Demolishing a house is a long process that requires meticulous planning that can transform what was once a home into a blank canvas of possibilities. It’s a journey through hidden costs, environmental impacts, permits, and factors that influence the overall price of house demolition.
Join us as we unveil the world of house demolition, and uncover every secret behind the price tag, revealing the hidden facts and costs of the house demolition process while learning the cheapest way to budget wisely.
How much does it cost to demolish a house?
- Typical range: $4,000 – $26,000
- National average: $19,000
The average cost to demolish a house is $19,000, but the price can vary and it depends on numerous factors such as location, the complexity of the demolition, and different permits and regulations for sites. All of this can influence and change the demolition project’s final cost a lot.
The average cost to demolish a house
The average cost of house demolition in the United States is $19,000. The average range is $4,000-$26,000. The average cost to tear down and rebuild a house is $124,000-$450,000.
The average cost of demolishing a house in the USA can sometimes significantly vary from one state to another, influenced by regional factors, regulations, and labor costs.
Here are some statistical examples of the average cost of tearing down a house in different states:
| State | The average cost of house demolition |
| California | $9,000 to $16,000 |
| Texas | $6,000 to $12,000 |
| New York | $12,000 to $20,000 or more |
| Florida | $7,000 to $13,000 |
| Illinois | $8,000 to $15,000 |
| Georgia | $5,000 to $9,000 |
Demolition price per square foot
House demolition cost per square foot ranges from $4 to $12 or more.
Tearing down a house while leaving the foundation in place costs $3 to $8 per square foot.
In the table below, check out the price of demolition in different square feet:
| Size | Cost |
| 1,200 square foot | $5,000 – $20,500 |
| 1,500 square foot | $6,500 – $26,000 |
| 2,000 square foot | $8,500 – $34,500 |
| 2,500 square foot | $10,500 – $33,000 |
| 3,000 square foot | $12,500 – $52,000 |
Factors that influence demolition costs
Demo price is influenced by a lot of different cost factors such as:
Size and type of the house
The cost of house demolition depends on the size and type of the house. The bigger the house, the higher the price of its demolition.
In the table below, you can see the demo prices in relation to the size of the house you have:
| House type | Price |
| Small house (1,000 square foot or less) | $4,000 to $15,000 |
| Medium-sized house (1,000 to 3,000 square foot) | $15,000 to $35,000 |
| Large house (3,000+ square foot) | $35,000 to $60,000+ |
Depending on demolition type, look over the average cost per square foot in the table below:
| Demolition type | Average cost per square foot |
| House | $3 – $5 |
| Foundation | $2 – $4 |
| Disposal | $2 – $3 |
| Total | $4 – $12 |
Permits and regulations
The average cost of permits is between $100 and $450.
Demolition permits and regulations are very important when we undertake the process of demolishing a house. They are a critical aspect that influences both the timeline and costs of the demolition process. The document that is necessary for obtaining a permit is a site plan for permit.
To get the necessary permits for your project, you’ll need to check with your local government. Some municipalities offer blanket permits, while others require numerous permits for different parts of the project.
Location
Knocking down a house from 1,500 square feet can run from $6,500 to $26,000 depending on the specific location of the property and in what kind of area it is. Tearing down a home in the city is much more expensive than in a rural area. Accessing a rural home for demolition is easier than doing a demolition in the city and in an area that is highly dense, because of easier setup and cleaning process.
Environmental considerations
The cost of environmental considerations when demolishing a house can vary but on average, the price goes from $5,000 to $25,000 or more. Environmental considerations impact the cost and the safety of the whole demolishing process and also the welfare of the surrounding ecosystem.
Waste disposal
Disposing of demolition debris can cost from $150 to $1,000 or more. Disposal of waste is a very important part of the process when we talk about the cost of demolishing a house, and the final cost of disposal fees will depend on the volume of collected material during the demolition.
According to the EPA, “It is estimated that 600 million tons of construction waste debris was generated in the United States in 2018, which is more than twice the amount of generated municipal solid waste”.
Machinery
House demolition often requires heavy machinery, such as excavators or bulldozers. Heavy machinery costs from $250 to $600 per hour or more, depending on the equipment type and operator fees. Machinery costs can vary and they depend on the type of demolition that you choose.
Hazardous material removal
Hazardous material removal can impact the costs of demolishing a house, with expenses that go from $2,000 to $6,000 or more, depending on safety measures and the extent of dumping materials (asbestos, lead paint, rodents). It’s always recommended to consult with a hazmat professional to ensure safe disposal of different building materials.
