Percent of cost of a house in materials?
![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8321ad4b6e4594269236922fface696b?s=52&d=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.greenbuildingadvisor.com%2Fapp%2Favatars%2F200x200%2Fj.png&r=g)
What is the approx percent of the cost of a house that goes into materials? Is 30% about right? Specs: Plain Jane house. Slab on grade, 4′ foundation wall down to footers, ranch style, flat ceiling, cold attic, 12″ double walls, basic L-shaped box, no exotic architecture, no exotic materials like granite, etc. This does not include land and septic. This is for Frb, AK, but I suspect the percentages are similar across the land. Thanks. klingel
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
![](https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/app/themes/greenbuildingadvisor/dist/img/modules/detail-library/thumb1.png)
![](https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/app/themes/greenbuildingadvisor/dist/img/modules/detail-library/thumb2.png)
Replies
John,
It's going to vary a lot from place to place and builder to builder, but the breakdown should be about 40% materials, 40% labor, 20% overhead and profit.
Good. That is about what I figured, and close enough. We're just trying to get a handle on whether or not we can build new and give me a day job. thanks. john