Home project costs in Lancaster, PA
Every project we cover, priced for the Lancaster metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
Lancaster sits 99th of 300 metros on BEA's regional price index, at 98.3 where the US is 100. Goods, the index that drives materials, is 100.7 (52nd). The metro has about 252,230 jobs in BLS's May 2025 survey.
Not every job moves the same way here: 16 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 17 below, and 5 are level with it. Kitchen backsplash (+7%), tile flooring (+7%) and shower pan (+4%) sit highest, and patio door (−3%), composite deck (−3%) and kitchen cabinets (−3%) sit lowest. Labor-heavy work tracks local wages; materials-heavy work tracks the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Lancaster 2Ne Fltr Plt, 2 miles away) shows a January average low of 22°F, a July average high of 87°F and 44 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are April through October; for exterior installation, they are March through November.
What local trades earn in Lancaster
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $21.76 | $23.40 | $28.00 | $22.66 | 1.03 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $22.56 | $26.77 | $29.68 | $29.12 | 0.92 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $24.42 | $29.49 | $35.52 | $28.78 | 1.02 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $23.78 | $29.78 | $35.90 | $30.67 | 0.97 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $24.97 | $28.75 | $32.04 | $27.41 | 1.05 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $23.71 | $30.52 | $39.62 | $30.38 | 1.00 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | $24.16 | $31.79 | $36.02 | $26.77 | 1.19 |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | $22.75 | $25.31 | $28.94 | $26.65 | 0.95 |
Concrete & paving in Lancaster
Across these 7 projects, Lancaster averages +2% against national midpoints. Asphalt driveway is highest at +3% and concrete slab lowest at +1%.
| Project | Size | Lancaster range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Lancaster | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +1% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Lancaster | 600 sq ft | $3,700 – $9,400 | +2% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Lancaster | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,600 | +3% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Lancaster | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,400 | +2% |
| Paver patio cost in Lancaster | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,550 | +2% |
| Concrete patio cost in Lancaster | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,050 | +2% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Lancaster | 400 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,150 | +2% |
Decks & outdoor in Lancaster
Across these 2 projects, Lancaster averages −3% against national midpoints. Wood deck is highest at −2% and composite deck lowest at −3%.
| Project | Size | Lancaster range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Lancaster | 300 sq ft | $7,400 – $14,800 | −2% |
| Composite deck cost in Lancaster | 300 sq ft | $11,700 – $23,400 | −3% |
Building & additions in Lancaster
The 2 jobs here average −2% versus the US in Lancaster, from −3% (home addition) to −1% (detached garage).
| Project | Size | Lancaster range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Lancaster | 576 sq ft | $28,700 – $57,500 | −1% |
| Home addition cost in Lancaster | 300 sq ft | $37,000 – $75,100 | −3% |
Doors & windows in Lancaster
Across these 5 projects, Lancaster averages −2% against national midpoints. Garage door is highest at −1% and patio door lowest at −3%.
| Project | Size | Lancaster range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Lancaster | 1 door | $690 – $3,650 | −1% |
| Storm door cost in Lancaster | 1 door | $340 – $930 | −2% |
| Front door cost in Lancaster | 1 door | $480 – $2,500 | −1% |
| Window replacement cost in Lancaster | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,800 | −2% |
| Patio door cost in Lancaster | 1 door | $590 – $5,800 | −3% |
Fencing in Lancaster
Across these 4 projects, Lancaster averages −1% against national midpoints. Vinyl fence is highest at level and wood fence lowest at −1%.
| Project | Size | Lancaster range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Lancaster | 150 linear ft | $3,000 – $7,550 | −1% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Lancaster | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,150 | level |
| Chain-link fence cost in Lancaster | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,100 | −1% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Lancaster | 150 linear ft | $3,750 – $11,400 | level |
Roofing & exterior in Lancaster
Across these 5 projects, Lancaster averages −1% against national midpoints. Gutters is highest at level and roof replacement lowest at −2%.
| Project | Size | Lancaster range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Lancaster | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,950 – $12,300 | −2% |
| Metal roof cost in Lancaster | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,850 – $32,000 | −2% |
| Gutters cost in Lancaster | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,200 | level |
| Vinyl siding cost in Lancaster | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,250 – $24,800 | −2% |
| Attic insulation cost in Lancaster | 1,000 sq ft | $990 – $3,950 | −1% |
Kitchen & bath in Lancaster
The 5 jobs here average +2% versus the US in Lancaster, from −3% (kitchen cabinets) to +7% (kitchen backsplash).
| Project | Size | Lancaster range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Lancaster | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $13,500 | −3% |
| Shower pan cost in Lancaster | 1 pan | $990 – $2,900 | +4% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Lancaster | 120 sq ft | $18,500 – $31,500 | level |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Lancaster | 45 sq ft | $4,800 – $23,700 | +2% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Lancaster | 30 sq ft | $330 – $1,600 | +7% |
Landscaping & drainage in Lancaster
The 5 jobs here average +1% versus the US in Lancaster, from level (French drain) to +1% (retaining wall).
| Project | Size | Lancaster range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Lancaster | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | level |
| Retaining wall cost in Lancaster | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,150 – $13,600 | +1% |
| Sod installation cost in Lancaster | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,300 | +1% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Lancaster | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,050 – $10,100 | +1% |
| Inground pool cost in Lancaster | 450 sq ft | $36,600 – $114,500 | +1% |
Flooring & interior in Lancaster
Across these 3 projects, Lancaster averages +2% against national midpoints. Tile flooring is highest at +7% and hardwood flooring lowest at −1%.
| Project | Size | Lancaster range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Lancaster | 500 sq ft | $5,450 – $12,400 | −1% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Lancaster | 500 sq ft | $2,000 – $7,050 | +1% |
| Tile flooring cost in Lancaster | 200 sq ft | $2,750 – $10,500 | +7% |
Lancaster against its nearest metros
Taking every project together, Lancaster comes out level versus the national midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, 6 price higher and none lower. Reading is the lowest at +1% (30 miles) and Philadelphia the highest at +4% (50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PAthis page | 98.3 | 100.7 | level | |
| York, PA | 25 miles | 96.0 | 100.7 | +2% |
| Reading, PA | 30 miles | 97.1 | 100.7 | +1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 45 miles | 98.7 | 100.7 | +2% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 50 miles | 102.6 | 96.8 | +4% |
| Baltimore, MD | 55 miles | 104.5 | 102.4 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | 70 miles | 100.0 | 100.6 | +1% |