True Cost Guide Foundations Install a Crawl Space Encapsulation

How Much Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost in 2024?

Typical Range:

$1,000 - $30,000

Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.

Updated September 18, 2024

Written by HomeAdvisor.

Highlights

Encapsulating a crawl space costs between $1,000 and $30,000, depending on the size, condition, and whether you install a drainage system.
Labor is the biggest cost factor of crawl space encapsulation, making up 50% to 75% of the entire project cost.
Another important cost factor of crawl space encapsulation is prep work, including cleaning, clearing of debris, crawl space inspection, mold remediation, and foundation repair.
You can reduce the cost of crawl space encapsulation by cleaning and clearing it yourself, addressing issues as soon as they’re discovered, and having it regularly inspected for pests, mold, and moisture damage.

The average cost of crawl space encapsulation is $15,750, with most projects costing somewhere between $1,000 and $30,000. Encapsulating your crawl space improves air quality in your home, saves you on energy costs, and protects the space against pests and water damage—making it a worthy investment for homeowners. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about crawl space encapsulation costs.

Average Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost

Average Cost	High Cost	Low Cost
$15,750	$30,000	$1,000

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Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost Factors

There are a number of factors that will impact the final cost of encapsulating a crawl space. In particular, you should consider the size of the crawl space, your waterproofing needs, the type of vapor barrier you use, the number of vents you need to seal, and whether or not you’re installing a drainage system.

Size

Size is one of the main price drivers of crawl space encapsulation. Generally, crawl space encapsulation costs between $2 and $10 per square foot. A larger crawl space means a higher price tag for encapsulation.

Crawl Space Size (Square Feet)	Average Cost
500	$1,000–$5,000
1,000	$2,000–$10,000
1,500	$3,000–$15,000
2,000	$4,000–$20,000
2,500	$5,000–$25,000
3,000	$6,000–$30,000

Waterproofing

If your crawl space is prone to moisture infiltration, you’ll need to pay to have the area professionally waterproofed, which can add to the cost of encapsulation significantly. Waterproofing a crawl space generally costs about $2,000 to $10,000, but this figure can vary depending on the crawl space’s size and condition.

Vapor Barrier

A vapor barrier is a specially designed sheet of plastic that prevents moisture from getting into your crawl space, protecting it from mold, rot, and mildew. Crawl space vapor barriers cost $0.15 to $0.50 per square foot for materials, depending on the thickness of the plastic used (vapor barriers range from 6 to 20 millimeters thick). Factoring installation, you can expect to pay between $2 and $4 per square foot, for an average total cost of $1,200 and $4,000.

Drainage

If you’re located in an area with a high water table, frequent floods, or are dealing with gradual water seepage in your crawl space, it’s a good idea to install a drainage system. This multi-part system consists of a trench, French drains, gravel, and a sump pump, all working together to eliminate water from your crawl space. Installing a crawl space drainage system will cost between $800 and $3,000 for materials and installation.

Vent Sealing

Sealing vents is an essential part of most crawl space encapsulation projects. It helps keep the space dry, sealing gaps that can let air, water, and moisture inside. Vent sealing is usually included with the overall cost of crawl space encapsulation, but the price will increase if you have more vents that need to be covered. This is a relatively affordable step of the process, with vent sealing costing between $150 and $450 for most projects.

Additional Cost Factors for Crawl Space Encapsulation

Beyond crawl space size, vapor barriers, and drainage systems, a few other cost factors might impact the final price of a crawl space encapsulation project.

Labor

Crawl space encapsulation is a labor-intensive project. The project price is mostly determined by work hours and rates, with labor making up 50% to 75% of the total cost of the project. Labor rates for waterproofing and encapsulating a crawl space generally range from $30 to $100 per hour, but most local basement waterproofing pros will charge by the job.

Permits

Some regions might require you to obtain a local permit to encapsulate your crawl space. The cost of these permits (and whether they’re required at all) varies by location, but you can usually expect to pay around $100 to $250 to get them if needed.

Prep

In order to encapsulate a crawl space, the area needs to be clear of objects and debris. It also needs to be confirmed to be free of mold, and the structural integrity of the crawl space needs to be checked as well. You’ll need a crawl space inspection to ensure it’s ready for encapsulation—this costs around $100 to $250.

