Construction Costs in Great Falls, MT 2026

Estimate renovation and building costs in Great Falls. Labor input: $29.81/hr, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median wage for carpenters, construction laborers and construction supervisors in the Great Falls, MT metro; HammerIO's modeled material cost index is 90.

$29.81

Median construction wage/hr (BLS May 2025)

90

Material Cost Index

$341,345

Typical Home Value (est.)

95

Cost of Living Index

Construction trade wages, Great Falls, MT metro (BLS OEWS May 2025)

Median hourly wages published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Great Falls, MT metropolitan area, which includes Great Falls, compared with the U.S. median for each occupation. These are what employees earn, not what contractors bill: a contractor's hourly rate adds overhead, insurance, equipment and profit. The calculator below scales its labor share by the local-to-national ratio for carpenters, construction laborers and construction supervisors (0.99 here).

Occupation (SOC)Metro medianMT medianU.S. medianvs U.S.
Carpenters (47-2031)$28.27$28.28$29.12-3%
Construction Laborers (47-2061)$23.70$23.96$22.66+5%
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (47-1011)$37.45$36.98$38.42-3%
Electricians (47-2111)$37.00$36.90$30.38+22%
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152)$37.07$38.44$30.67+21%
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (49-9021)$29.17$29.26$29.33-1%
Roofers (47-2181)$24.00$28.38$26.65-10%
Painters, Construction and Maintenance (47-2141)$28.01$28.03$23.75+18%
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (47-2081)n/a$28.92$28.33+2%
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (47-2051)$27.73$29.63$27.41+1%
Brickmasons and Blockmasons (47-2021)n/a$26.94$29.87-10%
Tile and Stone Setters (47-2044)n/a$28.21$26.77+5%
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles (47-2042)n/a$18.13$27.15-33%
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall (47-2131)n/a$23.13$23.62-2%
Sheet Metal Workers (47-2211)$27.64$29.53$29.71-7%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates for CBSA 24500 (Great Falls, MT). "n/a" means BLS suppressed the metro estimate; the state column still applies and "vs U.S." then compares the state median. Retrieved September 2026 via the BLS Public Data API.

Great Falls Overview

Population

60,442

Climate Zone

Cold (Zone 6)

Seismic Risk

moderate

Median Household Income

$53,736

Great Falls Remodeling Cost Estimator

Leave blank for typical kitchen remodel size

Cost Breakdown

Materials$18,900
Labor$15,267
Permits (4%)$1,367

Estimated Total Cost

$35,534

Mid-range Kitchen Remodel — 280 sq ft in Great Falls

Materials

$18,900

53% of total

Labor

$15,267

43% of total

Permits

$1,367

~$1,146 modeled allowance

5% Below National Average

The same kitchen remodel at the national average would cost approximately $37,492. HammerIO's model places Great Falls below the national baseline because of its modeled labor and material factors.

View Montana Statewide Costs

Compare Great Falls costs with the Montana state average and other cities.

Project Cost Comparison: Great Falls vs National Average

Project TypeGreat Falls EstimateNational BaselineDifference
Kitchen Remodel$37,246$35,000+6%
Bathroom Remodel$16,000$18,000-11%
Roof Replacement$13,500$15,000-10%
Whole House Paint$3,400$3,800-11%
Flooring Install$6,000$7,000-14%
Deck Build$10,500$12,000-12%

Material Prices in Great Falls

Concrete

$125 /cubic yard

$1 below the estimated Montana average of $126/yd³

Lumber

$4.49 /board foot

$0.46 below the estimated Montana average of $4.95/BF

Popular Projects in Great Falls

🏠

#1 Roof Replacement

Common project type to budget for in Great Falls

🎨

#2 Interior Painting

Common project type to budget for in Great Falls

📐

#3 Room Addition

Common project type to budget for in Great Falls

Construction Cost Overview for Great Falls, MT

Construction and renovation costs in Great Falls, MT are modeled here with a cost of living index of 95 and a material cost index of 90 (where 100 represents the national baseline). With a BLS OEWS May 2025 median construction wage of $29.81 per hour (carpenters, laborers and supervisors, Great Falls, MT metro) and a typical home value estimate of $341,345, homeowners in Great Falls should plan their renovation budgets carefully using local pricing data.

Great Falls sits in IECC Climate Zone 6 (Cold), which influences insulation requirements, HVAC sizing, and overall material choices for both new construction and remodeling projects. Moderate seismic risk in the model, confirm local seismic design requirements with the building department. The median household income of $53,736 in Great Falls means that a mid-range kitchen remodel at $37,246 represents approximately 69% of annual household income.

