The average cost to build a house is $350,000 to $800,000, not including land or site prep, per HomeGuide (October 2025)1. Angi and HomeAdvisor publish a national average of $322,924 with most homeowners paying $138,769 to $530,862 — based on 1,220 verified projects on Angi23. The two are corporate siblings, and matching figures alone don’t establish independent corroboration. Per square foot, the three publishers diverge with different labels: $180 to $280 builder-grade and $280 to $450+ custom on HomeGuide, $100 to $500 for a custom home on Angi, and $60 to $110 on HomeAdvisor’s self-build-framed page — all presented as published. HomeAdvisor also gives a broader $1,800 to $950,000 project spread against its own normal range, presented as published3. Figures below are the latest published data from each source.
Cost by size
HomeGuide’s table splits builder-grade and custom, excluding land and site prep1:
| Home size (sq ft) | Builder-grade (HomeGuide) | Custom (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | $145,000–$225,000 | $225,000–$360,000 |
| 1,000 | $180,000–$280,000 | $280,000–$450,000 |
| 1,500 | $270,000–$420,000 | $420,000–$675,000 |
| 2,000 | $360,000–$560,000 | $560,000–$900,000 |
| 2,500 | $450,000–$700,000 | $700,000–$1,125,000 |
| 3,000 | $540,000–$840,000 | $840,000–$1,350,000 |
| 4,000 | $720,000–$1,120,000 | $1,120,000–$1,800,000 |
Angi’s table is framed around its $150-per-square-foot average with wide ranges2:
| Home size (sq ft) | Average (Angi) | Range (Angi) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $150,000 | $100,000–$500,000 |
| 1,500 | $225,000 | $150,000–$750,000 |
| 2,000 | $300,000 | $200,000–$1,000,000 |
| 2,200 | $330,000 | $220,000–$1,100,000 |
| 3,000 | $450,000 | $300,000–$1,500,000 |
HomeAdvisor’s size table sits on its self-build-framed page, where $60 to $110 per square foot is the stated assumption3:
| Home size (sq ft) | Average cost range (HomeAdvisor) |
|---|---|
| 800 | $48,000–$88,000 |
| 1,000 | $60,000–$110,000 |
| 1,500 | $90,000–$165,000 |
| 2,000 | $120,000–$220,000 |
| 3,000 | $180,000–$330,000 |
| 5,000 | $300,000–$550,000 |
Cost by bedrooms and home type
The bedroom figures diverge, presented as published: Angi estimates $130,000 to $225,000 for three bedrooms, $250,000 to $350,000 for four, and $350,000 to $450,000 for five — assuming its $150-per-square-foot rate — with each added bedroom at $20,000 to $80,000+2. HomeAdvisor publishes $93,000 to $155,000 for a small two-bedroom, $248,000 to $310,000 for three, and $388,000 to $465,000+ for four3. HomeAdvisor’s home-type averages: tiny home $45,000, log cabin $75,000, bungalow $150,000, dome house $175,000, modular $270,000, ranch $315,000, mid-century modern $775,0003.
Materials vs. labor
HomeGuide puts materials at 50% to 60% of the budget with labor making up the rest1; HomeAdvisor says about 60% materials3; Angi frames it from the labor side at 30% to 50% — the formulations differ, presented as published123.
Land, site prep, and utilities
HomeGuide prices rural land at $8,000 to $15,000 per acre, residential lots at $30,000 to $100,000+, and premium lots above $200,000, with site prep at $5,000 to $20,000+ — over $100,000 in rocky terrain — and getting utilities to the site at $9,000 to $34,500+1. Angi’s land figure spans $3,000 to $150,000+, with line items for excavation $1,500 to $10,000, grading $1,000 to $3,300, surveying $1,800 to $6,500, clearing $1,400 to $6,200, a sewer line $1,400 to $5,800, and an electrical line $4,000 to $20,0002. HomeAdvisor’s figures are excavation $80 to $5,050 and utility connections $2,000 to $3,800 — three different scopes and ranges across sources, presented as published123.
