How Much Does It Cost to Demolish a House in 2025?
Demolishing a house costs an average of $15,800
The cost to demolish a house is $15,800 on average, with most projects ranging between $6,000 and $25,000.
The cost to demolish a house is based on the home’s size, your location, and the complexity of the job.
Budget extra if crews need to remove asbestos, lead paint, or other hazardous materials.
Hiring a professional to demolish your house ensures a code-compliant, safe, and effective job.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
House demolition costs an average of $6,000 and $25,000, with most homeowners paying an average of $15,800 for a 2,000-square-foot house. Square footage is the biggest cost factor, averaging $4 to $17 per foot. Location, permits, inspections, and cleanup also influence the final price. A licensed professional handles the paperwork, keeps the site safe, and completes the teardown efficiently.
House Demolition Cost Factors
Your demolition price hinges on the home’s size, layout, location, and a handful of other factors.
House Size
Square footage is the single biggest cost driver. Most contractors charge $4 to $17 per square foot for teardown work. Demolishing just the home and leaving the foundation intact represents the lower end of the cost range.
Homes with multiple levels present accessibility issues and other challenges for contractors, often costing more than single-level homes with comparable square footage. Below are the average cost ranges for various home sizes.
| House Size (Sq. Ft.) | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 1,200 | $4,800–$20,400 |
| 1,500 | $6,000–$25,500 |
| 2,000 | $8,000–$34,000 |
| 2,500 | $10,000–$32,500 |
| 3,000 | $12,000–$51,000 |
Location
Where you live matters. Dense urban areas mean higher labor rates and tighter regulations than rural spots. Logistical challenges, such as heavy traffic, narrow streets, and limited parking, can complicate the management of demolition vehicles and machinery.
Stringent city regulations and building codes may require homeowners to follow strict rules around dust, construction noise, waste disposal, traffic management, and other factors, potentially delaying demolition progress or increasing overall costs.
Permits and Inspections
You’ll need the right permits and, in many cases, inspections or land surveys before the first wall comes down. Ranging from $100 to $500 on average, permit requirements apply to most demolitions. The required permits depend on your local government’s regulations. Some municipalities grant permits that cover all aspects of demolition, while others may require separate permits for utility removal, material disposal, environmental impact, and other demolition tasks.
Labor
Labor rates fluctuate with your location, local wages, and the level of contractor activity. Depending on the demo's scope, local demolition contractors charge between $50 and $100 per hour. Higher rates reflect contractors based in high-cost-of-living metropolitan areas or those with advanced skills and experience.
Machinery
The type of demolition project impacts the machinery required for the job and the corresponding costs, which average $100 to $250 per hour. Demolition machinery, such as excavators, hydraulic shears, and bulldozers, efficiently tear down structures and are generally more expensive. Skid steer loaders and other deconstruction machinery or equipment don’t need as much power and cost less.
Most contractors factor these costs into their estimates. They arrange machinery and operators from their own fleet or a heavy-duty machinery rental company.
Disposal and Cleanup
A full demo leaves a mountain of debris, and you’ll pay to haul it away. Cleaning and disposal costs range from $300 to $1,800, depending on whether the materials are hazardous. Demolition contractors often include disposal and cleanup costs in their estimates, but check the itemized contract before proceeding.
Asbestos
Asbestos removal averages $2,000. If your home was built before 1989, there’s a good chance its insulation or flooring hides this banned, hazardous material. Professional asbestos removal services use protective gear to carefully remove these materials ahead of demolition. They follow strict procedures and test the air quality according to Environmental Protection Agency standards to prevent asbestos exposure.
Accessibility and location play a significant role in asbestos costs, with reduced accessibility often resulting in higher rates.
Demolition vs. Deconstruction
Full demolition involves tearing down the structure with heavy machinery and trucks and removing the resulting debris. It makes the most sense when a home is in rough shape or its materials aren’t worth salvaging. In comparison, deconstruction involves carefully dismantling a home to salvage wood, fixtures, hardware, and other materials. Deconstruction allows these materials to be recycled or repurposed in another build, reducing total construction and demolition waste contribution to landfills.
