What Material Is Best to Build a House
Updated Feb 2, 2022
Reviewed past Cati O'Keefe, Expert Home Building & Sustainability Contributor. Written past HomeAdvisor.
Cost to Build a House per Square Foot
You've picked the perfect plot of country for your new home, and at present information technology's time to think about costs. New home structure typically falls between $100 and $200 per square foot, only custom and luxury options tin can reach $500 or more than per foursquare foot. From walk-in closets to a playroom for the kids, each choice you make will impact how much you lot pay.
On average, in the U.S., it costs $284,133 to build a firm, with about homeowners spending betwixt $117,789 and $450,478. Labor makes up roughly 40% of the build cost, with permits, design fees and materials making upward the rest.
The cost you will ultimately pay is based on the location of the property, the size and footprint of the house and the quality of the finishes and products y'all select. Loftier-stop builds in urban settings with a high cost of living, similar New York or San Francisco, can run $400 per square human foot or more.
2022 Notice: Material Prices are Surging
Demand for siding and other building materials take grown over the past twelvemonth. And, as a effect, manufacturers are increasing materials prices. Prices take gone upwards 5% to 10% this twelvemonth, and many parts of the country are experiencing long delivery times. If yous're planning a building project, we recommend starting equally early as possible in the season, preparing for potential price fluctuations, and allowing extra time to society materials.
On This Page:
- Cost to Build a House by Zip Code Estimator
- New Construction Costs past House Size
- Business firm Building Toll Breakdown
- Cost of Pre-Construction When Edifice a House
- Business firm Plans and "Cost to Build" Estimates
- Purchasing Land
- Clearing and Prepping Land
- Sabotage
- Edifice Permits
- Residential Construction Costs
- Home Edifice Cloth Costs
- Labor Cost to Build a House
- Foundation
- Framing
- Major Systems: Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC
- Exterior Home Finishing Costs
- Interior Home Finishing Costs
- Factors to Consider When Building a Custom Business firm
- FAQs
Toll to Build a Firm past Zip Code Calculator
Allow'due south calculate cost data for yous. Where are you located?
Where are you located?
National Boilerplate | $284,133 |
Typical Range | $117,789 - $450,478 |
Low Stop - High Finish | $3,500 - $800,000 |
Cost data is based on actual project costs equally reported by 740 HomeAdvisor members.
2. New Structure Costs by House Size
Square Feet | Average Range |
---|---|
800 | $80,000 - $160,000 |
900 | $90,000 - $180,000 |
1,000 | $100,000 - $200,000 |
1,200 | $120,000 - $240,000 |
ane,500 | $150,000 - $300,000 |
i,600 | $160,000 - $320,000 |
1,800 | $180,000 - $360,000 |
2,000* | $200,000 - $400,000 |
two,500* | $250,000 - $500,000 |
2,700 | $270,000 - $540,000 |
3,000 | $300,000 - $600,000 |
four,000 | $400,000 - $800,000 |
5,000 | $500,000 - $1,000,000 |
*Most common new dwelling house sizes in 2021. Domicile sizes are trending down as of 2017.
3. House Building Cost Breakup
Work | Percent of Job Price | Typical Range |
---|---|---|
Land & Site Work | iii% - 8% | $5,000 - $38,000 |
Foundation | 10% - xv% | $xvi,600 - $72,000 |
Framing | x% - 20% | $sixteen,600 - $95,000 |
Exterior Work | fifteen% - twenty% | $twenty,000 - $95,000 |
Major Systems (electric, HVAC) | x% - 15% | $17,000 - $72,000 |
Interior Finishes (drywall, floors) | 25% - 35% | $42,000 - $167,000 |
4. Price of Pre-Construction When Building a Business firm
Pre-construction costs tin vary depending on the cost and status of your country, business firm plan blueprint prices, permitting costs, and demolition considerations. These costs more often than not brand upward 10% to 25% of your total home edifice costs.
