Building a ranch-style house forms one of the topmost desires of homeowners. These houses are simple, stylish, and perfectly suited to single-story living. They typically offer open layouts and modern designs, making them comfortable for any family or individual. Furthermore, one can choose from various designs-from traditional ranchs to California ranchs.
The different cost ranges for a ranch home range from the size and location that the ranch house is built to the material used. A small, simple ranch will be quite cheap, while a much larger, custom-built house packed with luxury fittings will cost a whole lot more. Knowing the average prices will thus go a long way in helping budget and picking the perfect option for one’s needs.
Costs to Build a Ranch-Style Home
The cost of a ranch-style house depends on various factors, such as size, design, location, and materials used, and could cost as follows:
- Average Cost: The cost on average would be about $374,000 for a 1,870 sq. ft., with three bedrooms, one patio, single-car garage.
- Low-End Cost: On the cheaper end of the spectrum, you could have a simple $1,540 sq. ft. ranch home for $220,200.
- High-End Cost: High-end would be up to $742,500, with all custom finishes and top-of-the-line materials for an up to $2,200 sq. ft. ranch home.
Ranch-style homes, whether for the simple ranch-style exterior or the more extravagant highly customized design, offer great versatility to all kinds of personal preferences and budgets.
Expense of Construction for Ranch Home on Type of Construction
There are different construction methods for ranch-style homes. Stick-built homes are entirely built on-site offering flexibility in design yet usually require more time and expense. The alternative is the modular homes or concrete prefabs that are made in a factory and then assembled on the property, making it speedier and less costly.
- Modular Ranch: Cost $82,500 to $430,100 depending on size and features. Stick-built Ranch
- Stick-Built Ranch: Prices usually range between $220,000 and $660,000, depending on the complexity of the design and materials
This construction type should be selected according to your budget, time frame, and design preferences.
Ranch-Style Prefab Homes
Cost-wise, the range for prefab ranch houses, including modular, is from $82,500 to $430,100 for sizes typically between 1,650 and 1,870 sq. ft. They are built off-site and assembled on-site, which saves time and money while providing the same levels of quality and efficiency.
Stick-Built Ranch-Style Homes
Stick-built ranch homes cost about $220,000 to $660,000. Entirely built on-site, they offer customization, but they become more expensive because of longer construction time, weather delays, and more labor costs. When done, they are just as good in quality.
Ranch House Cost per Square Foot
Typical ranches are 1,500 to 1,700 sq.ft. in size, though increasingly common will be larger models, those surpassing 2,000 sq.ft. Stick-built—price $143-$330 per sq.ft.; average $220—while modular costs $55-$253 per sq.ft. Size and style of construction are determined by the type of overall pricing as well as yard space.
House Size |
Average Costs for a Modular Ranch (Labor Included) |
Average Costs for a Stick-Built Ranch (Labor Included) |
| 1,000 sq.ft. | $55,000 – $253,000 | $143,000 – $330,000 |
| 1,200 sq.ft. | $66,000 – $303,600 | $171,600 – $396,000 |
| 1,300 sq.ft. | $71,500 – $328,900 | $185,900 – $429,000 |
| 1,400 sq.ft | $77,000 – $354,200 | $200,200 – $462,000 |
| 1,500 sq.ft. | $82,500 – $379,500 | $214,500 – $495,000 |
| 1,700 sq.ft. | $93,500 – $430,100 | $243,100 – $561,000 |
| 2,000 sq.ft. | $110,000 – $506,000 | $286,000 – $660,000 |
Cost to Build a Ranch-Style Home by Number of Bedrooms
Number of Bedrooms |
Average Costs for a Modular Ranch (Labor Included) |
Average Costs for a Stick-Built Ranch (Labor Included) |
| 1 Bedroom | $44,000 – $253,000 | $114,400 – $330,000 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $55,000 – $303,600 | $143,000 – $396,000 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $77,000 – $430,100 | $200,200 – $561,000 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $93,500 – $480,700 | $243,100 – $627,000 |
Building a Ranch Home Impact on Cost with Stories
Typically ranch-style homes are single-storied but such designs are available such as 1½-story and 2-story designs. Note that the number of stories doesn’t always really have much effect on cost as foundation size and roof structure do. Thus, a 1,500 sq.ft. California-style ranch could cost the same as a 1,500 sq.ft. raised-ranch 2-story, since the raised ranch is smaller in foundation and roof.
