab says to
Pick up a form at a county office or download it from University of Illinois Extension soil testing labs list. Where you pull cores and how you mix them decides whether the report means anything, so follow the lab's instructions exactly.
- 02
Send it in
Mail your sample to the lab with its completed form. County offices can help if you get stuck.
- 03
Turn the report into a plan
When results come back, the numbers only matter if they change what you put down. Enter them in the app and it builds the plan.
THE APP · SOIL REPORT ANALYZER
Got your Illinois report back? Analyze it.
Enter your report values in the Lawn Dominator app and pick your lab, and it handles the messy part: units and extraction methods differ by lab, so your numbers get compared against turf targets that match how your lab measured them. Then it helps build the fertilizer plan for your grass type and checks timing against your live soil temperature.
Free to download on iPhone and Android.
Common questions
- Where can I get a soil test in Illinois?
- Illinois's public soil testing is run through University of Illinois Extension soil testing labs list. Many county extension offices (listed on this page) stock the sample forms and can help you submit. National mail-in labs like Logan Labs, Ward Laboratories, and Waypoint Analytical are established alternatives.
- How much does a soil test cost in Illinois?
- Fees vary by lab and by which package you choose (basic pH plus phosphorus and potassium, versus expanded panels with organic matter and micronutrients). Check University of Illinois Extension soil testing labs list for current pricing before you send a sample; the page linked here is the authority for its own fees.
- How do I turn my Illinois soil test into a fertilizer plan?
- Enter your report values in the Lawn Dominator app and pick your lab so units and extraction method are handled correctly, and it compares your numbers against turf sufficiency targets and helps build the fertilizer plan for your grass type.
Looking for another state? See the national map of soil test labs. University of Illinois Extension soil testing labs list is the authority for its own test menu, sampling instructions, fees, and result interpretation.