How Much Does a Wine Cellar Cost to Build in 2025?

This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

With your own in-home wine cellar, you'll always have the perfect bottle on hand for any occasion. Building a wine cellar costs an average of $40,000, with prices ranging from  $5,000 to $100,000. Costs vary significantly based on size, refrigeration type, location, materials, and other factors. Professional construction protects your vintage collection in a controlled environment for years of enjoyment.

Wine Cellar Cost Factors

Size is one of the biggest factors affecting wine cellar costs. Most cellars range from 25 to 150 square feet, averaging $300 to $600 per square foot. Knowing the various cost factors upfront helps you stay within your budget.

Room Size

When planning your wine cellar, carefully consider room size. The number of bottles you plan to store and desired features will influence your requirements. Since building costs range from $300 to $600 per square foot, size significantly impacts your total expenditure.

If you're building a compact wall-mounted wine rack, you'll only need a few square feet of space, spending $500 to $1,000. But if you need to store 3,000 bottles of wine in a walk-in wine cellar where the temperature and humidity remains perfect at all times, you'll pay $40,000 to $100,000.

Storage Capacity

Your planning process needs to include the number of bottles you plan to store. Plan to provide 1⁄2 square foot of space per 10 bottles.

Refrigeration and Cooling

The ideal storage temperature for wine depends on variety. Red wines don’t need cooling and should be kept between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Tart white and rosé wines need a cooled storage temperature between 45 and 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

For smaller projects, a simple wall cooler can be sufficient. These units are easy to install but offer limited space and occupy valuable cellar area. Larger walk-in options use split or ducted cooling systems and require professional installation.

Racks

Since red wines are not stored cool, they should be stored on racks. These racks are mostly made of wood, although metal and glass have also become popular in modern homes.

Wine bottles and dimensions vary based on vintage and winery. Most wine bottles measure between 3 and 3.2 inches in diameter and are 12 inches tall. A standard rack cubicle, which fits 16 bottles, measures 20 inches wide and high with a depth of 11 inches.

You can buy standardized racks or build cabinets for your space. Depending on your choice and the material you use, custom cabinets cost between $2 and $20 per bottle space.

Temperature and Humidity Control

A wine cellar (outside of its cooling unit) should hold a steady temperature between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, with relative humidity between 60 and 70 percent. Consistency is key to keeping your vintages in good shape. Consider these steps to achieve that consistency:

• Installing a humidifier costs $1,000–$2,000.

• The cost to install a thermostat is $110–$270.

• Air-tight insulation costs $2,000–$3,500.

Doors

The cost of interior doors varies based on materials, location, and dimensions, ranging between $500 and $3,500 for a single, airtight door.

If you build a walk-in wine cave, the door needs to be air-tight and insulated. It should include an auto-close mechanism that keeps your bottles secure in their temperature-controlled environment.

Many modern wine cellars feature doors with glass elements. Since glass is more challenging to insulate, opt for exterior-grade options to ensure proper insulation.

Floors and Walls

Flooring costs change based on the material, from $1,500 for vinyl to $5,000 for tile at the same square footage. Softer materials like wood tend to be more forgiving if you drop a bottle, while hard surfaces (such as tile) are easier to clean.

Similarly, wall renovations depend on your space. Avoid concrete walls, which offers low insulation value unless they're coated. Wood, wood paneling, and glass work well. You can also keep it simple with insulated drywall. Finishing walls costs between $200 and $4,000.

Note that you'll need to fully insulate the space to efficiently maintain humidity and temperature levels to properly preserve your wine. Floors should have suitable underlay. Expect to pay $1 to $7 per square foot for wall insulation.

If you choose a glass wine cellar, you'll pay 20 percent more than other materials because you have to install extra-thick glass panels for insulation and glass that blocks out UV and natural light. Condensation can also be an issue, so you'll need a high-quality humidity management system.

Lighting

Most lighting projects cost between $160 and $1,020, including fixtures and installation. If you plan to use the room for more than storage, strategic lighting can highlight your most valued bottles or provide backlighting behind racks. Chandeliers create a classic ambiance.

UV light can be poison for your high-quality vintages, so avoid direct natural light at all costs. Meanwhile, halogen lights could result in heat damage. Use LED or fluorescent alternatives to protect your wine bottles from potential damage or spoilage.