A lot of square footage does have a major part of the cost involved, but several stories really will not vary costs all that much. With a standard floor area of 1,870 sq. ft., costs for a ranch remain about the same with the number of stories. However, two-story stick-built homes are slightly less expensive; and, again, prices generally remain the same with modular homes regardless of the number of stories.
- Modular Ranch Homes (Labor Included):
- 1 Story: $93,500 – $430,100
- 1½ Stories: $93,500 – $430,100
- 2 Stories: $93,500 – $430,100
- Stick-Built Ranch Homes (Labor Included):
- 1 Story: $280,500 – $561,000
- 1½ Stories: $280,500 – $561,000
- 2 Stories: $243,100 – $561,000
Cost Breakdown for Ranch Home Construction
Cost will vary in ranch home building in size, material, and site. These considerations will give you an idea of the total investment required. By giving a detailed cost breakdown of all the specifications, the amount of money involved in creating your dream home has just been prepared.
Construction Stage |
Average Costs for a Modular Ranch (Labor Included) |
Average Costs for a Stick-Built Ranch (Labor Included) |
| Prep-Work | $4,400 – $7,150 | $8,250 – $21,780 |
| Foundation | $7,700 – $19,800 | $16,500 – $43,560 |
| Framing | $50,490 – $101,580 | $55,890 – $102,780 |
| Roofing | $20,900 – $44,000 | $21,900 – $44,000 |
| Exterior | $27,500 – $38,500 | $27,500 – $38,500 |
Factors Affecting Ranch House Building Cost
Many factors affect the total cost of ranch home construction. Size is the most major factor, as larger homes generally are more expensive to build. In addition, the type and size of the roof and foundation, as well as additional features such as garages are other factors that contribute to the construction cost.
Materials and customization, such as adding dormers or arches in specific designs, can also increase the cost of constructing a home. Location also plays a major role in construction prices, and the cost of construction is dependent on geographical location. This also includes land cost and all excavation works, especially where land clearing would need to be done.
Cost of Additions to a Ranch House
An expansion of a ranch house by such means as a porch, mudroom, or patio addition is feasible, though it is quite complicated. Typical costs for finished additions run to approximately $220 per square foot; actual costs for any addition will vary widely, depending on the kind of addition and type of building materials as well as location. The larger complex ones, like pools and second stories, would be quite a bit pricier, while straightforward attachments like fences or driveways would be an affordable option. Below are the average cost ranges for some popular additions:
- Fence: $1,650 – $3,300
- Driveway: $3,520 – $11,000
- Deck: $5,500 – $16,500
- Mudroom: $7,700 – $16,500
- Landscaping: $8,800 – $16,500
- Pool: $11,000 – $110,000
- Porch: $13,200 – $33,000
- Garage: $24,200 – $66,000
- Second Story: $33,000 – $55,000
Cost of Adding a Second Story to a Ranch House
An addition, or second-story high ceiling, will average somewhere between $36,300 and $60,500 for adding height to a ranch house. Most of this work has to do with lifting the house and constructing another level under it. The cost alone for just raising roofs is estimated to average about $110,000, a higher estimate than elevating the whole house.
Cost to Raise Roof on a Ranch House
The average cost of raising a roof on a ranch house is about $110,000 most of the time. This raises the roof height more to facilitate space for a second story. While this option is available, it is generally more expensive than just raising the house and building below which cost $33,000 to $55,000.
Conclusion
The price for building a ranch-style house changes with its different dimensions, construction types, materials, area, and some other factors. Generally, modular ranch homes come priced from $82,500-$430,100, while traditional stick-built ranch homes may cost $220,000-$660,000. Other aspects are the number of stories and custom features of the homes along with land preparation that will also affect the price. Weighing these things carefully will give you a better perspective into what it costs to build that beloved ranch-style home.
