Water damage restoration cost calculator

Enter the wet area and the type of water, then the repairs that follow. See the low, typical and high price for the dry-out and the repairs, with every step shown.

$750Typical 200 sq ft, clean water

$7 to $7.50A sq ft for black water

$50 to $200Emergency fee

Water damage restoration

$675 to $825

Typical $750 (US average)

$3.75Drying, per sq ft

$675Low

$825High

Free. Your numbers become an estimate you can send from your phone.

How we got this

Water removal and drying, clean water$3.38 to $4.13 a sq ft × 200 sq ftFixr $3.75 to $4.25 and Bob Vila $3 to $4 a sq ft, averaged.
Total$675 to $825, typical $750

Item	Qty	Low	Typical	High
Water removal and drying, clean water	200 sq ft	$675	$750	$825
Total		$675	$750	$825

Sources: Fixr: Water damage restoration cost; Bob Vila: Water damage restoration cost. Checked 2026-10-09.

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Key takeaways

Removing and drying clean water runs about $3.38 to $4.13 a square foot, combining Fixr and Bob Vila.
Gray water runs about $4.05 to $6.50 a square foot, and black water $7 to $7.50.
Repairs come after: drywall about $1.25 to $3 a square foot, hardwood $10 to $15.
Fixr puts most jobs at $1,200 to $5,000 and Bob Vila at $1,305 to $5,707.

How much does water damage restoration cost

Restoration companies price water removal and drying by the square foot, by how dirty the water is. Fixr and Bob Vila agree closely, so we average them: low is the average of their lows, high the average of their highs, typical the average of their midpoints.

Water	Fixr	Bob Vila	Calculator
Clean (category 1)	$3.75 to $4.25	$3 to $4	$3.38 to $4.13
Gray (category 2)	$4.10 to $6.50	$4 to $6.50	$4.05 to $6.50
Black (category 3)	$7 to $7.50	$7 to $7.50	$7 to $7.50

Bob Vila notes the black water figure is for removal and drying only; repairing and replacing what was soaked is extra.

Drywall, floors and mold

Repair	Per sq ft	Source
Drywall	$1.50 to $3 / $1 to $3	Fixr / Bob Vila
Hardwood	$10 to $15	Fixr and Bob Vila
Carpeting	$4.75 to $10.50	Fixr
Mold, as part of the job	$4.75 to $5.50	Fixr

Both guides add an emergency fee of $50 to $200 for a rush or after-hours call, though some companies build it into the job. For mold that has spread beyond the wet area, use the mold remediation cost calculator.

A worked example: a washing machine overflow

Gray water across 200 square feet, a two-foot flood cut along 40 feet of wall (80 square feet of drywall), called in after hours.

Removal and drying. 200 × $4.05 / $5.28 / $6.50 = $810 / $1,055 / $1,300.
Drywall. 80 × $1.25 / $2.13 / $3 = $100 / $170 / $240.
Emergency fee. $50 / $125 / $200.
Total. $960 to $1,740, about $1,350 typical.

Insurance and who pays

Many water losses are insurance claims, and carriers price them line by line in their own estimating software. These figures help a homeowner judge a quote or decide whether a small loss is worth a claim against the deductible. Ask your insurer what your policy covers before work starts.

For restoration companies

On homeowner-paid jobs, price from your own costs: technician hours, equipment days per unit, monitoring visits, disposal and trips. How to price restoration jobs walks through a full example. Emergency calls go to whoever answers first; Koira's AI receptionist answers on your number at any hour.

Last checked October 9, 2026. More for your trade: how trades run on Koira.

FAQ

How much does water damage restoration cost?

Fixr puts most jobs at $1,200 to $5,000, about $3,000. Bob Vila gives $1,305 to $5,707, about $3,455.

How much is water removal per square foot?

Clean water about $3.38 to $4.13, gray water $4.05 to $6.50 and black water $7 to $7.50, combining Fixr and Bob Vila.

What does it cost to repair water-damaged drywall?

Fixr gives $1.50 to $3 a square foot and Bob Vila $1 to $3.

Is there an extra charge for emergency service?

Often. Both Fixr and Bob Vila list $50 to $200, though some companies include it.

Why does black water cost more?

Sewage and flood water carry a health risk, so the crew needs protective gear and soaked porous materials usually have to be thrown out.

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