What will my water damage cost?
Answer six quick questions for a rough cost range to dry out and repair the damage, built from published national cost data.
How big is the wet area?
What kind of water was it?
What flooring got wet?
Did drywall get wet?
Do you see or smell mold?
Is water still coming in, or is anything still wet?
This is a rough estimate from national averages, not a quote. An on-site inspection sets the real cost. Sources are listed under the cost table below.
Water damage cost per square foot
These are the national ranges the estimator uses. Prices in your area can run higher or lower.
| What's being done | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Water removal and drying, clean water (supply line, faucet, rain) | $3.00 to $4.25 per sq ft |
| Water removal and drying, gray water (washer, dishwasher, toilet without waste) | $4.00 to $6.50 per sq ft |
| Water removal and drying, black water (sewage, floodwater) | $7.00 to $7.50 per sq ft |
| Carpet repair or replacement | $4.75 to $10.50 per sq ft |
| Hardwood repair or replacement | $10 to $15 per sq ft |
| Vinyl or laminate | $1 to $6 per sq ft |
| Tile | $1 to $10 per sq ft |
| Drywall repair or replacement | $1.50 to $3.00 per sq ft |
| Mold remediation | $1,100 to $3,400 per job |
Sources: Fixr, water damage restoration costs (updated January 2025) and HomeAdvisor, water damage repair costs (2025 data). Vinyl and tile are Fixr's cost per 200 sq ft divided by 200.
How the estimator works
- It takes the wet area you picked and multiplies it by the drying rate for your type of water. Dirtier water costs more because more has to be removed instead of dried.
- It adds flooring at the rate for the floor you picked, over the same area.
- If drywall got wet, it adds drywall over the same area as the floor. Your actual wall area can be more or less.
- If you see mold, it adds the typical cost of a mold job.
- It rounds everything to the nearest $100 and shows the low and high ends.
It leaves out cabinets, ceilings, belongings and fixing whatever caused the leak, because those vary too much to estimate from a few questions.
What pushes the cost up
- How long it stays wet. Water keeps wicking into drywall, subfloor and framing. Drying within 24 to 48 hours is what keeps mold from starting.
- How dirty the water is. Sewage and floodwater mean carpet, pad and lower drywall usually come out instead of being dried in place.
- How far it spread. Water runs under flooring and down through ceilings, so the damaged area is often bigger than the puddle.
- What it soaked. Hardwood and finished basements cost more to dry and replace than tile or bare concrete.
Questions people ask
Will homeowners insurance pay for this?
It depends mostly on where the water came from. Sudden breaks are usually covered, while slow leaks, sewer backups and floods often aren't under a standard policy. The coverage checker walks through it in five questions.
Is this a quote?
No. It's a rough range from national averages. A company has to see the damage and measure moisture to give you a real price.
Why is the range so wide?
Square footage is picked from a range, and drying and flooring prices vary a lot by area and by material. Narrow the range by measuring the wet area and getting an on-site estimate.
Link to this estimator
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<a href="https://waterclaims.com/water-damage-cost-calculator">Water damage cost estimator from WaterClaims</a>Talk to a local water damage crew now
No obligation to hire. A local crew can help stop the water and start drying. Homeowners only.
(800) 555-0100