How Much Does It Cost to Rebuild a House? [2025 Data]

Rebuilding a home after a disaster can be a complicated process, even more so when you factor in insurance coverage. Knowing how much it will cost to rebuild your home can ensure you have enough insurance to cover rebuilding costs and be prepared in case of a fire, hurricane, or other catastrophic event. Our guide explores some of the factors that determine the cost of rebuilding a house, so you won’t be caught off guard if the worst happens.

Size

The size of your home is one of the biggest factors in determining the cost to build a custom home or rebuild after a catastrophe. Although costs can vary widely, rebuilding a house costs anywhere between $100 to $500 per square foot, with most American homes averaging between $100 and $250 per square foot.

General Contractor Costs

Building a custom home means coordinating multiple licensed professionals to perform necessary work, so you’ll need to hire a general contractor to oversee the project. These pros typically charge a percentage of the total project cost, and general contractors cost an average of 10% to 20% of the overall cost. 

Additional Pros to Hire

In addition to a general contractor, you’ll need to hire multiple pros to help rebuild your house. The general contractor may handle hiring subcontractors—check your contract to see whose job it is to find and hire the following pros:

• Architect: Architects charge an average of $125–$250 an hour.

• Structural engineer: Hiring a structural engineer will cost around $70–$250 an hour.

• HVAC installer: Installing an HVAC system costs between $5,000 and $12,500 on average.

• Electrician: A qualified electrician can charge between $50 and $130 an hour.

• Plumber: Hiring a plumber can cost between $45 and $200 an hour. 

• Roofer: Most roofers charge 10% to 25% of the total roof cost for labor. 

• Landscape architect: A landscape architect can cost between $700 and $3500. 

Additional Cost Factors

There are almost endless contributing factors to the cost to build a new home. The cost of rebuilding a house will depend on the specifics of your project, but we’ve listed some of the most common factors that affect your total project price. 

Demolition Costs

If you’re rebuilding your home after a catastrophic event, you’ll need to factor in demolition costs before you can begin to rebuild. Demolishing a home costs an average of $4 to $17 per square foot.

Materials

Material costs will make up a significant portion of your rebuilding costs. The materials you use throughout your home will affect your total project costs, and building material price increases can eat up a large part of your budget, so be sure to get current cost estimates before beginning the project.

Foundation

If your existing foundation needs to be rebuilt, you’ll need to factor in foundation costs. After some catastrophic events, your foundation may still be intact and able to support a new house structure—check with a structural engineer to see if you need to rebuild the foundation or if you can keep the existing one. 

Roofing

The cost of a new roof is also a significant factor in a rebuild. Roofing costs are based on size, materials, roof complexity, and more. 

Interior Features

Aside from major structural elements, what you choose for interior features will also affect your project cost. Custom or premium features will add to your total price tag, but a rebuild can be a great time to upgrade features you’ve always wanted in your home.

Exterior Features

Adding exterior features like a deck, attached garage, pool, patio, fencing, or custom landscaping can quickly increase your project cost. Plan for extra room in your rebuild budget if you want to add or upgrade exterior features.

Permits

Rebuilding a home will require various permits to ensure the work is done legally and meets all local codes and regulations. Permits can range between $50 and $2,000 on average per permit, depending on where you’re located. Verify with your general contractor that all necessary permits have been obtained before beginning work—failure to get the right permits can lead to hefty fines.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Rebuilding a house is a job best left to the pros. Insurance companies and local regulations may require that the work be performed by licensed professionals, and structural work isn’t something to tackle as a DIY project. Hire a local custom homebuilder with experience rebuilding homes to ensure your house is built safely and legally from top to bottom.

Cost to Rebuild vs. Buying a New Home

After a natural disaster or other home damage—or if your existing home is very old, doesn’t meet your basic needs, or is in poor shape—you may have to decide whether to rebuild your home or buy a new one. Extensive home remodels can cost between $50,000 and $100,000, and homes that are seriously damaged or need complete remodeling can cost $200,000 or more to repair or totally renovate. 

In some cases, starting over and rebuilding can get you a brand-new house for a similar price as renovations or major repairs. However, most experts agree that the cost of building a house is almost always more than the cost of a complete home renovation.

Only you can make this decision, but it will be easiest if you have real numbers to compare and align with your budget. It’s smart to start the process by talking with your insurance agent, building contractors, and local realtors. These professionals can help you understand what to expect financially and in terms of timing and effort when deciding whether to rebuild or purchase a new home.

Ways to Save When Rebuilding a House

Although most of the work on a house rebuild should only be performed by experienced, licensed pros, you can still save money on the project. Some ways to save include:

• Opt to rebuild with smaller square footage to save on overall costs.

• Choose less expensive materials where possible to keep costs down. 

• Save optional exterior projects for later.

• If you’re handy, tackle some of the finish work like painting, installing flooring, or installing appliances yourself.

• Choose prefabricated components rather than custom-built. 

• Interview and get quotes from multiple contractors before getting started. Be sure you know what’s included in each contract.

Does Rebuilding a House Increase Home Value?

Rebuilding a house costs more than a full remodel, but it’ll have more of a positive impact on your home value. Because you’re rebuilding with all new materials, particularly after a catastrophic event, your home will be valued as a brand new house rather than an older home with new improvements. Of course, if you choose to downsize, use less expensive materials, or make other significant downgrades when rebuilding, your home value will be affected, but in general, rebuilding will increase the value. 

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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