How Much Do Concrete Footings Cost?

Concrete Footing Cost

Concrete footings cost $1.50 to $24 per linear foot, averaging $5 per linear foot. Prices run $3 to $7 per square foot, depending on the project size and foundation type. An average house with dimensions measuring 150 linear feet ranges from $225 to $3,600. Pier footers can be $75 to $150 per square foot, especially if you only need a few.

Although not all foundation types use concrete footings, you probably need them if you live in an area where the soil freezes. This is also true for properties on a waterfront or floodplain. Keep these cost factors in mind as you plan.

Concrete Footing Average Cost

Concrete Footing Cost per Linear Foot

Concrete footings’ sizes dictate their prices, expressed in cost per linear foot. Concrete footing costs $1.50 to $24 per linear foot depending on the width, which averages 12 inches but can range from 6 to 40 inches. The width of footings is often thicker than the walls above them and depends on:

• Soil Load-Bearing Value: Weak soil requires greater width.

• Construction: Wood needs the least, while masonry needs the most.

• Number of Stories: A house with three floors needs more than a single-story home.

For example, a one-story structure on firm soil and a wood frame can use footings as narrow as 6 inches. A three-story one on weak ground with a fully-grouted masonry frame may need 40 inches minimum.

Concrete Footing Price per Square Foot

Concrete footings cost $3 to $7 per square foot. Most installers measure by the linear foot since the width varies by project. This allows them to calculate the number of footings needed or how much they will cost without needing to reference the square footage of the property.

Cost to Pour Concrete Footings

The labor cost to pour footings ranges from $0.50 to $8 per linear foot, depending on the width and difficulty of excavating the soil. Expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $350 per footing depending on the type of footings being poured. The average cost per footing is $150. Pros usually wrap footing installation into the total estimate for the price of a concrete foundation.

Concrete footings are essential. A misplaced footing can lead to shifts and cracks in the foundation, which can seriously compromise the home's structural integrity. Minimize the potential for problems and avoid foundation repair costs by hiring a skilled team of contractors with specialized experience planning and pouring concrete footings and foundations.

Footing & Concrete Foundation Prices

The cost to build a basement or foundation averages $8,500, or $4 to $7 per square foot, including footings, walls, and the slab. Footings are shallow columns of concrete at the edges of a foundation that distribute the building’s load and support other architectural elements such as walls and stairs. The total price of a foundation usually includes the footing costs.

Concrete foundations that only need a slab cost the least. If you’re building a basement, you’ll pay the most. Footing costs will be higher if you need to pour footings for a crawl space under the home or if there will be a basement that can be used as a living space, since both of these installations require more excavation, materials, and other costs.

Cost Factors for Concrete Footing Prices

The price of your concrete footings will vary based on size, labor, and several other factors. Consider the following when budgeting for your project.

Type of Footings

The type of footing you should use aligns with the type of foundation poured. Thicker footings tend to cost more. There are two primary footing types:

• Continuous footings extend the entire length of the foundation and can extend beyond the sides for a wider base that distributes the load of the walls above into the soil below.

• Pad footings are installed beneath a more concentrated load, such as a single pier or column, rather than an entire wall.

Type of Soil

Before you pour footings, have the soil tested at your project site. Different types of soils have different load-bearing capabilities, so you’ll need to know the soil type to ensure you use the right strength and amount of materials.

Soil is generally more stable when it contains more rock. For example, crystalline bedrock can bear the heaviest loads, while clay is the least resilient soil type. Weaker soil will need wider, more expensive footings to compensate for its reduced weight-bearing capacity.

Type of House

Different types, widths, and quantities of footings are needed depending on the type of home you’re building. A single-story home will exert much less pressure on the soil than a two- or three-story home. The home’s layout is also a factor in determining the size and number of footings needed.

Building Codes

Check your local building codes. Building codes vary by state and municipality and tend to be stricter in some parts of the country than in others. If your area requires more substantial footings, they will take up more of your budget.

Climate

Broadly, your local climate also dictates the type of footings you’ll need, how to install them, and how much it costs to dig footings. For example, concrete deteriorates more quickly in hotter climates, so you may need to pay more for material with added preservatives or treatments. On the other hand, footings in cold climates may need to sit deeper to get below the frost line and prevent upheaval or shifting from freezing and thawing. 

DIY Concrete Footings vs. Hiring a Pro

Like most other home foundation projects, concrete footing work isn’t a DIY task. A pro can ensure that the installation has the right width, depth, and thickness to support the structure. They can also confirm that the top is level, which makes the walls less likely to crack or shift. When you’re ready to contact concrete foundation contractors near you, be sure to:

1. Ask about their experience with your project.

2. Find out which pros will handle your entire foundation.

3. Get at least three estimates before selecting a business.

FAQs

What is a concrete footer?

A concrete footer is a relatively shallow column of concrete that sits below your foundation walls. Footers spread wider than the foundation so they can support a higher amount of weight in critical spots such as below walls. The exact dimensions for footers depend on the home, so larger structures need a larger footing.

How do you calculate concrete footing size?

To calculate footing size, you need to know the minimum width and depth for houses in your region. Multiplying the width by the linear footprint of the structure will give you the size in linear feet.

To convert linear feet into square feet, you can divide the width by 12. For example, an 18-inch footer is 1 ½  square feet per linear foot. Multiply this number by the total in linear feet to get the answer in square feet.

How much do foundation piers cost?

The cost to install a pier and beam foundation is $5 per square foot, or $8,000 to $15,000. This style is standard in homes built before the 1960s or those in flood-prone areas.

How much weight can concrete support?

Concrete weight support ranges from 1,500 to 6,500 pounds per square inch. Footings need at least 3,500 to 4,500 pounds per square inch. Remember, though, that your soil type, climate, and materials used will significantly affect how much weight your footings can hold, especially in certain areas. 

How much does it cost to pour a 20x20 concrete slab?

It costs between $1,600 and $3,200 to pour a 20-x-20-foot concrete slab. These estimates are based on an average cost to pour a concrete slab of $4 to $8 per square foot. Be sure to discuss the specifics with your pro; they’ll give you an estimate of how much you can expect.

How much does it cost to raise a house?

The cost to raise a house is between $3,153 and $9,960. This range refers to a form of repair that involves lifting the entire house to potentially remove the old foundation and build a new one or add to an existing one.