How much does it cost to build an ICF or concrete house?

Concrete house cost

A concrete house costs $110 to $250 per square foot, depending on the size, construction method, and finishes. The average cost to build a concrete house is $280,000 to $430,000.

• ICF home construction costs $120 to $230 per square foot.
• A concrete or cinder block house costs $190 to $250 per square foot.
• A prefab or poured concrete home costs $110 to $180 per square foot.

*Total cost installed.

Average cost to build a concrete house

The following table shows the average cost to build a 2,000-square-foot concrete house:

Cost data is from research and project costs reported by HomeGuide members.

Concrete homes cost by type

A 2,000-square foot modern concrete house costs $220,000 to $500,000, depending on the construction method and finishes. Concrete wall systems and home building use precast forms or concrete mix poured onsite to form a monolithic envelope.

*For a 2,000-square-foot size home with standard asphalt roofing & drywall interior.

Concrete or cinder block house cost

Building a cinder block house costs $190 to $250 per square foot. A concrete block house costs $380,000 to $500,000 on average. Builders make concrete block houses from reinforced cinder blocks stacked individually onsite, increasing labor time due to the skilled labor required.

Poured concrete house cost

A poured concrete house costs $220,000 to $320,000 on average or $110 to $160 per square foot of floor space. The cost of poured concrete foundation walls alone is $10 to $25 per square foot of floor area. Traditional poured-concrete homes cost 3% to 10% more than wood-framed homes.

Prefab or precast concrete homes cost

Building a prefab or precast concrete home costs $120 to $180 per square foot of floor area. A precast concrete house costs $240,000 to $360,000 on average to build. These factory-built concrete panels install faster than onsite poured concrete walls but require crane installation.

Spider Tie concrete house price

A Spider Tie concrete house costs $115 to $165 per square foot or $230,000 to $330,000 on average. The Spider Tie building system pours concrete into reusable plywood forms bound with plastic ties and screws. These forms are easy to assemble and remove after the concrete cures.

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Insulated concrete forms (ICF) house cost

An ICF house costs $120 to $230 per square foot of floor area. The average cost of ICF construction is $240,000 to $460,000 for a 2,000-square-foot home. Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) are cast-in-place, reinforced concrete walls between two insulation layers.

*8’ to 10’ tall walls without doors or windows.

ICF cost per square foot

ICF house construction costs $120 to $230 per square foot of total floor area, depending on the location, wall dimensions, material quality, and design complexity.

*Total installed cost with 8’ to 10’ tall walls on a 1-story home.

ICF cost per linear foot

Building an ICF wall costs $80 to $250 per linear foot for 8’ to 10’ tall walls. Prices vary according to the wall thickness and insulation type. Housebuilders typically charge per square foot.

*Total installed prices for standard 8’ to 10’ tall walls.

ICF foundation and walls cost

Building an ICF foundation costs $10 to $25 per square foot of wall surface. ICF basement-foundation wall construction often takes 1 to 2 days. While ICF material costs are higher than traditional poured-concrete walls, ICF installation labor is typically cheaper.

*Total installed cost per square foot of surface area.

• ICF foundation walls can be any height.
• Builders pour the footing and walls at the same time to reduce labor time.
• A traditional poured concrete foundation costs $5 to $35 per square foot.

ICF construction cost

Standard ICF construction costs $120 to $230 per square foot of floor space. The cost to build an ICF concrete house is $20 to $75 more per square foot than traditional wooden stick-built homes.

Other cost factors include:

• Block prices – ICF block prices are $25 to $40 per block of 16”x48” in size. ICF blocks cost $4.50 to $7.50 per square foot for materials only.
• Location – Construction costs vary according to the region and availability of materials.
• Complexity – Multi-level, curved walls, and custom designs increase labor and material costs.
• Material – Material prices depend on the types of concrete mix and finish.
• Site conditions – Labor costs increase for hard-to-access sites and working on slopes.

