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Water DamageWater Damage Repair & Restoration Cost Calculator
Water damage is priced by the affected area and how dirty the water is. Enter the square footage, the per-square-foot rate for your water category, and an estimate for drying equipment.
Water damage restoration averages $2,000–$6,000, driven by the water category: clean water runs about $3–$4 per square foot, gray water $4–$6.50, and black (sewage) water $7–$12+. A 200 sq ft gray-water job lands near $1,800 plus drying equipment.
How this calculator works
We multiply the affected area by a per-square-foot rate set by your water category — clean (Cat 1), gray (Cat 2), or black (Cat 3) — then add drying-equipment cost for the days of dehumidifiers and air movers. The dirtier the water, the higher the rate, because more material has to be removed and sanitized.
What changes the number
- Water category is the biggest driver: clean (~$3–4), gray (~$4–6.50), black/sewage (~$7–12+) per sq ft.
- How long the water sat matters — mold can start within 24–48 hours, adding remediation.
- Porous materials (carpet, drywall, insulation) usually get removed and replaced.
- Structural drying can take 3–5 days of equipment rental.
Water damage repair cost by affected area
At the calculator’s default $7/sq ft plus $400 for drying equipment. The rate assumes clean water caught reasonably early. Grey water roughly doubles it and black water (sewage) roughly triples it, because the materials get removed instead of dried.
| Affected area | Typical range | Midpoint estimate | All-in per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | $600–$1,050 | $750 | $15.00 |
| 100 sq ft | $880–$1,540 | $1,100 | $11.00 |
| 200 sq ft | $1,440–$2,520 | $1,800 | $9.00 |
| 500 sq ft | $3,120–$5,460 | $3,900 | $7.80 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $5,920–$10,360 | $7,400 | $7.40 |
Frequently asked questions
What are water damage categories?
Category 1 is clean water (supply line); Category 2 is gray water (appliance overflow); Category 3 is black water (sewage or flooding) and is the most expensive to remediate.
Does water damage always cause mold?
Not always, but unaddressed moisture can grow mold within 24–48 hours, which is why fast drying is critical to keeping the cost down.
How much does water damage repair cost?
Around $1,440–$2,520 for a 200 square foot area at the default $7 per square foot plus drying equipment, or $1,800 mid-range. Category is the multiplier: gray water from an appliance roughly doubles the rate and black water (sewage) roughly triples it, because porous materials are removed instead of dried.
What are the three categories of water damage?
Category 1 is clean water from a supply line or tap. Category 2 (gray) is water with some contamination — a washing machine or dishwasher discharge, or category 1 water left to sit. Category 3 (black) is grossly contaminated: sewage, ground surface water, or anything left long enough to grow bacteria. Category decides what gets dried and what gets thrown away.
How quickly does water damage need to be addressed?
Within 24 to 48 hours. That is the window before mold becomes a second, separate job, and it is also how insurers judge whether you mitigated the loss — a claim can be reduced if avoidable damage happened because you waited. Extraction and air movement on day one is the cheapest decision in the whole process.