Where to get a soil test in Iowa

County drop-off & extension offices

County extension offices across Iowa hand out sample forms and can walk you through submitting to the lab. 100 of the most populous counties are listed below.

Not your county? Find your local office in the full Iowa directory.

How it works

1. 01

   Get a form and sample the way your lab says to

   Pick up a form at a county office or download it from Iowa State University Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory. Where you pull cores and how you mix them decides whether the report means anything, so follow the lab's instructions exactly.

2. 02

   Send it in

   Mail your sample to the lab with its completed form. County offices can help if you get stuck.

3. 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.

Common questions

Where can I get a soil test in Iowa?

Iowa's public soil testing is run through Iowa State University Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory. 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 Iowa?

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 Iowa State University Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory for current pricing before you send a sample; the page linked here is the authority for its own fees.

How do I turn my Iowa 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.