2026 Pricing Atlas

Basement cost by state — all 50 states, 2026.

Typical 2026 basement finishing pricing for a 1,000 sqft mid-grade finished basement (drywall, flooring, lighting, and one egress window) across every US state. Sort by price, filter by name, click any row for the full state-specific cost guide.

National midpoint

$40,500

Avg across all 50 states · 1,000 sqft mid-grade finished

5 cheapest states

Mississippi$33,000
Arkansas$33,400
South Dakota$33,400
West Virginia$33,400
Alabama$33,800

5 priciest states

Hawaii$60,900
California$55,000
New York$55,000
Alaska$53,000
Massachusetts$51,900

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50 states shown

State	Low	High	Mid-range	Cost index
ALAlabama	$15,500	$52,000	$33,800	0.86×	Read guide
AKAlaska	$24,300	$81,700	$53,000	1.35×	Read guide
AZArizona	$18,000	$60,500	$39,300	1.00×	Read guide
ARArkansas	$15,300	$51,400	$33,400	0.85×	Read guide
CACalifornia	$25,200	$84,700	$55,000	1.40×	Read guide
COColorado	$20,700	$69,600	$45,200	1.15×	Read guide
CTConnecticut	$23,400	$78,700	$51,100	1.30×	Read guide
DEDelaware	$18,900	$63,500	$41,200	1.05×	Read guide
FLFlorida	$18,000	$60,500	$39,300	1.00×	Read guide
GAGeorgia	$17,300	$58,100	$37,700	0.96×	Read guide
HIHawaii	$27,900	$93,800	$60,900	1.55×	Read guide
IDIdaho	$16,600	$55,700	$36,200	0.92×	Read guide
ILIllinois	$17,100	$57,500	$37,300	0.95×	Read guide
INIndiana	$15,800	$53,200	$34,500	0.88×	Read guide
IAIowa	$15,500	$52,000	$33,800	0.86×	Read guide
KSKansas	$15,800	$53,200	$34,500	0.88×	Read guide
KYKentucky	$16,200	$54,500	$35,400	0.90×	Read guide
LALouisiana	$16,600	$55,700	$36,200	0.92×	Read guide
MEMaine	$20,200	$67,800	$44,000	1.12×	Read guide
MDMaryland	$21,600	$72,600	$47,100	1.20×	Read guide
MAMassachusetts	$23,800	$79,900	$51,900	1.32×	Read guide
MIMichigan	$16,400	$55,100	$35,800	0.91×	Read guide
MNMinnesota	$18,000	$60,500	$39,300	1.00×	Read guide
MSMississippi	$15,100	$50,800	$33,000	0.84×	Read guide
MOMissouri	$16,400	$55,100	$35,800	0.91×	Read guide
MTMontana	$17,500	$58,700	$38,100	0.97×	Read guide
NENebraska	$15,700	$52,600	$34,200	0.87×	Read guide
NVNevada	$18,900	$63,500	$41,200	1.05×	Read guide
NHNew Hampshire	$20,700	$69,600	$45,200	1.15×	Read guide
NJNew Jersey	$23,000	$77,400	$50,200	1.28×	Read guide
NMNew Mexico	$16,900	$56,900	$36,900	0.94×	Read guide
NYNew York	$25,200	$84,700	$55,000	1.40×	Read guide
NCNorth Carolina	$17,600	$59,300	$38,500	0.98×	Read guide
NDNorth Dakota	$15,500	$52,000	$33,800	0.86×	Read guide
OHOhio	$16,600	$55,700	$36,200	0.92×	Read guide
OKOklahoma	$15,500	$52,000	$33,800	0.86×	Read guide
OROregon	$20,200	$67,800	$44,000	1.12×	Read guide
PAPennsylvania	$18,400	$61,700	$40,100	1.02×	Read guide
RIRhode Island	$22,000	$73,800	$47,900	1.22×	Read guide
SCSouth Carolina	$17,100	$57,500	$37,300	0.95×	Read guide
SDSouth Dakota	$15,300	$51,400	$33,400	0.85×	Read guide
TNTennessee	$16,700	$56,300	$36,500	0.93×	Read guide
TXTexas	$18,000	$60,500	$39,300	1.00×	Read guide
UTUtah	$18,400	$61,700	$40,100	1.02×	Read guide
VTVermont	$19,800	$66,600	$43,200	1.10×	Read guide
VAVirginia	$19,400	$65,300	$42,400	1.08×	Read guide
WAWashington	$21,200	$71,400	$46,300	1.18×	Read guide
WVWest Virginia	$15,300	$51,400	$33,400	0.85×	Read guide
WIWisconsin	$16,700	$56,300	$36,500	0.93×	Read guide
WYWyoming	$17,500	$58,700	$38,100	0.97×	Read guide

