Cost to Build a House Calculator
Enter your size, stories, garage and finish level. You get a low, typical and high total, a cost per square foot and a phase-by-phase breakdown you can see on the 3D house. Defaults are Houston-area planning numbers, and every price is editable.
- Typical total—
- Per sq ft—
- Likely range—
- Biggest phase—
Drag to turn · scroll or pinch to zoom · tap “Cost layers” to color the house by phase and see what each costs
How this cost calculator works
Base price: your living area times a price per sq ft for the finish level you pick. The defaults are Houston-area planning numbers: $155 builder-grade, $205 mid-range, $285 custom and $400 luxury. Published guides put Houston-area new construction at roughly $145 to $185, $185 to $235 and $250 to $295 or more per sq ft for builder-grade, mid-range and custom homes. Angi's national range for a custom home is $200 to $550. These are typical ranges, not quotes.
Adjustments: the price is multiplied by a region factor and a stories factor (two stories share one foundation and roof, so they are a little cheaper per sq ft). Garage bays are priced as 240 sq ft each at half the house rate. Low and high cases are 85% and 125% of the typical build cost, and half of that swing is applied to site work.
Phases: the house and garage cost is split by the National Association of Home Builders' 2024 shares of construction cost: foundation 10.5%, framing 16.6%, exterior finishes 13.4% (with roofing, 3.9%, shown on its own), plumbing, electrical and HVAC rough-ins 19.2%, interior finishes 24.1%, final steps 6.5% and other 2.1%. Final steps and other are folded into interior finishes. NAHB's 7.6% site work share is replaced by the site lines you turn on, because lots differ so much.
On top: design and permits, soft costs and a contingency are percentages you set. The lot is only added when you say you still need to buy one.
What the 3D model shows
The footprint is your living area divided by the number of stories, with a garage added beside it. The finish level changes the detail: builder-grade is a simple gable with siding, mid-range adds brick, a front gable and a porch, custom has brick and stone, a hip roof, more windows and a chimney, and luxury adds a larger columned porch and stone walls. “Cost layers” colors each phase and floats its cost next to it.
The model is an illustration of scale and detail, not a floor plan or a design.
Costs people forget
- Flood elevation: in a mapped flood zone the floor may have to be raised, which can add fill, a stem wall or piers.
- Foundation on clay: Houston-area clay often calls for an engineered slab or piers.
- Landscaping, fencing, window coverings and appliances are often left out of builder quotes.
- Impact fees, tap fees and utility deposits vary by city and utility district.
- Price changes during the build: that is what the contingency is for.
This tool is a planning aid. Get written bids from licensed builders for your actual plans and lot.
Sources
- NAHB Eye on Housing: Cost of Constructing a Home in 2024 (construction stage shares, lot and profit shares)
- NAHB Special Study: Cost of Constructing a Home 2024 (dollar breakdown, roofing, framing, foundation)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does It Cost to Build a House in Texas?
- HomeGuide: How Much Does It Cost to Build a House?
- Angi: Cost to Build a Custom Home ($200 to $550 per sq ft)
- Houston per-sq-ft ranges by finish level (cross-check)
Regional factors, the stories factor, the garage rate, site allowances and the design, soft-cost and contingency percentages are our planning assumptions. They are not from a published source, so replace them with quotes.
Estimates only — not engineering, legal or code advice. Check requirements with your local building department and a licensed professional before you build.
Common questions
How much does it cost to build a 2,400 sq ft house in Houston?
With this tool's defaults (2 stories, a 2-car garage, mid-range finishes, Houston pricing, a lot you already own with clearing, utilities and a driveway) the house and garage cost $514,140 to build, about $195 per living sq ft. Adding $31,000 of site work, 6% for design and permits, 5% soft costs and a 10% contingency brings the typical total to $663,570, or $276 per sq ft, with a likely range of $566,720 to $824,987. Land is not included. Replace every default with real quotes.
What is the cost per square foot to build a house?
Published guides put Houston-area new construction at roughly $145 to $185 per sq ft for builder-grade, $185 to $235 for mid-range and $250 to $295 or more for custom homes. Angi puts a custom home between $200 and $550 per sq ft nationally. This tool starts from $155, $205, $285 and $400 per living sq ft for builder-grade, mid-range, custom and luxury, then adjusts for stories, region and garage. Those are planning assumptions you can edit.
Where does the money go when you build a house?
The National Association of Home Builders' 2024 survey splits construction cost like this: interior finishes 24.1%, plumbing, electrical and HVAC rough-ins 19.2%, framing 16.6%, exterior finishes 13.4%, foundation 10.5%, site work 7.6%, final steps 6.5% and other 2.1%. This tool applies those shares to the house cost (roofing is split out of exterior finishes) and itemises site work separately.
What costs are not in the $/sq ft price?
Land, site work (clearing, utilities, septic or well, driveway), design and permits, and soft costs such as insurance, survey, soil testing and loan interest are all extra. This tool adds each as its own line. NAHB's survey found the finished lot was 13.7% of a new home's price in 2024, which is why the lot is shown separately.
Does a second story make a house cheaper per square foot?
Usually a little. Two stories share one foundation and one roof, so the cost per sq ft is often lower than a single-story home of the same size. This tool uses a 5% reduction for two stories and 7% for three. That factor is an assumption, so change it if your builder quotes differently.
Do flood zones add to the cost of building in Houston?
They can. In a mapped flood zone the lowest floor may have to sit above the flood level, which can mean fill, a stem wall or piers. That cost is not in this total. Use the Flood Zone and Floor Height Checker for the required elevation, then add a line for it to your contingency or site work.