A typical water damage claim runs $1,300 to $5,900. By area it is $3.75 to $7 per square foot for clean water dried in place, $7 to $12 once contamination means removing drywall and flooring, and $12 to $25 or more for Category 3. The water category moves the price far more than the room size does.
| Job | Typical US range |
|---|---|
| Water damage restoration, whole claim | $1,300 to $5,900 |
| Clean water (Category 1), drying without demolition | $3.75 to $7 per sq ft |
| Gray water (Category 2), partial drywall and flooring removal | $7 to $12 per sq ft |
| Black water (Category 3), full demolition and structural drying | $12 to $25+ per sq ft |
| Mold remediation, contained area | $1,100 to $3,400 |
Source: Angi and operator-published rate cards compiled August 2026. Ranges are national and a range is never a quote.
Area matters less than people expect. Category matters more.
The common mistake is comparing two quotes on price alone without checking what category each one assumes. A job priced as Category 1 on water that is really Category 2 will be revised upward once the work starts, and by then the equipment is in the house and the leverage has moved.
The second mistake is treating the deductible as the whole exposure. Insurers pay against their own schedules, so the gap between a retail quote and what a policy pays is a real number worth asking about before work begins, not after.
Between $1,300 and $5,900 for a typical claim. By area, $3.75 to $7 per square foot for clean water dried without demolition, rising to $12 to $25 or more per square foot for Category 3 work where contaminated materials are removed rather than cleaned.
Because the work changes from drying to demolition. Porous materials that have been in contact with Category 3 water are removed and replaced rather than cleaned and dried, so the labour and disposal costs rise with the materials.
Usually not. Restoration covers extraction, drying and removal of unsalvageable material. Rebuilding drywall, flooring and cabinetry is separate work, often by a separate trade, and it is worth getting that scope priced at the same time.
Usually because they assume different water categories. Category is the single biggest driver of cost, so ask each contractor to state it in writing before you compare the totals.
Commonly yes, per unit per day, which is why a dry-out that runs long costs more than one that finishes in three days. Ask how equipment is billed and how many units the scope assumes.
Rebuilding. Restoration covers extraction, drying and removing unsalvageable material. Replacing drywall, flooring and cabinetry is separate work, often by a separate trade, and worth pricing at the same time.
Emergency Response
Call and a crew is dispatched - extraction the same day, drying equipment set the same visit, and the documentation your claim needs from the first hour.
