How Much Does It Cost to Demolish a House?

Deciding to demolish your house is no small task to undertake — especially when considering that the average cost to demolish a house is $15,800, ranging anywhere from $6,000 to $25,500 on average for a 2,000-square-foot property. 

Before you start ripping down walls, you'll also need to understand your homeowners insurance coverage and how much protection it includes for demolition.

An independent insurance agent can help review your existing home insurance with you or set you up with a new policy if you're in need. But if you've been wondering, "How much does it cost to demolish a house?" start by reading our guide. Here's a deep dive into the cost of house demolition.

What Does It Mean to Demo a House?

Simply put, demoing means tearing down little bits or all of a home in order to rebuild. This could mean just knocking down a wall or two to expand your master bathroom or leveling the entire house to the slab to build something more modern. 

In either case, there are two common ways to demolish a house:

• Mechanical demolition: This refers to demolishing a house using heavy equipment.
• Deconstruction: This refers to demolishing a house using your bare hands as well as the required tools like saws and hammers.

It's up to you to determine which method works best for you. Doing a combination of the two processes is common for many homeowners, which involves removing as much as possible by hand and then bringing in big machines to finish the job.

How Much Does It Cost to Demolish a House?

So, how much does it cost to demolish a house, exactly? The answer depends on a number of factors, including whether you're demolishing just part of the house, the main structure of the house, or the structure and basement of the house. Tearing down more parts of the house typically leads to more expensive demolition costs than just removing part of the home.

The size of the home overall also greatly influences the cost of demolition. Home demolition costs range from $4 to $17 per square foot. So, when asking, "How much does it cost to tear down a house?" you'll first need to consider the property's size. 

Here are some typical price ranges for home demolition by square footage.

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Cost to Demo Partial House Items

How much it costs to demolish a house largely depends on everything that needs to be demolished. Some elements of a home will increase the cost if they're included in your demo. Likewise, if you're only demolishing partial items from a house, costs will be much lower than a full demo. 

So, the question, "How much does it cost to tear down a house?" has a much different answer depending on what needs to be torn out. Here are some average demolition costs for specific areas of the home:

Average Cost to Demolish and Rebuild a House Per Square Foot

To get the most accurate estimate on demolishing a house, it’s best to measure the property. Once you know the property size and the square footage of the home you’re dealing with, you can use the table below to get an idea of the cost per square foot. 

Factors That Affect the Cost to Tear Down a House

A number of factors affect the final cost to tear down a house. According to HomeGuide, the national average cost to demolish a house is $14,000. However, a little light demo work can be as low as $3,000, and a full “knockdown” can set you back as much as $35,000.

If you've been wondering, "How much is it to demolish a house?" you'll need to weigh a few factors first. To get a full understanding of the cost and commitment involved in demolishing a house, consider these factors:

• Preparation: You’ll most likely need to hire an electrician or plumbing specialist to make sure that the plumbing, HVAC units, and electrical wiring are completely shut off and ready for demolition.
• Demolition type: If you’ll be doing a mechanical demo, you’ll need to factor in the cost of equipment rental or hiring a contractor. If you’re doing the work yourself, you may need to factor in additional costs, like upgrading your own equipment or purchasing first aid supplies for possible injuries.
• Rebuilding on the same property: Is it best to keep some of the current structure, plumbing, or wiring? Are there building regulations you need to know regarding the property? You’ll benefit from working with a local architect to determine the best route for demolition and rebuilding on site.
• Permits: You can’t do a whole lot to your property without a permit. Home demolition is no different. You’ll want to research the necessary permits for your area and factor that into your estimated costs.
• Debris removal: If you tear down an entire house or even just a little bit, you will have debris that needs to be disposed of. And when you need to dispose of debris, it costs extra money. However, different types of debris come with different costs of removal. Removing concrete and bricks will cost more than wood. You’ll also pay extra to remove hazardous materials such as asbestos and lead paint.
• Working with a professional: Most demolition first-timers need to call in a professional for help and guidance, which adds another expense.
• Location of the home: The average cost of demolition labor varies by location. If you live on the coast or in a more affluent or heavily trafficked neighborhood, you'll likely pay more for professional labor and debris removal than you would in a small inland country town.
• Labor: Professional labor costs increase the overall amount you'll pay for home demolition. However, having professionals handle the work can outweigh the literal costs for many homeowners, knowing the job will get done correctly.
• Machinery costs: Whether you're buying or renting machinery, you'll need to factor in these expenses, too. Many types of home demolition require heavier machinery than most homeowners regularly store in their garages.

House Demolition: DIY vs. With a Contractor

Sometimes, the overall house demolition cost for some homeowners makes more financial sense to fully demolish the house rather than repair or remodel it. However, there are some instances in which the cost to demo a house entirely doesn't make sense compared to just remodeling an area or two, such as a kitchen and/or a bathroom. Consider what your goals are for updating or upgrading your home.