Building a house is a complicated effort, but if you take information technology footstep by stride, you tin can get a solid estimate on your final costs. The pull a fast one on is to exist organized and ask your builder a lot of questions, similar dissimilar price points of materials and how additional charges will be handled.
Below are some of the pre-construction costs to consider.
a. House Plans and "Cost to Build" Estimates
House plans cost $two,000 to $eight,000. Y'all can find a broad diversity of house plan companies online. Almost offering search filters to narrow downwardly the thousands of plans into a handful for you to consider, from a pocket-sized ii-bed state-style holding to a sprawling modern farmhouse or Craftsman-fashion abode.
Once you lot've purchased your called firm plan, give the bid set to your architect. The bid set consists of all relevant plans, including elevations, wall sections, and floor plans. Based on this, your construction manager can give you lot an accurate "cost to build" approximate.
Depending on your needs, you'll bargain with a diversity of design professionals. While it's of import that you collaborate with the primal pros throughout the entire process, information technology's best for you to work with a full general contractor as your master contact.
The general contractor will oversee the whole build and manage the other pros that are an integral office of the project.
Hither's what a variety of pros may charge to build a business firm:
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Full general contractor costs: 10%–xx% of total project price
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Architects cost: $125–$250 per hour
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Engineers cost: $100–$200 per hour
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Draftsperson costs: $50–$130 per hr
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Interior designer rate: $fifty–$200 per hour
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Landscape builder fee boilerplate: $seventy–$150 per hour
b. Purchasing Country
Purchasing your own lot costs anywhere from $iii,000 to $150,000 per lot. Pricing varies significantly depending on the size of the lot, the location and whether the utilities are already at the site or need to be brought in.
In housing developments, look to spend in the $50,000 to $100,000 range, although it tin go much higher depending on your location. In rural areas, you lot might find undeveloped lots for as footling as $iii,000.
Finished vs. Unfinished Lots
If no utility, sewer, or cable lines take been pulled to a site, it is considered an unfinished lot. You'll commonly only see this consequence in rural areas. If you buy state in an urban setting, developers volition probably take finished the lots prior to listing.
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Connecting to urban center sewers toll: $1,300-$five,000
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Connecting to the metropolis electric grid: $1,000-$30,000. Fees depend heavily on how close your home is to the nearest lines.
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Cost to connect to city h2o lines: $1,000-$5,000. If yous demand both sewer and h2o, await to only pay one fee for both.
c. Clearing and Prepping Land
Clearing land for construction prep costs $1,500 to $5,000. In most developments, the country is already prepared for building. If y'all purchased your own lot, yous may accept to hire an digging contractor nigh you to clear information technology and excavate.
Costs you lot may incur include:
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Soil test boilerplate cost: $800–$ii,100
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State excavation and grading cost: $1,500–$5,300
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Land surveyor boilerplate fee: $400–$700
d. Sabotage
The cost to demo a business firm on your land falls between $3,000 and $25,000. Some factors that can affect this price include the size of the firm you're demolishing, the location of your land, and the presence of asbestos or some other toxin in the onetime home materials.
e. Building Permits
To build a new dwelling or to add to an existing firm, you'll need a building let. The boilerplate cost of a building permit for a habitation averages betwixt $1,200 and $2,000. This cost can vary based on your location and the permitting requirements in your surface area.
Get Project Estimates for Your New Home Build
5. Residential Construction Costs
Labor | xxx% - threescore% |
Materials | thirty% - 50% |
Administrative/Design/Permits | 10% - 25% |
a. Habitation Building Material Costs
Dwelling building materials cost about fifty% of your total build. Nonetheless, the quality of the material you choose makes a big difference.
For instance, if you're working on a tight budget or you want to splurge elsewhere, you tin can clad your dwelling house in lower-end vinyl, woods or aluminum siding for $2 to $5 per square foot. You could too employ high-end stone for $35 to $50 per foursquare foot. Your pro should exist able to give you an estimate based on your designs.
