What does it actually cost to build?
Real national-average installed prices — built by Ask Donnie's deterministic estimator from researched material pricing and U.S. BLS construction wages, with regional figures. Prices include typical contractor overhead & profit; each page breaks out the cost basis. Benchmarks for budgeting, never a fabricated number.
Construction labor cost by metro
BLS median construction wages for 20 U.S. metros and each metro’s factor vs the national average — the exact table the estimator (and every guide below) scales labor with.
Structure
Wall framing cost per square foot
~$4.88–$5.30 per sq ft
$4.24 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Floor framing cost per square foot
~$5.39–$5.86 per sq ft
$4.69 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Roof framing (truss) cost per square foot
~$7.57–$8.22 per sq ft
$6.58 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Concrete slab cost per square foot
~$5.97–$6.49 per sq ft
$5.19 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Continuous footing cost per linear foot
~$19.58–$21.29 per linear foot
$17.03 per linear footcost basis + O&P
Envelope
Asphalt shingle roofing cost per square foot
~$4.31–$4.69 per sq ft
$3.75 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Fiber-cement siding cost per square foot
~$7.48–$8.12 per sq ft
$6.50 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Vinyl window cost (installed)
~$529–$575 each, installed
$460 each, installedcost basis + O&P
Exterior door cost (installed)
~$713–$775 each, installed
$620 each, installedcost basis + O&P
Aluminum gutter cost per linear foot
~$10.92–$11.88 per linear foot
$9.50 per linear footcost basis + O&P
Wall insulation (R-13 batt) cost per square foot
~$1.61–$1.75 per sq ft
$1.40 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Attic insulation (R-38 blown) cost per square foot
~$1.90–$2.06 per sq ft
$1.65 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Interior
Drywall cost per square foot
~$3.00–$3.26 per sq ft
$2.61 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Interior painting cost per square foot
~$1.41–$1.54 per sq ft
$1.23 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring cost per square foot
~$5.73–$6.22 per sq ft
$4.98 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Ceramic/porcelain tile flooring cost per square foot
~$11.33–$12.31 per sq ft
$9.85 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Masonry & Exterior
Brick veneer cost per square foot
~$16.22–$17.62 per sq ft
$14.10 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Stone veneer cost per square foot
~$26.00–$28.26 per sq ft
$22.61 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Concrete paver patio cost per square foot
~$11.30–$12.29 per sq ft
$9.83 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Sod installation cost per square foot
~$0.94–$1.02 per sq ft
$0.82 per sq ftcost basis + O&P
Comparing tools? Read our honest roundup. Have a code question? Check the code library.