Home project costs in Washington, DC
Every project we cover, priced for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
The BEA price index for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area is 108.9 against 100 for the US, which puts Washington 15th among 300 metros we track. Goods prices, which matter most for materials, are at 104.8. BLS counts roughly 3,136,190 jobs here.
In Washington, 35 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 3 below. The biggest premiums are sod installation (+6%), garage door (+6%) and window replacement (+5%); the biggest discounts are laminate flooring (−2%), kitchen backsplash (−2%) and tile flooring (−1%). 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 (Washington Reagan Ap, 4 miles away) shows a January average low of 30°F, a July average high of 90°F and 42 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are April through June and August through November; for exterior installation, they are August through June.
What local trades earn in Washington
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $20.07 | $22.80 | $27.05 | $22.66 | 1.01 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $26.62 | $29.23 | $35.56 | $29.12 | 1.00 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $26.33 | $29.64 | $35.07 | $28.78 | 1.03 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $26.82 | $34.55 | $45.22 | $30.67 | 1.13 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $23.42 | $28.05 | $30.30 | $27.41 | 1.02 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $28.40 | $36.50 | $49.65 | $30.38 | 1.20 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | $19.22 | $23.65 | $31.25 | $26.77 | 0.88 |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | $23.82 | $28.05 | $35.51 | $26.65 | 1.05 |
Concrete & paving in Washington
The 7 jobs here average +4% versus the US in Washington, from +3% (concrete driveway) to +5% (asphalt driveway).
| Project | Size | Washington range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Washington | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,400 | +4% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Washington | 600 sq ft | $3,750 – $9,450 | +3% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Washington | 600 sq ft | $3,200 – $7,800 | +5% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Washington | 1,000 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,600 | +3% |
| Paver patio cost in Washington | 300 sq ft | $3,100 – $5,600 | +3% |
| Concrete patio cost in Washington | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | +4% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Washington | 400 sq ft | $3,350 – $8,250 | +4% |
Decks & outdoor in Washington
The 2 jobs here average +3% versus the US in Washington, from +2% (composite deck) to +3% (wood deck).
| Project | Size | Washington range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Washington | 300 sq ft | $7,750 – $15,600 | +3% |
| Composite deck cost in Washington | 300 sq ft | $12,300 – $24,700 | +2% |
Building & additions in Washington
Across these 2 projects, Washington averages +4% against national midpoints. Home addition is highest at +5% and detached garage lowest at +4%.
| Project | Size | Washington range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Washington | 576 sq ft | $30,100 – $60,500 | +4% |
| Home addition cost in Washington | 300 sq ft | $39,700 – $80,500 | +5% |
Doors & windows in Washington
The 5 jobs here average +5% versus the US in Washington, from +4% (front door) to +6% (garage door).
| Project | Size | Washington range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Washington | 1 door | $740 – $3,900 | +6% |
| Storm door cost in Washington | 1 door | $360 – $990 | +4% |
| Front door cost in Washington | 1 door | $520 – $2,600 | +4% |
| Window replacement cost in Washington | 10 windows | $4,750 – $15,800 | +5% |
| Patio door cost in Washington | 1 door | $630 – $6,300 | +5% |
Fencing in Washington
The 4 jobs here average +3% versus the US in Washington, from +2% (chain-link fence) to +4% (vinyl fence).
| Project | Size | Washington range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Washington | 150 linear ft | $3,100 – $7,900 | +3% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Washington | 150 linear ft | $4,750 – $9,500 | +4% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Washington | 150 linear ft | $1,600 – $6,300 | +2% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Washington | 150 linear ft | $3,900 – $11,800 | +3% |
Roofing & exterior in Washington
The 5 jobs here average +3% versus the US in Washington, from +1% (attic insulation) to +5% (roof replacement).
| Project | Size | Washington range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Washington | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,400 – $13,100 | +5% |
| Metal roof cost in Washington | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,500 – $33,900 | +4% |
| Gutters cost in Washington | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,350 | +4% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Washington | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,600 – $25,900 | +3% |
| Attic insulation cost in Washington | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,050 | +1% |
Kitchen & bath in Washington
Across these 5 projects, Washington averages +3% against national midpoints. Kitchen remodel is highest at +5% and kitchen backsplash lowest at −2%.
| Project | Size | Washington range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Washington | 25 linear ft | $4,450 – $14,600 | +5% |
| Shower pan cost in Washington | 1 pan | $940 – $2,900 | +3% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Washington | 120 sq ft | $19,400 – $33,000 | +5% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Washington | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,200 | +4% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Washington | 30 sq ft | $290 – $1,500 | −2% |
Landscaping & drainage in Washington
Across these 5 projects, Washington averages +4% against national midpoints. Sod installation is highest at +6% and retaining wall lowest at +3%.
| Project | Size | Washington range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Washington | 60 linear ft | $630 – $2,200 | +4% |
| Retaining wall cost in Washington | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,150 – $13,800 | +3% |
| Sod installation cost in Washington | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,500 | +6% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Washington | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,200 – $10,500 | +5% |
| Inground pool cost in Washington | 450 sq ft | $37,300 – $116,500 | +3% |
Flooring & interior in Washington
The 3 jobs here average −1% versus the US in Washington, from −2% (laminate flooring) to +1% (hardwood flooring).
| Project | Size | Washington range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Washington | 500 sq ft | $5,550 – $12,700 | +1% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Washington | 500 sq ft | $1,900 – $6,850 | −2% |
| Tile flooring cost in Washington | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $10,000 | −1% |
Washington against its nearest metros
Averaged over all 38 projects, Washington prices +3% against the US midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, none price higher and 6 lower. Winchester is the lowest at −8% (60 miles) and Baltimore the highest at +1% (60 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DCthis page | 108.9 | 104.8 | +3% | |
| Hagerstown, MD | 55 miles | 94.2 | 96.4 | −6% |
| Baltimore, MD | 60 miles | 104.5 | 102.4 | +1% |
| Winchester, VA | 60 miles | 96.5 | 96.7 | −8% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 65 miles | 100.8 | 99.7 | −1% |
| Chambersburg, PA | 75 miles | 94.6 | 100.7 | −1% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 80 miles | 94.9 | 96.8 | −8% |