How Much Does Interior Demolition Cost?
Interior demolition of a home in Southern California costs $22.50–$26.50 per square foot in 2026 for a non-structural gut-out with haul-off; 1,000 square feet runs $22,500–$26,500. Flooring removal alone runs $5.25–$6.50 per square foot without asbestos. Commercial tenant-improvement demolition is priced as a lump sum from the demolition plan.
Interior demolition starts with an asbestos survey. Joint compound, popcorn ceilings, flooring and mastic in older buildings often test positive, and finding them after the walls are open stops the job.
- Typical prices
- Cost examples
- What’s included
- Commercial and TI demolition
- Questions
- For architects and contractors
- Get a firm quote
Interior demolition cost per square foot
Estimates for budgeting only, not an offer, bid or quote. Permits, government fees and testing are extra unless listed; your signed written proposal sets the price.
| Item | Price | Unit | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior demolition and gut-outs, homes | $22.50 – $26.50 | per square foot | Non-structural strip-out, haul-off |
| Flooring removal, no asbestos | $5.25 – $6.50 | per square foot | Removal, scrape, haul-off |
| Saw cutting, slab with wire mesh, up to 4 in. deep | $7.50 – $9.25 | per linear foot | Cut only |
| Saw cutting, slab with rebar, up to 4 in. deep | $12 – $14.75 | per linear foot | Cut only |
| Core drilling, 2-inch hole, concrete up to 4 in. thick | $105 – $130 | per hole | Drilling, core removal and slurry cleanup |
| Construction and demolition debris removal (we load) | $135 – $160 | per cubic yard | Labor, loading, hauling, disposal |
| Asbestos bulk sample, PLM, standard turnaround | $120 – $145 | per sample | Collection by an independent CAC or CSST, accredited-lab analysis, signed report |
| Drywall replacement, hung, taped and textured | $5.25 – $7 | per square foot | Board, tape, texture |
Budget ranges for 2026, not a quote. Prices include what the Includes column lists. Not included: permits and other government fees, asbestos abatement, engineering, and utility make-safe by licensed trades. Minimum charge: $3,750 per job.
Permit or notice: Usually covered by the project’s building permit, plus an asbestos survey before work starts. Permit fees are not included; we pull or coordinate the permits our work needs, billed at cost plus administrative time.
Interior demolition cost by size
| Project | Price |
|---|---|
| Kitchen and two bathrooms, 400 SF, gutted to studs | $9,000 – $10,600 |
| House, 1,000 SF, full interior gut-out | $22,500 – $26,500 |
| House, 2,000 SF, full interior gut-out | $45,000 – $53,000 |
| Flooring only, 1,500 SF, no asbestos | $7,875 – $9,750 |
| Asbestos survey, 8 samples | $1,000 – $1,160 |
Saw cutting and coring are usually added to a larger job; on their own, the $3,750 minimum applies.
What’s in the price
A labor crew with hand and small power tools, dust control and floor protection, removal of non-structural finishes down to the framing or the shell, loading and haul-off, recycling where facilities take the material, and a broom-clean finish.
Included
- Drywall or plaster, ceilings, flooring, cabinets and fixtures
- Non-bearing partitions, as shown on the plan
- Protection of what stays
- Loading, hauling and disposal
Not included
- Asbestos survey and abatement (priced on their own pages)
- Utility make-safe by licensed electricians and plumbers
- Structural removal, shoring and engineering
- Permits and building fees
Commercial and tenant-improvement demolition
Office, retail, medical and school interiors are priced as a lump sum from the demolition plan rather than per square foot, because the scope varies so much from one space to the next. The price depends on:
- What comes out: ceilings and grid, partitions, flooring, casework and fixtures
- Mechanical, electrical and plumbing made safe back to the source by licensed trades
- What stays and has to be protected, and whether neighboring suites stay open
- Building rules: certificates of insurance, elevator reservations, dock times and after-hours windows
- The asbestos survey results and the abatement that follows
In the South Coast air district, a renovation needs an asbestos survey before work starts, and removing 100 square feet or more of asbestos material requires notice to the district 10 working days ahead (Rule 1403). Proposals break into a schedule of values so the demolition can be billed with the rest of the TI.
