Foundation repair costs
Updated October 2026 · Data as of 2026-10-02
Foundation repair costs $2,035–$8,134 (about $5,000 typical). The price is set by what is moving and how much: a stable crack is injected for $200–$500–$800 per crack, while structural settlement is underpinned for $9,500–$12,000–$15,000. Every figure below is a cited installed band; per-source ranges are kept separate and never averaged.
Cost by problem
Crack injection and piering sit at opposite ends of the range. The table below is installed cost, per the unit shown, from our cited dataset:
| Problem / method | Installed cost (low–typical–high) | Unit | Source detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairline / minor crack (injection) | $200–$500–$800 | per crack (minor, injected) | Per crack; two publishers |
| Sunken slab (mudjacking) | $903–$2,000–$3,192 | per project (slab leveling) | Single-publisher (flagged) |
| Leak / damp basement | $500–$2,500–$7,575 | per project (waterproofing) | Interior vs exterior; two publishers |
| Slab damage | $350–$5,000–$20,000 | per project (slab) | Single-publisher (flagged) |
| Crawl / pier-and-beam | $700–$8,000–$25,000 | per project (crawl/pier-beam) | Single-publisher (flagged) |
| Bowed basement wall | $5,000–$10,000–$15,000 | per wall/project | Bow severity + wall length; two publishers |
| Settling / sinking | $4,500–$12,000–$20,000 | per project (structural) | Severe lifting reaches $20K–$23K+; two publishers |
| Structural movement (underpinning / piers) | $9,500–$12,000–$15,000 | per project (piers/underpinning) | Single-publisher; per-pier count not published |
Source concentration: the headline and crack/settling/basement/leak rows draw on two or three publishers; mudjacking, slab, pier-and-beam, underpinning, engineer and labor rows are single-publisher — directional, not settled national bands.
Crack injection vs piering: the core decision
The single biggest fork is injection or piers, and it turns on whether water is moving or the structure is moving:
- Stable, non-structural crack → injection. Epoxy/polyurethane injection runs $200–$500–$800 per crack. It seals against water and radon; it does not lift a foundation.
- Ongoing settlement → piering/underpinning. Push or helical piers transfer load to stable strata; underpinning runs $9,500–$12,000–$15,000 per project. The count of piers (not published per-pier by our sources) drives the total.
One caution from the dataset: per-pier unit pricing is not published by the fetched sources, so per-pier counts are left unscored rather than invented. Ask each contractor for a per-pier line and a pier count.
Cost by foundation type
The same symptom prices differently by foundation construction — slab, basement, or crawl/pier-and-beam:
- Slab foundation — $350–$5,000–$20,000 (single-publisher; crack vs settling and drainage drive the spread).
- Basement — bowed-wall repair $5,000–$10,000–$15,000; leak/damp $500–$2,500–$7,575.
- Crawl / pier-and-beam — $700–$8,000–$25,000 (single-publisher; pier count, crawl access and joist damage drive the spread).
Severity ladder
- Cosmetic (hairline crack). Inject for $200–$500–$800 per crack — monitor for movement.
- Localized water (damp basement). Waterproof for $500–$2,500–$7,575 — often the real fix, stopping the water that moves soil.
- Slab drop (void under slab). Mudjacking/leveling $903–$2,000–$3,192 (single-publisher).
- Structural movement (floor slope, stair-step cracks). Engineer diagnosis ($200–$300–$400) then underpinning/piering $9,500–$12,000–$15,000.
- Severe settlement. Lifting reaches $4,500–$12,000–$20,000; TOH notes $20,000–$23,000+ in severe cases.
Line items and hourly labor
- Structural engineer inspection: $200–$300–$400 per inspection — diagnosis that documents cause for the repair plan and any claim.
- Foundation repair labor: about $200 per hour for a skilled specialist (single-publisher, flagged) — a planning figure, not a project total.
- Leak / waterproofing: $500–$2,500–$7,575 per project, interior vs exterior.
Insurance coverage note
Homeowners insurance usually excludes settlement, shifting soil and poor-drainage repair — carriers treat them as maintenance or pre-existing. Coverage is likelier for a sudden accidental event (burst supply line washing out soil, impact damage). Because cause decides the claim, get a written structural-engineer diagnosis and photograph damage and drainage before filing. General context — not insurance or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does foundation repair cost?
$2,035–$8,134 depending on the problem, about $5,000 typical. Minor crack injection is $200–$500–$800 per crack; structural underpinning is $9,500–$12,000–$15,000.
How much does crack injection cost?
$200–$500–$800 per crack (epoxy/polyurethane). Injection seals a stable crack; it does not lift a settled foundation.
How much does underpinning cost?
$9,500–$12,000–$15,000 per project. Per-pier unit pricing is not published by the fetched sources; the pier count drives the total.
Does insurance cover foundation repair?
Usually not for settlement, shifting soil or poor drainage. Sudden accidental events are more likely covered. Get the cause documented in writing before filing.
Should I get a structural engineer inspection first?
Yes — an inspection runs $200–$300–$400 and documents the cause, which drives both the repair method and any insurance claim.
Sources
- This Old House - Foundation Repair Cost (2026 Pricing) — high reliability — Range $2,224-$8,134 avg $5,179; hairline crack early $200-$800 (widened -> $10,000-$15,000+); labor ~$200/hr; foundation lifting $20,000-$23,000+. Fetched 2026-10-02 (200, 697,245 B).
- Thumbtack - Foundation Repair Cost (updated Jul 1, 2026) — high reliability — Range $2,035-$7,329 avg $3,843 (low $764/high $18,352); cracks $1,982-$7,290, leaks $500-$3,500, underpinning $9,500-$15,000, mudjacking $903-$3,192, stabilizing $5,000-$10,000; engineer inspection $200-$400. Fetched 2026-10-02 (200, 145,388 B).
- Bob Vila - Foundation Repair Cost (cites Angi) — high reliability — Range $2,176-$7,833 avg $5,001; bowed walls $5,000-$15,000; crack $250-$800 per crack; leak $2,000-$7,000; settling/sinking $4,500-$20,000; pier-and-beam $700-$25,000; slab repair $350-$20,000; basement waterproofing $2,300-$7,575. Fetched 2026-10-02 (200, 232,197 B).
Foundation repair cost calculator
Pick the problem you're seeing. The result is your dataset's installed band — with a structural-engineer diagnosis toggled on by default, since it drives the repair method and any claim.
Estimated installed cost
$400–$800–$1,200
low · typical · high, installed. per crack (minor, injected). Includes structural-engineer inspection. Per-pier counts are not published by our sources; ask each contractor for a per-pier line.
No quality flags on this row.
Estimate only — get local written quotes and a structural-engineer diagnosis. Figures are national installed bands from public cost guides (This Old House, Thumbtack, Bob Vila) as of 2026-10-02, not verified contractor pricing. Bands are per-source, never averaged; single-publisher rows (2 open flags on the underpinning row) and the missing per-pier unit price are carried as flagged. Related: the foundation repair hub — or run your numbers in the foundation repair cost calculator.