How Much Does It Cost to Raise a House in 2024?
Highlights
Homeowners typically pay between $3,543 and $11,828 to raise a house.
Home size, labor, and reasons for elevation are key cost factors for raising a house.
Houses may be raised for reasons such as moving the home, replacing the foundation, or building a second story or basement.
Costs increase if the house foundation requires modification or repair.
Raising your home can lower insurance premiums if you live in a flood zone.
Homeowners usually pay between $3,543 and $11,828 to raise a home, with most spending an average of $7,625. The size and structure of your home and new elevation significantly impact your total costs. While raising a home comes with significant upfront costs, it can expand your space by building a second story or basement or allow you to make essential structural repairs to your foundation.
For homeowners living in flood-prone areas, raising the home helps protect it from water damage, increases home value, and saves a significant amount of money on insurance premiums.
Raising a House Cost Factors
Raising a house typically costs $10 to $35 per square foot, with house size, structure, and age affecting the total cost. The new elevation also determines costs since raising a home higher requires more time, labor, and materials.
House Size
The size of your home is a major factor in the total cost of house-raising. The following table provides an overview of the average cost to raise a house based on the square footage of the home.
| Home Size in Square Feet | Average Total Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $10,000–$35,000 |
| 1,500 | $15,000–$52,500 |
| 2,000 | $20,000–$70,000 |
| 2,500 | $25,000–$87,500 |
Structure and Age
Some types of homes are easier to raise than others. For example, single-story and prefabricated homes are generally considered the simplest to elevate or move. Multi-story homes require additional stabilization, increasing the time and cost.
The price to raise a home also typically increases for older homes. Historic homes may require specialized expertise and techniques, which increase the planning and total cost of the project.
Elevation
The higher your home needs to be raised, the more it costs to complete your project. Raising a house higher than eight feet generally increases costs by 20% to 40%.
| Elevation in Feet | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5 | $12,000–$30,000 |
| 5 to 10 | $17,000–$40,000 |
| 10 to 15 | $30,000–$50,000 |
Labor
Numerous labor costs are involved with raising a home, from hiring plumbers and electricians to disconnect utilities to the physical process of raising the house. Hiring a plumber typically costs $45 to $200 per hour, while an electrician costs $50 to $100 per hour.
Excavation costs $40 to $200 per hour, while general labor for raising the house costs $15 to $20 per hour. You’ll also need to hire a heavy equipment operator, which usually costs $25 per hour.
When tackling a project of this size, it’s generally recommended to hire a general contractor who can oversee the process and manage the hiring of other professionals. Expect to spend between $5,000 and $10,000 in labor for basic house-raising or around $30,000 for larger homes.
Additional Cost Factors for Raising a House
In addition to the costs of physically raising a house, other factors to consider include landscaping costs, permits, and insurance.
Landscaping and Cleanup
Depending on the layout and vegetation in your yard, you may need landscaping before or after lifting your home. Large trees can obstruct access, and removing them typically costs $300 to $800 per tree. Installing new landscaping averages $5 to $15 per square foot to restore your yard once home lifting is complete.
Permits
When you make major structural changes, like raising a home, you may be required to obtain a permit before the project can begin. Most building permits cost between $500 and $2,000, though the specific price depends on local regulations.
Insurance
Two types of insurance are important to consider when raising a house—homeowner insurance and contractor insurance. Talk to your insurance provider about homeowner coverage for raising a house. This is also a good time to discuss how raising your home can help you save on future insurance. For example, raising your home can lower your premiums if you live in a flood zone.
Most contractors come prepared with their own contractor insurance for large-scale projects. It’s a good idea to confirm their insurance and request a copy for your records.
Cost to Raise a House by Need
The reason you need to raise your home significantly impacts your total project costs. Projects requiring minimal alterations to the foundation, such as building a second story or moving your home, have a lower cost. Projects that involve altering the structure to repair or replace a foundation or build a basement come with a higher price tag.
| Reason for Raising | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Build a second story | $7,000–$35,000 |
| Move home | $18,000–$40,000 |
| Raise above a flood zone | $20,000–$80,000 |
| Foundation replacement | $20,000–$100,000 |
| Build a basement | $25,000–$150,000 |
Build a Second Story
If you plan to add another story to your home, you’ll need to raise the structure and reinforce the foundation before construction begins. Reinforcing a foundation typically costs $7,000 to $35,000. Before embarking on reinforcing the foundation, it’s recommended to hire a structural engineer to inspect the foundation and confirm that it can hold additional weight.