Site preparation
The cost of site preparation goes from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the particular needs of the project. It includes different tasks, like securing utilities, setting up safety barriers, and ensuring access to heavy machinery. Always hire a professional to make sure that the job is done properly because of the further process and reconstruction.
Unexpected costs
When planning a budget for house demolition, always be aware of potential unexpected costs that can add up to 10% or 20% to your budget for unforeseen issues like structural complexities, site-specific challenges, or hidden toxic waste materials.
Pre-demolition inspection cost
When you decide to tear down a home, first you’ll need to get a pre-demolition inspection that costs between $200 and $700, depending on local code requirements. Older and unstable homes need asbestos and lead paint checks before starting a demolishing project. Cutting utilities requires inspection as well, but only in some cities.
You can check the demo prices of pre-demolition inspection costs in the table below:
| Inspection type | Average cost |
| Building inspection cost | $200 – $700 |
| Asbestos | $400 – $1000 |
| Lead-paint | $150 – $750 |
| Rodents | $200 – $400 |
| Utility line termination inspections | $150 – $200 each |
Utility preparation cost
House knock down requires cutting or removing utility lines. Inspections and permits for capping pipes cost $200 to $250 each when required. Here is some basic information you need to know about utility preparation:
- Homeowners need to make a utility termination request, at least 2-4 weeks before starting a demolition process
- If you’re rebuilding a house, don’t ask for the removal of all electrical lines, because you’ll need temporary power for further construction
- Work that requires opening up the sidewalk or street is always a lot more expensive
Cost of cutting utilities
Before demolition, the average cost of cutting utilities is between $700 and $4,800 when planning to rebuild the existing foundation.
In the table below, find out the cost to cut and cap utilities for future rebuilds.
| Utility type | Average cost |
| Gas | $0 – $400 |
| Electric | $0 – $400 |
| Water line (cut & cup above-ground) | $350 – $550 |
| Water line (cut & cup underground) | $550 – $2,400 |
| Sewer | $450 – $2,000 |
| Well | $100 – $500 |
Cost of removing utility lines
Here is a cost breakdown for removing utility lines, where all fees include inspection and permit costs:
| Utility type | Average cost to remove |
| Gas | $750 – $2,550 per line |
| Electric (above-ground) | $0 – $970 per line |
| Electric (underground) | $550 – $1,300 per line |
| Water | $3,000 – $6,000 per line |
| Sewer | $3,000 – $6,000 per line |
| Well | $600 – $4,500 per line |
Demolition methods cost
Demolition methods offer a different approach when bringing down structures or buildings. There are three most common methods:
- Manual demolition – Involves using hand tools, it’s suitable for smaller structures, and the average cost ranges from $15 to $20 per hour per worker.
- Mechanical demolition – Uses heavy machinery and it’s often a quicker and more efficient way to demolish a house and costs from $4 to $15 per square foot.
- Deconstruction (salvage materials) – Systematic demolishing of a structure to save building materials in order to use them again and the average cost is from $9 to $20 per square foot.
Cost of demolishing a structure by type
The average cost of a full demolition project ranges from $4,000 to $26,000 or more, but other structures are less expensive to tear down.
Mobile home demolition cost
The price of mobile home demolition ranges between $3,500 to $8,000, and the average cost per square foot is from $4 to $6. Demolishing a mobile home is often easier than demolishing traditional houses due to their construction, but it still requires detailed planning and good safety measures.
Cost to knock down garage
The exact price for demolishing a garage can vary, but the average range is somewhere between $1,500 and $6,000 or more. The garage demolition process includes tasks like disconnecting utilities, removing hazardous materials, and cleaning the site. It’s a less complex process than demolishing a house but it still requires a cautious approach.
Building demolition cost per square foot
Building demolition costs from $5 to $15 per square foot and for larger complex structures the price can be even higher.
Shed or barn demolition cost
The average price of shed or barn knock down goes between $60 and $120 or more, depending on the complexity and the location of the structure.
Demolition vs deconstruction
Demolition is a process of deliberately tearing down and removing a structure or a building, and the average cost of demolition is $7,000 to $25,000.
Deconstruction is a method of cautious disassembling the entire structure to save reusable materials while minimizing waste and the average deconstruction cost is $15,000 to $40,000.
“Officials say deconstruction can reduce the material sent to landfills by 85%” according to Wired.
In the table below, check out the cost per square foot for mechanical demolition and deconstruction as well as the process details:
| Type | Cost per square foot | Details |
| Demolition | $4 – $12 | Takes 1-2 daysIt’s ideal for homes that are low valued |
| Deconstruction | $9 – $20 | Takes 1-3 weeksRequires good planningKeeps existing foundation |
Partial demolition house cost
Partial demolitions can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on what you’re demolishing. Partial demolition is a process where only a portion of a building or structure is removed or destroyed while leaving other parts intact. This approach is very good for situations where the property owner wants to keep some exact parts of the structure and not replace them.
