Water damage restoration costs $1,384 to $6,387 in 2026
HomeAdvisor's 2026 data puts the average at about $3,867. The type of water sets the price. Clean water from a supply line is $3 to $4 per square foot. Gray water, like a washer overflow, is $4 to $6.50. Sewage and flood water is $7 or more. Waiting a day can move clean water into the gray water price.
Cost by water type and size
| Category 1, clean water | $3 to $4 per square foot. Broken supply lines, faucets, a water heater. |
|---|---|
| Category 2, gray water | $4 to $6.50 per square foot. Washer or dishwasher overflow. |
| Category 3, black water | $7 to $7.50 or more per square foot. Sewage and outside flood water. |
| Class 1, part of one room | $150 to $400. |
| 500 square foot basement, clean water | About $1,750 for extraction and drying. |
| LawnStarter 2026 range | $1,270 to $5,376, about $3,250 on average, or $3.15 to $7.40 per square foot. Extremes run $430 to $20,400. |
What pushes a quote up
| Water category | Clean, gray or black. It sets the safety gear and what must be thrown out. |
|---|---|
| Time | Clean water left 24 hours can become gray water as bacteria grow. |
| Area and depth | More rooms and water in the walls means more drying. |
| Materials | Carpet pad and drywall usually come out after gray or black water. |
| Mold | Mold can start within a day or two and adds remediation. |
Water damage restoration cost by region
| Lower cost states | $1,100 to $5,100. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia and most rural areas. |
|---|---|
| Average cost states | $1,384 to $6,387. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and most mid size cities. |
| Higher cost states | $1,800 to $8,300. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, plus big metros such as Chicago, Denver and Washington DC. |
These rows are our estimate. We took the typical national range and adjusted it for local labor costs, which run about 20 percent lower in the cheapest states and about 30 percent higher in the dearest ones. Flood and hurricane prone areas see price spikes after big storms, when every crew is booked.
The first 24 hours decide the bill
One 2026 example in a restoration industry guide: a washing machine hose burst while the owner was at work. Caught right away, the cleanup would have been about $1,500. Eight hours later the water had spread through the first floor and into the subfloor, and the final bill was $8,200. The same guide notes that a clean water leak left 24 hours can become gray water, and the price per square foot moves from about $3.50 to $6.50.
What to do first: shut off the water, cut power to wet areas if it is safe, take photos for insurance, and call a restoration company and your insurer the same day.
Insurance
Sudden events like a burst pipe are often covered. Slow leaks and outside flood water often are not, unless you have flood insurance. Ask your insurer before you sign a restoration contract, and ask the company whether it bills the insurer directly.
Why this costs more in 2026
Restoration crews run fans, dehumidifiers and trucks for days. Fuel and power are part of the bill.
Fuel is the common thread. AAA's national average for diesel passed $6 a gallon for the first time on September 11, 2026, up from about $3.70 a year earlier (CBS 8 reporting AAA). Every truck roll and every delivery carries that. Materials moved too. Associated Builders and Contractors reported construction input prices up 4.8 percent in a year as of March 2026, the largest annual gain since January 2023, and the Associated General Contractors said diesel jumped 37.8 percent in one month, the largest one month rise since 1990 (Roofing Contractor, April 2026). Some suppliers added freight surcharges this year. Ask how long your quote is good for.
How to judge the quote in your hand
- Ask what category and class they assigned. It drives the price.
- Ask for moisture readings. Before and after drying.
- Check the daily equipment charges. Fans and dehumidifiers are billed by the day.
- Ask what they will remove. And why.
- Read the contract before you sign an assignment of benefits.
Ways to pay less
- Act the same day. Hours matter.
- Shut off the water and take photos first.
- Move furniture and rugs out of the water yourself if safe.
- Call your insurer early.
What will this cost me?
Pick the job, your state's cost level and the last detail. The estimate updates as you change them.
An estimate built from published 2026 cost guides. It is not a quote. Get a written quote before work starts.
The one business per trade, per town that AI recommends.
When your customers ask an AI which company to call, we get you named, not your competitor. We work and monitor every major engine, ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, Claude, and Grok, so you show up wherever they ask. Fully done-for-you: setup, ongoing optimization, competitor tracking, a live dashboard, and monthly reporting. Backed by our 90-day money-back guarantee.
Book a free 15 minute callNo pitch deck. We run your audit live on the call.Common questions
How much does water damage restoration cost?
About $3,867 on average in HomeAdvisor's 2026 data, with most jobs $1,384 to $6,387.
How much is water damage restoration per square foot?
$3 to $4 for clean water, $4 to $6.50 for gray water, $7 or more for sewage.
Does insurance cover water damage restoration?
Sudden events like a burst pipe often are. Slow leaks and outside flooding often are not.
How fast does mold grow after water damage?
Within a day or two in many cases, which is why speed matters.