A straightforward UK guide to TSCM sweep costs, bug sweep prices and what affects the price of a professional surveillance detection service.
If you are searching for TSCM sweep cost or wondering how much a professional bug sweep costs in the UK, the answer depends on what is being inspected and how complex the electronic environment is. A professional TSCM sweep is not priced simply by walking into a room with one detector; the time required for physical inspection, RF analysis, electronic investigation and interpretation can vary significantly between a vehicle, a home and a corporate office.
Our current starting prices are shown below. These are guide prices for the agreed scope of work; larger, more complex or unusual inspections are quoted individually.
For the full current pricing table and scope information, see our UK TSCM and bug sweep prices.
Vehicle pricing varies more than many customers expect because modern cars can contain legitimate cellular, GNSS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, SOS/eCall and telematics systems. These systems have to be identified and separated from anything suspicious, so a newer connected vehicle can take longer to investigate than an older, electronically simpler car.
Vehicle age is therefore only a guide. The confirmed tier is based on the year, make, model and fitted electronics. A comprehensive underside tracker inspection requiring the vehicle to be safely raised on suitable professional lifting equipment or over an inspection pit is quoted separately.
Mobile vehicle attendance from Northampton is available at the vehicle tier price plus: £150 up to 25 miles, £250 for 25–50 miles, £350 for 50–100 miles, and quotation beyond 100 miles. Bringing the vehicle to the workshop avoids the mobile call-out charge and normally provides the best-controlled environment for the electronic assessment.
A residential TSCM sweep is usually priced according to the size of the property, the number of rooms or sensitive areas included, the amount of electronic equipment present and the nature of the concern. A small flat and a larger multi-room house should not be treated as the same inspection.
Current starting prices are £695 for a flat or small residential property and £895 for a house bug sweep, with the exact scope confirmed before attendance.
Corporate TSCM pricing depends on whether the requirement is a focused meeting room or boardroom sweep, a small office inspection, or a broader multi-room corporate survey. The number of electronic systems, conference equipment, networked devices and sensitive areas can all affect the time required.
Current starting prices are £795 for a small office or meeting room and £995 for a broader corporate TSCM survey. Larger premises are quoted after a confidential scoping discussion.
The main factors affecting a professional TSCM sweep cost include:
A credible professional bug sweep should be based on an agreed inspection scope rather than a vague promise that one handheld detector will find every surveillance device. Depending on the job, the work can include physical inspection, RF and spectrum analysis, investigation of suspicious electronics, consideration of devices that may not be transmitting continuously, and clear explanation of the findings and limitations.
This is why two quotes described simply as a “bug sweep” may not be directly comparable. When comparing TSCM companies, ask what is actually included, who performs the inspection, how much time is allocated, how non-transmitting devices are considered and what reporting or follow-up is provided.
A low headline price can be attractive, but it is important to understand the scope behind it. A brief RF scan is not the same as a methodical TSCM inspection. Equally, a high price by itself does not prove competence. The useful comparison is the method, time, technical capability and defined scope you receive for the price.
Our current UK starting prices range from £495 for an older or simpler vehicle brought to our Northampton workshop, £695 for a flat or small residence, £795 for a small office or meeting room, and £995 for a broader corporate TSCM survey. The final price depends on the agreed scope.
Workshop vehicle sweeps currently start from £495 for an older or simpler vehicle, £695 for a modern connected vehicle and £895 for an advanced connected vehicle. Vehicle age is only a guide; the year, make, model and fitted electronics determine the final tier.
Yes. Mobile attendance from Northampton is charged in addition to the vehicle tier price: £150 up to 25 miles, £250 for 25–50 miles, £350 for 50–100 miles, and quotation beyond 100 miles.
The cost varies because properties, offices and vehicles differ in size, access and electronic complexity. More legitimate wireless and electronic systems can require additional time to identify and interpret correctly.
In many cases we can confirm a starting tier or agreed price after a short confidential scoping discussion. Larger, unusual or multi-area inspections may require a quotation based on the specific work requested.
View the full pricing guide or contact us for a confidential quotation based on the actual scope of the inspection.
Related: What is TSCM? · Current TSCM prices · Vehicle bug sweep prices · How a professional TSCM sweep is carried out · How to choose a TSCM company