Water damage restoration cost per square foot
| Type of water | Installed price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Clean water (Category 1) | $3.50–$6 | From a supply line or a leaking appliance |
| Gray water (Category 2) | $4.10–$9 | Used water from a washer or dishwasher |
| Black water (Category 3) | $7–$12 | Sewage or flood water; the most expensive |
The three guides agree on the order but not on the size. HomeGuide runs well above Angi and Fixr on every category. Angi puts the national average at $3,868 for 1,500 verified projects, with most homeowners paying $1,383 to $6,369, and Fixr puts it at $3,000 with a typical range of $1,200 to $5,000. Forbes Home lists clean water at $3 to $4, gray water at $4 to $7 and black water at $7 to $7.50 per square foot, in line with our ranges. These prices cover extraction and drying, not replacing what the water ruined.
Cost by size of the affected area
| Affected area | Clean water | Gray water | Black water |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | $350–$600 | $410–$900 | $700–$1,200 |
| 300 sq ft | $1,050–$1,800 | $1,230–$2,700 | $2,100–$3,600 |
| 500 sq ft | $1,750–$3,000 | $2,050–$4,500 | $3,500–$6,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $3,500–$6,000 | $4,100–$9,000 | $7,000–$12,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $5,250–$9,000 | $6,150–$13,500 | $10,500–$18,000 |
What changes the price
- Type of water. Clean, gray and black water are priced separately, and black water costs roughly twice as much per square foot as clean water.
- Area. The total is the per-square-foot price times the floor area that was wet.
- What the water touched. Drywall, carpet and hardwood that cannot be dried have to be replaced, which is a separate bill.
- Mold. Mold remediation is its own job and adds thousands.
- Timing. An emergency or after-hours call can add a fee.
- Where you live. The calculator adjusts the labor share for your state's wages.
Extras to expect
| Item | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall repair or replacement | $275–$850 | Wet walls that cannot be dried in place |
| Carpet | $2–$10.50 per sq ft | Carpet that has to come out |
| Hardwood flooring | $7–$25 per sq ft | Boards that cannot be dried |
| Mold remediation | $1,200–$4,000 | Mold has started to grow |
| Emergency or quick-response fee | $50–$200 | Nights, weekends and urgent calls |
The leak itself is a separate repair: see slab leak repair cost for a leak under the floor and sewer line replacement cost for a failed sewer line. For mold, see mold remediation cost. To keep the water out next time, see sump pump installation cost and basement waterproofing cost. Replacing the finishes is covered by drywall repair cost, carpet installation cost and hardwood floor installation cost.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is the quote per square foot or a flat price, and does it include drying equipment and monitoring?
- What type of water did the company classify this as, and why?
- Which materials will you remove, and which can be dried in place?
- Is there an emergency or after-hours fee, and is it in the quote?
- Will the company work directly with my insurer, and what paperwork do I get?
Methodology and sources
We price each type of water from published guides, take the middle of their lows, midpoints and highs, and adjust the labor share for your state's wages. Forbes Home and Bob Vila are used as independent cross-checks. Read how we estimate costs.
- HomeGuide: water damage restoration cost — extraction by category, repair per square foot, mold
- Angi: water damage restoration cost — national average, category prices, drywall and mold
- Fixr: water damage restoration cost — extraction by category, restoration by area, labor and fees
- Forbes Home: water damage restoration cost — used as an independent cross-check
- Bob Vila: water damage restoration cost — national average, plus a range that it attributes to Angi and HomeAdvisor
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 47-4041, Hazardous Materials Removal Workers) — state labor index
What each source reports
Our estimate does not rely on any single page. This table lists each page we used and the figures it reports, so you can see where the ranges come from.
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| HomeGuide |
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| Angi |
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| Fixr |
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Common questions about water damage restoration costs
How much does water damage restoration cost?
A typical job (300 sq ft, clean water) comes to about $1,280 nationally, within a range of $1,050 to $1,800. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
What is the water damage restoration cost per square foot?
About $3.50–$6 per sq ft for clean water, $4.10–$9 for gray water and $7–$12 for black water, for extraction and drying only.
How much does it cost to dry out a basement?
For a 500 sq ft basement, about $1,750–$3,000 with clean water and $3,500–$6,000 with sewage. Fixr puts drying out a basement that size at $2,000 to $7,000, not counting repairs.
How much does a burst pipe cost to clean up?
A 300 sq ft area with clean water costs about $1,050–$1,800 to extract and dry. Angi puts a burst pipe, with the repair and the damage around it, at $1,000 to $4,000.
How much does a sewage backup cost to clean up?
A 300 sq ft area with black water costs about $2,100–$3,600 for extraction and drying. Angi puts two feet of sewage in a basement at $2,800 or more.
Does the price include replacing drywall and flooring?
No. The per-square-foot prices cover extraction and drying. Drywall adds about $275–$850, carpet $2–$10.50 per sq ft and hardwood $7–$25 per sq ft.
How much does mold add after water damage?
About $1,200–$4,000 for remediation. HomeGuide puts mold at $1,500 to $15,000 or more, well above Angi and Fixr.
Is there an emergency fee?
Fixr lists an emergency service fee of $50–$200. Some companies fold it into the quote.
How much of the cost is labor?
Fixr puts restoration labor at $70 to $200 per hour, with at least $200 of safety equipment rental added. Crew time and drying equipment are both large, which is why the calculator treats about 60% of the price as labor.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 3 published cost pages from 3 publishers, last checked Oct 9, 2026. We report what those pages say and do not invent figures; the table above shows each source.
How does my state change the estimate?
The labor part of the price is scaled by the average wage for the relevant trade in your state, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Materials and equipment are not adjusted.
Why might a contractor's quote differ from this estimate?
A quote reflects your specific scope, access, local demand and what the contractor includes. Ask for line items rather than a single total so you can compare bids on the same basis.
All 3 sources behind these prices
Every figure in the calculator comes from one or more of these pages, with the number each one supports in the link text.