What Is the Cost to Raise a Basement Ceiling?

Normal Range: $16,000 - $24,000

Raising the ceiling in a basement costs an average of $19,200, but the price could go as high as $90,000 depending on how the height of the room is increased.

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Finished basement with a living room and bathroom
Photo: FOTOGRAFIA INC. / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Image
Finished basement with a living room and bathroom
Photo: FOTOGRAFIA INC. / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Image
Marwa Hasan
Written by Marwa Hasan
Contributing Writer
Updated Oct 26, 2021

If you’re remodeling your basement to turn it into a space to watch the big game or host a party, consider raising the roof—er, ceiling—to make it roomier. It can cost between $10,000 and $90,000 to raise a basement ceiling, depending on the basement’s condition and the type of structure you have.

How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Basement's Ceiling per Square Foot?

Raising a basement ceiling can cost between $10,000 and $90,000, but the final cost is determined by two options:

Lowering the Floor

Lower the floor by digging deeper into the ground and through the foundation. This method will cost anything between $50,000 and $90,000, or between $350 and $450 per square foot to excavate 2 feet into the ground.

Raising the House

The cost of raising the entire house starts at $10,000 to $40,000. This method starts at $12 to $14 per square foot but can go up to $70 per square foot. Although this option is more affordable, it can cause cracks in your drywall or brick wall, or more serious issues if not done correctly.

Raising a Basement's Ceiling Cost Breakdown

Raising a basement ceiling typically costs about $19,200 and can range from $16,000 to $24,000.

During this process, the house is lifted and the foundation is raised to a new level. This means you’ll need to disconnect the utilities for a few days and raise the ground level around it, or you’ll need to build new raised entry porches or decks. 

The total cost of raising a basement ceiling depends on many factors, such as:

  • Type of basement and foundation

  • The material of your house

  • Structural engineer fees

  • Type of soil beneath your house

  • Whether there are water or utility lines underground

  • How old your home is

  • Permits needed

  • Local labor and material costs

  • Plumbing, electrical, or HVAC work

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How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Basement's Ceiling by Method?

Exercise area in a finished basement in house
Photo: FOTOGRAFIA INC. / iStock /Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

There are a few methods for raising the basement ceiling. Which one you choose depends on the foundation type.

Cost to Lower the Floor

Lowering the basement floor can cost between $50,000 and $90,000.

There are two methods you can use to lower the floor:

  • Bench footing: The process of lowering the basement and providing extra structural support to the foundation. This is more affordable and suits larger basements.

  • Underpinning: The process of reinforcing the foundation of an existing building to support the house. This is the more popular choice and allows more floor space, but it’s tricky and can be costly.

Deepening the foundation has substantial risks. It’s not a good option for old brick foundations, but concrete foundations can be OK. Also, lowering the foundation can be tricky for low-bearing soil or, in the case of water pooling, at the old foundation level or below.

Cost of Raising the House

Although this option is more affordable (as it runs between $10,000 to $40,000), lifting the house is generally much harder on brick and stone wall houses, as they tend to crack a lot easier. 

However, raising the house is better in the case of poor soil conditions or old deteriorated foundation—and it usually allows foundation repair/replacement for the deteriorated parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re not sure which method of raising the ceiling is best for you, here are a couple of considerations to help you make that decision. A professional ceiling company will be able to help you determine the best option for your home.

  • How long you are planning to live there: although raising the basement ceiling will increase the value of your home, if you’re planning to sell the house, then go for raising the house.

  • The condition of the foundation: to lower the floors, your foundation has to be intact whereas raising the house will allow you to restore the damaged foundation.

You can paint your ceiling or install a drywall ceiling if the ceiling is unfinished, as they take up less headroom than drop ceilings. 

If there are pipes in the way of ceiling installation, you can do one of two things: reroute the pipes or adjust the installation to fit, which will cost extra.

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Learn more about our contributor
Marwa Hasan
Written by Marwa Hasan
Contributing Writer
Marwa Hasan Marwa is an architect and content creator with a passion for home decor. When she's not working, you can find her learning a new DIY skill, gardening, hiking, or watching a new TV show.

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