How much does it cost to build a new home in Wisconsin in 2025? This is a question we get a lot from clients looking for a new place to call home. When inventory is low and people can’t find what they’re looking for, many consider building instead. Cost is a major factor, so in this article, we’ll explain more about the cost of building a house in Wisconsin and how it compares to buying an existing home.
A general equation for estimating the Cost to Build a House in Wisconsin = Lot + Materials + Labor for Customization. The cost of building a house is an individualized process though because there are so many factors to consider, such as location, style, size, quality of materials, and degree of customization.
How Much Does Land Cost in Wisconsin?
When you build a house in Wisconsin, the first thing you need is land to build on. Here are questions you should consider that will affect the overall cost of building a house:
- Do you own buildable land already?
- Are you looking for a small lot in a subdivision?
- Are you looking for 40+ acres in the country?
- Are you willing to go through the process to rezone land if it’s not yet zoned residential?
Here are 10 questions you should ask before buying land.
Price Range of Lots for Sale in Wisconsin
Currently, one-acre lots in Wisconsin range from $9.500 to $1.6 million. Here are the current price range for one-acre lots in various Wisconsin counties:
- Jefferson County: $79,000 – $155,000
- Dane County: $65,000 – $1,228,000
- Waukesha County: $88,000-725,000
- Adams County: $17,900 – $375,000
- Fond du Lac County: $27,000 – $900,000
See current vacant land for sale in Southern Wisconsin.
(Prices above are from active listings on the Wisconsin MLS in December 2023.)
As you can see, the cost to build a house in Wisconsin varies greatly beginning with the first part of the equation, the land.
Whether you’re searching to buy land or a house, there are real estate apps better than Zillow!
Next, let’s talk about the cost to build per square foot.
How Much Does it Cost Per Square Foot to Build a House in Wisconsin?
Home building costs surged in 2021 and 2022, but they settled down a bit in 2023, making building a home in 2024 and 2025 a bit more affordable. However, labor shortages, land preservation restrictions, supply chain difficulties, and demand all contribute to the prices for new construction.
It can cost anywhere from $225-$400+ per square foot to build a new house in Wisconsin right now, depending on things like location, customization, size, style, quality of materials, and need for extras like well and septic.
When you get an estimate from a home builder, it’s important to know what is included.
Here are a few factors that may not be included in the general cost to build per square foot, depending on your builder and type of new construction:
- Decks
- Patios
- Landscaping
- Covered Porches
- Appliance Packages
- High-Tech Electrical Upgrades for Security & Smart Homes
All of these additions to custom and semi-custom homes increase the price per square foot but not the measured square footage for appraisal and lending considerations.
Often it is cheaper and easier to add wishlist items like these while the house is being built, and that can complicate decisions for a consumer.
Having a detailed plan for a builder to review and making an itemized cost comparison as detailed as possible is the only way to know if estimates from different builders are comparing like items.
Most custom builders will use “allowances” for selections such as cabinetry, lighting, flooring, and plumbing fixtures. If a client stays within the allowance, the budget won’t bust. However, it is easy to be tempted by all the upgrade options, and with each of these, the cost to build your new house climbs higher.
When you get a quote from a home builder, you must find out what is actually included.
-Adriane Stuebs, Broker/Owner of Shine Realty
Average Cost to Build a 1,500 Sq. Ft. House
If we used the rough estimate of $225-$440 per square foot, the average cost to build a 1,500 square foot house is $337,500-$660,000+.
Average Cost to Build a 2,000 Sq. Ft. House
For a 2,000-square-foot house, the average cost to build is around $450,000-$880,000+.
Average Cost to Build a 2,500 Sq. Ft. House
The average cost to build a 2,500 sq. ft. home in Wisconsin is $562,500-$1,100,000.
Additional Costs for Building a New House
Keep in mind the cost to build a 1,500 or 2,500-square-foot house does not include the extras like a screened-in porch or extra garage stall. Those will add to the total price to build.
So as you’re estimating the cost to build your dream house, make sure you also consider if these potential extras are needed:
- Land
- Well
- Septic
- Driveway
Related Post: 7 Unique Ways to Save When Buying a House
Three Types of New Construction Homes
When considering building a new home, there are three levels of customization. Production Homes or Spec Homes, which offer the least customization, Semi-Custom, and Custom Homes, which allow the most customization.
1) Production or ‘Spec’ Home Builders
Production homes are sometimes called “Spec Homes,” which is short for speculation that the home will sell. These houses are sold by large-volume builders and developers. If you work with a production home builder, there are likely a limited number of floor plans and customization options.
