Interior finishes are the biggest cost of building a house, at 24.1% of construction costs, followed by major systems (19.2%) and framing (16.6%). In NAHB’s 2024 survey, the average builder-built home cost $428,215 to construct, of which $103,391 went on interior finishes and $82,319 on plumbing, electrical and HVAC.
What is the cost breakdown for building a house?
A house is built in eight stages, and each takes a predictable share of the budget. The table shows NAHB’s 2024 averages for a builder-built single-family home, plus what the same shares mean for a $330,000 build (a 2,000 sq ft home at the US median rate).
| Stage | Share | NAHB average | On a $330,000 build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site work | 7.6% | $32,719 | $25,080 |
| Foundations | 10.5% | $44,748 | $34,650 |
| Framing | 16.6% | $70,982 | $54,780 |
| Exterior finishes | 13.4% | $57,510 | $44,220 |
| Major systems rough-ins | 19.2% | $82,319 | $63,360 |
| Interior finishes | 24.1% | $103,391 | $79,530 |
| Final steps | 6.5% | $27,710 | $21,450 |
| Other | 2.1% | $8,835 | $6,930 |
Run your own split with the calculator: every estimate shows where the money goes.
How much does site work cost?
Site work costs about $32,719 on average (7.6%). It covers the approvals and preparation before digging starts. NAHB’s 2024 figures:
- Building permit fees: $7,640
- Architecture and engineering: $6,480
- Impact fees: $6,367
- Water and sewer inspection fees: $6,260
- Other site work: $5,972
Plans are covered in house plans and architect fees. On rural land, add land clearing, a well and a septic system.
How much does a house foundation cost?
Foundations cost about $44,748 on average (10.5%), almost all of it excavation, concrete, retaining walls and backfill. A basement costs far more than a slab. Price yours with the foundation cost calculator, or see cost to build a basement.
How much does framing a house cost?
Framing costs about $70,982 on average (16.6%), including trusses ($12,903), sheathing ($6,513) and metal and steel connectors ($1,718). Lumber prices make this the most volatile stage. See the framing cost calculator and material cost to build a house.
How much do exterior finishes cost?
Exterior finishes cost about $57,510 on average (13.4%). Siding or brick accounts for $24,450 and roofing for $16,732. See cost to roof a new house.
How much do plumbing, electrical and HVAC cost?
Major systems rough-ins cost about $82,319 on average (19.2%). NAHB records electrical at $27,383 and plumbing at $27,180, with heating and cooling making up most of the rest. See cost to wire a new house.
How much do interior finishes cost?
Interior finishes cost about $103,391 on average (24.1%), the largest stage. NAHB’s 2024 line items:
| Item | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Cabinets and countertops | $19,056 |
| Flooring | $15,388 |
| Drywall | $13,962 |
| Interior trim, doors and mirrors | $12,920 |
| Paint | $11,150 |
| Plumbing fixtures | $7,922 |
| Appliances | $7,499 |
| Insulation | $6,992 |
| Lighting | $5,392 |
| Fireplaces | $2,378 |
Because finishes are a quarter of the budget, they are also where you have the most control over the final price.
How much do the final steps cost?
Final steps cost about $27,710 on average (6.5%): driveway ($9,635), landscaping ($9,239), outdoor structures such as decks and patios ($4,722) and cleanup ($3,183). See driveway cost.
What is the labor cost to build a house?
Labor is commonly estimated at roughly 30% to 50% of construction cost, depending on the trade, the region and how much of the house is prefabricated. NAHB does not split labor from materials, but framing, drywall and finishing are the most labor-intensive stages. See material cost to build a house for the materials side.
What costs come on top of construction?
Construction was 64.4% of the average new-home sale price in NAHB’s 2024 survey. Builders’ prices also carry the lot (13.7%), profit (11.0%), overhead (5.7%), sales commission (2.8%), financing (1.5%) and marketing (0.8%). Building on your own land with a hired builder removes the lot markup and some of the selling costs, but you still pay the builder’s overhead and profit.
How much is a general contractor’s fee?
A general contractor typically charges 10% to 20% of construction cost as overhead and profit. In NAHB’s survey, builder profit averaged 11.0% of the sale price and overhead 5.7%.
Sources
- NAHB: Cost of Constructing a Home in 2024 (stage-by-stage cost shares, survey published January 2025)
- Pennsylvania Association of Realtors: summary of NAHB 2024 cost figures (dollar amounts per stage)
- Autodesk: How much does it cost to build a house in 2026? (state totals for a 2,000 sq ft home, based on Today’s Homeowner data)
- NAHB: New single-family home size trends, Q3 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau data)
- NAHB: Single-family homes are built faster in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Construction)
- Redfin: How much does it cost to build a house in 2026?