Construction line items
Where the publishers cover the same component, the figures often diverge — presented as published, each with its own label:
| Component | HomeGuide | Angi | HomeAdvisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | $25,000–$70,000 | $4,000–$14,800 | — |
| Framing | $35,000–$75,000 | $20,000–$50,000 | — |
| Roof | $10,000–$25,000+ | $5,900–$13,200 (roofer labor) | — |
| Siding | $12,000–$45,000 | — | — |
| Windows & doors | $16,000–$50,000 | — | — |
| Electrical | $12,000–$20,000 | — | — |
| Plumbing | $12,000–$20,000 | — | — |
| HVAC | $8,000–$18,000 | $5,000–$12,500 (technician) | ~$8,700 average |
| Insulation & drywall | $12,000–$40,000 | — | — |
| Interior finishes | $75,000–$250,000+ | $50,000–$175,000 | — |
| Exterior finishes | — | $25,000–$60,000 | — |
| Appliances | $3,100–$7,700 (standard) | — | ~$10,500 average |
The foundation gap between HomeGuide’s $25,000 to $70,000 and Angi’s $4,000 to $14,800 is the widest in the table — different labels, presented as published without a stated explanation in either source12. Angi’s own pro list also prices a house framer at $1,400 to $7,700 against its table’s $20,000 to $50,000 framing line — a labor-rate label against a project line, presented as published2. HomeAdvisor adds cabinet installation at a $3,400 average and high-end custom design at $200 to $550 per square foot with an architect at $3,000 to $8,000 — its labor table lists the same architect line at a $6,700 average, range and average presented as published3.
The pros involved
Angi’s project-rate list: general contractor $32,000 to $64,000, construction manager $16,000 to $48,000, architect $16,000 to $48,000, structural engineer $2,000 to $8,500, HVAC technician $5,000 to $12,500, roofer $5,900 to $13,200, draftsperson $75 to $125 per hour2. HomeGuide publishes hourly rates instead1:
| Professional | Hourly rate (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|
| Excavating contractors | $100–$300 |
| Plumbers | $75–$150 |
| Electricians | $50–$130 |
| HVAC installers | $75–$150 |
| Roofers | $30–$100 |
| Carpenters & framing contractors | $30–$100 |
| Drywall contractors | $40–$100 |
| Siding contractors | $40–$80 |
| Insulation contractors | $40–$80 |
| Painters | $20–$70 |
| Flooring installers | $20–$70 |
| Landscapers | $25–$50 |
HomeAdvisor’s hourly figures are plumbers at $45 to $200 and electricians at $50 to $100 — overlapping HomeGuide’s ranges with different bounds, presented as published13.
Cost by state
HomeGuide’s state table, per square foot and excluding land and site prep1:
| State | Builder-grade per sq ft (HomeGuide) | Custom per sq ft (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $150–$300 | $300–$500 |
| Alaska | $180–$300 | $300–$500 |
| Arizona | $200–$300 | $300–$550 |
| Arkansas | $150–$220 | $220–$300 |
| California | $200–$400 | $400–$600 |
| Colorado | $200–$300 | $300–$500 |
| Connecticut | $230–$300 | $300–$500 |
| Delaware | $200–$300 | $300–$500 |
| Florida | $180–$250 | $250–$400 |
| Georgia | $150–$270 | $270–$350 |
| Hawaii | $250–$400 | $400–$750 |
| Idaho | $150–$220 | $220–$350 |
| Illinois | $250–$350 | $350–$550 |
| Indiana | $150–$250 | $250–$350 |
| Iowa | $175–$220 | $220–$400 |
| Kansas | $150–$250 | $250–$350 |
| Kentucky | $170–$280 | $280–$400 |
| Louisiana | $170–$220 | $220–$300 |
| Maine | $250–$350 | $350–$450 |
| Maryland | $250–$350 | $350–$450 |
| Massachusetts | $280–$350 | $350–$600 |
| Michigan | $170–$260 | $260–$350 |
| Minnesota | $230–$350 | $350–$500 |
| Mississippi | $150–$200 | $200–$300 |
| Missouri | $180–$300 | $300–$500 |
| Montana | $220–$300 | $300–$400 |
| Nebraska | $160–$250 | $250–$400 |
| Nevada | $180–$280 | $280–$450 |
| New Hampshire | $220–$300 | $300–$500 |