Interior demolition cost questions
How much does interior demolition cost?
For a home, $22.50–$26.50 per square foot in 2026 for a non-structural gut-out with haul-off, so 1,000 SF runs $22,500–$26,500. Asbestos abatement, utility make-safe and permits are separate, and jobs under $3,750 are billed at the minimum.
How much does commercial tenant-improvement demolition cost?
Commercial and TI demolition is priced as a lump sum from the demolition plan, not per square foot. What comes out, what stays, after-hours windows, building rules and the asbestos survey results drive the price. Send the plan and photos for a written proposal.
What does an interior gut-out include?
Removing non-structural finishes down to the framing or shell: drywall or plaster, ceilings, flooring, cabinets, fixtures and non-bearing walls, with haul-off. Electrical and plumbing are made safe by licensed trades first, and removing anything structural takes engineering and a permit.
Do I need an asbestos test before interior demolition?
Yes. In the South Coast air district a renovation needs an asbestos survey before work starts, and older joint compound, popcorn ceilings, flooring and mastic often test positive. Testing runs $120–$145 per sample. See testing prices.
Does interior demolition need a permit?
Usually. Interior demolition is often covered by the building permit for the remodel or tenant improvement, and some cities issue a separate permit when it isn’t; Irvine’s fee schedule, for example, lists interior demolition that isn’t part of a TI permit. Ask the building department before work starts.
Can interior demolition be done after hours?
Yes. Crews work daylight hours, and after-hours work is available on request, within building rules and city noise limits. See an overnight retail job.
For architects, engineers and contractors
Scope: Interior and tenant-improvement demolition
Use these ranges for early budgets; firm lump-sum prices come from the demolition plan and the asbestos survey. Proposals break into a schedule of values for monthly pay applications, and closeout includes disposal and recycling receipts for the CALGreen report. Cost terms glossary · Printable unit-price sheet
What to send for a firm quote
- Demolition plan or floor plan with what stays marked
- Address, photos and square footage
- Asbestos survey, if one has been done
- Building rules: hours, elevator, dock and insurance requirements
- Occupied or vacant, and neighboring tenants
- Target start date and schedule
Request a project review or call (949) 446-0000
Related projects
Dental office demolition, Redondo Beach
Bandini Library interior demolition, Commerce
Santa Ana City Hall sixth-floor renovation
Bungalow interior demolition, Ontario
More cost guides
House demolition cost · Fire-damaged demolition cost · Commercial demolition cost · Demolition permit and AQMD fees · Pool, wall and fence removal cost · Concrete cutting and coring cost · Concrete and asphalt removal cost · Excavation and grading cost · Land clearing cost · Asbestos removal cost · Popcorn ceiling removal cost · Floor tile and mastic removal cost · Lead paint removal cost · Tanks and hazardous materials cost · Hauling and disposal cost · Testing cost · All 2026 prices · Cost terms glossary · Our interior demolition services
Disclaimer: a guide, not a quote.
These prices are a guide for budgeting, not a quote. They are our 2026 price ranges for common projects in Southern California. Your written price depends on the site, access, quantities, the materials found, the schedule and the documents you provide, and it can come in above or below these ranges; the written proposal governs.
Permits, inspections and other government fees vary from city to city and county to county and are not included. Neither are plan preparation, engineering, utility planning, agency submittals and coordination, inspector standby, return trips or administrative time, other than the asbestos air-district notice we prepare and file. Testing is priced on the testing page. Worked examples illustrate their stated assumptions and are not quotes. When a project needs any of these, they’re listed in the written proposal.
A written proposal follows a site walk or a review of your plans, reports and photos.
SoCal Removal is the business name of Abajian Enterprise, a California corporation. CSLB #980451 (A, B, C-21). Certifications: HAZ, ASB (ASB for bidding only). Verify the license · Insurance and project bonding