Commercial Demolition Cost Guide: The Average Cost per Square Foot to Demolish Commercial Buildings

Updated January 23, 2023

On average, commercial building demolition costs around $4-$8 per square foot.

The final cost you pay per square foot of your commercial demolition project could be higher or lower than this average depending on various circumstances.

In this cost guide, we'll cover:

Commercial Building Demolition Average Cost
Factors That Affect Commercial Demolition Pricing
How to Find the Right Commercial Demolition Contractor

Commercial building demolition costs vary based on a number of factors, including the type and size of the structure, the building materials being removed, where the building is located, whether or not hazardous materials are present, and who you hire.

Your exact project cost will depend on these factors, and the best way to get an accurate estimate for your project is to reach out to multiple contractors in your area for a quote.

This not only ensures you get the best price but also allows you to choose the best contractor for the job, not just the cheapest.

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the average cost of commercial demolition

Commercial Building Demolition Average Cost

The national average cost of commercial building demolition is around $24,000, including debris disposal, but can range anywhere from a few thousand dollars to a few hundred thousand depending on the scope of the project.

Generally speaking, you can expect to pay $4-$8 per square foot to demolish a commercial building, but your cost per square foot could be more or less depending on your specific project.

Below are some examples of what real-life customers paid for their commercial building demolition.

Examples of Commercial Building Demolition Costs Throughout the U.S.

State	City	Square Footage	Project Description	Project Cost
California	La Habra	4,500 sq ft	Demolished single-story building from the 1950s, including foundation and slab	$32,000
California	Lodi	2,500 sq ft	Demolished single-story restaurant from the 1970s made of wood, including the slab and concrete sidewalk	$13,500
Florida	Callahan	12,000 sq ft	Demolished two-story commercial building made of brick	$48,000
Florida	St. Petersburg	20,000 sq ft	Demolished commercial building	$225,000
Georgia	Gainesville	9,948 sq ft	Demolished bank building from the 1960s made of framed construction	$40,000
Georgia	Lawrenceville	6,000 sq ft	Demolished single-story commercial building	$20,000
Georgia	Powder Springs	6,000 sq ft	Demolished commercial building	$35,000
Louisiana	Baton Rouge	4,500 sq ft	Demolished two-story, 4-plex building and slab	$18,000
Michigan	Augusta	4,000 sq ft	Demolished commercial building made of cinder blocks and wood	$15,000
Michigan	Dearborn	1,300 sq ft	Partially demolished two-story commercial building made of concrete, copper, and other metal	$10,000
Michigan	Detroit	4800 sq ft	Demolished 2.5-story commercial building with asbestos abatement	$13,000
Ohio	Youngstown	2,640 sq ft	Demolished commercial building made of concrete block, including slab	$5,000
Texas	Beasley	200 sq ft	Demolished commercial office building	$1,500
Texas	Fort Worth	2856 sq ft	Demolished two-story, 4-plex building made of brick	$12,500
Texas	Haltom City	5,600 sq ft	Demolished two commercial buildings and both of their foundations	$24,000
Texas	Hurst	2000 sq ft	Demolished single-story commercial building from the 1970s with wooden frame, veneer brick, and flat roof on a concrete slab	$13,500
Texas	Lake Jackson	30,000 sq ft	Demolished metal commercial building	$150,000
Texas	North Richland Hills	10,400 sq ft	Demolished single-story commercial building down to the slab, made of brick and cinderblocks, with presence of asbestos	$41,600
Texas	White Settlement	1,200 sq ft	Demolished part of a church made of wood	$6,000
Washington	Shoreline	2,300 sq ft	Demolished single-story commercial building made of wood, concrete, and metal	$11,000

Learn more about commercial demolition:

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Factors that Affect Commercial Demolition Pricing

The amount you end up paying for your commercial demolition project will vary widely depending on:

The square footage of the building
Whether or not the building contains asbestos or other hazardous materials
If you are removing the foundation or not
How many stories the structure has
How accessible the property is
Cost of living in your area
Who you hire for the job

Most structural demolition quotes will be based on square footage, and the total size of your project will have the biggest influence on final costs.

That said, where you're located will also play a huge role in what is a reasonable price for your demolition based on the cost of living and local disposal fees.

We recommend getting at least three quotes from local contractors to ensure you have a fair and accurate budget expectation.

How to Find the Right Commercial Demolition Contractor

The best way to answer how much your commercial demolition project will cost is to contact qualified demolition contractors in your area and have them give you an estimate.

Depending on the complexities of the project, they may give you an estimate over the phone, but more likely, they will come out to your commercial property and give you the most accurate quote possible after assessing the job site.

Getting multiple quotes will not only ensure that you don't overpay but will also give you an opportunity to see what kind of customer service you can expect before hiring a contractor.

Hometown helps make it easy to find contractors in your area, see customer reviews, and request quotes from as many contractors as you'd like.