New Home Construction Cost Calculator
Estimate a new home construction budget from square footage and cost per square foot.
Last updated: November 5, 2026
Starting figures illustrate this model. Enter your own measurements, quoted costs and applicable terms; this page does not retrieve live prices or provider rates.
Estimated project cost
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- Low-range estimate: —
- High-range estimate: —
- Typical variable cost: —
- Total excluding base fixed charges: —
On this page
Quick summary: Estimate a new home construction budget from square footage and cost per square foot.
Read the method, example and limitations
Updated reference sections in this guide are in English.
Guide language: English. Updated October 15, 2026.
What this calculator estimates
Estimate a new home construction budget from square footage and cost per square foot.
Inputs and units
Enter Planned finished square feet, Low cost per square foot ($), Typical cost per square foot ($), High cost per square foot ($), Site work, design and permits ($), Contingency (%). Use the units shown. Required fields cannot be blank. Use zero only where that field and the model allow it. Select Calculate after changing the values.
Method and assumptions
For New Home Construction Cost Calculator, use 'Planned finished square feet' as quantity q and 'Site work, design and permits ($)' as the fixed charge F. For each low, typical or high unit cost U, total = (q x U + F) x (1 + contingency/100). Low must not exceed typical, and typical must not exceed high. The final breakdown labelled total excluding fixed charges includes any contingency attached to those charges.
Worked example
These are hypothetical example inputs, not a statement of local market prices.
| Planned finished square feet | 2200 |
|---|---|
| Low cost per square foot ($) | 150 |
| Typical cost per square foot ($) | 225 |
| High cost per square foot ($) | 350 |
| Site work, design and permits ($) | 35000 |
| Contingency (%) | 10 |
| Low scenario | $401,500.00 |
|---|---|
| Typical scenario | $583,000.00 |
| High scenario | $885,500.00 |
| Typical variable cost | $495,000.00 |
| Total excluding base fixed charges | $548,000.00 |
Limitations
Prefilled prices for new home construction cost are illustrative budgeting assumptions. Replace them with local written quotes and avoid including 'Site work, design and permits ($)' both in a unit quote and again as a fixed charge. A linear unit-cost model does not capture every scope, access, size, materials or regulatory requirement.
Match the quantity to the quoted scope
Use the floor area included in the builder’s square-foot scope. Land purchase, finance charges, utility extensions and site conditions can be outside the base construction rate.
For each low, typical or high unit rate, the calculation is (quantity × rate + fixed work) × (1 + contingency/100). The typical result uses the entered typical rate; it is not the midpoint unless you enter a midpoint rate. These three rates are your scenarios, not a market-price database. All three receive the same fixed work and percentage allowance.