Framing Cost Calculator
Budget rough carpentry from framed square footage — walls, floors, and roof massing, not a full house bid. Click any i for detail.
Framed area
Framed area (sq ft)
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Area
Conditioned floor area you are framing, or a wall/floor takeoff converted to sq ft. |
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|---|---|
Complexity
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Complexity
Simple rectangles cost less than vaulted, open, or lots of corners. |
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Your state
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Your state
Scales midpoints for typical state-level labor and material costs versus the U.S. average. Not a local contractor bid. |
How to use this calculator
- Enter framed square footage.
- Pick a complexity tier.
- Toggle extras if you need extra hardware or opening existing walls.
- Pick your state for a labor sketch.
Results explained
Headline is framed sq ft × a midpoint $/sq ft for rough carpentry (labor + lumber package sketch), plus optional extras, then × the state multiplier. Finish carpentry, windows, and foundation are separate.
Quick reference: framing midpoints
U.S.-average planning dollars before the selected state adjustment.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Simple ranch / rectangle | $12 / sq ft |
| Typical two-story (default) | $18 / sq ft |
| Complex / vaulted | $26 / sq ft |
| Extra shear / hardware | +$2.50 / sq ft |
Lumber spikes, truss packages, and engineered beams move this more than the state slider.
How the estimate is built
total = qty × (base + extras) × location multiplier.
Example scenario
2,000 sq ft typical two-story at $18 → $36,000 before extras and state adjustment.
FAQ
Is this a whole house?
No — rough frame only. See cost-to-build-a-house for a fuller stack.
Lumber package vs labor?
The $/sq ft is a combined midpoint. A lumber yard quote is a materials takeoff.
Metal framing?
Raise the complex tier or add a contractor adder — this page is wood-frame.