Cloth | Cost |
---|---|
Lumber | $25,000 - $65,000 full |
Concrete | $ane,000 - $10,000 total |
Drywall | $10 per sheet |
Flooring | $i - $v per square foot |
Siding | $2 - $xv per foursquare human foot |
Insulation | $0.ten - $1 per square foot |
Roofing | $1,000 - $3,000 full |
b. Labor Cost to Build a House
"Smaller costs, such as those for surveys, driveway paving and soil testing, must be considered up front because they add upwardly chop-chop and tin can blow your budget."
Cati O'Keefe, Good Home Building & Sustainability Correspondent.
The construction pros who build your house represent thirty% to 60% of your project costs. As you might guess, the labor costs vary relative to the size of your house, your contractor's buying ability and ability to get reasonably priced labor and the size and complexity of your home.
Large, custom-congenital homes take a higher labor price than smaller modular homes because of the way each is built. Modular properties are pre-fabricated and up to xc% of the work is washed off-site in a manufacturing plant setting before it's shipped to its final destination and assembled.
Large custom-builds are constructed from the ground-upward onsite with no prefabrication. The lack of manufactory-made elements significantly increases labor costs.
Some construction labor costs (not including materials) include:
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Structure Managing director costs: $3,150-$50,000 or v%-15% of total project price
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Framer rates: $7-$16 per square human foot
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Electrician rates: $50-$100 per hour
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Plumber costs: $45-$200 per hour
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Covering costs: $5,000-$ten,000, on average
c. Foundation
Foundations cost anywhere from $four,000 to $25,000, including all excavating, form setting, pouring and back filling. Some homes require retaining walls and additional landscaping to eliminate flooding or other foundation-dissentious bug, which adds to the overall cost.
Other considerations that impact the toll of building a foundation include the type of foundation, whether you're adding a basement and if y'all're as well calculation a garage foundation..
Price per Square Human foot to Build a Firm With a Basement
Building a house with a basement costs an additional $10 to $100 per square foot, or betwixt $10,000 and $30,000 for the basement lone. Adding the price of finishing a basement can quickly double your foundation costs.
Finishing a basement costs an additional $seven to $23 per foursquare foot. The lower finish of the budget will get you a basic finish with inexpensive materials and some lighting and electrical outlets. At the higher stop, y'all can plow the basement into a real living space, with multiple rooms, including a bath. You'll spend an average of $110 to $300 per square foot to build a domicile with a basement.
d. Framing
Framing is the backbone of every house and costs $20,000 to $50,000. Your home'due south frame will dictate the size and location of rooms and other important features similar roofing. Framing includes the overall dwelling house's frame, likewise equally trusses and full general metal piece of work. Usually, framers besides do the domicile's sheathing and subfloor installation, and install the windows and doors.
due east. Major Systems: Plumbing, Electric & HVAC
Major systems installation costs range from $30,000 to $75,000. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC comprise most of your major organization costs considering of the sheer volume of piece of work and the labor-intensive nature required in each of these areas.
Plumbing, electric and HVAC piece of work is critical to the rubber, integrity and efficiency of your property, so this is not the place to try and cut costs. The size and blazon of systems can affect the price of these installations.
For case, a ii,000-foursquare-foot new HVAC unit costs $5,000 to $10,000. Here's a look at more costs associated with major systems:
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Rough-in plumbing costs: $7,000-$15,000
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Electrical wiring average: $20,000-$30,000
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HVAC average costs: $1,500-$13,000
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Solar panels and arrangement installation costs: $18,000-$35,000
f. Exterior Home Finishing Costs
Simply as important every bit building a new home that fits your needs and personal aesthetic, the exterior end as well contributes to the overall await and feel of your property.
Exterior finishing costs $40,000 to $60,000 and includes exterior walls, roofing, windows and doors. The number of edifice openings and the types of exterior finishes volition affect this price.
