Water Damage Restoration Cost Calculator
Time costs more than anything on this page. The EPA and CDC’s cleanup guide says that if a home cannot be dried within 24 to 48 hours, you should assume mold is growing, and FEMA advises throwing out items that cannot be cleaned and dried in that window. Water damage restoration cost itself averages about $3,000 to $3,500, and most jobs fall between about $1,300 and $5,700.
The first 48 hours
Extraction and drying, the work often called water mitigation, are priced into the per-square-foot rates below rather than billed separately. Drying equipment is part of that: drying a 500 sq ft basement costs $2,000 to $7,000, and a basement dehumidifier starts at about $150.
If a restoration crew comes out at night or on a weekend, expect an extra fee of $50 to $200.
Water damage restoration cost by water category
Restorers sort water into three categories, and the dirtier the water, the higher the rate.
| Category | What it is | Cost per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1, clean water | water from a sanitary source, such as a burst supply line | $3.50 to $4.25 |
| 2, grey water | water with enough contamination to cause illness or discomfort | $4.05 to $6.50 |
| 3, black water | grossly contaminated water, including sewage | $7.00 to $7.50 |
Prices are the middle of published restoration rates, and the categories follow the industry’s standard definitions. Clean water does not always stay clean, and category 3 means water that has been in contact with sewage.
Cost of water damage repair by room
| Where | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Ceiling | $325 to $1,250 |
| Bathroom | $500 to $4,500 |
| Kitchen | $1,750 to $8,000 |
| Basement | $2,000 to $7,000 |
The flooded basement cleanup cost scales with size and water type: about $1,750 to $3,620 for a 500 sq ft basement and $3,500 to $7,250 for 1,000 sq ft, and by category from $1,000 to $5,000 for clean water up to $10,000 to $15,000 for sewage.
Rebuilding what got wet
Drywall that has to be cut out costs $1.50 to $3 per square foot to replace. The calculator starts with drywall replacement switched on; switch it off if your walls dried in time. New carpet runs $4.75 to $10.50 per sq ft and hardwood $10 to $15. If mold has already started, treatment costs $4.75 to $5.50 per sq ft, or $1,500 to $4,000 for a full remediation.
Insurance: sudden leaks vs. floods
Home insurance generally pays when the water came from inside the house all at once and by accident, like a split supply line. When the damage built up through neglect, such as a slow leak left for months, expect the claim to be turned down.
Floods are excluded. FEMA says most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, and Ready.gov puts it flatly: homeowner’s policies do not cover flooding. Flood insurance is a separate policy, and FEMA notes a typical 30-day waiting period before an NFIP policy takes effect, so it has to be in place before the water rises.
Water damage restoration cost per square foot by category
| Type of water | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1: clean water (supply line, rain) | $3.50 | $4.25 |
| Category 2: grey water (appliance, sump) | $4.05 | $6.50 |
| Category 3: black water (sewage, floodwater) | $7.00 | $7.50 |