Contractor service costs depend on your project and location. Check with a local pro for your specific job.
Professional house framing costs between $1,407 and $7,676 for your new construction or renovation project.
The type of framing you choose impacts your costs, with garage framing costing the least and basement framing costing the most.
Changes after installation can raise your budget, with minor framing adjustments costing $500 to $2,000.
Hiring a local framing professional keeps your household safe and ensures your framing work meets local building codes.
When it comes to framing a house, you should budget for between $1,407 and $7,676. If you’ve dreamed of building a house, one of the less dreamy elements is framing it. While framing your home might not be the most picturesque stage of home building, it’s one of the most important. Learn more about the cost of framing a house and what may impact the price.
The average cost of framing per square foot is approximately $7 to $16. However, you may pay significantly less if you’re framing a garage or significantly more if you’re framing a multi-level house. In these cases, you may pay $4 to $5 or $10 to $19 per square foot, respectively.
| Square Footage | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $7,000–$16,000 |
| 1,500 | $10,500–$24,000 |
| 2,000 | $14,000–$32,000 |
| 2,500 | $17,500–$40,000 |
| 3,000 | $21,000–$48,000 |
Beyond framing an entire house, several types of home frames could lower the cost of your project per square foot. Here’s a breakdown of the price of framing a home by the type of framework.
| Type of Home Framing | Average Cost (Per Square Foot) |
|---|---|
| Full-house framing | $7–$16 |
| Home addition | $6–$10 |
| Interior walls | $7–$12 |
| Garage framing | $4–$5 |
| Basement framing | $10–$16 |
| Roof framing | $6–$9 |
| Roof trusses | $1.50–$4.50 |
| Home sheathing | $2–$8 |
Framing an entire home costs between $7 and $16 per square foot. So, a standard 2,000-square-foot home costs between $14,000 and $32,000. Framing a two-story house costs $3 per square foot more than a single-story house, so you’ll need to factor in this additional cost if you plan to install a multi-story home.
The price to frame a home addition ranges between $6 and $10 per square foot on average. For a standard 750-square-foot addition, you’ll pay between $4,500 and $7,500. The more complex the design, the higher the price will fall in the cost range.
Framing interior walls costs between $7 and $12 per square foot to install. This price is significantly more than framing exterior walls, which may only cost you $2 to $5 per square foot on average. If you’re building frames on existing interior walls, you’ll likely pay more because your pro will need to consider your current build and take precautions to keep your home clean.
The cost to frame garages falls between $4 and $5 per square foot. Remember that large, detached garages will cost more to frame than an attached garage because of the extra materials that go into building the structure.
Basement framing costs between $10 and $16 per square foot, or a total of $1,200 on average. The size and type of framework you choose for your basement determine the price. Precast panel framing costs the most, while poured concrete framing costs the least.
The cost to frame a roof falls between $6 and $9 per square foot on average. The more simplistic the design, the lower the cost. If your plan has many angles, valleys, and dormers, anticipate spending more.
The cost to install roof trusses will be between $1.50 and $4.50 per square foot. Shorter trusses shorter will cost less than trusses that exceed 36 feet in length. Roof trusses are structural frameworks that serve as an aesthetic and supportive system for your roof.
The average cost to add sheathing to your home is between $2 and $8 per square foot. This material covers the frame and allows you to add materials to your home’s walls.
The biggest cost factors involved in framing a house are the size, materials, type, and labor. Here’s a closer look at each of these factors.
You’ll pay between $3 and $6 per square foot for the materials to frame a house. Lumber costs around $1 to $5 per square foot, while steel framing costs between $2 and $4 per square foot. While steel is slightly more affordable for the materials, it requires more hardware to construct and is heavier, making it $1.50 more per square foot to install.
| Framing Material | Cost per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Wood | $1–$5 |
| Steel | $2–$4 |
The cost of labor for framing your house ranges from $4 to $10 per square foot. If you live in a rural area, you might spend closer toward the lower end of the price range, while if you live in a city with a high demand for materials, you could find yourself paying more per square foot.
Windows will increase the cost of your structure because they require extra materials like studs, headers, window sills, and caulking that add up.
Inspections of your home's new framing may reveal code violations, such as improper nailing, small headers, or insufficient bracing. Or you may find that the space feels smaller or larger than you were aiming for. Such findings would likely require you to make changes to your framing after installation, which can increase the cost of your total project. You’ll need to account for the additional time your installers need to commit to changing the project and the cost of new materials.
Minor framing changes, such as moving a non-load-bearing wall, can range from $500 to $2,000, while major structural framing changes, like altering load-bearing walls, roof pitch, or floor layout, can cost $5,000 to $15,000.
A new frame costs less than replacing existing structures within a home because you have to account for the demolition costs and the new materials in an existing structure, whereas you only need to account for the new frame in a new construction. The average cost to demolish a house is between $4 and $15 per square foot.
You’ll spend $2 to $24 more to frame a commercial property than you would a residential property. The main reason behind this is that most commercial constructions require a stronger frame material like steel to support the building.
House framing is one of the most crucial steps in home construction, and improper framing can lead to costly repairs and catastrophic consequences. Proper frame-building requires extensive knowledge, and the work itself is also labor-intensive. A house framing contractor charges $4 to $10 per square foot for labor, and an additional $4 to $10 per square foot for demolition.
Unless you came from a construction and general contracting background, leaving house framing to a pro is the wise way to go:
Insurance: a faulty frame can lead to severe and expensive consequences. A licensed and insured contractor will protect you in the case of any problems.
Complexity: Even with a pre-fabricated kit, framing remains highly complicated, let alone for more custom builds.
Labor intensity: House framing is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Multi-story homes also pose a risk of falling, which is best handled by an experienced professional.
Subcontracting: The frames are only the skeleton of your home. If you hire a pro, they may be able to help you manage the rest of your project and hire other contractors as the construction unfolds.
Permitting and inspection: A pro can handle all building permit and inspection requirements.
Building a house can feel like a large investment—and that’s because it is! Fortunately, there are ways you can save on the cost to frame a house. Here are some tips on how to reduce costs.
Design a simple floor plan.
Choose smaller square footage.
Build up rather than out to save on roof and foundation costs.
Choose high-quality wood over steel.
Avoid vaulted ceilings and complex roof designs.
Choose pre-cut studs to save on custom expenses.
Use cut-off pieces for joists and other filler sections.
Ask for proof of insurance and check their licensing credentials.
Look up past projects and reviews to see if they’ve worked on houses with similar floor plans to yours.
Evaluate your floor plan with the pro and ask for feedback if you are using a custom plan.
Ask about the material they plan on using and the reasons behind it.
Double-check how long the project may take, factoring in any inspection needs, and work out a suitable schedule.
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.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
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