Crawl Space Encapsulation Prep	Average Cost
Crawl Space Inspection	$100–$250
Mold Remediation	$500–$6,000
Foundation Repair	$2,000–$15,000
Crawl Space Cleaning	$500–$4,000

If the inspection uncovers mold or structural issues, this will add to the cost of encapsulation. Mold remediation costs between $500 and $6,000, depending on the extent of the problem. If your inspector discovers structural problems, you’ll need to pay crawl space repair costs (such as foundation repair) before encapsulation. Foundation repair can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $15,000, depending on the size of the crawl space and the extent of the damage.

The cost of crawl space preparation varies greatly depending on the condition of your space. If you simply need to clear some junk out of the way, you could do it yourself in an afternoon at no extra cost. But if you decide to get it professionally cleaned, that could add an extra $500 to $4,000, depending on how much work is needed.

Ongoing Maintenance

Maintenance is an essential part of keeping a dry, mold- and pest-free crawl space after encapsulation. The exact prices of ongoing crawl space maintenance will vary, but there are a few you can expect to budget for in the future:

Regular Inspections: Crawl space inspections are crucial for ensuring your encapsulation is in good shape, as well as generally checking the condition of the crawl space. Crawl space inspections cost between $100 and $250.
Pest Control: If you’ve ever dealt with a pest infestation in your crawl space, it’s recommended to have a pest control company inspect the space regularly—even after extermination. This ensures the pests don’t return, preventing small infestations from getting out of control again. Pest inspections cost $50 to $200.
Humidity Control: To ensure moisture doesn’t once again enter your crawl space, you’ll need to take measures to monitor and control it. This might mean purchasing a dehumidifier or two, or possibly installing a more sophisticated humidity control system.

Crawl Space Encapsulation Renovation vs. Repair

In some cases, repairing a faulty crawl space encapsulation is a simple and inexpensive process. If the plastic vapor barrier is damaged, you may just need to patch a few areas or re-tape loose seams. A crawl space professional will be able to determine the extent of the damage if more serious repairs are needed—most repairs range between $4,500 and $8,000.

If the damage to your encapsulation is extensive, it might make more sense to renovate it entirely. This protects your home from moisture and pests, offering peace of mind that the foundational level of your home isn’t being damaged. The best way to know whether you need encapsulation repair or renovation is to contact a crawl space inspector.

Does Encapsulating a Crawl Space Increase Home Value?

Encapsulating a crawl space is an invaluable investment in your home. Not only does it boost home values by an average of 10%, but it has the added bonus of reducing your energy usage thanks to improved insulation. Generally speaking, encapsulating your crawl space can only benefit your home value, both directly and indirectly.

Budgeting for Crawl Space Encapsulation

Crawl space encapsulation can be a significant investment, but there are a number of ways to reduce the cost of this important project. Here are a few crawl space encapsulation budgeting tips:

If possible, do the prep work (such as clearing the space of debris and cleaning it) yourself to avoid crawl space cleaning costs.
Address issues as soon as possible—foundation problems, moisture damage, mold, and pest infestations are all expensive issues to remediate, but they only become more costly as time goes on. Save yourself money by hiring an expert as soon as you notice a problem.
Have your crawl space inspected regularly for pests, moisture, and mold to ensure you catch problems earlier on.
Invest in a drainage system rather than relying solely on vapor barriers for a longer-lasting solution to water infiltration that will save you money in the long term.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is crawl space encapsulation worth it?

Depending on your specific home and your needs, crawl space encapsulation could be worth the cost. No matter what, this project improves energy efficiency and air quality in the home, boosting its value. If your home is prone to pests or moisture seepage, then it’s worth investing in crawl space encapsulation.

How long until crawl space encapsulation needs to be redone?

Assuming you properly maintain your crawl space encapsulation and have the space inspected regularly, it can last for years or even decades—usually for as long as you own the home. This makes it a good investment in most cases.

Do you still need a dehumidifier in an encapsulated crawl space?

Encapsulating your crawl space dramatically reduces moisture entering the area, but it doesn’t completely eliminate it. That’s why it’s still recommended to use a dehumidifier to keep the crawl space at the optimum humidity level of 30% to 50%, preventing mold, mildew, and moisture damage.

What’s the difference between a vapor barrier and insulation?

A vapor barrier is a thin sheet of plastic that prevents moisture from seeping into your crawl space, while insulation is a material designed to prevent air from entering from the outside. Some insulating options, such as fiberboard, work as both a vapor barrier and insulation on walls.