🏗️ Home Rebuild Cost Estimator
Enter your home's square footage and general construction quality to get a rough rebuild cost estimate — useful as a starting point for setting your dwelling insurance coverage amount.
Square footage times a build rate
One multiplication, with the rate coming from the quality tier you pick:
estimated rebuild cost = square footage × cost per sq ftAt the default 2,000 sq ft, the four tiers give:
| Tier | Rate | 2,000 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | $100 | $200,000 |
| Standard | $150 | $300,000 |
| Above average | $200 | $400,000 |
| Custom or luxury | $300 | $600,000 |
Measure the finished, heated area. A finished basement counts if it would be rebuilt; an unfinished garage costs far less per foot and is usually covered under other structures rather than the dwelling.
Rebuild cost is not market value
Land is not destroyed, so it is not rebuilt. A house that sells for $450,000 on a $150,000 lot rebuilds for nearer $300,000, and insuring to the sale price overpays every year. Insuring to the mortgage balance goes wrong the other way. Local build rates are what move this figure most, so ask a builder what they are charging per foot in your area and pick the tier that matches.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rebuild a 2,000 sq ft house?
Between $200,000 and $600,000 here, depending on the tier, with standard construction at $300,000. Regional labor and material rates can move that by a third in either direction.
Should my dwelling coverage match what I paid for the house?
No. The purchase price includes land, which no fire destroys. Dwelling coverage should track the cost of rebuilding the structure, which can sit well above or below what you paid.
Why did my insurer quote a higher rebuild figure than this?
Insurer software prices your roof pitch, finishes, fixtures and local labor individually, and adds debris removal and code upgrades. It also assumes one house being rebuilt alone, which costs more per foot than a builder putting up a street of them.