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Des Moines, IA remodeling cost data for contractors

What Clear Estimates Research found about remodeling costs in Des Moines, for remodeling contractors bidding work in the area.

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Remodeling prices by category

Des Moines isn't in this quarter's local prices yet. These are national figures for a typical job in each category.

Q4 2026 pricing. National figures are the median of 50 metro areas. Ranges are rounded to the nearest $50, or $100 from $5,000 up.

Research on Des Moines

Findings for Des Moines from Clear Estimates Research, data briefs built from the pricing data behind Clear Estimates. Newest first.

Clear Estimates Research ·

The limits of cost per square foot: what it really costs to build a house in every U.S. ZIP code

Cost to build the Cape Cod
$520,000
Median market: $528,300
Cost to build the economy ranch
$231,500
Median market: $234,000
Cost to build the brick colonial
$1,249,100
Median market: $1,260,000
Cape Cod, dollars per square foot
217
Median market: 220

Cost to build the Cape Cod in Des Moines: $520,000, against $528,300 in the median market. Lower than in 187 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Cost to build the economy ranch in Des Moines: $231,500, against $234,000 in the median market. Lower than in 186 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Cost to build the brick colonial in Des Moines: $1,249,100, against $1,260,000 in the median market. Lower than in 184 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Cape Cod, dollars per square foot in Des Moines: 217, against 220 in the median market. Lower than in 182 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Modeled cost to build a 1,200 sq ft economy ranch, a 2,400 sq ft mid-grade Cape Cod and a 4,000 sq ft premium brick colonial, median across the market's ZIP codes. Land not included.

Source: Clear Estimates pricing data, modeled project costs, October 2026.

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Clear Estimates Research ·

Labor or materials: what's driving residential construction cost increases?

Material change
+36%
Median market: +37%
Labor change
+31%
Median market: +35%
Labor's share of the increase
36%
Median market: 38%

Material change in Des Moines: +36%, against +37% in the median market. Lower than in 268 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Labor change in Des Moines: +31%, against +35% in the median market. Lower than in 222 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd lowest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Labor's share of the increase in Des Moines: 36%, against 38% in the median market. Lower than in 203 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd lowest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Modeled cost of a 600-square-foot two-story addition. Labor's share is the part of the cost increase that came from labor.

Source: Clear Estimates pricing data, modeled project costs, 2019 to 2026 (2026 through September).

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Clear Estimates Research ·

Labor drives regional cost variations more than the materials: four common projects in 349 markets

Bathroom remodel, 40 sq ft
$20,300
Median market: $20,300
Composite deck, 200 sq ft
$11,900
Median market: $12,100
Roof replacement, 800 sq ft
$9,300
Median market: $8,900
Two-car garage, 500 sq ft
$45,300
Median market: $46,400

Bathroom remodel, 40 sq ft in Des Moines: $20,300, the same as the median market. Higher than in 178 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Composite deck, 200 sq ft in Des Moines: $11,900, against $12,100 in the median market. Lower than in 194 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Roof replacement, 800 sq ft in Des Moines: $9,300, against $8,900 in the median market. Higher than in 221 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Two-car garage, 500 sq ft in Des Moines: $45,300, against $46,400 in the median market. Lower than in 203 of the 349 markets, and the 4th highest of the 8 Iowa markets.

Modeled cost of each project, median across the market's ZIP codes, with a contractor markup typical for the area.

Source: Clear Estimates pricing data, modeled project costs, October 2026.

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