The national average for new home construction is about $125 per square foot. Keep in mind that many subcontractors charge hourly rates. Painters charge $25-$30 per hour, while electricians can charge as much as $85 per hour.
Another factor that will impact your cost to build a single-family house is the quality of furnishings that you choose. A basic 2,000 square foot house with simple furnishings will be much cheaper to build than a 3,000 square foot luxury home with all of the best furnishings.
Build a single-family house: 2,500 square feet, mid-range materials, basic foundation, full basement, appliances, and complete finishing.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Materials | $146,454 |
| Labor | $144,819 |
| Machine Costs | $5,200 |
| Total Cost | $296,473 |
Within these costs, there are a number of different expenses that you will incur. Primarily, you will need to pay an architect and a contractor to design and oversee the construction of your home. Make sure that you aren’t paying your designer more than 10-17 percent of the total budget.
Other considerations and costs
- This cost estimate is based on a basic four square home design. If a more customized design or style is desired, the costs for construction will be much higher.
- All subcontractors charge different rates for labor. Make sure that you are aware of the costs upfront and that their estimate includes their labor costs.
- If you choose to add premium construction details or higher-end fixtures and appliances, your materials cost will increase. Labor costs may also increase depending on the difficulty of installation.
Check out our guide if you need a loan for your home improvement project.
DIY considerations
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Building a single-family house is never something that can truly be a full DIY project. While there are some aspects of home building that the average home handyperson can handle, you need a contractor and a team of subcontractors to handle all of the various tasks.
References
- Craftsman Estimator Costbook, complete series year 2019.
- Latest prices found on Home Depot and other vendor Web sites.
- Literature review of DIY and arborist Web sites.