Move Home
In addition to raising your home, moving requires transport permits, transport costs, and a new foundation. Transport permits typically cost $400 to $5,000, transporting the home itself ranges from $18,000 to $40,000 or more depending on home size and distance, and a new foundation at the final location typically costs $5,000 to $20,000.
Raise Above a Flood Zone
If you’re located in a flood zone, raising your home can reduce your insurance premiums and minimize the risk of water damage. Raise your home at least one foot above the Base Flood Elevation, which varies depending on your area.
Raising a house above a flood zone typically costs $20,000 to $80,000, including the base cost to raise the house and piers, columns, or pilings. Prices for these vary, with pier and beam systems ranging from $8,000 to $20,000, columns costing $13,000 to $24,000, and pilings costing $12,000 to $40,000.
Foundation Replacement
Raising a home to replace the foundation ranges from $20,000 to $100,000, with home size being the primary cost factor. Most foundation installations cost $4,000 to $15,000, while foundation repairs cost $2,200 to $8,000.
If you need structural reinforcements, your contractor may recommend add-ons like steel beam replacements costing $100 to $400 per square foot or basement waterproofing at $6 to $15 per square foot.
Build a Basement
Raising a home to build a basement is one of the most costly house-raising projects. In addition to the base cost of raising a house, you have to account for basement construction and finishing. An unfinished basement typically ranges from $25,000 to $70,000, while a finished basement costs $40,000 to $150,000.
Raising a House Cost by Foundation Type
Although foundation type isn’t as significant as home size or elevation in terms of total costs, it can still impact the final project price.
Pilings
Pilings are one of the easiest and most affordable foundation types when it comes to raising a house. On average, installing pilings costs $10 to $40 per square foot, with most homeowners spending $12,000 to $40,000 on a house-raising project. Pilings are often used in coastal or other flood-prone regions and are especially important when raising homes higher than 10 feet above the ground.
Slab Foundation
Raising a home on a slab foundation costs $10,000 to $25,000. Homes built on a slab foundation are more costly to raise than homes built on pilings. However, prices vary depending on why you need to raise the home. For example, when adding a story, homes can typically be raised on the existing slab foundation, which saves time and money.
However, if the home must be raised separately from the foundation to conduct foundation repairs, the process is longer and more expensive. If you need to remove your home from the old foundation and build a new concrete slab foundation, expect to pay $5 to $20 per square foot.
Does Raising a House Increase Home Value?
Raising a house may increase the value of your home, depending upon the reasons for raising. If you live in a flood-prone area, raising your home can lower your insurance premiums by 30% to 60%, which offers major savings in the long run. Improved flood protection may also increase home value by up to 15% to 25%. Similarly, raising a home to conduct necessary repairs to a foundation improves structural longevity and increases home value if the home is in good condition.
If raising the house isn’t necessary for safety or structural integrity, upfront costs may not necessarily present a large return on investment. However, raising a home to add another story or a basement can add enjoyment to the living space, making it a worthwhile investment for many homeowners.
Budgeting for Raising a House
Raising a house requires professional expertise and heavy equipment, but there are several steps you can take to help keep the process budget-friendly:
Prepare your space in advance. Remove items from your crawl space and secure fragile items that may fall or break. You can also save labor time outdoors by removing any greenery that might obscure access to the work area.
Disconnect your utilities. Hiring a professional plumber and electrician is recommended, but if you’re confident in these skills, you may save on costs by disconnecting utilities yourself.
Plan ahead for accommodations. Raising a home typically means you won’t be able to live there for several weeks, and last-minute accommodations can be costly. Try to schedule your home-raising for a time when you can stay with someone or find other affordable accommodations.
Contact multiple foundation specialists in your area to compare quotes.
Look into funding options for raising your home. If you were impacted by water damage or need to raise your home above a flood zone, check government funding and local tax incentives for elevating your home above the flood area.
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. We surveyed thousands of real customers about their project 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
Raising a house usually only takes two to seven days. However, most house-raising projects take four to eight weeks, including preparation, lifting, moving or repairs, and follow-up landscaping.
Raising a house creates pressure on the structure, so there’s a minor risk of damage. However, the risk of damage increases if the home has preexisting structural damage or is built very low to the ground. The right contractor can minimize these risks, so in most cases, the house only experiences very minor or no damage.
The type of structural support your home requires depends on why you raised it. If you’re raising your home because the foundation needs to be repaired, consult a structural engineer to identify the causes of the damage. In many cases, shifting soil can damage a home’s foundation, so it’s important to add the appropriate support to prevent recurring problems.
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