The cost to build a house is almost always more than the average person expects. There are many factors that play into the building cost for a house. It isn’t just the price of the plans or the square footage. You have to consider that there are permits, land costs and zoning regulations…just to name a few. But don’t worry – you aren’t alone in this process!
Whether you’re building a house from scratch, or just doing some remodeling, it’s good to know the average square foot price of building a house! I’ve put together this guide for you to help you estimate your project costs and get a better idea of how much your project is going to cost in total.
The average cost to build a house square foot can vary based on the size of the house, local labor costs and material costs. The cost to build a 2,000 square foot house is often around $125 per square foot; however, this can vary depending on the location of the project and whether or not homeowners decide to use modular homes or stick-built houses.
Costs for building a new home vary widely by state and even by zip code. To get an accurate quote for your home, you will need to contact several builders in your area. You should also check with local municipalities to find out if there are any regulations or building codes that may affect your project’s cost.
The average cost to build a house in the U.S. is approximately $300 per square foot. This number can vary depending on how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want, what kind of finishes you choose, and whether you’re building a custom home or going with a pre-designed floor plan.
Cost to Build a House: $300 Per Square Foot
The average cost to build a house in the U.S. is about $300 per square foot, which means that for a 2,600-square-foot home, it would cost $780,000 to build from scratch. That’s not including the land or any upgrades like appliances or landscaping.
If you’re building from scratch, you’ll need to factor in costs for materials and labor. Materials typically comprise about 15% of the total cost while labor accounts for around 75%.
The cost of building a house varies widely depending on the type of home you want to build and how much customization you want. Also, it depends on where you live. For example, in some parts of the country, such as New England, building materials are more expensive than other parts of the country.
Costs also vary based on whether you’re building a new home or remodeling an existing one. Here are some rough estimates:
New homes range from $100 per square foot for a basic ranch-style house to $200 per square foot for a luxurious craftsman-style home with all the bells and whistles. This includes everything from materials and labor costs to contractor’s fees and permits.
Modifying an existing structure can be done for less money if you don’t need permits or if you can do most of the work yourself (with help from friends and family members). Otherwise, expect to pay at least $75 per hour for labor plus materials.
The cost to build a house depends on many factors, including the size of the home and the location. According to Bankrate.com, building a new home will cost an average of $289,900. However, that number is an average and you can expect to pay more or less depending on the size of your home and where it’s located.
A study by Remodeling Magazine found that the average cost per square foot for a new home in 2018 was $84.50. The average price of construction materials increased by 4% over 2017 due to rising costs for steel and lumber. That increase pushed up most other building costs as well.
However, there are still ways to keep costs down without sacrificing quality or performance:
Use reclaimed wood instead of new wood
Reuse old materials from another project if they’re still usable
Buy in bulk from local suppliers when possible
The average cost of building a house in the U.S. is $350 per square foot ($10,700 per sq m), but that figure varies widely by state and region. The average cost to build a house in the nation’s highest-cost regions is nearly five times higher than in states where costs are lowest, according to data from the American Housing Survey (AHS) 2013-2017.
The AHS is a joint initiative of HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau that provides comprehensive data on housing conditions and trends for the nation and all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
The survey covers new residential construction and remodeling projects such as additions, basement finishing and bathroom upgrades. It does not cover existing homes or mobile homes; those are covered by other surveys conducted by HUD’s Office of Policy Development & Research (PD&R).
High-Cost States: Hawaii, Alaska & California
The three states with the highest average cost per square foot were Alaska ($385), California ($331) and Hawaii ($329). In all three cases, labor costs accounted for most of this expense — more than 60 percent in Alaska, for example. The high price tag on labor comes from workers having to travel long distances to reach jobsites as well as local