The short answer
National cost guides put removing a wall that does not hold up the house at about $300 to $1,000. A load-bearing wall runs about $1,200 to $3,000 in a one-story home and $3,200 to $10,000 in a home with more than one story, before any pipes, ducts or wires are moved. In Sandy, changing a bearing wall needs structural plans, and the city may ask for an engineer's stamp.
Is your wall load-bearing?
A load-bearing wall holds up the floor or roof above it. Take one out without a plan and the house can sag. This Old House and Bob Vila give the same basic checks:
- Look at the joists. Go to the basement or attic and see which way the floor joists run. A wall that crosses them is likely load-bearing. A wall that runs the same way is likely not.
- Look under it. A wall sitting right over a beam or foundation wall in the basement is almost always load-bearing.
- Look above it. A load-bearing wall usually has another wall stacked on top of it on the next floor.
- Outside walls always are. Every exterior wall carries load.
These checks tell you what to ask. They do not replace an engineer. Bob Vila puts it plainly: wall removal "is almost never a suitable DIY project."
What it costs
These are national numbers from Fixr (2025) and Bob Vila (2023), not Utah quotes, but they show the shape of the bill.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Wall that does not hold anything up | $300 to $1,000 |
| Load-bearing wall, one-story home | $1,200 to $3,000 |
| Load-bearing wall, home with more than one story | $3,200 to $10,000 |
| Steel beam | $1,300 to $5,000 per beam |
| Engineered wood (LVL) beam | $55 to $400 per beam, plus $200 to $400 to install |
| Structural engineer | $100 to $500 |
What hides inside a kitchen wall
Kitchen walls are rarely empty. This Old House says to check for heating ducts, water lines and wiring before anything gets cut, and to expect wiring even when there is no plumbing. Every one of those has to be moved, and Fixr puts plumbers at $45 to $200 an hour and electricians at $40 to $100.
A good quote lists those moves line by line: drains, vents, ducts, wiring and gas. If a quote has one number for "remove wall," ask what is inside it.
How a bearing wall comes out safely
- An engineer sizes the beam. As Bob Vila says, "an engineer can evaluate the correct header size for the span."
- Temporary walls go up first. This Old House shows support walls built about 4 feet to each side, tight to the ceiling, so they hold the load before the old wall is cut.
- The wall comes out and the beam goes in. Pipes, ducts and wires are moved at the same time.
- The inspector signs off. Then the ceiling, floor and walls get patched.
How long it takes
Fixr and Bob Vila say a small wall that holds nothing up can come out in a few hours. A large load-bearing wall with supports can take up to a week. That is just the wall. Plans and the permit come before it, and patching the ceiling, floor and paint comes after.
What Sandy and Draper require
- Sandy: New cabinets, counters and tile do not need a permit. Moving a wall, plumbing, wiring or gas does. When a bearing wall or beam changes, Sandy wants structural plans, and the plans examiner decides if they need an engineer's stamp.
- Draper: The city's remodel checklist calls for engineering on any structural change.
How Alpha Homes handles it
When a wall has to come out, Alpha Homes handles the beam, the plans and the permit, then builds the new kitchen in the same job. Kitchens are often where a bigger remodel starts, so Tanner looks at the whole floor before anything is cut.
Opening up a kitchen on the east bench?
See Alpha Homes kitchens, from wall removal to cabinets, counters and lighting.
See kitchen remodelingKeep reading
- How long does it take to finish a basement?
- Do you need a permit to finish a basement in Sandy, Utah?
- Building on a foothill lot in Sandy or Draper
Sources
- Fixr, Cost to Remove a Wall (January 2025)
- Bob Vila, How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Wall? (September 2023)
- Bob Vila, How to Identify a Load-Bearing Wall (December 2023)
- This Old House, How to Know if a Wall Is Load-Bearing (May 2026)
- This Old House, How to Remove a Load-Bearing Wall (April 2026)
- Sandy City, Building Permits
- Sandy City, Residential Remodel and Basement Finish permit handout
- Draper City, Basement and Remodel checklist (November 2023)
