How Much Does Fire and Smoke Remediation Cost in 2025?
Dealing with fire and smoke damage? Learn more about restoration costs, from smoke cleanup to structural repairs—plus what can affect your final bill.
Most homeowners spend between $3,107 and $51,243 on fire and smoke remediation, with an average cost of $27,175.
Your costs will depend on factors like the extent of fire damage, water damage from extinguishing efforts, chemical residue cleanup, soot removal, and smoke damage restoration.
If there's structural damage, major repairs can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000 per room.
Smoke damage restoration typically costs between $200 and $1,200 per room and includes services like furniture deodorizing and ozone smoke removal.
Hiring a professional is crucial for safe and effective restoration—DIY remediation is not recommended.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
Experiencing a fire in your home can be overwhelming, and getting things back to normal is likely your top priority. On average, homeowners spend around $27,175 on fire and smoke remediation, with most paying between $3,107 and $51,243. Depending on the extent of the damage, costs can range from as low as $800 to as high as $180,000. Key factors influencing the cost include the severity of the fire damage, water damage from extinguishing efforts, chemical residue cleanup, soot removal, and smoke damage restoration. Proper budgeting is essential, as unexpected expenses can arise during the restoration process. Hiring a professional ensures the job is done safely and effectively, helping you return to a safe and comfortable home.
Fire Damage Restoration Costs
The type and extent of fire damage your home has sustained will significantly impact your restoration costs. You might need several types of cleanup and repair services to restore your home's safety and livability.
Water or Fire Extinguisher Cleanup
If your home has water damage from sprinklers or fire extinguishers, repairing it typically costs between $1,300 and $5,700. This includes drying out walls, flooring, and foundations; removing excess water or extinguisher residue; and repairing damaged drywall. Dehumidification is also essential to prevent mold growth, similar to flood restoration.
Soot Removal and Cleanup
After a fire, soot can linger on your walls, carpets, furniture, and upholstery, causing stains, discoloration, and potential health hazards. Removing and cleaning up soot typically costs between $2,000 and $6,000. This service often includes air duct cleaning and deodorizing to ensure your home's air quality is restored. Dry soot cleanup usually falls on the lower end of the price range because it's easier to remove, while oily soot cleanup costs more due to its sticky nature and the extra time required. Keep in mind that soot removal doesn't include stain removal or repairs to damaged drywall, flooring, or furnishings—you may need additional services for those repairs.
Major Repairs
If your home has sustained significant structural damage from the fire, you may need to budget for major repairs, which can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000 per room. These repairs address serious issues beyond cosmetic fixes, ensuring your home is safe and structurally sound. You'll likely need to hire a local structural engineer to assess the damage and develop a restoration plan. Major repairs can include everything from replacing windows to repairing foundations. Here are some common major repairs you might need after fire damage, along with their average costs:
Cost to replace windows: $300–$2,100
Cost to repair walls: $1,000–$3,000
Cost to repair ceilings: $420–$1,340
Cost to repair flooring: $400–$20,000
Cost of foundation repairs: $2,200–$7,800
Cost of roof repairs: $400–$1,800
Cost of HVAC repair: $200–$600
Cost of rewiring(electrical repair): $900–$3,000
Cost of a kitchen remodel: $14,600–$41,300
Cost of a bathroom remodel: $7,000–$17,000
Smoke Damage Restoration Costs
Smoke damage restoration typically costs between $200 and $1,200 per room. Just like soot, smoke damage worsens the longer it's left untreated—the lingering odor can seep into clothing, furniture, carpets, and other belongings. To completely remove smoke odors and restore your home's air quality, professionals often use methods like furniture deodorizing, ozone smoke removal, and thorough evaluation of your HVAC system.
Furniture and Textile Deodorizing
Expect to pay between $200 and $1,000 for professional deodorizing of furniture or textiles. Only professional deodorizing can help remove smoke damage—including the smell—from furniture, carpets, clothing, and other home textiles.
Thermal fogging is an effective way to eradicate odors. This technique uses chemicals that can reliably remove odors for good. The size of your home will affect the cost, which is typically between $200 and $600.
Ozone Smoke Removal
An alternative to thermal fogging is ozone treatment, which allows you to remove and clean the smell even as your fabrics are still drying. Materials can cost around $500 or more, but depending on the extent of the damage, you may only have to pay around $200 to $400 for a full treatment.
Ozone removal requires either purchasing the right equipment or chemicals or hiring a cleaner who can go through the process for you. This involves breaking up the smoke molecules, which in turn eliminates the odors. Like thermal fogging, it consists of a machine best used by professionals.
Cigarette Smoke Remediation
Cigarette smoke remediation typically costs about $600 to $2,000 per property. The more rooms requiring odor removal, the more you'll pay. The most common method of cigarette smoke remediation is ozone treatment.
DIY Fire or Smoke Remediation vs. Hiring a Pro
After a fire, you might be tempted to handle the cleanup yourself to save money. However, fire and smoke damage can leave behind serious health hazards, including harmful smoke residues and structural weaknesses. Attempting DIY restoration can put you and your family at risk. Hiring a local fire restoration professional ensures that the cleanup is done safely and effectively. Pros have the expertise and equipment to handle hazardous materials, restore structural integrity, and eliminate smoke odors. By relying on their expertise, you can focus on getting your life back to normal. If you're ready to restore your home safely, consider reaching out to a local fire restoration professional today.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you don't have to reconstruct an identical replica of your home to have your insurance claim honored. Rebuilding on the same site is usually sufficient, and some policies even allow for depreciation recovery if you choose alternative designs. Be sure to contact your insurance provider immediately for specific coverage details and next steps.
The time it takes for smoke to clear depends on how much residual smoke is present and the size of your home. Professional ozone treatments can effectively eliminate odor molecules, making every room completely odor-free. With multiple treatment steps performed by experts, the entire process is usually completed within a week, leaving you with a safe and refreshed environment.
The first step in the restoration process is to contact a licensed restoration professional to assess all the damage and start remediation. Quick action is crucial to control moisture from extinguishing efforts, preventing mold growth and further structural issues. By acting promptly, you ensure every subsequent repair is carried out safely and efficiently, protecting your home and your health.
The time it takes to repair fire damage can range from one week for minor restorations to several months for extensive damage affecting multiple areas of your home. The duration of the repair depends on the severity and extent of the damage. By consulting with a professional restoration team, you'll get a precise timeline, ensuring that each necessary step is executed promptly and safely.
Ozone treatment is highly effective at removing smoke odors. It works by chemically breaking down odor molecules, completely eliminating them rather than just masking the smell. When professionals apply ozone treatment throughout your home, they ensure it's entirely odor-free and safe, leaving you with a fresh environment.
Get our Angi-powered app