If you need to make structural changes to your home, a full demolition project might make the most sense to you. However, if you're only unsatisfied with certain cosmetic aspects of your house, you may choose a lighter remodel. Take all the following factors into account when deciding if you might want to perform a whole-house demolition:

• Cost efficiency (expensive repairs): If you have an older home or just one that requires frequent, expensive repairs, these costs can really add up over the years. Demolishing your house and starting over with a new, updated property could actually help you save a lot of money in this case.
• Safety: An unsafe home can lead to injuries and potential lawsuits. If your home is unsafe for reasons having to do with its structure, construction, or attributes, not due to your personal property, it might be wise to demolish it.
• Building a custom house: If you've been dreaming of an open-concept kitchen and living area with secret doors or other attributes that require a custom home to be built, it might make more financial sense to demolish your current home. However, in some cases, renovating your existing property to achieve a more custom-built aesthetic might actually be cheaper.
• Infestation: Homes that suffer from infestations of bed bugs, termites, and other pests may be officially required to be torn down. Even if they're not, demolishing the property entirely can sometimes help eliminate the problem faster and allow you to start over fresh and cut down on the costs of ongoing treatments and repairs.

Demolishing a house with a contractor

The cost to demo a house might be more expensive if you hire a contractor. House demolition costs might be cheaper if you do some or all of the work yourself, but there can be many risks involved if you take on the project solo. 

For starters, there can be extensive permit requirements enforced by your city, which can delay your demo project, but a licensed contractor can help make this process much easier for you. Further, there's always a risk of getting injured if you take on a major home demolition project yourself. Hiring professionals can eliminate virtually all of your risk of injury. 

Keep in mind, too, that it's not just tools, equipment, and materials that can cause injuries, because lurking asbestos, mold, and other possible hidden issues in the home can lead to health risks. Professional contractors can easily find these issues and handle them accordingly to help keep you safe.

There can be some drawbacks to hiring professional contractors, though. For example, unfortunately, there are some scams out there involving fake or shady contractors who don't complete the projects they say they will. If you don't properly verify the contractor before hiring them, you could end up losing tens of thousands of dollars or even more on a project that doesn't get completed or is completed improperly. 

When hiring pros, always take the time to ensure they have proof of the proper contractors insurance as well as credible references. Don't try to rush and hire someone quickly because you're eager to get the project underway. Verifying a contractor is really licensed, insured, and legit from the start is critical for your financial and physical well-being, as well as the fate of your home demolition project.

Demolishing a house DIY

The overall cost to demo a house if you're completing the project yourself can sometimes be considerably cheaper than if you hire professionals. You can also save yourself the time it would take to compare contractors and ensure they're properly licensed, insured, etc., as well as a potential nightmare if they turned out to be a scam. 

However, there can be some drawbacks to doing the work yourself. Though the house demolition cost may be lower initially, it can end up being higher if you make mistakes that require calling in professional help later to correct. 

Also, if you're not careful, you could end up injuring yourself or someone else and then have to factor medical bills into the overall project cost. It's also possible to encounter mold or pests in the home when doing a DIY project, which would then need to be taken care of before the project could continue.

If you'll be doing a home demo on your own, remember that you're also responsible for the cleanup. Rent a dumpster to keep on your property before you ever start tearing down walls. Also, make sure to get all the equipment and tools necessary for the job before you start.

Finally, get all the protective gear required to keep yourself safe during the full demo project. You'll need safety goggles, work boots with steel toes, a ventilation mask, a hard hat, work gloves, and ear protection when using power tools and machinery.

Also, make sure to review your homeowners insurance policy together with your independent insurance agent. They'll be able to tell you how much coverage you have for the project, and whether you need any supplemental coverage like a builders risk insurance policy.

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How to Lower the Cost of Home Demolition

Fortunately, when it comes to real estate, there’s usually some way to lower the cost of what you want to do. And when it comes to demoing a house, these tips can help save you a fair amount of cash:

• Do as much as you can on your own: The fewer professionals you have to hire, the less you’ll pay.
• Call in backup: You may be able to entice friends and family to help you with your home demo project by offering free meals or other favors.
• Donate your house: You can sometimes donate your house to the local fire department. They can come burn your house down for you, and you’ll get a tax write-off. 
• Reuse materials: Chances are, you can reuse a variety of materials in a house demo. The chart below does a great job of breaking down the valuable materials you may want to hold on to and upcycle into your new plan.

Before You Demo: Don’t Forget the Insurance

When pursuing a project of this magnitude, you might need additional coverage beyond what's offered by your home insurance or even a builders risk policy. Some home insurance policies might include some demolition coverage, but it's likely limited more strictly than your other personal property or structural coverage. 

Another type of coverage, known as demolition insurance, can help protect homeowners who have to demolish a property that was damaged by a covered peril, like a storm or fire. If the reason you decided to demo your home isn't due to it being damaged, you may not need this type of coverage.

Demolition insurance is designed to protect the owner of the home or property. It covers expenses associated with demolishing a house, including tearing down the undamaged portions of the structure as well as the damaged portions. Contractors also carry demolition insurance to cover property damage and bodily injury that might occur during a home demolition project.

Consult Your Independent Insurance Agent to Answer Questions 

When you're considering a project as large as home demolition, you need to confirm you have enough coverage in place before ever picking up a hammer. A local independent insurance agent can help ensure you're equipped with all the coverage necessary to get the job done right. 

Not only can these agents shop and compare policies from multiple insurance companies for you, but they can also find you the best rate and highest-quality protection available. They'll also be there for you throughout the life of your policy to file claims or modify your coverage as necessary.