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Concrete house cost calculator & breakdown

Additional cost factors for building a concrete house include site preparations, construction, finishes, and additions like a garage, deck, or driveway.

Essential construction costs include:

• A land survey costs $1,000 to $1,500 for new construction.
• Land clearing costs $1,150 to $3,700 for building a house. The average cost to level a yard is $1,000 to $5,000.
• An architect costs $5,000 to $60,000 on average or 5% to 20% of the construction cost.
• The cost of drafting house plans is $700 to $10,000 on average or $0.35 to $5.00 per square foot.
• A construction permit costs $1,000 to $3,000 for building a new house.
• The cost to build a basement or foundation is $5,100 to $19,000.
• The plumbing cost for a new house is $8,000 to $12,000.
• New construction electrical wiring costs $3,000 to $8,000.
• A new roof costs $4,700 to $10,500.
• Installing a new HVAC system costs $5,000 to $11,000.
• Reconnecting utility lines costs $1,200 to $3,000. Removing abandoned utility lines and installing new lines costs $13,000 to $45,000.

Concrete house exterior finishes

Finishing the concrete exterior with siding costs $3 to $18 per square foot on average, depending on the material. Attaching any panels to a concrete exterior requires extra furring-strip materials. Exterior painting costs $1 to $4 per square foot.

Concrete house design additions

Optional additions to a new concrete home include:

• The cost to build a garage is $19,500 to $28,000 on average.
• A new driveway costs $1,700 to $6,900 on average or $3 to $12 per square foot.
• The cost to build a sunroom addition is $8,000 to $50,000 or $100 to $350 per square foot.
• The cost to build a deck is $4,400 to $10,000 on average or $15 to $30 per square foot.
• A concrete patio costs $1,200 to $4,300 on average or $4 to $12 per square foot.
• Landscaping costs $50 to $100 per hour for finishing the garden.
• The cost to fence a yard is $1,500 to $3,000 on average.

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Concrete vs. wood house cost

The average cost to build a house is $100 to $155 per square foot for a wood-framed home or $110 to $250 per square foot for an ICF or concrete home. Concrete home construction costs 10% to 60% more than stick-built homes due to higher labor costs.

Alternatively, building a modular home costs $80 to $160 per square foot on average.

*Total cost installed.

Advantages and disadvantages of concrete houses

The following table shows the advantages and disadvantages of a concrete house:

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Hiring a concrete house contractor

DIY building any house is illegal in most states without a construction contractor’s license and business license. Before hiring a home builder near you:

• Compare three estimates from various contractors.
• Look for installers certified by any of these organizations:
• American Concrete Institute (ACI)
• National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA)
• Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA)
• National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA)
• Concrete Foundations Association of North America (CFA)
• Beware of the lowest bids that often mean low-quality work.
• Check their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
• Pick licensed, insured, and bonded contractors with years of concrete-construction experience.
• Never pay in full upfront. Follow a payment schedule.
• Collect a bid that details all materials and labor costs.

Questions to ask

• Which type of concrete homes do you specialize in?
• What are my options for wall finishes?
• Can I see photos of concrete homes you’ve built and your references list?
• How long have you been building concrete homes?
• Can we discuss changes to the design before construction?
• Do you work with a foundation engineer to assess my soil conditions?
• How do you prevent moisture exchange between the soil and foundation?
• Will you arrange grading before building to promote rainwater drainage?
• What are my foundation and roofing options?
• How can I contact the project supervisor, and will they pull permits?
• What’s your expected timeline to complete this project?
• How many crew members will be onsite?
• What’s your policy for managing unexpected delays?
• When will I get updates to discuss the project?
• Did you include all material and labor fees in the estimate? What incidental costs often apply?
• Will you charge extra for site cleanup after construction?
• What does your warranty include?
• Can I get a contract copy before building starts?
• What’s the payment schedule?
• Will a home inspector check the property before you finish building?

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