John Johnson
Builder Correspondent
Archives

Q: What is the cost per square foot to build a house?

A: The short answer is between $100-$300 per square foot. However, that answer contains so many variables that it is best answered with another question, “What style home and what do you want in your home?”

Cost per square foot usually pertains to the total cost of the home divided by the finished floor space.

As an example, a home priced at $425,000 that has 3,000 finished square feet would be just over $141 per square foot. That same home might have an attached three-car garage with 1,000 or more square feet, but we do not typically include that 1,000 square feet in the cost per foot quote.

Lot or land costs are not included either. When asking the “How much per square foot?” question to builders, make sure you know what is included (or excluded) in the square foot number that is used for the calculation.

The level of interior finish and specifications of materials really can drive the cost per foot figure. The example home has a $10,000 allowance for appliances, which represents high quality, name-brand models. Luxury and commercial grade models can more than double that cost.

A basic cabinetry budget could be $22,000, but high-end features and special finishes can run that figure up to $40,000 - $50,000.

If you have shopped for home interiors, you have no doubt seen that prices vary a great deal between carpets, hardwoods, tile, laminates and granite. Because all these finishes affect the cost per square foot, it is one reason most builders will give an allowance amount when bidding a house plan.

The $425,000 example is based on a rancher-style home with 3,000 square feet of finished space all on one level. The roof covers 3,000 square feet, and the foundation supports 3,000 square feet.

If we turn the rancher into a two-story home with 3,000 square feet, we would instantly reduce by half the foundation and roofing costs. This is an oversimplified example, but the point is that the cost per square foot can also be greatly affected by the style of a home.

The cost of similar sized homes can vary wildly because of the design elements used, like the shape of the structure, pitch of the roof, ceiling height, angles and curves, number of corners and the amount of patio and decking. All of this does not change the finished square footage, but increases the overall costs. This is one reason that in a large subdivision, homes tend to all be very similar with similar amenities in order to keep the prices consistent.

The only way to be sure that your building budget is reasonable and the estimate thorough is to have your contractor review your plan or drawing and develop a complete list of the required materials and specifications that meet your needs. Then he or she can provide a line item cost based on those specifications.

This week’s answer was provided by: John Johnson Eagle Mountain Homes 509-534-3934.

www.EagleMountainCorp.com
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