What Will It Cost to Build?
A free cost-to-build calculator for new homes and additions — priced to your ZIP code, with the typical breakdown of where the money goes.
How this estimate works
The calculator applies current turnkey construction costs per heated square foot — set by finish level — and adjusts them with the same regional cost index Build 360 uses to price real plan sets, mapped to your ZIP code. High-cost metros run well above the national average; much of the Southeast runs below it. The result is an order-of-magnitude range for planning and go / no-go decisions.
It is deliberately a ballpark. Two houses with identical square footage can differ by six figures based on roof complexity, foundation type, kitchens and baths, and window count — things only your actual plans show. That is the difference between this page and the product: Build 360 reads your plan set and prices every line by cost code.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a house in 2026?
Most new single-family homes in the US run roughly $150–$310 per heated square foot for construction, depending on finish level and region — a 2,400 SF standard-finish home lands around $400,000–$500,000 in an average-cost market. Land, site acquisition, and design fees are additional. Use the calculator above to price your square footage, ZIP code, and finish level.
What does this calculator include?
The estimate covers turnkey construction: site work and foundation, framing, roofing and exterior, plumbing, electrical and HVAC, interior finishes, permits and supervision, and final landscaping. It excludes land, site acquisition, design and engineering fees, and financing costs.
How accurate is a cost-per-square-foot estimate?
A $/SF number is an order-of-magnitude ballpark — real costs swing with your actual plans: roof complexity, foundation type, window count, kitchen and bath count, and local site conditions. For a number you can act on, Build 360 reads your actual plan set and prices every line by cost code to your ZIP.
Why do additions cost more per square foot?
Additions carry small-job overhead: mobilization, selective demolition, structural tie-in to the existing house, and matching existing finishes. Expect roughly 20–30% more per square foot than the same area in new construction.
How do I get a real itemized budget instead of a ballpark?
Upload your plan set to Build 360. The AI reads every sheet, asks about what it can't see, and returns an itemized budget by NAHB or CSI cost code — with a measured takeoff, build schedule, and Excel/PDF export. One flat price — $19 per plan, any size — and the first one is free with a promo code.
Cost guides by project & state
Have plans? Get the real number.
Upload your plan set — Build 360 returns a full itemized budget by cost code, a measured takeoff, and a build schedule, priced to your ZIP. Just $19 per plan, any size.
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