For example, we can use fragmentary demolition when we want to get rid of a swimming pool, deck, chimney, or something else. Demolition expenses are typically eligible for a tax write-off. Check our article on Cost of removing a pool for more details.
See the cost breakdown for different types of partial demolition:
| Demolition type | Average cost |
| Detached garage | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| Inground swimming pool | $5,000 – $17,000 |
| Above ground swimming pool | $400 – $2,800 |
| Hot tub | $200 – $400 |
| Porch/deck | $700 – $2,500 |
| Patio | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| Complete chimney | $4,000 – $7,000 |
| Partial chimney | $600 – $2,800 |
| Shed | $500 – $2,000 |
| Barn | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| Roof | $6,000 – $12,000 |
| Driveway | $700 – $2,000 |
Hiring demolition contractors
Total cost of hiring a demolition contractor ranges from $4,000 to $15,000 depending on the type of project. The labor costs can be even higher for larger and more complex structures. Hiring demolition companies and demolition professionals has a lot of benefits as they assess, plan, prepare, execute, and clean up the demolition process.
Demolition contractors can provide precise estimates for your specific project’s needs and give their opinion and what type of demolishing is the best.
Before hiring a demolition contractor, be sure to:
- Select experienced demolition companies with a demolition contractor license and check their credentials
- Check customer reviews on Google
- Review safety records
Here are some examples of what you should ask your demolition contractors:
- Can you provide me with your references and credentials?
- What’s included in the estimate?
- Can you tell me how you handle safety measures and contaminated materials?
- Do you offer a warranty for your work, and if needed, how can I contact the project manager?
Additional costs after house demolition
After an entire house demolition, there can be several additional costs that you can consider and pay for, such as:
Rebuilding on-site cost
Unless you are not planning to sell your land, you’ll probably need to rebuild on your site. The average cost of building a completely new house goes from $124,000 to $450,000 or more.
If you are planning to demolish a structure that already exists, you can consult an architect. The average cost for hiring an architect is about $6,000 for new construction planning. An architect will help you determine if any of the current existing structures, wiring, plumbing, or any other elements should be preserved to incorporate into the new building project.
Cost to eliminate asbestos
If asbestos is present, the cost of removing and properly disposing of it is an average of $2,500. A good demolition contractor will assess your home for asbestos before any demolition process starts. If there is a lot of asbestos in your house, the cost of removal can be higher, so it’s always advisable to finish this assessment early in the process.
Full basement demolition cost
Basement demolition can cost between $6,000 and $26,000. Tearing out an entire basement includes breaking down concrete supported with rebar, and after, hauling away all the heavy debris.
Cost to demo a house FAQs
Is the cost of removing hazardous materials included in the demolishing process?
The cost of removing toxic waste is, unfortunately, often not included in the base price of the demolishing process. Hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead-based paint, or other chemicals require special disposal methods and their removal is typically considered as a separate task with its price.
Is there any difference in demolition costs between urban and rural areas?
Yes, there is typically a difference in demolition costs when it comes to urban and rural areas. Urban areas tend to have higher demolition costs because of higher labor costs, and increased permitting requirements, etc., and rural areas, have lower demolition costs, as they have more accessible sites and significantly lower labor expenses.
How much is commercial demolition cost per square foot?
The cost of commercial demolition typically ranges from $5 to $10 per square foot. The cost is influenced by different factors such as labor, permits, equipment, permits, and debris removal. Larger and more complex commercial structures have a higher cost per square foot.
How much is residential demolition cost per square foot?
The cost of residential demolition per square foot usually ranges from $3 to $7. Just like commercial demolition, residential demolition is influenced by a lot of similar factors. Labor, permits, geographic location, the size, and the complexity of the residential area, play a significant role in determining the price per square foot.
How much does it cost to tear down a house?
The average cost to tear down a house is $19,000.
Demolition costs can be reduced if budgeting wisely
We can conclude that house demolition cost or any type of structure and project, varies because it’s influenced by numerous cost factors. Accurate pricing demands cautious evaluation of variables that affect total cost, such as size and type of the project, location, square footage, environmental considerations, etc.
Attentive planning and adherence to safety and environmental standards are the most important for a prosperous and cost-effective demolition project.
If you found the information in this article helpful, you may want to check our article on how much it costs to build a house with fresh data that will help you plan your budget wisely.
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