The cost to build a new home is, on average, $83 per square foot. To become the exception and not the rule, a builder who knows where to cut costs can lower the cost of construction by more than 30%.
The average cost to build a home depends on the geographic location and market, size of the home, architectural design desired, finishing options and construction materials, the quality of the builder, material costs and the quantity and quality of the labor. These are just some of the variables that can affect your total cost.
The average cost to build a new home per square foot varies from state to state, with the highest costs being in California and Florida. The average cost to build a new home per square foot depends on many factors, including:
Location. The cost of building a new home in rural areas is much less expensive than building one in urban areas.
Climate. In warm climates, such as Florida and California, more energy-efficient air conditioning systems are needed to keep the house cool. This adds to the overall construction cost of your new home.
Size and style of home. A smaller, ranch-style house costs less than a larger traditional two-story house with cathedral ceilings and extra rooms on each floor.
Quality of materials used in construction . Using high-quality materials will increase your costs but can add value over time because they are more durable than lower quality materials that need replacing more frequently.
The average cost to build a new home per square foot is $50.00 to $70.00 per square foot. This includes the cost of land, labor and materials.
There are several factors that can affect this number including:
The location of the property – If it is in an urban area, where there is more infrastructure such as roads, utilities and schools, then it will be cheaper than if it was rural property where everything has to be built from scratch. A good rule of thumb is that the further away from major cities you get, the more expensive everything becomes because of the extra infrastructure costs involved.
Your budget – If you have a tight budget then expect to see this reflected in your final price tag. You need to decide how much money you are willing to spend on building your dream home so that the contractor can come up with a quote based on those parameters. Anything over budget will have to be cut out of their work order or they will have to charge more for their services because they spent more time than expected doing things like extra trips back and forth between sites due to lack of communication or poor planning by yourself (or other parties).
The size of your lot – The bigger your lot size is then
The average cost to build a house per square foot varies depending on the size and location of the home. The following table shows how much it costs to build a new home in various areas of the United States.
The average cost per square foot can vary greatly depending on the size and quality of your home. A smaller, less-expensive house will have a lower cost per square foot than a larger, more expensive house.
Area Type of Home Average Cost Per Square Foot*
Northeast Single Family Residence $156.00
Midwest Single Family Residence $158.00
South Single Family Residence $136.00
West Single Family Residence $205.00
The average cost to build a new home in the United States is $350 per square foot. This includes labor, materials and design fees. The cost per square foot will vary depending on the size and amenities of your home.
The total cost depends on several factors, including:
Size and location. Homes in rural areas tend to be less expensive than those in urban areas because they don’t require as much infrastructure and building materials. Plus, land development costs are lower in rural areas.
Home type. A ranch-style home with a simple floor plan tends to be less expensive than a house with more bedrooms or bathrooms. Features such as granite countertops look nice but add significantly to the price tag of your home.
Materials used in construction. Concrete walls are cheaper than drywall or plasterboard walls; however, they aren’t as attractive or durable as other materials and may need to be replaced sooner than expected. Roofing material also has an impact on the overall cost of your home’s construction; metal roofs last longer than asphalt shingles but are more expensive upfront.
The average cost to build a new home in the United States ranges from $100 to $200 per square foot. Depending on the location, type of home and size, the cost can vary widely.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimates that the average cost of building a single-family detached home is $185,700, while the average price per square foot is $102.
According to NAHB research, the national average cost to build a new home has increased by 12 percent since 2010. In addition, builders report that labor costs have increased by 16 percent since 2010, while materials costs have gone up by just 5 percent during this period.