Home/Cost Estimator
What will it cost to build?
Enter the basics of the home you have in mind and get an example construction cost range for the greater Houston area, priced on live labor and material data, not a flat per-square-foot guess.
Get an instant range.
Enter a square footage to see an example range.
Want the real number? Send your plans.
The instant range above is a ballpark. Upload your architectural plans and a builder reviews them and sends back a written, line-item estimate for your actual home: materials, labor and scope, priced for your lot. Free, and no obligation.
Prefer to talk first? Call or text (832) 479-1850, Mon-Fri 9 AM - 5 PM.
Priced on live data, not a flat rate.
Most online calculators multiply your square footage by one made-up number. This one starts from the published Southeast Texas contract range for your finish level, then moves it with real, current data.
Live material prices
Lumber, concrete, gypsum, steel, copper, plumbing and plastics, tracked from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics producer price indexes and refreshed as they move.
Real construction wages
Labor is escalated with BLS residential building earnings, then localized to your ZIP using county-level construction wage data, so River Oaks prices above Splendora.
Your scope
Finish level, size, stories, style, garage and pool each move the number, the same way they move a real budget.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics PPI, OEWS and QCEW. The tool shows whether the indexes were fetched live or read from its built-in snapshot.
An example, not a quote.
This number is a starting point to help you plan. It prices the house itself for the Houston area. It does not include your land, site work, utilities, plans, permits or loan interest, and it cannot see the details of your specific lot and plans, which is where the real number is decided.
- Good for: a realistic ballpark before you talk to a builder
- Good for: comparing sizes, finish levels and neighborhoods
- Not for: a firm bid, a loan application, or a contract number
Common questions
How does this cost estimator work?
You enter the basics of the home you have in mind: size, ZIP code, number of stories, finish level, style, garage and pool. It prices a custom build for the greater Houston area using published Southeast Texas contract rates by finish level, then adjusts them with live U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Material prices come from BLS producer price indexes for lumber, concrete, steel, copper and other building materials; labor comes from BLS construction wages, localized to your ZIP using county wage data. The result is an example range, updated as those indexes move, not a fixed per-square-foot guess.
Is the estimate a quote?
No. It is an automated example for the house itself, meant to give you a realistic ballpark before you talk to a builder. Your real number depends on your actual plans, your specific lot, and the selections you make. We give you a written line-item budget before you sign anything. For a real number, send us your plans and your lot.
What is not included in the number?
The estimate covers construction of the house. It does not include the land, site work (clearing, fill, grading, driveway), utilities (water and sewer taps, or well and septic), architectural and engineering plans, permits and impact fees, construction-loan interest, or landscaping, fencing and detached structures. Our cost guide lists everything that sits on top of the per-square-foot number.
How much does it cost to build a house in the Houston area?
Custom home construction in the Houston area generally runs from about $150 to $300 or more per square foot. Where you land depends on the level of customization, materials and finishes, site work, utilities and permitting. Our cost guide breaks it down.
How long does it take to build a custom home?
Most custom homes take 6 to 12 months once permits are approved and construction begins. Design, selections, financing and permitting happen before that clock starts, so plan on a few extra months up front.