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Covering installation prices : $five,600-$xi,500
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Windows toll : $iii,000-$9,300
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Outside painting toll boilerplate: $ane,800-$four,400
Talk to a General Contractor About Yous For a Local Project Quote
6. Interior Dwelling Finishing Costs
On average, interior finishing costs $50,000 to $175,000 but can run much higher. It's one of the more expensive components because it adds the special touches that'll make your new house a home. This includes everything from custom countertops to a crystal chandelier over your breakfast nook. How much you'll pay depends on your upkeep, anything you lot tin DIY to reduce costs and your personal style.
For instance, if you accept the time and skill to do the painting, even if you use loftier-end paint, brushes and rollers, y'all'll salve up to $10,000. These savings might let you splurge on granite countertops, solid wood kitchen cabinets or an upscale apparatus or ii.
Chiffonier install fees | $2,000 - $30,000 |
Countertop installation costs | $2,000 - $iv,000 |
Door installation cost* | $5,000 - $twenty,000 |
Drywall installation prices | $5,000 - $thirty,000 |
Flooring install price | $10,000 - $35,000 |
Interior painting prices | $4,000 - $11,000 |
Appliance prices | $3,000 - $15,000 |
Lighting fixture costs | $2,000 - $12,000 |
Fireplace installation fees | $1,000 - $ten,000 |
*accounts for multiple interior doors for an unabridged home
vii. Factors to Consider When Edifice a Custom Business firm
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Size: A home with greater foursquare footage will cost more than than a smaller one.
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Number of stories: Boosted stories hateful boosted construction and design work.
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Complex shape: The more corners a home has, the more it volition cost. Unusual shapes are more common in custom designs. Complicated rooflines and exterior bump-outs tin also add costs.
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Blueprint features: Pools are a nice-to-accept feature that adds value to the property. Inground pools cost anywhere from $36,000 for a more basic model to $100,000 for a luxury custom design. Outdoor kitchens volition cost between $five,530 and $22,150 and large decks costs $4,080 to $11,300. While these features tin can increase the value and enjoyment of your habitation, they can also impact its structure and upkeep costs.
8. FAQs
a. Is it cheaper to build or purchase a house?
The average purchase cost of an existing home is about $285,000. It generally costs up to $150,000 more to build a new dwelling than to buy an existing dwelling. If you lot desire a customized home or simply want a new firm, building your ain is the fashion to go.
Depending on how much work you lot want to do yourself, how much customization you need, the difficulty of the lot you lot have chosen, and a whole host of other factors, you will spend more or less than a competitively priced home in your expanse. Talk to a local realtor and builder to get a better idea of what will work all-time for you lot.
b. Tin can I build my own house?
Building your own house costs average from $122,500 to $411,500. If you have the fourth dimension and appropriate skills, yous tin realistically save around $xx,000 to $60,000 edifice your ain dwelling. Most of that comes from interim as your own general contractor. Merely the savings more often than not isn't worth the time you'll invest.
Building the typical ii,600-foursquare-foot home already takes a full, professional crew and subcontractors months to put together. If you lot do it yourself, you'll still demand to empathize the complexities of construction, building codes, timelines, and have to spend money hiring labor to help put it up. Some DIYers have taken years to build their own home.
c. How much is it to build a custom home vs. a home in a housing development?
Custom homes average from $350,000 to $ane.5 million or more than. Wait to pay $300 to $500 per foursquare foot. Custom or luxury homes come in almost any shape and size. They're more than customizable than the semi-custom options yous'll find in many suburban housing developments.
Alternatively, if you want to live in a new-home neighborhood built by a production home builder, expect to pay $100,000 to $1.5 one thousand thousand. While you are limited to a library of floorplans and locations, you can typically customize your plan, creating a semi-custom domicile. Although, remember, your costs go upwardly with every change y'all brand.
Because production builders are able to go volume discounts on materials and products, homes in new-domicile developments are more affordable than custom homes. In fact, opting to buy in a development can salve up to 15% on home edifice costs.
d. How much is the cost of edifice a house by type?
The cost to build a new home varies across types, from $l to $400 per square foot. Single-family, or detached, home costs will vary based on the location, lot size, construction of the building, and material choices.
