Florida Home Replacement Cost Calculator

Replacement cost is what it would take to rebuild the house today: heated square footage multiplied by a local cost per square foot, then adjusted for finish quality, construction type, roof, number of stories and the garage, porches and lanais attached to the house. The calculator above does a simplified version of that and gives you a range. For the number that actually goes on your policy, we run the carrier's own rebuild estimate using your home's details.

Replacement cost. Market value includes the land, the neighborhood and what buyers are paying that month. None of that has to be rebuilt after a loss. Rebuild cost is driven by labor, materials, permits, demolition and debris removal, which can move in a completely different direction than home prices.

Coverage A is dwelling coverage: the house itself and structures attached to it, such as an attached garage. Coverage B is other structures (detached sheds, fences and similar), Coverage C is your belongings, and Coverage D is loss of use if you have to live somewhere else during repairs. This calculator is only about Coverage A.

No. It is a planning range to help you start the conversation and spot a quote that is far too low. Carriers have their own rebuild-cost tools and underwriting rules, and we compare your range against the carrier's estimate before recommending a dwelling limit.

Replacement cost pays to repair or rebuild with new materials. Actual cash value (ACV) is replacement cost minus depreciation for age and wear. On a 15-year-old roof the gap can be large. Some Florida carriers now settle older roofs on an ACV or payment-schedule basis even when the rest of the home is covered at replacement cost, so check how the roof is handled in any quote.

No. Land is never part of the rebuild. Detached structures, fences, pools and seawalls are normally handled under Other Structures (Coverage B), and pool cages often carry their own sublimit. Screened lanais attached to the house are usually treated as part of the dwelling, but carriers differ, so we confirm how each one handles them.

When a damaged home is rebuilt, current building code can require upgrades the original house did not have. Ordinance or law coverage helps pay for those extra costs. Many Florida policies include it at a percentage of Coverage A, often 25 percent, with an option to increase it to 50 percent. Confirm the exact amount on your policy, especially if the home is older.

Extended replacement cost is an endorsement that pays an additional amount above your dwelling limit, commonly 25 or 50 percent, if rebuilding costs more than expected. It can matter after a hurricane, when labor and materials get scarce and prices jump. Not every carrier offers it, so it is worth asking about when you compare quotes.

You can end up short when it is time to rebuild. Many policies also require you to carry at least 80 percent of replacement cost to receive full replacement cost settlement on a partial loss. Below that, the payment can be reduced. Your policy wording controls, so we review it with you.

Carrier tools use more detail than a quick calculator can: number and quality of bathrooms and kitchens, wall height, foundation shape, roof shape and cover, exterior wall finish, flooring and more. Two homes with the same square footage can land far apart. A difference between the calculator and the carrier's number is a reason to look at the inputs, not a reason to pick the lower figure.

Your lender will require enough coverage to protect the loan, but the loan balance is not the same as the cost to rebuild. Insure for rebuild cost, then make sure the lender's minimum is also met.

No. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood. Flood is a separate policy, through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier, with its own limits and its own waiting period. The dwelling limit on your homeowners policy does not change that.

At every renewal, and any time you renovate, add square footage, replace the roof or add a garage or lanai. Construction costs change from year to year, so a limit set several years ago may no longer match what it would take to rebuild.

The property address, year built, heated square footage, roof age and material, and any wind mitigation inspection or 4-point inspection you have. If you already have a current policy, a photo of the declarations page saves a lot of questions.