Free tool · no sign-up
Cost to Build a House Calculator
Estimate what it costs to build a new house from the size, the build quality and where you live. The calculator gives a low, mid and high range and shows where the money goes. In the US, most new houses cost about $150 to $300 per square foot to build, before land.
House building cost calculator
Low estimate
$512k
Mid estimate
$667k
High estimate
$823k
About $334 per finished sq ft all-in at the mid estimate (includes the garage). Includes construction, garage, site work and utility hookups, permits and plans, and your contingency. Excludes furniture, landscaping beyond basic grading, and loan interest.
Breakdown of the mid estimate
- House construction$500k
- Garage$54k
- Site work and utilities$32k
- Permits, fees and plans$21k
- Contingency$61k
Average cost to build a house per square foot
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) surveys builders every two years. In its 2024 survey, the average construction cost of a new single-family house was $428,215 for a 2,647 sq ft home, or about $162 per sq ft. Construction was 64.4% of the average sale price. The rest is the lot, builder overhead and profit, financing and sales costs.
If you hire a general contractor for a custom house, their overhead and profit come on top, which puts most custom builds at $200 to $300 per sq ft, and much more in expensive cities.
| Build quality | Cost per sq ft | 2,000 sq ft house |
|---|---|---|
| Basic / production builder | $150-200 | $300k-400k |
| Mid-range / semi-custom | $200-300 | $400k-600k |
| High-end custom | $300-450 | $600k-900k |
| Luxury custom | $450-800+ | $900k-1.6M+ |
Cost to build by house size
| House size | Basic ($150-200) | Mid-range ($200-300) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $150k-200k | $200k-300k |
| 1,200 sq ft | $180k-240k | $240k-360k |
| 1,500 sq ft | $225k-300k | $300k-450k |
| 2,000 sq ft | $300k-400k | $400k-600k |
| 2,500 sq ft | $375k-500k | $500k-750k |
| 3,000 sq ft | $450k-600k | $600k-900k |
Costs people forget
- Land: anywhere from $20k for a rural lot to several hundred thousand in a city.
- Site work: clearing, grading and driveway, often $10k-30k, more on a slope.
- Utilities: city water, sewer and power hookups $3k-30k; a well and septic system together often $30k-60k.
- Permits, impact fees, surveys and plans: commonly 2-5% of the build cost.
- Architect: 5-15% of construction for a fully custom design; stock plans cost $1k-3k.
- Construction loan interest during the build.
- Contingency: keep 10-20% for changes and surprises.
How to lower the cost of building a house
- Keep the shape simple. Every corner and roof valley adds framing and labor.
- Build up, not out: a two-story house has less roof and foundation per square foot.
- Use a stock or semi-custom plan instead of a fully custom design.
- Stack bathrooms and the kitchen to shorten plumbing runs.
- Choose standard window and door sizes.
- Spend on the structure and envelope; finishes can be upgraded later.
See the house before you spend on it
Describe the house or upload a sketch or plan, and our AI renders it as a photorealistic exterior in any style. Use it to compare designs before paying for full drawings.
Try the AI house design generatorSign in with Google or email to render. New accounts get 1 free render (watermarked).
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a house per square foot?
Most new US houses cost about $150 to $300 per square foot to build, before land. The NAHB 2024 builder survey average was about $162 per sq ft for construction alone.
How much does it cost to build a 2,000 sq ft house?
About $300k to $600k for construction at $150 to $300 per sq ft, plus land, site work and fees. High-end and luxury builds cost more.
Is it cheaper to build or buy a house?
Buying an existing house is usually cheaper and faster. Building can make sense when there are few houses for sale in your area, or when you already own the land.
What is not included in the cost per square foot?
Usually land, site work, utility hookups, permits, design fees, landscaping and loan interest. Together these can add 20 to 40% on top of construction.
How long does it take to build a house?
Most new houses take about 7 to 12 months from permit to move-in. Custom houses often take more than a year.
More free tools for architects and designers
- AI house design generator
- Tile calculator
- Roof pitch calculator
- Architectural scale converter
- King size bed dimensions
- Standard door sizes
- Standard window sizes
- Bathroom vanity height
- Two car garage dimensions
- 1200 sq ft house plans
- Free house plans
Sources: NAHB Cost of Constructing a Home survey (2024, published January 2025); price ranges from US builder and lender guides. Estimates only; get local bids.