It'due south also important to note that detached homes are standalone structures. Due to their unique construction, the costs associated with standalone homes cannot exist applied to duplex or townhome structure.
Here's a look at the costs associated with each kind of popular home build. Click in to our guide on each individual type of abode for more than details.
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Modular or prefabricated homes cost: $180,000–$360,000. These types of homes are manufactured off site and assembled on location. While prefab homes may not accept the design options of custom homes, they come at a lower price. Many pre-built homes cost 10%–15% less than site-built alternatives.
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Timber frame homes : $200–$250 per foursquare pes.
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Steel framed homes price: $10–$fifteen per square foot, slightly more than than forest framing.
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Building a brick firm costs: $x,000–$75,000. This price only includes brick as a siding.
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Physical houses cost: $204,000–$416,000.
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Forest log cabins toll: $125–$300 per foursquare foot. Y'all'll spend anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 for a small, 500-foursquare-foot home.
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Ranch manner homes: Unmarried story homes price about the same as other typical houses at $100 to $200 per square foot on average. Sprawling ranch homes that have larger than average footprints can price more than than a two-story house because of the added foundation costs.
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Modern homes: Those featuring big expanses of glass range widely from $750,000–$fifteen million.
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Building a duplex or row firm costs: $100–$400 per square foot, depending on your location.
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Victorian homes: $250,000–$550,000 to build. Size and the quality of the dwelling and finishes impact costs.
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Octagon or dome house: For only a shell and floor, you'll spend $50–$75 per foursquare foot. After that, you can customize the interior layout whatsoever style you desire.
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Bungalow or cottage business firm: $200,000–$600,000 on average or virtually $250 per square foot.
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Aircraft containers and tiny homes cost: $8,000–$150,000+. It'southward a very DIY centric style of edifice, but many tiny dwelling companies specialize in these builds.
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Saltbox homes: $150–$250 per square foot. They're a traditional New England style of home built using timber frame construction or archetype stick framing techniques.
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Cob or straw bale houses: These homes vary quite a flake in price. Nigh of these types of homes are DIY projects, made from organic materials including dirt, harbinger and sand.
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Treehouses cost: $75,000–$400,000 when building a luxury model. Building a unproblematic treehouse for your kids might but run you lot most $400.
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Building a guest house costs: $45,000–$100,000+
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A-frame homes cost: $100–$200 per square foot.
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Beach houses cost: +$twenty,000–$sixty,000 to your home'south build due to the addition of stilts. If you're thinking of but lifting the house subsequently, don't. It'due south significantly cheaper to do information technology while you are building the firm. Lifting a house costs tin get as high every bit $25,000–$100,000.
east. How much does it cost to build a house in my state?
Land | Average Price Range |
---|---|
Alabama | $200,000 – $380,000 |
Arizona | $200,000 – $625,000 |
California | $200,600 – $600,000 |
Colorado | $300,000 – $500,000 |
Connecticut | $300,000 – $800,000 |
Florida | $240,000 – $350,000 |
Georgia | $100,000 – $400,000 |
Illinois | $200,000 – $750,000 |
Maryland | $200,000 – $380,000 |
Massachusetts | $250,000 – $600,000 |
Michigan | $225,000 – $265,000 |
Mississippi | $180,000 – $300,000 |
Missouri | $310,000 – $485,000 |
New York | $250,000 – $950,000 |
Due north Carolina | $320,000 – $450,000 |
Ohio | $290,000 – $345,000 |
Oregon | $175,000 – $400,000 |
Pennsylvania | $345,000 – $450,000 |
Southward Carolina | $300,000 – $400,000 |
Tennessee | $185,000 – $380,000 |
Texas | $235,000 – $660,000 |
Virginia | $200,000 – $560,000 |
Washington | $200,000 – $450,000 |
Wisconsin | $220,000 – $400,000 |
For costs by city, try our calculator.

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Source: https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/architects-and-engineers/build-a-house/
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