Cost to Build a House in St. Louis, MO [2025 Data]

The average cost to build a house in St. Louis, Missouri, is $378,500, but that number can rise quickly once you factor in the realities of Midwest weather and living in Tornado Alley. Between metal roofing designed to withstand tornadoes and basements that serve as storm shelters, the final price often lands somewhere between $296,333 and $625,000. Every design choice—whether it’s a structural upgrade or a custom finish—shapes both the experience of living in your home and the total cost to build it. Here’s what you can expect when planning a new construction project in St. Louis.

Home Building Cost Factors

When budgeting for a home in St. Louis, MO, costs hinge on multiple factors. The biggest factor influencing cost is square footage. Larger homes require more materials, labor, and construction time, so even modest increases in size can significantly impact the overall price.

St. Louis’s location in Tornado Alley adds another layer of complexity. While asphalt shingles keep initial costs down, homeowners have a range of more resilient materials to choose from, such as metal roofing. It’s a pricier choice but offers far better protection against hail and strong winds that are common in the area. Your choice of foundation can also drive up your building costs. Basements can add thousands to your budget, but they also add valuable living space and double as storm shelters during severe weather. However, the city’s vulnerability to heavy rainfall and flash flooding means proper waterproofing and drainage systems are essential and another line item on the final invoice.

Ultimately, building in St. Louis means weighing your home’s size (square footage, number of bedrooms, etc.) against smart, weather-conscious decisions. How you build—not just what you build—has a significant impact on your budget.

Square Footage

The cost to build a custom home can range anywhere from $100 to $500 per square foot, with the average sitting right around $150 per square foot. The higher end of this range accounts for building luxury homes or homes in large cities. The size and type of house you choose will also affect what you’ll pay.

Number of Bedrooms 

It’s helpful to have an idea of the total construction cost based on the number of bedrooms, since that will likely be the first thing you decide. You can expect to pay $100,000 to $120,000 per bedroom. Note that the added cost comes from not only the additional square footage for the bedroom but also larger living spaces, additional bathrooms, and utilities to support additional occupants. The average home in the U.S. today is 2,200 to 2,500 square feet and has three bedrooms.

Here are the new construction home costs based on the number of bedrooms at the average price of $150 per square foot.

Foundation Type

Exterior Finishes

Exterior finishes, from the siding to the shingles on your roof, will account for $25,000 to $60,000 of your overall home-building costs. You and your team will have a lot of decisions to make depending on the exterior style you’re going for and the best options for your local climate, among other factors. Things like high-end roofing materials and gutters will increase your cost but also provide a greater ROI.

Interior Finishes

Moving on to the interior work of your home is an exciting phase. This stage is the moment to determine the flooring, the paint colors, and all appliances and home systems that make your house a home. Assume you'll pay between $50,000 and $175,000 for all interior finishes.

The higher cost range accounts for more complex and sought-after materials. These include everything from insulation with higher R-values to beautiful marble countertops. Nearly every category, however, offers options for all budget preferences.

Home Building Pro Costs

When budgeting for a new home in St. Louis, MO, many people zero in on hard costs: lumber, concrete, windows, and roofing. But soft costs deserve just as much attention. These include labor, permits, and taxes—expenses that don’t go into the structure itself but are absolutely necessary to build it. They’re not always obvious upfront, yet they can account for a significant chunk of your total budget. If you’re building a new home here, understanding how these factors play into your costs will give you a clearer, more realistic picture of how to plan and save.

Labor

When you hire a custom builder in St. Louis, MO, you can expect them to charge a percentage (about 10%-20%) of the total construction costs for labor fees. This covers the general contractor who oversees and manages the project. Much to the confusion and surprise of some homeowners, these fees don’t include the hourly rates of the licensed subcontractors who’ll handle electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work. Whether it’s a percentage or an hourly rate, the time, experience, and licensing of your laborers all factor into the price of your new home.

Permits

Before construction begins, your contractor needs to secure permits from the City of St. Louis or St. Louis County, depending on where you’re building. Permit fees are based on the total value of your project, where St. Louis residents pay $10 per thousand in estimated construction costs. So, while a home valued at $100,000 has a fee of $1,000, the permit on a $500,000 project would cost considerably more at $5,000. Additional permits are required for specific systems, like plumbing, electrical, and mechanical. On average, residential permit reviews take approximately 10-14 days to complete, but depending on the complexity of your build and the workload of your local permit office, the process could take more than a few weeks.

Taxes

In Missouri, sales tax applies to all construction materials. That means the contractor pays sales tax at the point of purchase, and that cost is ultimately passed on to you. In the city of St. Louis, the combined sales tax rate is approximately 9.679% whereas St. Louis County has varying rates starting around 8.99%, depending on the municipality. On $100,000 worth of materials, that translates to approximately $9,000 in taxes, an expense that makes a dent in your overall budget.

Is Building a New House Worth It?

If you’re in St. Louis and weary of 100-year-old houses with outdated knob-and-tube wiring and drafty windows, building a new home may be the better option. The city’s housing stock is aging, and while the metro area is still growing, finding a modern, move-in-ready home is more challenging than it seems. Renovating an older house often comes with hidden costs and constant surprises. A new build skips a lot of the guesswork. You get modern systems, better energy efficiency, and fewer maintenance issues. Plus, in a market short on quality inventory, new construction stands out and maintains its value. It may cost more upfront, but for many St. Louis buyers, the long-term benefits easily outweigh the initial expense.

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 survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from 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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