Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Cost
Fire and smoke damage restoration cost depends almost entirely on severity, not just square footage. Light smoke damage from a small kitchen fire can run close to a thousand dollars. A moderate fire affecting a room or two, with smoke migrating through the rest of the home, runs $5,200 to $8,400 for a typical 800 square foot area. Severe structural damage runs into the tens of thousands.
Cost by severity
| Severity | What it typically means | Example area | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Structure sound, soot and odor from a small kitchen or appliance fire | 300 sq ft | $1,050 to $1,650 |
| Moderate | Fire in one or two rooms, smoke migration through the home, some water from firefighting | 800 sq ft | $5,200 to $8,400 |
| Severe | Structural components affected, roof, load-bearing walls, or systems, needs engineering assessment | 2,000 sq ft | $28,000 to $44,000 |
What changes the price
Questions people ask before booking
How much does fire and smoke damage restoration cost?
It depends heavily on severity. Light smoke damage from a small kitchen fire, around 300 square feet, runs $1,050 to $1,650. A moderate fire affecting one or two rooms, around 800 square feet, runs $5,200 to $8,400. Severe damage with structural components affected, around 2,000 square feet, runs $28,000 to $44,000. Real projects nationally range from about $3,000 to over $50,000.
What is the difference between dry soot and oily soot?
Dry soot comes from a fast, hot-burning fire and wipes away relatively easily. Oily or wet soot comes from a slower, smoldering fire and clings to surfaces, smears when disturbed, and takes more aggressive cleaning, which adds about 30% to the job.
Does homeowners insurance cover fire and smoke damage restoration?
Generally, yes. Fire is one of the most consistently covered perils under a standard homeowners policy, including smoke damage even in areas the fire itself never reached. Document everything with photos before cleanup starts and confirm coverage details with your insurer.
How long does fire damage restoration take?
Light smoke damage can often be resolved in days. A moderate job with selective demolition and repairs typically runs weeks. Severe structural damage, especially anything requiring permits and an engineering assessment, can take months from start to finish.
What does contents pack-out actually mean?
It means a crew removes furniture, belongings, and other contents from the affected area, cleans and deodorizes what can be saved, and stores it off-site until the space is ready. It is usually a separate line item from the structural cleanup and restoration work.
Be honest about which severity tier actually matches the damage before you run the numbers above, and involve your insurer early. Fire restoration is one of the more consistently covered claims, and documentation from day one makes that process considerably smoother.