How Much Does a Storm Cellar Cost in 2025?

Storm Cellar Cost Factors

While the type, location, and size of your hurricane- or tornado-safe room will significantly impact the overall price, additional cost factors can affect your total. Read about them below.

Size

The size of your storm shelter impacts the cost. Review our table below to determine how much you’ll spend for one that accommodates you and your loved ones. As a general rule, plan for six square feet per person for tornadoes and 10 square feet for hurricanes.

Materials 

The shelter material will also affect the overall price. Custom-built structures typically use reinforced concrete, while prefab gives you more options, including steel and fiberglass.

Brand

Because installation costs can vary, it's a good idea to call each company you're considering to get a quote for a prefab unit. Here are some of the most popular storm shelter brands:

• Atlas Survival Shelters

• Hausner’s

• Storm Safe Shelters

• FamilySAFE Shelters

• Valley Storm Shelters

• Ground Zero

• Oklahoma Shelters

• Survive-A-Storm

• SafePorch Storm Shelters

Soil Conditions

Land excavation and grading cost approximately $2.50 to $15 per cubic yard of earth excavated or about $100 to $300 per hour. Excavation may not be included in the price of your shelter if the land is particularly rocky or difficult to dig through. But if you have land that's easy to excavate, the installation should go quickly and may be included in your initial storm shelter price. 

Position

For the best underground storm shelter location, you may need to pay the cost to level land or regrade a lawn, which ranges from $1,000 to $3,300. The ideal spot is near the house but not so close that debris can fall on it.

Measure the height of your house wall. If possible, position the storm shelter as far away in the distance from its height in length. Or consider options with a sloped door so debris will slide down rather than lying flat on top of the door.

Concrete Pouring

Pouring concrete costs around $6 per square foot. Manufacturers recommend installing it around most in-ground storm shelters. This keeps it from floating out should the surrounding soil become saturated with moisture.

Prefab vs. Custom

Premanufactured storm shelters can cost as little as $3,000, including installation. The average cost of an 8-by-10-foot above-ground, prefabricated structure is between $5,500 and $12,000. This includes delivery, installation, and a range of features, such as a welded steel box and steel planks.

Custom shelters will cost more than a prefab shelter. For example, a 5-by-5-by-8-foot in-ground shelter costs around $3,000 to $8,000, with an additional $1,000 to $3,000 for delivery and installation (more if the excavation proves challenging). If you want a larger size or additional features like electricity, you can expect to pay as much as $30,000 or more for a large, custom shelter.

Labor

Labor is a key cost factor for building a storm shelter. Labor costs can range from $350 to $3,000 or more, depending on the size of the shelter and its overall complexity. Contractors charge an average of $50 to $150 per hour, but you may also need to hire other professionals. A structural engineer, for instance, charges $100 to $220 per hour, and you’ll need to hire one to assist with designing a custom shelter.

Accessibility

Designing for accessibility can impact your overall cost. Consider how far away a shelter is (the farther it is from your home, the harder it can be to get to in an emergency) and how accessible it is for someone with limited mobility. Features like wheelchair ramps can increase the cost and require more square footage.

Add-Ons and Other Features

Just as you might pay for security features like a camera system in a safe room, you can opt for additional safety features for your storm shelter. Here are some common add-ons to budget for:

• Beds with mattresses: $70–$300+ each

• Handrail: $50–$100+

• Emergency exit: $250–$300+ (may only be available on custom units)

• Enhanced air ventilation or filtration systems: $100–$3,000

• Plumbing (water supply, wastewater, etc.): $450–$1,800 per fixture

• Electric or internet: $100–$1,500

Depending on your budget, you might instead want to build a bomb shelter, which can double as a storm shelter. On average, building a bomb shelter costs around $40,000 to $80,000.

Storm Shelter Cost by Type

When installing a storm shelter, your largest choice—and largest cost factor—is determining where you'll put it. Your two main options are above-ground or in-ground (or underground). Keep reading to find out more in-depth information about each type and which works best for your space.

