What will your custom home cost?
A realistic price for your lot, size, style and finishes, built up line by line from 2026 construction costs.
Free · about 3 minutes · or check a quick price without signing up
Quick price check
Pick a state, a size and a finish level. The numbers update as you go.
Typical all-in cost in the U.S., before land
$791K to $1.05M
- Most likely
- $899K
- House per sq ft
- $230
- Start to move-in
- 13–20 mo
Assumes a typical lot, a three-car garage and city utilities. Your town, style and extras can move it a lot.
Costs by style
What the house itself costs per square foot with standard finishes, at national-average prices. Pick one to start an estimate in that style.
What finish levels look like
Finish level touches almost every part of the house, from cabinets and counters to windows and roofing. House cost per square foot for a 2,500 sq ft home.
Why one price per square foot misleads
Two homes the same size can differ by hundreds of thousands of dollars. These are all the same 3,000 sq ft house at national-average prices.
| A typical 3,000 sq ft custom home | $899K | |
| Add a finished walkout basement | $1,053K | +$155K |
| Steep lot with a well and septic | $966K | +$67K |
| Premium finishes | $1,297K | +$399K |
| Simple shape, standard finishes | $683K | −$216K |
Costs by state
Labor, fees and permit times change a lot from place to place.
Plan it before you price it
Plain-language guides to the money and decisions behind a custom home.
Common questions
How accurate is the estimate?
It's a planning number, built from regional construction cost data and the answers you give. For most projects the final cost lands inside the range shown, but your lot, your plans and the market when you build can move it. A builder who has seen your lot and plans can give you a firm bid.
Does the price include land?
No, unless you're still looking and enter a land budget. The estimate covers the home, site work, utilities, design, permits, the builder's fee and a contingency.
Why do you ask for my name, email and phone?
So we can email you a copy of your estimate and save it at a private link you can come back to. Builders only contact you if you check the box asking them to.
Why is my number higher than the price per square foot I've heard?
Quoted prices per square foot often leave out site work, utilities, design, permits, landscaping, the garage or the builder's fee. This estimate includes all of them, so it reads higher than a bare construction number. Your report shows both.
What does the builder's fee cover?
Overhead and profit: the builder's office, insurance, supervision and margin. Custom builders typically charge 10 to 20 percent, either built into a fixed price or added on top of costs in a cost-plus contract.
How long does it take to build a custom home?
Usually 12 to 24 months from the first design meeting to move-in: a few months of design, one to several months for permits, and 8 to 18 months of construction depending on size, finish level, weather and the builder's schedule.
Is this a quote from a builder?
No. It's an independent estimate meant to help you plan and compare. It isn't a bid, appraisal or loan offer.