Methodology

How these numbers are calculated

Each state's range is the 2026 national baseline ($18,000–$55,000 for a typical 1,000 sqft finished basement) multiplied by the state's cost index. Cost index is a composite of Bureau of Labor Statistics regional labor rates, material-delivery cost premiums (HI/AK are highest at +50%/+45%), permit fee patterns, and aggregated contractor pricing data. Index 1.00 = U.S. national average. Each state-specific guide ships its own deep-dive — cost drivers, top metros, neighbor comparison, and 4-year YoY trajectory.

Next steps

Get your exact number

The table above is a state-level baseline. Your actual quote will depend on your specific finish level (LVP vs. carpet vs. tile, drywall vs. suspended ceiling), exact square footage, metro pricing within your state, and any subfloor prep your home needs.

Run the basement calculator Compare basement materials See metro-level pricing

First-time buyer

Cheapest mid-grade states

Pre-filtered to states at or below the national midpoint.

See affordable states

ROI

Best basement ROI by state

Which states return the most of the install cost at sale.

See ROI ranking

DIY

Best DIY-friendly states

Permit simplicity + retail density + climate factors.

See DIY ranking

Quick-resale

Quick-resale picks by region

ROI × days-on-market — built for flips and fast sellers.

See quick-resale picks

How much does new basement cost in 2026?

The U.S. national average for a 1,000 sqft mid-grade basement finish in 2026 is $40,500 for materials, labor, framing, railings, footings, and standard prep. State-level spread is wide — the cheapest states (Mississippi, Arkansas, South Dakota) sit around $33,000, while the priciest (Hawaii, California) push past $60,900 for the same scope.

Why does basement cost vary so much by state?

Three factors drive the spread: labor rates (installer wages in CA and NY are 40-55% above the national average; in MS/AR/AL they're 15-22% below), material delivery costs (HI and AK absorb shipping premiums that don't exist in the lower 48), and permit and inspection patterns (some coastal jurisdictions require permits for any install that touches a subfloor, others don't). Each state-specific guide breaks down the local drivers in detail.

What's the cheapest state to build a new basement?

Based on 2026 mid-range pricing, the five cheapest states for basement finishing are: Mississippi ($33,000), Arkansas ($33,400), South Dakota ($33,400), West Virginia ($33,400), Alabama ($33,800). These states benefit from below-national-average framer/carpenter wages, simpler permit cycles, and longer build seasons that compress contractor schedules.

What's the most expensive state to build a new basement?

The five priciest states for a typical mid-grade basement finish in 2026: Hawaii ($60,900), California ($55,000), New York ($55,000), Alaska ($53,000), Massachusetts ($51,900). Hawaii and Alaska absorb significant freight surcharges on composite basementing; California and New York are driven primarily by labor, permit, and code-driven structural scope expansion.

Is this pricing for materials only or installed?

Every dollar shown is fully installed pricing — labor, framing, basementing, railings, footings, standard prep, permit fees (where required), and a 10% contingency reserve. Material-only pricing for the same scope runs roughly 40% of the installed total (basementing + railing dominates that share). For a precise quote tailored to your material choice and square footage, run the basement calculator with your state pre-selected.

Looking at multiple outdoor projects?

Cross-reference basement pricing alongside outdoor kitchen, pool, and fence cost for every state on the Outdoor Living Hub — same state-by-state pricing framework, applied to the full outdoor-living renovation bundle, with an outdoor-value tier showing where these projects pay back best at resale.