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
- ZIP selects the closest regional basis
- Your entries update the estimate immediately
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
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.
What is home replacement cost compared with market value in California?
Replacement cost is what it would take to rebuild your home as it stands today, with current labor, materials, and code requirements. Market value is what a buyer would pay, and it carries land, school district, and neighborhood demand with it. California Insurance Code section 10102 treats the two as different figures: rebuild cost is almost always different from market value, which is why Coverage A should track rebuild economics rather than a purchase price or an online estimate.
Does Coverage A include land?
No. A dwelling limit does not cover land. Coverage A is the cost to reconstruct the structure, and the lot underneath it is not part of that figure. California Insurance Code section 10102 makes the same distinction, and it is one reason a home's market value can sit well above or below the amount needed to rebuild it.
How should I use this estimator for a rebuild-cost range?
Treat it as a starting point for a range rather than a single number. Enter the home as it stands, then look at what the code-upgrade and demand-surge factors do to the result, since those two are the ones most often missing from a dwelling limit. The output is educational: it is not an appraisal, it is not a quote, and it is not a binding figure. Use the range as the basis for a conversation about whether your home insurance Coverage A is still appropriate.
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 quotes@bollinsure.com. We will review the current policy and compare appropriate available options, including FAIR Plan and companion coverage when relevant.