Enter what you see. The tool returns a low-to-high planning range and a breakdown. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Water damage and extraction cost calculator
Last reviewed: November 2026.
What moves the price in Kennesaw
The biggest driver is square footage of wet material, followed by what kind of water it was and how long it sat. After that, access: a crawlspace on red clay with 18 inches of clearance costs more per square foot than an open room, because the crew works slowly and lies in mud. Finished basements add cost because there is more to remove and protect. Hardwood adds cost when it cups and has to be replaced, and takes longer to dry. After-hours calls add a premium, and so do contaminated water and large commercial spaces.
Time matters as much as size. Clean water that sits for a day or two starts to behave like gray water, and the longer wet drywall and pad stay wet, the more of them have to come out. That is why the calculator multiplies the range for "1 to 3 days" and "3 days or more."
How the range is built
Published 2025 cost guides put mitigation of clean water at roughly $3 to $4.25 per square foot, gray water at roughly $4.10 to $6.50, and sewage at roughly $7 to $7.50, and several note sewage jobs often run two to three times a clean-water job. We widened those into planning ranges of $3 to $5, $4 to $7 and $7 to $12 per square foot to cover access and time. Extraction ($0.75 to $2 per square foot), demolition of wet flooring and drywall, and antimicrobial treatment are added as separate lines. Location, time and commercial multipliers are our own planning assumptions, not published rates. Rebuild is never included.
| Input | How it changes the range |
|---|---|
| Water type | Sets the base rate per square foot |
| Where | Basement 1.0x to 1.25x, crawlspace 1.1x to 1.4x, ceiling 1.0x to 1.3x, multiple rooms up to 1.15x |
| Time before discovery | 1 to 3 days up to 1.25x, 3 days or more up to 1.6x on the drying line |
| Flooring and drywall | Adds demolition and removal lines |
| Commercial | Adds 10 percent to 40 percent |
Insurance basics
Homeowners policies commonly cover sudden and accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe or a failed supply line, and commonly exclude slow leaks, rising ground water and surface flood water. Sewer and drain backup often needs an added endorsement. A claim goes better with photos, a date of discovery and moisture records. Coverage is decided by your insurer.
A worked example
A 300 square foot finished basement, a clean supply-line leak found within the first day, standing water, carpet and pad, and drywall wet under two feet. Run those numbers in the calculator above and you get $1,650 to $3,700: about $250 to $600 for extraction, $900 to $1,900 for drying, $450 to $1,050 for removal of pad and lower drywall, and $50 to $200 for antimicrobial treatment. New drywall, paint and carpet are separate and priced after drying.
Why two quotes for the same flood differ
One company may price extraction only. Another includes drying and monitoring. One may count the whole basement and another only the wet part. One may include removal of wet drywall and the other leave it to you. Ask each company what is included, how many days of equipment, how many visits for readings, and what happens if the room is not dry on day three. A low number that leaves out drying is not a low number.
Limitations of this calculator
What this tool does not do
- It gives a planning range, not a quote. Only a moisture check and a written scope give a real price.
- The base rates come from published cost guides. The location, time and commercial multipliers are our own assumptions.
- It assumes one water type over an evenly wet area. Mixed sources, or water that reached several floors, can cost more.
- It cannot see inside walls and floors. Hidden wet material is found with meters and a thermal camera on site.
- It leaves out the rebuild (drywall, paint, flooring), plumbing and roof repairs, contents, mold work and any testing.
- It does not add an after-hours premium. Calls at night or on weekends can cost more.
- Results are rounded to the nearest $50. Area is limited to 20,000 sq ft.
- It is not an insurance estimate. Your insurer sets what it pays.
How to read the result
Treat the low number as the best case and the high number as a reasonable worst case for the inputs you entered. If the total looks high or low compared with a quote, compare what each one includes: extraction, drying days, visits for readings and wet material removal.
Factors that move the number
Affected area
Square feet of wet material is the biggest driver of the range.
Water type
Clean, gray and black water start from different base rates.
Time before discovery
Water that sits for days raises the drying line and the amount of material removed.
Location and access
Crawlspaces and basements cost more per square foot than an open room.
Flooring
Carpet pad usually comes out. Hardwood can cup and take longer to dry.
Drywall height
Wet drywall over two feet up the wall costs more to cut and replace.
Property type
Commercial work adds access, after-hours work and documentation.
Hidden damage
Moisture behind walls and under floors is what moves a real quote away from a calculator.
Questions about water damage cost
How much does water damage repair cost in Georgia?
Cost guides for the US put mitigation at roughly $3 to $7.50 per square foot depending on water type, and the rebuild is separate. Georgia-specific figures vary by company and by access. Use the range as a planning tool.
Is the cost of extraction separate from drying?
Some companies bundle them. We show them as separate lines so you can see where the money goes.
How much does it cost to dry out a flooded basement?
The worked example above, a 300 sq ft finished basement with a clean-water leak, runs $1,650 to $3,700 in our planning model. Larger, dirtier or older losses cost more.
Can I get an exact price over the phone?
No. A moisture check and written scope is the only real number.
Related pages: water damage restoration, water extraction, structural drying, mold removal cost.
Sources: Angi; Fixr; HomeAdvisor.
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