Above-Ground

Typically, an above-ground shelter costs between $3,000 and $11,000, with most above-ground shelters going in a garage or basement. Though a basement is located underground, "above-ground" refers to the installation above a concrete surface. 

The advantages of an above-ground storm shelter are the lower cost and easier installation. In addition, they're more easily accessible for people with mobility challenges, less likely to have bugs, and ideal for properties with a high water table (locations that flood more easily). If you don't want to alter your landscaping, above-ground hurricane or tornado shelters may make more sense.

In-Ground

Underground storm shelter prices run between $4,000 and $20,000 on average, with many homeowners installing in-ground shelters below their garages or in their yards. In-ground units are more effective against extreme weather, as they’re more resistant to falling debris and strong winds. Opting for an in-ground unit also means you won’t take up any square footage within your home.

However, in-ground units are prone to flooding, meaning you’ll need to budget for land excavation costs, which are about $1,700 to $6,700. If your in-ground shelter floods, you may need to budget for water damage restoration costs and the cost of removing standing water.

Storm Shelter Cost by Location

Garages and basements are the most common locations for tornado and hurricane shelters, but you can also build under-bed shelters and safe rooms in locations like under the stairs or a closet.

Garage

Garage storm shelters can be above-ground or in-ground. A storm shelter on a garage floor costs around $3,500 to $9,000. These tend to be smaller than other above-ground shelters because you're working with limited square footage.

You can install an in-ground garage shelter if you pay to excavate beneath the garage. Storm shelter prices under the garage floor range from $6,000 to $15,000. You'll pay more for options with a staircase or one that'll hold more than eight people.

Basement

Above-ground basement storm shelters cost between $4,000 and $10,000. Basements are ideal for a shelter because the basement is already underground. However, you have to be willing to give up square footage you might otherwise use for storage, a home gym, or a laundry room.

Bed Shelter

Installing a storm shelter under a bed costs approximately $3,500 to $5,500. An under-bed storm shelter is ideal for homeowners without ample space or the budget for a larger storm shelter.

An under-bed storm shelter can typically fit two people and meets Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements for EF5 tornadoes. However, these shelters are small. If you’re claustrophobic, it might not be the best option.

Safe Room

The average cost to build a safe room in your home ranges from $4,500 to $10,000. If you want extra features like cameras or security, you’ll pay up to $15,000.

Safe rooms—also called panic rooms—are typically built for your family to hide during a home invasion, but if your safe room is built with walls that can withstand hurricane-force winds, it can double as a storm shelter. 

Here are some home spaces for your safe room build: 

• Closet-safe rooms cost around $4,500–$6,000.

• Under-the-stairs safe rooms cost around $3,000–$5,000.

Does Building a Storm Cellar Increase Home Value?

Yes, a storm cellar or other shelter can increase the value of your home, provided you live in an area that’s prone to extreme weather. If you add a storm shelter to your home in a region known for tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme climate events, it can add as much as 3.5% in value to your home, or about $1,000 to $2,500 in added value. This can be higher if you invest in a very large or luxurious shelter.

Budgeting for Building a Storm Cellar

Storm cellars and shelters can be very expensive projects, but it’s hard to put a price tag on keeping your family safe. Here are a few ways to reduce the expenses of this project:

• Think about installing a prefabricated storm shelter instead of a more expensive custom one.

• If you have an existing space for an above-ground shelter, such as a garage, consider converting it rather than building an all-new structure.

• If space and funds are limited, consider under-the-bed shelters for protection at the lowest possible cost.

• Avoid expensive materials where possible—most options are equally suited to storm protection.

• See if you qualify for financial assistance from FEMA to build your storm shelter—they may cover as much as 75% of project costs.

• If your area isn’t prone to very dangerous storms, think about reinforcing your home instead—a storm shutter contractor can help you understand the costs of hurricane windows and storm door prices, which might make more financial sense than a full shelter.

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.