How Much Does It Cost to Raise a House? [2026 Data]

A lot of people end up paying $25,000 or even more to raise a house depending on various factors. If you need to lift up and move your house—whether to save it from future floodwater risks, make a large update to its foundation, or even transport it down the street to a new location—a team of pros will come in to help raise it.

Raising a house is a big repair project that often means swapping out foundations. Before you start on this project, learn all the costs associated with raising a house and what factors go into the price.

Factors That Affect the Cost to Raise a House

It takes a village of professionals to raise a house safely, but that's not all. You'll also need the usual suspects like insurance and permits, and possibly pillars and a new foundation. Let's go over some of the other costs of raising a home besides expertise and labor.

Home Size

The bigger the house, the more it costs to raise. Here’s what you can expect to pay depending on the size of your home:

Insurance

You'll need to have adequate coverage on your homeowner policy before beginning this project. Your contractor will also need proper insurance to cover a project of this scope.

Permits

Like most home improvement projects, raising a house requires permits. Getting proper permits can cost between $1,200 and $2,000. Talk to your contractor to see if they include permits in their estimate.

Plumbing and Electric

During a house raising, a licensed plumber and electrician will need to disconnect all your utility hookups. Electricians charge between $50 and $100 per hour, while plumbers charge between $45 and $100 per hour.

Replacing Foundation

Replacing a damaged foundation while a home is lifted can add $20,000 to $100,000 to the total cost depending on square footage.

Pillars

Pillars can be embedded into bedrock to fasten your foundation if soil or ground movement has caused damage. Pillar costs range from $1,400 to $2,100 each. This is essential to keep the same issue from happening again.

Type of Foundation

The type of foundation that a home is built on will impact the cost to raise the house, as certain foundation types are easier to work with than others. For example, a house that is on a pier or beam foundation, and has a crawlspace, is easier to lift–which usually translates to less labor and a lower cost. 

Location

The location of a home will also affect the cost to raise it. The type of climate you live in, as well as ease of access to the area, will impact the labor cost for raising a house. 

Cleanup

Positioning large equipment, excavating dirt, and relocating trees during the lifting process can all wreak havoc on your lawn and landscaping. You may need to budget for landscaping fixes after the project.

Labor

In all cases, the biggest cost factor of raising a house is expertise—you’ll need to budget for the architect, structural engineer, and more. It takes a team to successfully lift a house. Here's a look at who and what you can expect to pay:

Cost to Raise a House by Reason

The cost to raise a house depends on if you want to get out of town, lift the house up from water, or put it on solid ground again. Here are the top three reasons to raise a house and how much they add to the total cost. 

Raising to Transport Your Home

Costs for lifting a home for relocation are based on:

• The home's dimensions

• The home's "fitness" for transport

• Relocation distance

• Terrain and topography of the relocation route

You'll also need to have a foundation ready and waiting at the relocation site. All these factors mean that the cost to raise and move a house ranges from $15,000 to $200,000.

Raising From a Flood Zone

Raising a home to lower flood risk means planning on shelling out for piers, posts, and pilings, as well as. It also means extensive engineering work, planning, and permits. You can expect to shell out between $20,000 and $80,000 to keep your home from swimming with the fishes. The good news is that Flood Mitigation Assistance grants can cover some of this cost if your property is covered by the National Flood Insurance Program.

Raising to Replace Foundation

If foundation repairs just won’t cut it, you probably need to raise your house and replace the entire foundation. This is a major project that costs between $20,000 and $100,000. The final cost will depend on the type of foundation.

Building a Basement

If you're lifting your home to add a basement, digging out a basement can cost between $10,000 and $175,000 based on square footage, drainage and plumbing, and finishing work.

Common House Lifting Add-Ons

If you're already going through the trouble of lifting your home, you may want to also consider:

• Adding a basement

• Adding a crawl space

• Adding more structural support

• Doing foundation repairs

• Installing a new foundation

How to Save on House Lifting Costs

The cost of lifting a house has an intimidating price tag considering the scope of the project. That being said, you may be able to save on costs by doing certain aspects of the project yourself. For instance, if you have the tools and knowledge to safely do so, you can disconnect the plumbing and electricity to save on the cost of the plumber and electrician.

Why You Should Hire a House Raising Pro

Raising a house is a complex project that should always be left to experienced pros. Experts have the equipment, tools, and expertise to safely raise your home while preventing structural problems, damage, and code violations.

For a safe, compliant project, hire a local house raising pro. While you’ll incur additional costs for labor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your home is protected and meets all regulations.

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a pro to raise your house

Raising a house is a project that is best left to the pros. Here’s why:

• Professionals know how to safely raise your home while preventing structural damage, foundation cracks, and settling issues.

• Experienced pros have the specialized equipment and expertise needed to lift and support your home safely.

• DIY attempts can lead to costly damage, foundation issues, and structural failure.

• Experts complete the job safely and efficiently, saving you time and stress.

• Hiring a pro helps to protect your home’s structural integrity and 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’ve surveyed thousands of 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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