A crawl space costs between $5 and $16 per square foot. Crawl space: A crawl space is constructed using exterior concrete walls and wood support beams that provide about 18 inches of clearance between the ground and the house.A concrete basement costs between $10 and $25 per square foot. Basement: A basement creates a strong foundation as well as extra storage or living space.Foundation TypeĪverage Cost per Square Foot (Materials Only) Common types of foundations include the following. Because the logs that make up a log cabin are very heavy, the foundation will need to be very strong and dependable. The average foundation cost is between $7,000 and $19,000, depending on the type and size of the foundation. Flat land will likely cost less to prepare than sloped or hilly land, but either way, site preparation costs include land clearing, excavating for a foundation or basement, civil engineering to create a plan for proper drainage and utility installation, building permits, utility installation, and construction of any roads that need to run to the property. If the site is undeveloped, developing the land can be a significant factor in the overall budget. A soil test may also be required to ensure the land is solid and able to hold the weight of a home. But if the land is heavily forested, it can cost up to three times more. If the site is especially rocky or hilly, it may require land leveling or clearing, which can cost between $1,370 and $5,671. A topographic land survey will show the terrain and act as a guide for the best place to build as well as help to estimate any land development costs. While log cabins can be built in a neighborhood or on an already developed plot of land, they are often built on undeveloped land that requires land clearing. But it’s very important for a homeowner to check with the local municipality to determine which, if any, permits are needed and how much the permits will cost. In some cases, a building permit may not be necessary, especially for a very small or off-grid cabin or one that isn’t used as a primary residence. A land survey costs between $380 and $540.īuilding permits will also factor into the overall cost to build a cabin. This is an important step to ensure the cabin is built within the confines of the actual land that’s owned. The land surveyor will assess the area and prepare a land survey, which is a legal document that defines the boundary of the property as well as its topography. If the log cabin is being built on an undeveloped plot of land, then a land survey is likely going to be required. Labor costs for common cabin-building tasks are explored in the table below. The average labor costs for different contractors can impact the final cost to build a log cabin. Even if the homeowner builds the actual cabin themselves, they will want to account for labor costs associated with plumbing, electrical wiring, foundation construction, and any other jobs that they can’t or choose not to do themselves.

But the labor for the actual construction of the cabin is only part of the labor that will need to be done to get the cabin built. Materialīuilding a log cabin from a kit can cut down significantly on labor costs. The table below shows the average cost for different construction materials. Homeowners will want to be sure to account for surcharges for material delivery as well. Other construction materials to account for include concrete for the foundation and possibly a driveway, drywall, insulation, roof materials, flooring for the interior of the cabin, and siding for the exterior. The logs to actually build the cabin will be one of the main costs, but homeowners will also want to factor the cost of other building materials into the total cost estimate. The costs of each type of cabin are explored in a section below. An A-frame cabin is a popular cabin design, and cabins can be custom-built, or they can be prefabricated or come as large or small cabin kits that the homeowner can build themselves. While the cabin size is one of the most important factors in calculating log home costs, the type of cabin and the material it’s made of will also heavily impact the cost.Īt $125 to $175 per square foot, the cost to build a cabin is comparable to the cost to build a traditional home, which falls between $100 and $200 per square foot, though log cabin cost can be much higher depending on the amenities and other features in the home. And there are many factors for homeowners to consider in the overall cost. But they can also be a grand example of beautiful design and craftsmanship that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Log cabins can be simple, off-grid tiny homes that cost as little as $25,000 to build. Photo: Factors in Calculating the Cost to Build a CabinĪ cabin is not a one-size-fits-all home.

Building a log cabin kit yourself