Estimate your home's replacement cost — and download a report.
A component-based estimator that models structure, materials, systems, custom features, debris removal, code upgrades, and market conditions to produce a Coverage A rebuild-cost range for your California home — then generates a printable report you can keep or share. Educational only; not a quote or appraisal.
Replacement Cost Estimator
Build a detailed Coverage A rebuild-cost estimate
Enter your home's characteristics below. The engine prices each component the way a rebuild estimate is actually assembled — regional base cost, construction grade, materials, systems, features, then rebuild conditions and soft costs. The estimate and report update instantly.
How It's Calculated
A component-based engine — the way a rebuild estimate is actually assembled
Rather than a single price-per-foot, the estimator layers the same cost components a professional replacement-cost valuation uses, consistent with industry methodology (IRMI / RSMeans-style regional indexing) and California valuation guidance.
1 · Regional cost basis
A California region (or ZIP) sets the base reconstruction cost per square foot, reflecting local labor and material indices. Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and rural Northern California differ substantially.
- Region-indexed base $/sq ft
- Contractor partner rates can override the basis
- Production build connects live cost APIs
2 · Structure, materials & systems
Construction grade, stories, exterior, roof, foundation, interior finish, HVAC, and electrical/plumbing each adjust the effective rate, compounding into a realistic per-foot figure.
- Construction grade: economy → luxury
- Material multipliers for roof & exterior
- Systems and finish complexity
- Age / code-complexity factor
3 · Features & attached structures
Distinctive cost drivers are added as discrete line items rather than buried in the rate, so the estimate reflects what actually has to be rebuilt.
- Attached garage by size
- Fireplaces (per unit)
- Premium built-ins & millwork
- Covered patio / deck area
4 · Rebuild conditions
Total-loss rebuilds cost more than new construction. The engine layers the real-world friction that drives that gap.
- Site access & slope difficulty
- Wildfire / WUI rebuild friction
- Debris removal & demolition
- Permits, plans & supervision (soft costs)
5 · Code & market conditions
Two factors that routinely cause underinsurance in California are made explicit and adjustable.
- Ordinance-or-law code-upgrade allowance
- Post-disaster contractor demand surge
- Inflation-aware 2026 cost basis
6 · What it excludes
The calculation deliberately leaves out everything that is not part of rebuilding the structure itself.
- Excludes land value
- Excludes market / sale value
- Excludes personal property (Coverage C)
- Educational disclosure on every report
For Contractors
Built to plug in verified contractor rates
This estimator is designed to be licensed and co-branded. Partner general contractors supply their own per-square-foot reconstruction rates by construction grade and region; the engine uses those rates, and each report links back to the contractor's site and offerings.
Select "Sample Partner GC" in the estimator's Cost Basis to see how a contractor's verified rates replace the generic regional basis. Real partners provide their own numbers.
Become a partner contractor
List your verified reconstruction rates, get co-branded reports, and receive a backlink to your website and services on every estimate generated with your cost basis. Ideal for general contractors, restoration firms, and rebuild specialists across California.
- ✓ Your rates power the estimate in your service area
- ✓ Backlink & attribution on every generated report
- ✓ Co-branded, licenseable, white-label ready
Good To Know
Why your replacement cost may differ from what you expect
Market value is not rebuild cost
Land, school district, and neighborhood demand push market value above or below reconstruction cost. Coverage A should track rebuild economics, not your purchase price or a Zillow estimate.
Older homes can cost more to rebuild
Period detail, plaster, custom windows, and code-driven upgrades can make an older home cost more to reconstruct than its square footage alone suggests.
Wildfire zones raise rebuild cost
Slope, access, labor demand, debris, and post-event conditions can sharply increase rebuild pricing in wildfire-exposed areas — even for a straightforward home.
Underinsurance is common
Code-upgrade costs and post-disaster demand surge are the two factors most often missing from a dwelling limit. This tool makes both explicit so you can see their impact.
Need Actual Guidance?
This tool is a starting point — not a binding figure.
For a review of whether Coverage A is appropriate for your specific home, contact Bollinsure at reviews@bollinsure.com. We will review the current policy and compare appropriate available options, including FAIR Plan and companion coverage when relevant.