| New Jersey | $200–$350 | $350–$600 |
| New Mexico | $220–$280 | $280–$400 |
| New York | $220–$300 | $300–$500 |
| North Carolina | $180–$250 | $250–$450 |
| North Dakota | $170–$250 | $250–$400 |
| Ohio | $130–$220 | $220–$300 |
| Oklahoma | $170–$200 | $200–$300 |
| Oregon | $250–$350 | $350–$550 |
| Pennsylvania | $200–$320 | $320–$450 |
| Rhode Island | $180–$250 | $250–$400 |
| South Carolina | $200–$250 | $250–$400 |
| South Dakota | $180–$250 | $250–$400 |
| Tennessee | $180–$250 | $250–$350 |
| Texas | $180–$280 | $280–$400 |
| Utah | $180–$280 | $280–$600 |
| Vermont | $220–$300 | $300–$500 |
| Virginia | $250–$325 | $325–$500 |
| Washington | $220–$350 | $350–$550 |
| West Virginia | $150–$200 | $200–$300 |
| Wisconsin | $220–$350 | $350–$500 |
| Wyoming | $220–$350 | $350–$500 |
Angi publishes per-state total estimates on a different basis: California $458,000, New York $395,000, Florida $328,000, North Carolina $312,000, Pennsylvania $304,000, Illinois $303,000, Ohio $301,000, Texas $293,000, Georgia $291,000, Michigan $291,000 — totals against HomeGuide’s per-square-foot figures, different scopes presented as published12.
Permits and inspections
Permit requirements and fees vary by municipality, so confirm with your local building authority early; builders typically handle the paperwork. For budgeting, Angi prices construction permits at $500 to $2,000 with a new-construction inspection at $300 to $400, while HomeAdvisor publishes $150 to $2,000 and adds water and sewer inspections at around $5,000 — presented as published23.
Timeline and build-vs-buy framing
Construction takes 6 to 12+ months on HomeGuide, excluding the design and permitting phase1; HomeAdvisor says to budget living arrangements for “around a year” — a looser label, presented as published3. On the build-or-buy question, attribute each publisher’s own framing: HomeGuide says buying is usually cheaper than building1; HomeAdvisor frames the answer around whether you already own land3; Angi compares its $322,924 build average with a $52,000 full-renovation average — its own comparison2. HomeGuide notes construction loans release funds in stages and often convert to a standard mortgage at completion — its own description, attributed1.
Related cost guides
Planning stages: land clearing cost and excavation cost. Alternatives and additions: home addition cost, cost to build a garage and kitchen remodel cost.
The bottom line
Budget $350,000 to $800,000 before land on HomeGuide’s figures, or $138,769 to $530,862 for most projects on the average Angi and HomeAdvisor both publish, with per-square-foot rates at $180 to $280 builder-grade on HomeGuide, $100 to $500 custom on Angi, and $60 to $110 on HomeAdvisor’s self-build-framed page. The builder-grade-versus-custom choice and your state shape the total, and the land, prep, and utility figures sit outside HomeGuide’s headline range — so price the lot and the build as separate budgets. Get foundation, framing, and finishes itemized in every quote.
*HomeGuide’s headline excludes land and site prep. Sources (each fetched and read October 26, 2026; figures are each publisher’s latest published data):
1. HomeGuide, “How Much Does It Cost to Build a House?” (October 24, 2025) — homeguide.com/costs/cost-to-build-a-house
2. Angi, “How Much Does It Cost to Build a House?” (updated October 5, 2026) — angi.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-build-house.htm
3. HomeAdvisor, “How Much Does Building Your Own Home Cost?” (updated June 19, 2026) — homeadvisor.com/cost/architects-and-engineers/build-a-house
Related guides
Shipping Container Home Cost
Log Cabin Cost (2026 Guide)
Tiny House Cost (2026 Guide)
Barndominium Cost (2026 Guide)
Modular Home Cost (2026 Guide)