Cost Per Square Foot In Basements

I was just wondering what the rough prices are per square foot to finish a basement.... just a rough idea???

How rough do you want the finish to be?

Without getting into how far the furance vents are ran, what grade carpet.... just figure midgrade basic and with a bathroom. What would you guess is a price per square foot? Thats what I mean by a rough ... guess I should of said rough idea...

What's the ceiling - sheetrocked or acoustic tile?
Number of doors/windows?
Anythings need to moved? For example, relocate the W/D closer to the heat/hot water, central vac. relocate, etc?
Is the basement prone to flooding?
Do the walls need to be "dry-loc'ed"?
Sump pump?
french drain, etc?

etc etc etc

$25-45 a foot for a decent finish. Higher end assumes maybe a kitchen down there.

There are just too many variables, the choices of materials are quite long,the size of the area,electric involved,plumbing involved.Jobs like that need to be looked at.You may find prices on here for specifics,that may help in determining some labor cost,but they won't always be very accurate.Get a phone book and call a few carpenters over,get some prices,they'll be allot more accurate then you will find on here.

Call a few plumbers to give estimates on the entire job.


How does a carpenter know what the electric, plumbing, HVAC, etc will entail?

Call a few General Contractors ...that specialize in basement finishing.

I knew a guy who's boyfriends father in eastern Kentucky was doing them for $238.00 a square foot.

Don't be a wise guy,you know what i mean

Settle down now NY ...we Jersey guys don't get intimidated


The OP on the other hand, may not have a clue what you meant.

Was that Rainbow Erectors?

I think they were a joint venture of the Dick Lovett Group & Cox Holdings.

I think I heard of them....aren't they subs of Ben Dover?

No, they got bent over one too many times by him so they now sub exclusively for Neal & Bob.

...from Bohica?

I think they were from Fort Dick California.

I am just trying to get an idea, interior designer by trade, I am looking into starting to explore this ave. with new homes/lending market falling apart.

I do about 5-8 per year. 400 up to 1500 sq. ft have been my range. If homeowner helps (painting, gets own carpet) I can do larger units around 15-20 per. Sq.Ft. For smaller units about 20-25 per sq. ft. I have done some pretty basic units with limited corners and doors for about 12.00 per sq. ft. with this price homeowner primes and paints when I am done (not during the project) so I don't have to come back later to finish trim and drop ceiling. They also handle there own flooring. These prices are with licensed electrician and permits for building. I'm in Ohio near Akron

Around Baltimore I get around $30 a square foot. Excludes carpet/flooring.

That seems high here in Maryland. You must not have many illegals up there in the Baltimore area driving the price down. Here in Mont. Co. I only get on average $20/sq.ft.

These are high end basements with wet bars.