What water damage restoration costs

National and Austin ranges

The sources publish different headline figures for water damage costs, with the newest dates first:

• Angi’s national figures, updated September 2026, give a published range of $1,383 to $6,369 for what most homeowners pay and a national average of $3,868.
• Angi’s Austin page, updated August 2026, gives a published range of $3,870 to $8,333 in Austin and an average of $6,101.
• This Old House, updated June 2026, says water damage repair and restoration “often” costs between $1,000 and over $10,000, depending on the damage.
• HomeGuide, February 2026, gives a published average range of $2,000 to $6,000 and a full span of $150 to $100,000.
• Fixr, updated January 2025, gives a published range of $1,200 to $5,000 and a national average of $3,000.
• Forbes Home, last verified October 2024, gives a published range of $1,300 to $5,600 and an average of $3,300.

Per square foot, by water category

Angi’s Austin page publishes $4.76 to $11.89 per square foot in Austin, with $5.55 for clean water, $8.32 for gray water, and $11.89 for black water. Its national figures are $3 to $7.50 per square foot, with $3.50, $5.25, and $7.50 for those water types in the same order.

HomeGuide publishes water extraction ranges per square foot of $4 to $6 for Category 1, $6 to $9 for Category 2, and $9 to $12 for Category 3. Fixr publishes $3.75 to $7.50 per square foot for extraction, including $7 to $7.50 for black water. The dirtier the water, the more needs to come out and the more protection the work takes. Read about Category 1, 2, and 3 water.

Costs by what caused the water

Published ranges for repairs tied to each kind of leak include:

• For a burst pipe, Angi (September 2026) puts the repair and water damage at $1,000 to $4,000, and HomeGuide lists $150 to $250 per linear foot of pipe.
• For a water heater leak, HomeGuide (August 2025) lists $100 to $1,000 for a leak repair and $600 to $1,800 for a new heater when the tank leaks.
• For a slab leak, Angi (September 2026) gives a national average of $2,280 including detection and estimates that most pay $630 to $4,400, while HomeGuide (October 2025) lists $500 to $3,500 for pipe lining and $700 to $5,000 to dig in and replace pipe.
• For ceiling water damage, Angi Austin (August 2026) estimates $713 to $2,536, and HomeGuide (November 2025) gives $500 to $2,500 to fix the leak and repair the drywall.
• For drywall, Angi Austin lists $476 to $1,347. Fixr gives $1.50 to $3 per square foot.

What moves the number

We measure the square footage that got wet with a meter because the puddle doesn’t show the full area. Clean water dries in place more often, while black water (sewage or floodwater) calls for more removal and protection. We may remove carpet pad, baseboards, the strip of drywall cut off along the bottom of the wall, insulation, and cabinets. A slab or a closed-up wall cavity takes longer to dry, so equipment runs for more days.

Cost also depends on whether we put back drywall, insulation, baseboards, and paint, or you use your own contractor. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) says that if your policy covers the loss, it should pay for materials and labor for repairs, and that it’s illegal for a contractor to waive your deductible. You can read more about what Texas policies cover.