The manual labor required to deconstruct a home often outweighs the cost of demolition, sometimes even doubling costs. Donating these materials may qualify you for significant federal government tax benefits.
Demolition Costs by Structure Type
Some demolitions partially remove structures rather than the entire building. Partial demolition involves the removal of specific areas or structures, such as rotting floors or walls, pools, or kitchens. See cost ranges for common partial demolition projects below.
| Structure Type | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Garage | $4–$10 per square foot |
| Swimming pool | $13–$15 per square foot |
| Foundation | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Driveway | $1–$2 per square foot |
| Shed | $250–$3,000 |
| Barn | $250–$3,000 |
| Basement | $300–$25,000 |
| Deck | $5–$15 per square foot |
Shed or Barn
Demolishing a barn or shed costs $50 to $100 per hour or $400 to $7,000. These structures are generally smaller than houses and feature less complex designs, making demolition easier and faster.
Foundation
Foundation demolition costs range from $1,000 to $5,000. The total costs depend on the foundation’s depth and basement excavation requirements.
Driveway
Demolition is common for worn and cracked driveways where repair isn’t an economical option. Total costs range from $1 to $2 per square foot, depending on the driveway material, square footage, thickness, and disposal costs.
Swimming Pool
Removing an in-ground swimming pool costs between $13,000 and $15,000 per square foot. Pools have carefully reinforced designs that require specialized removal, but the cost of excavation, removal, and fill-in can offer improved property value, safety, landscaping space, and other benefits.
Budgeting for a House Demolition
A house demolition is a major expense, but a strategic plan helps trim and streamline your budget. Try these tips to maximize the efficiency of your investment:
Collect at least three bids to compare pricing.
Check each contractor’s license, experience, and recent customer reviews.
Salvage materials to repurpose, sell, or donate.
Create a detailed plan for all costs, including permits and inspections.
Pad your budget by 10% to 20% to accommodate surprise expenses.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once permits are in hand, a small- to medium-sized house can be demolished in three to seven days, which includes hauling away debris and cleaning the site. Larger homes or sites with tight access can stretch the schedule. If you choose deconstruction instead of mechanical demo, plan on adding several weeks because crews dismantle the structure piece by piece to salvage materials. Local codes and weather can also extend the timeline.
To prepare for a house demolition, you must begin by coordinating with a professional demolition contractor to secure all necessary permits and disconnect utilities. Securing the site is crucial for safety and effective project management.
In addition, confirm that hazardous materials such as asbestos are identified and removed by certified professionals, clear the area of all personal belongings, and arrange temporary accommodations. This comprehensive preparation guarantees a smooth, secure demolition process and strict compliance with safety regulations.
Demolition offers clear advantages over renovation by providing a complete opportunity to rebuild with modern materials and enhanced design. Choosing demolition gives you a fresh start that boosts energy efficiency, safety, and overall property value. This approach eliminates outdated features and structural issues, delivering a modern, resilient, and high-performing home that meets current construction standards.
A house demolition demands expert service from dedicated professional demolition contractors. These specialists secure permits, disconnect utilities, and operate specialized equipment while strictly adhering to local safety codes. Their focused expertise and adherence to stringent regulations guarantee an efficient, secure demolition process that protects your property and delivers precise results.
Partial demolition is advisable when only targeted sections of your home require removal. This option offers a strategic solution for updating specific areas without requiring a complete teardown. By selectively eliminating outdated walls or deteriorated additions, homeowners enhance functionality and modernize their living space while preserving the core structure and controlling overall project costs.
Demolition involves the removal of an entire building using heavy machinery, leaving most materials unusable. In contrast, deconstruction disassembles a structure piece by piece to recover materials for reuse or recycling. This method minimizes waste, provides environmental benefits, and can even offer tax incentives. Skilled professionals conduct deconstruction safely, ensuring resource recovery and a sustainable approach to updating your property.
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