Estimating Fire Damage Restoration Costs Infographic

How Much Does It Cost to Repair Fire Damage?

Fire Restoration Cost

The average house fire in the United States costs around $78,000. Even a small house fire can cause tens of thousands of dollars of damages. As a homeowner, the cost of repairing fire damage can be anywhere from $30,000 to $1,000,000+.

Repairing fire damage is hard – and expensive. Restoration crews must clean, sanitize, and rebuild parts of your home. If crews cannot repair the damage, or if there’s structural damage to the home, then the property may need to be destroyed and rebuilt.

National Average Cost: $78,000
Average Range: $40,000 to $350,000
Minimum Cost: $5,000
Maximum Cost: $1,000,000+

The cost of repairing fire damage varies depending on the restoration contractors, your insurance policy, and your insurance adjuster. All home insurance policies cover fire damage. However, insurance companies may argue about the cash value of your home and its possessions. Restoration contractors charge anywhere from $60 to $150 per hour per employee, with additional costs for renting equipment.

Fire Damage Cleanup Cost Per Square Foot

Fire restoration cleanup services cost $5.50 to $12.00 per square foot. This cost includes water damage restoration, soot and smoke remediation, and burnt material removal.

1,000 sq ft. – $8,750
1,700 sq ft. – $14,875
2,000 sq ft. – $17,500
2,500 sq ft. – $21,875
3,000 sq ft. – $26,250
4,000 sq ft. – $35,000

Fire Damage Restoration Cleanup Cost by Category

Based on materials involved in the fire, fires fall into different classification categories. Fire damage restoration companies use these categories to estimate costs for the cleanup of damaged areas and materials.

Class A: $9,000 – $14,000
Class B: $14,000 – $20,000
Class C: $12,000 – $23,000
Class D: $16,000 – $25,000
Class K: $12,000 – $20,000

Fire Damage Restoration Cost by Average Total Cost

Mild ($25,000): Includes smoke and soot remediation and deodorization for a small fire in a single-family house.

Moderate ($78,000+): Includes water damage restoration, deodorization, burnt material removal, and sanitization for multiple rooms in a single-family house.

Severe ($250,000+): Includes structural repairs, chemical cleanup, water cleanup, deodorization, and sanitization for multiple rooms in a single-family house.

Fire Damage Restoration Cost by Type of Damage

Depending on the type of damage, costs range from $5,000 to $250,000.

Smoke Damage: $3,000 to $35,500
Burnt Materials: $2,500 to $4,000
Soot Damage: $4,500 to $15,000
Chemical Damage: $1,500 to $17,500
Water Damage: $2,500 to $50,000
Structural Damage: $17,000 to $250,000+

Smoke Damage Restoration

Many homeowners are surprised by the cost of smoke damage restoration. However, smoke damage restoration is also one of the most urgent tasks after a house fire. Restoration technicians use thermal fogging or ozone treatment to clean and deodorize affected rooms, surfaces, and possessions.

Thermal Fogging Treatment: $550 to $1,550
Ozone Treatment: $400 to $1,800

For help with fire damage claims and estimating restoration costs, contact an experienced fire claims adjuster.