Framing and Insulation

Insulation is critical for preserving your wine without dramatically increasing your energy costs. For proper insulation, the area must be correctly framed. If you're converting an already framed space, like a walk-in closet, no additional framing is necessary. You’ll only need to add insulation. However, if you're converting an unfinished basement, you'll need to hire a local general contractor to frame the space before adding insulation.

The pro will likely install a vapor barrier over the studs to prevent mold and moisture damage and to help control humidity. You'll need to insulate the walls, ceiling, and the floor. For the ultimate energy efficiency, insulate the door, too. Insulating a basement costs $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot, but when installing a wine cellar, insulation costs rise to $2 to $4 per square foot.

Wine Cellar Costs by Location

For this project, location is the most important consideration. The space you choose for your wine cellar should not receive direct sunlight and maintain a relatively steady temperature.

Underground or Underfloor

Underfloor wine cellars are built into the floor but can be pulled up for display and use. Larger versions feature a walk-down spiral staircase. For underground or underfloor wine cellars, a small pull-up cabinet costs $1,000, while larger walk-down spiral wine cellars start at $30,000 and can cost up to $200,000.

Basement

Basements are the most common locations for complete wine caves. If you want to renovate your basement for this purpose, you need to remodel first. If you’re renovating your basement for a wine cellar, a fully finished wine cave or basement wine cellar starts at $75,000 and increases further depending on size and customization.

Under Stairs

If you’re converting the space under your staircase into a wine cellar, the total project cost will be $500 to $2,500.

Walk-In Closet

If your home features multiple large closets, you might want to convert one of them into a cellar. The wine storage space will be relatively limited, but your remodeling costs will be lower because you don't have to worry about windows or direct sunlight. However, airtight insulation is necessary to prevent changing temperatures from impacting your wine.

Crawl Space

If you convert your crawl space into a wine cave, inconsistent humidity can become a problem. You need to ensure that you have airtight insulation and humidity control before proceeding with the renovation, including a vapor barrier. When converting a crawl space into a wine cellar, the total cost—including insulation and required modifications—ranges from $500 to $2,500.

Wall Wine Rack

Wall wine racks cost $500 to $3,000. While it’s not an entire wine cellar, wall wine racks are a great choice for homes with limited space or for those where the wine is kept primarily for entertaining rather than collecting. You can get prefabricated models and flat-pack kits for around $500, or you can have a custom unit built and installed for about $3,000.

Wine Cellar Costs by Design

The right renovation is not just functional but also beautiful. In fact, well-designed wine cellars can add visual appeal and interest to your home.

Spiral

This type of design is most common for underfloor and crawl space wine caves or cellars. Small spiral cabinets pull up, costing $1,000, while larger walk-down spiral wine cellars start at $30,000 and can cost up to $200,000.

When considering a spiral wine cellar, focus on the opening. It must support the appropriate weight and complement your home's design and flooring.

Tasting Room

If space allows, you can add a tasting room to your wine cellar. This room doesn't need to be insulated or temperature controlled. The finishes you choose and the room's current condition affect remodeling costs, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.

Walk-Through Cellar

If you don't have room in your basement to build a wine cellar, consider constructing a walk-through alternative in a hallway of your main floor. When choosing this option, ensure that the walk-through wine cellar has insulated, airtight doors on both ends of the hallway.

Custom Wine Cabinet

For smaller collections, consider adding a single custom cabinet located in your kitchen, study, or living room. The number of bottles you want to store will affect the cost of the cabinet.

Small versions holding less than 10 bottles cost as little as $500, while larger alternatives with capacity for up to 200 bottles cost upwards of $4,000. Keep in mind that it’ll be difficult to control the temperature when storing bottles in uninsulated spaces.

DIY Wine Cellar Installation vs. Hiring a Pro

For projects beyond a simple wall wine rack, it's essential to hire a professional to build your wine cellar or cave. Precise installation is crucial for preserving your wine, leaving little room for error. Mistakes during installation could jeopardize your entire collection.

Depending on where you put your wine room, you may need building permits, particularly if you're adding or reconfiguring electrical lines, refrigeration, or a humidity management system.

Because the work requires several different professionals, hire a local construction manager to oversee the project and bring in the right pros to the job at the right time.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.