HammerIO uses a modeled permit allowance of $1,146 for Great Falls; actual fees vary by project scope, valuation, and the local fee schedule. Major renovations involving structural, electrical, or plumbing work generally require permits, so confirm with the local building department. Scheduling outside peak season may improve contractor availability and pricing flexibility.

Other Cities in Montana

Billings, MT

BLS wage: $29.59/hr • Material Index: 92 • Kitchen: $38,220

Bozeman, MT

BLS wage: $31.67/hr • Material Index: 99 • Kitchen: $41,686

Helena, MT

BLS wage: $29.45/hr • Material Index: 87 • Kitchen: $35,890

Missoula, MT

BLS wage: $29.12/hr • Material Index: 101 • Kitchen: $42,717

Methodology & Construction Data Sources

How we calculate Great Falls construction costs: These are planning estimates from HammerIO's cost model: national project baselines adjusted by modeled regional labor and material factors for Great Falls. Public data sources below are used as benchmarks and context; the city figures are estimates, not official statistics or contractor quotes.

  1. Labor rates, the calculator uses BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) median hourly wages for the Great Falls, MT metro, scaling its labor share by the local-to-national ratio (0.99) for carpenters, construction laborers and construction supervisors. These are employee wages, not contractor billing rates; the full trade table is above.
  2. Materials pricing trends are checked against the BLS Producer Price Index (PPI) for Construction Materials, (national price indexes for materials such as lumber, concrete, and steel); the city material index is a modeled regional adjustment.
  3. Building permit costs are shown as a modeled allowance; confirm actual fees with the Great Falls building department's current fee schedule.
  4. Regional cost adjustment uses HammerIO's modeled labor-rate and material-index factors for Great Falls; it is not a licensed proprietary city cost index.
  5. Building codes and standards cross-referenced with EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rules and OSHA Construction Safety Standards.

Authoritative construction cost data sources:

Cost Disclaimer: Estimates are modeled planning ranges for Great Falls, not local quotes. Actual project costs depend on site conditions, design complexity, contractor availability, material grades, and permitting timelines. Always obtain 3+ contractor bids before committing to any project. Actual prices can differ substantially from these estimates.

Reviewed by Rowan Ashby · Last updated 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Great Falls, MT?
HammerIO's planning model estimates a mid-range kitchen remodel in Great Falls, MT at approximately $37,246. Budget renovations start around $26,072, while premium remodels with custom cabinetry and high-end appliances can reach $55,869 or more. The labor input is $29.81/hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median wage for carpenters, construction laborers and construction supervisors in the Great Falls, MT metro; contractor billing rates run higher and vary.
What is the average construction labor rate in Great Falls?
The BLS OEWS May 2025 median hourly wage for general construction work in the Great Falls, MT metro is $29.81 (average of the carpenter, construction laborer and construction supervisor medians), 1% below the U.S. median of $30.07 for the same occupations. Electricians: $37.00/hr; Plumbers: $37.07/hr. These are published employee wages, not contractor quotes; a contractor's billed hourly rate adds overhead, insurance, equipment and profit, so ask for trade-specific pricing in each bid.
Do I need a building permit for home renovations in Great Falls?
Most significant renovations in Great Falls, MT require building permits. HammerIO uses a modeled permit allowance of about $1,146; actual fees depend on the local fee schedule and project scope. Projects involving structural changes, electrical rewiring, plumbing modifications, or additions almost always require permits. Cosmetic updates like interior painting, replacing fixtures, or installing new flooring typically do not.
How does Great Falls's cost of living affect construction costs?
HammerIO's model assigns Great Falls a cost of living index of 95 (national baseline = 100). Higher-cost areas tend to have higher labor rates, material delivery costs, and permit fees. The model's material cost index for Great Falls is 90, an estimate of regional material pricing rather than a published local statistic.
What are the most popular home improvement projects in Great Falls?
HammerIO highlights Roof Replacement, Interior Painting, Room Addition as common projects to budget for in Great Falls, MT; this is a planning shortlist, not survey data. Resale cost recovery varies widely by project type, scope, and local market, so compare kitchen, bathroom, and roof budgets against local home values and buyer expectations before choosing upgrades.

Related Calculators

Concrete Calculator

Calculate cubic yards and bags of concrete for your Great Falls project.

Roofing Calculator

Estimate roofing materials and costs by roof pitch and area.

Paint Calculator

Calculate gallons of paint needed for your interior or exterior project.