Though we live in the modern and civilized era, we aren’t free from the risk of war. We all are already informed about the Russia and Ukraine war. So, when the situation is like this, it’s essential to build a bunker to ensure your and your beloved person’s safety.
How much does it cost to build a bunker?
A bunker’s average cost will be $52,750, where the lowest cost is $19,000. However, there is no limit to the highest cost, which can reach up to $8 million.
Actually, many factors affect bunker building costs. So unless you have any idea about the cost factors, you can’t estimate at which stage you need what amount of investment.
This post will describe all the essential factors that you should keep in mind while building a bunker. So please don’t leave us here; instead, walk with us to get the latest information about bunker building costs.
How Much Does It Cost To Build Different Types Of Bunkers?
An average 2500-square-foot bunker will cost you around $60,000, including all types of facilities. The cost will be lower for less space and higher for much space.
However, there are different types of bunkers, depending on their utility. And you have to spend different costs on different types of bunkers. Here we’d like to share all those bunkers’ costs for your convenience.
Doomsday Bunker Cost
This type of bunker will cost $35,000 to multiple million dollars considering its location, size, and facilities. The primary purpose of building a doomsday bunker is to protect people from falling military artillery, bombs, or other attacks.
Underground Bunker Cost
An underground bunker will cost around $600 to $3,000 per square foot. That means it needs massive investment, approximately 1.5 million to 7.5 million, to build a 2500-square-foot bunker.
An underground bunker is constructed beneath the soil by excavating. When any extremely dangerous situation arises, like war, most of the country’s citizens try to shelter themselves in the bunker.
Nuclear Bunker Cost
Building a nuclear bunker costs the same as an underground bunker, which ranges from $600 to $3000 per square foot. A nuclear bunker building’s main reason is to save the occupants from a nuclear explosion.
Army or Military Bunker Cost
The militaries or armies are constantly working to save their country from enemy attacks. But who or what ensures their life’s safety? Yes, the army bunker is the place that can offer their life assurance.
So almost all countries have their national army bunkers to protect their soldiers. An army bunker will be 26 feet wide and 80 feet long to occupy 10-20 people easily. That means it needs an average of 15 square feet of space which costs around $9000 to $45000. Depending on how many soldiers you want to shelter, the cost will increase or decrease.
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Bunker Building Cost Factors
You have to go through a step-by-step process to build your bunker from scratch to finish. You must properly distribute the entire investment wisely to get the best output.
Land Cost
If you already have your own land to build a bunker, you are lucky to save a considerable amount. But if you don’t have land, you should purchase land, and based on the location; the cost will fluctuate.
If you choose an urban area, it costs you more than a rural area. However, the land size and climate are also important factors determining the land cost. But on average, you have to spend around 20-30% of the total cost for purchasing land.
Permission Cost
Taking permission from the bunker building authority is the next step in constructing a bunker. You have to communicate with your local authority to get permission. For example, if you live in Los Angeles, then you must need permission from the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.
Though the cost may vary due to many things, the average building permit cost is around $1,200 according to the national guidelines in the USA. However, the cost may vary considering many criteria.
Architect Cost
As you build a bunker for your safety assurance, it should be designed by a professional and skilled architect. There are different qualities of the architect who’ll offer building-designed service. But, you should appoint skilled, experienced, and dedicated professionals.
Depending on your location, an efficient architect will charge almost $160 to $350 per hour, whereas an architect firm will charge $60 to $100 per hour. However, the average architect charge is approximately $100 to $250 per hour. The overall bunker design cost will depend on how many hours they work for you.
Material Cost
You’ll need different categories of materials to build a bunker, including metal sheets, bricks, concrete, etc. The more sturdy material you use, the more secure the bunker. You should spend at least 20-30% of the total cost here.
Labor Cost
Without a lot of professional help, you can’t complete your bunker. You’ll need excavators, plumbers, electricians, painters, and so many people at different stages of your construction. You should spend almost 20% of your total cost on all those professionals’ labor charges.
Key Living Material Cost
You have to manage many facilities in the bunker to live in an emergency. Some of the most common facilities are ventilation and air filtering systems, generators, water filters, waste removal systems, etc. You should budget around 10% to manage all these things. However, if you wish to have a luxurious atmosphere in the bunker, the living material cost will increase based on your luxurious items.
These are the most common steps that you must focus on when building a bunker to maintain its quality, durability, and safety.
Above Ground vs. Underground Bunker Cost
The main difference between above-ground and underground bunkers is the excavation cost. So the above-ground bunker is less expensive than the underground one. When an underground bunker costs $4,000 to $30,000, the above-ground bunker costs $3,000 to $15,000.
DIY Bunker Building vs. Hire Professionals
You can build a bunker if you have good construction knowledge and experience. But, yes, it’s not wise to try to do all the tasks yourself, as it brings more hassle.
If you have confidence, you can do that work, but you should seek professional help for other purposes.
And if you don’t have prior experience, we suggest you avoid playing with this heavy construction. Instead, it’s safe to appoint professionals, though it requires extra costs.
Bunker Buy vs. Build
You can buy a bunker instead of a building. If you research online, you’ll find many websites which will offer affordable underground bunkers for sale. The American average bunker cost is $1029 per metric ton. Though buying a bunker is an excellent decision, if you like customization, then the building is far better than buying.
FAQs
How much does it cost to build a bunker in your backyard?
A backyard bunker is constructed to protect one’s family from gamma radiation in a nuclear attack. And the more profound the bunker, the better it will be. If you want to build a backyard bunker for 5-7 people, your bunker size will be 10′ x 40′ or 400 square feet. If per square foot bunker building cost is $600-$3000, its average cost will be approximately $240000- $600000.
How long does it take to build a bunker?
There is not any fixed bunker building duration. Basically, the time will vary based on its depth, soil structure, location, facilities, and many other things. It may take around 3 years to operate from scratch, including its flooring, painting, kitchen, etc.
How deep should a bunker be?
The rule of thumb for determining the bunker depth is to protect the people from the natural environment and trap them from the bunker easily. By considering both criteria, you should maintain at least 10 feet of depth of your bunker.
Can you build a bunker under your house?
Yes and no, both are correct answers considering the specific circumstances. If you get permission to build a bunker under your house from your local state building department, then you can build. But, without obtaining government permission, it is prohibited to build a bunker under one’s house.
Related article: How much does it cost to build a hospital?
Final Verdict
We confidently share our research knowledge on; how much it costs to build a bunker.
When it’s impossible to avoid war in 2022, building a bunker is a smart decision. So think, research, and develop a solid bunker to survive. Though it needs investment, life is more precious than money.
If you want to minimize the cost and keep it within your budget without compromising facilities. In that case, you should consult with your nearest bunker-building firms to get a more realistic overview based on your requirements. They can suggest the best price tag.
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