General contractors in the US
Whole-home renovations and any project that needs several trades coordinated. The broadest category on the site and the one where a written contract matters most.
- Metro areas
- 41
- Single-room renovation from
- $20,000
- Credentials explained
- 5
- Single-room renovation
- $20,000 – $60,000strip back and rebuild
- Whole-home renovation
- $100,000 – $350,000typical 2,000 sq ft house
- Gut renovation
- $150 – $400per sq ft
- Contractor fee
- $10 – $20percent markup on cost
Typical US ranges for a mid-range project in 2026. Local figures on each city page are adjusted for regional labor rates.
General contractors by metro area
41 metro areas, each listing up to 10 firms from Google's results for that city, ordered by Google rating weighted by review count.
Major metros
- General contractors in New YorkNew York
- General contractors in Los AngelesCalifornia
- General contractors in ChicagoIllinois
- General contractors in HoustonTexas
- General contractors in DallasTexas
- General contractors in San FranciscoCalifornia
- General contractors in Washington, DCDistrict of Columbia
- General contractors in BostonMassachusetts
- General contractors in SeattleWashington
- General contractors in AtlantaGeorgia
- General contractors in DenverColorado
- General contractors in PhoenixArizona
- General contractors in San DiegoCalifornia
- General contractors in AustinTexas
- General contractors in PhiladelphiaPennsylvania
- General contractors in San JoseCalifornia
- General contractors in MiamiFlorida
- General contractors in MinneapolisMinnesota
- General contractors in NashvilleTennessee
- General contractors in CharlotteNorth Carolina
More metros
- Orange CountyCalifornia
- ScottsdaleArizona
- PortlandOregon
- SacramentoCalifornia
- RaleighNorth Carolina
- TampaFlorida
- OrlandoFlorida
- Fort WorthTexas
- San AntonioTexas
- Las VegasNevada
- Salt Lake CityUtah
- BaltimoreMaryland
- RichmondVirginia
- PittsburghPennsylvania
- ColumbusOhio
- ClevelandOhio
- CincinnatiOhio
- DetroitMichigan
- IndianapolisIndiana
- Kansas CityMissouri
- St. LouisMissouri
Licenses and certifications explained
The licenses and certifications that matter for general contractors, in plain English.
State or city contractor license
Legally requiredMost states license or register remodelers, and some leave it to cities. Where a license is required, working without one is illegal and usually voids your recourse. Check the number on the licensing board's own lookup.
EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm (RRP)
Legally requiredFederal law requires it for paid renovation work that disturbs paint in homes built before 1978. If your house is that old, ask for the firm's certification before demolition starts.
National Association of the Remodeling Industry
The main remodeling trade body. Members agree to a code of ethics, and its Certified Remodeler (CR) designation requires experience plus an exam.
NAHB Certified Graduate Remodeler
A National Association of Home Builders designation for remodelers, covering business management, estimating and customer service.
BBB Accredited Business
Accreditation means the firm agreed to BBB standards and pays a fee. The useful part is the complaint history, which you can read whether or not a firm is accredited.
General contractors: common questions
How much deposit should a contractor ask for?
Some states cap it: California limits the down payment on home improvement work to 10% of the price or $1,000, whichever is less. Elsewhere, 10% to 30% is typical, with the rest paid against completed stages. A demand for half up front is a warning sign.
Fixed price or cost-plus?
Fixed price suits a fully drawn project with few unknowns. Cost-plus suits old houses where nobody knows what is behind the walls, but only with a cap or a detailed estimate and open books.