In South-Eastern Wisconsin, some well-known production home builders are:
- Loos Homes
- William Ryan
- Belinski
- Veridian
In today’s market, there may be no customization possible because builders have to order materials so far in advance that buyers are often not even in the picture yet during the planning phase.
*Ask a Shine agent about Loos Homes’ latest offer to buyers!
2) Semi-Custom Home Builders
Semi-custom builders can often include the same list of customization options as a production home builder, but you can expect to pay more for semi-custom changes than with a custom builder.
The cost to build semi-custom homes varies greatly depending on the builder, the amenities chosen, the size of the house, and the location.
3) Custom Home Builders
Custom homes are uniquely built for each individual home buyer. If you were to build a home by a custom home builder, you would choose everything from the size, layout, number of rooms, floors, windows, exterior, cabinets, and countertops.
Custom house builders will help a client with acquiring a lot of land, designing the home, permitting, general contracting, home building, and often custom landscaping support and supervision.
Some trusted custom home builders in South-Eastern Wisconsin are:
- Classic Homes & Remodeling
- John Michael Homes
- Kaerek Homes
- Ulrich Builders
Custom home building is not always the most costly option, and it can be highly personalized and relational if you find the right builder.
To find a home builder that will be great to work with in your area, ask around for local recommendations. Ask subcontractors who they like working with and call the building inspector in town to see which builders get the most complaints, compliments, or code violations.
Cost to Build a House Calculator
“Cost to Build” has an interesting free calculator you can use to calculate a very rough estimate for the cost of building a new house or garage.
This tool shows you some of the things to consider when building a new house. If you’re like most people, you’ll see the many ways it’s tempting to upgrade to bigger, more customized, and better-quality materials.
While this is fun for designing a dream home, the reality is upgrades can significantly increase the total cost to build.
- Use this mortgage calculator to start figuring out how much house you can afford.
- How to Pick a Good Mortgage Lender (including our top lenders in Wisconsin!)
Is it Cheaper to Build or Buy a House in Wisconsin?
In most areas right now, it is cheaper to buy an existing house than to build a new house if you are comparing similar properties. But the price of materials has started to decline, so it’s worth checking out.
When building a house you can get exactly what you want, where you want it. The items would be brand new, including large-ticket items like the roof, windows, water heater, furnace, air conditioner, and appliances.
More House Buying Tips
Related Post: 15 Frequently Asked Questions for Home Buyers
Is 2025 a Good Year to Build a House?
If you’re set on building a house, yes! Waiting will likely only cost you in the long run. Plus, the sooner you begin the building process, the sooner you’ll be living in your dream home, rather than just dreaming about it!
However, if you’re thinking the building process decisions and costs may not be the right fit for you, then buying an existing home is another excellent option to find a place you love.
People who wait to build usually wish they had done it sooner.
So take the next baby step toward building or buying your new home by contacting a local real estate expert today. No matter which option you choose, our goal at Shine Realty is always for you to shine in a house you love!
Questions to Ask Before Buying Land
Check out our guide to getting started buying land to learn 10 questions you should ask before purchasing land.
Get Your Free Home Buyer’s Guide
Click here to access a detailed step-by-step guide through the home-buying process. Take a look through it and let us know what questions you have! If the formatting doesn’t look quite right, please open it on a computer.
Save This Cost to Build Guide for Later
Save this resource for home building and share it with the friend or family member thinking about building a new house.
Curious about buying an existing home instead of building one?
Check out our Guide for Home Buyers in How to Buy a House in Wisconsin.
This post was originally published in 2022. It was updated in December 2023 with the most recent building information.
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I just read your blog post on the “Cost to Build a House in Wisconsin 2023,” and I must say, it’s incredibly informative and timely. As someone who has been contemplating the idea of building a new home in Wisconsin, this post has been a real eye-opener.
The way you broke down the factors that contribute to the cost of building a house, such as location, style, materials, and customization, provides a clear picture of what to expect. It’s evident that building a home is a highly individualized process, and your article does a fantastic job of explaining this complexity.
I particularly appreciated the section about land costs in Wisconsin. It’s a crucial starting point for anyone considering building a house, and your questions about different land options were thought-provoking. It’s clear that you’ve covered all the key aspects of this decision-making process.
Thank you for shedding light on this topic and making it easier for people like me to understand the cost dynamics of building a house in Wisconsin. Your post has been a valuable resource, and I’ll be referring back to it as I move forward with my plans. Great job!
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House builders often have the chance to network with various professionals, including architects, engineers, real estate agents, and financing partners, which can lead to valuable business relationships.