Home project costs in Birmingham, AL
Every project we cover, priced for the Birmingham metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
The BEA price index for the Birmingham area is 91.6 against 100 for the US, which puts Birmingham 218th among 300 metros we track. Goods prices, which matter most for materials, are at 96.4. BLS counts roughly 520,290 jobs here.
In Birmingham, 0 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 38 below. The highest against the national midpoint are attic insulation (−4%), kitchen remodel (−6%) and sod installation (−6%); the biggest discounts are laminate flooring (−17%), concrete driveway (−13%) and chain-link fence (−12%). The spread comes from which trades each job uses: a labor-heavy job follows local wages, while a materials-heavy job follows the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Birmingham Ap, 4 miles away) shows a January average low of 35°F, a July average high of 91°F and 57 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are March through June and September through November; for exterior installation, they are September through June.
What local trades earn in Birmingham
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $15.51 | $18.45 | $22.60 | $22.66 | 0.81 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $22.00 | $24.23 | $28.95 | $29.12 | 0.83 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $22.72 | $26.12 | $29.27 | $28.78 | 0.91 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $23.67 | $28.89 | $30.98 | $30.67 | 0.94 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $18.48 | $22.30 | $27.61 | $27.41 | 0.81 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $22.84 | $27.23 | $30.69 | $30.38 | 0.90 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | $17.94 | $21.82 | $23.89 | $26.77 | 0.82 |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | $20.90 | $22.41 | $27.09 | $26.65 | 0.84 |
Concrete & paving in Birmingham
The 7 jobs here average −10% versus the US in Birmingham, from −13% (concrete driveway) to −7% (asphalt driveway).
| Project | Size | Birmingham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Birmingham | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,700 | −10% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Birmingham | 600 sq ft | $3,200 – $7,950 | −13% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Birmingham | 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,850 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Birmingham | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,300 | −9% |
| Paver patio cost in Birmingham | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,800 | −12% |
| Concrete patio cost in Birmingham | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,500 | −11% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Birmingham | 400 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,100 | −11% |
Decks & outdoor in Birmingham
The 2 jobs here average −11% versus the US in Birmingham, from −12% (composite deck) to −10% (wood deck).
| Project | Size | Birmingham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Birmingham | 300 sq ft | $6,850 – $13,700 | −10% |
| Composite deck cost in Birmingham | 300 sq ft | $10,600 – $21,300 | −12% |
Building & additions in Birmingham
Across these 2 projects, Birmingham averages −11% against national midpoints. Detached garage is highest at −10% and home addition lowest at −11%.
| Project | Size | Birmingham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Birmingham | 576 sq ft | $26,000 – $52,200 | −10% |
| Home addition cost in Birmingham | 300 sq ft | $33,700 – $68,200 | −11% |
Doors & windows in Birmingham
The 5 jobs here average −8% versus the US in Birmingham, from −10% (patio door) to −7% (front door).
| Project | Size | Birmingham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Birmingham | 1 door | $650 – $3,450 | −7% |
| Storm door cost in Birmingham | 1 door | $320 – $880 | −8% |
| Front door cost in Birmingham | 1 door | $450 – $2,350 | −7% |
| Window replacement cost in Birmingham | 10 windows | $4,100 – $13,900 | −7% |
| Patio door cost in Birmingham | 1 door | $550 – $5,400 | −10% |
Fencing in Birmingham
The 4 jobs here average −9% versus the US in Birmingham, from −12% (chain-link fence) to −7% (vinyl fence).
| Project | Size | Birmingham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Birmingham | 150 linear ft | $2,700 – $6,950 | −10% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Birmingham | 150 linear ft | $4,250 – $8,500 | −7% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Birmingham | 150 linear ft | $1,400 – $5,350 | −12% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Birmingham | 150 linear ft | $3,450 – $10,400 | −9% |
Roofing & exterior in Birmingham
The 5 jobs here average −9% versus the US in Birmingham, from −12% (roof replacement) to −4% (attic insulation).
| Project | Size | Birmingham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Birmingham | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,300 – $11,100 | −12% |
| Metal roof cost in Birmingham | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,650 – $29,100 | −11% |
| Gutters cost in Birmingham | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,800 | −10% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Birmingham | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,500 – $22,500 | −11% |
| Attic insulation cost in Birmingham | 1,000 sq ft | $960 – $3,850 | −4% |
Kitchen & bath in Birmingham
Across these 5 projects, Birmingham averages −9% against national midpoints. Kitchen remodel is highest at −6% and kitchen backsplash lowest at −10%.
| Project | Size | Birmingham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Birmingham | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,600 | −10% |
| Shower pan cost in Birmingham | 1 pan | $830 – $2,550 | −9% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Birmingham | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Birmingham | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Birmingham | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Landscaping & drainage in Birmingham
Across these 5 projects, Birmingham averages −8% against national midpoints. Sod installation is highest at −6% and retaining wall lowest at −10%.
| Project | Size | Birmingham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Birmingham | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Retaining wall cost in Birmingham | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,200 – $12,200 | −10% |
| Sod installation cost in Birmingham | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Birmingham | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,200 | −8% |
| Inground pool cost in Birmingham | 450 sq ft | $32,700 – $102,000 | −9% |
Flooring & interior in Birmingham
The 3 jobs here average −13% versus the US in Birmingham, from −17% (laminate flooring) to −10% (tile flooring).
| Project | Size | Birmingham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Birmingham | 500 sq ft | $4,850 – $11,200 | −11% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Birmingham | 500 sq ft | $1,600 – $5,850 | −17% |
| Tile flooring cost in Birmingham | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,200 | −10% |
Birmingham against its nearest metros
Averaged over all 38 projects, Birmingham prices −10% against the US midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, none price higher and 6 lower. Columbus is the lowest at −12% (135 miles) and Decatur the highest at −10% (75 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, ALthis page | 91.6 | 96.4 | −10% | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 60 miles | 87.7 | 96.4 | −11% |
| Decatur, AL | 75 miles | 87.2 | 96.4 | −10% |
| Montgomery, AL | 80 miles | 89.7 | 96.4 | −12% |
| Huntsville, AL | 90 miles | 93.1 | 96.4 | −10% |
| Auburn, AL | 100 miles | 87.9 | 96.4 | −12% |
| Columbus, GA | 135 miles | 89.3 | 96.3 | −12% |