Estimate the cost to clean up water damage and mold remediation in your home. Enter the affected square footage, the water category (clean, gray, or black water) and saturation class, then add mold and tear-out to see a low–likely–high cost range with a full breakdown.
Restoration & remediation estimate
Professional restoration is priced mostly by the affected square footage, the water category, and how deeply materials are saturated (the class). The IICRC — the industry standard body — defines three water categories: Category 1 is clean water from a supply line, Category 2 ("gray water") carries some contamination from appliances or sump overflow, and Category 3 ("black water") is grossly unsanitary — sewage or flood water — and costs the most to handle safely.
On top of the base cleanup, jobs may add standing-water extraction, structural drying, demolition of ruined drywall and flooring, and — when spores have taken hold — mold remediation, which is priced per square foot of mold and rises sharply when it spreads into HVAC systems. This estimator combines all of these into a realistic low–likely–high range based on 2026 US averages.
Clean water is cheapest; black water (sewage/flood) can cost roughly double per square foot due to safety and disposal.
The more deeply walls, floors, and structure are saturated, the more days of drying equipment — and cost — required.
Mold remediation runs about $10–$32/sq ft; widespread or HVAC contamination adds containment and major expense.
Sudden, accidental water damage is often covered by homeowners insurance; gradual leaks and flood usually are not.
After a burst pipe, overflowing appliance, or storm, homeowners search "water damage restoration cost," "mold remediation cost per square foot," and "how much to dry out a flooded basement." Most water-damage jobs in the US land between $1,300 and $5,600, but a contaminated, deeply saturated area with mold can climb well past $10,000. This estimator gives you a defensible number before you call a restoration company or file a claim.
A 200 sq ft room hit by Category 2 gray water at moderate saturation, needing extraction but no demolition, with 30 sq ft of moderate mold: water remediation runs about $1,100, extraction adds ~$700, mold adds ~$660 — for a likely total near $2,500, with a range of roughly $2,000–$3,300 depending on your contractor and region.
Homeowners and landlords scoping a cleanup, anyone preparing or checking an insurance claim, and renters or property managers comparing restoration quotes.
Remediation cost scales with affected area, but the dominant variable is water category, which determines the entire protocol. Category 1 is clean water from a supply line; Category 2 is greywater from appliances; Category 3 is contaminated black water from sewage or flooding, requiring containment, protective equipment and disposal of most porous materials. Mould remediation follows a separate scale, and above roughly 100 square feet of contiguous growth the industry standard calls for professional containment with negative air pressure rather than surface cleaning.
Base cost = Affected area (sq ft) × rate per sq ft for the water categoryAdd equipment: dehumidifiers and air movers × days on siteAdd disposal and reconstruction of removed materialsTotal = remediation + drying equipment + rebuildwhere:
Assumptions: Estimates only; actual cost depends on materials, access, local labour rates and how long the water sat. Categories escalate over time — clean water left standing becomes Category 2 within about 48 hours, which is why response speed changes the bill more than anything else.
Build an estimate for a dishwasher failure discovered after two days.
ResultAbout $6,840 — of which reconstruction is nearly half
Had the leak been caught within 24 hours it would likely have stayed Category 1 at roughly $3.75 per square foot with far less material removed — perhaps $2,600 all in. The cost roughly doubles at each category escalation, which is why immediate extraction and drying is the highest-value action available.
Estimates use 2026 US average pricing and are for planning only — actual quotes vary by region, contractor, and on-site conditions. Get an in-person assessment for an accurate price.