How much does it cost to relevel a mobile home?
How much does it cost to relevel a mobile home?
$450 – $900 average total cost
Average cost to relevel a mobile home
Mobile home leveling costs $450 to $900 on average, depending on the trailer size and condition. Leveling a single-wide manufactured home costs $450 to $600, while double-wide leveling costs $750 to $900. Additional factors like foundation repairs or poor accessibility can drive costs to relevel a mobile home even higher.
| Trailer size | Average leveling cost |
|---|---|
| Single wide | $450 – $600 |
| Double wide | $750 – $900 |
| Triple wide | $900 – $1,200 |
Single wide – The cost to relevel single-wide trailer homes is $450 to $600. These small homes, ranging from 12 to 14 feet across, are the most affordable to level because they have fewer pier sets to adjust.
Double wide – Releveling a double wide costs nearly twice as much at $750 to $900. Double-wides typically measure 24 to 28 feet across, meaning they have twice the frame surface area requiring leveling.
Triple wide – As the largest style ranging over 30 feet across, triple wide homes cost $900 to $1,200 to stabilize and level. The larger size requires extensive block and pier sets to cover.
Manufactured home leveling cost factors
While width plays a big role, the difficulty of the project also impacts the leveling costs. A simple leveling project with no repairs necessary costs less than $500. An average project costs $500 to $900, while a difficult project with multiple repairs can cost more than $1,500.
| Project difficulty | Average cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | $300 – $500 | Slab foundations with no signs of cracks or breakage. |
| Average | $500 – $900 | Concrete or gravel foundations with unevenness you can feel or homes on homes on jacks or blocks that are in good shape. |
| Difficult | $900 – $1,500+ | Homes on jacks or concrete blocks that are in poor shape and need to be reset. |
Factors such as location, mobile home type, job severity, labor costs in your area, accessibility issues, and repair difficulties will cause the leveling prices to vary.
Mobile home type
The specific model and construction of the mobile home can necessitate more or less difficult leveling work. Older homes often have more degraded piers and supports. Custom-built or oddly shaped homes also introduce unique challenges. These situations mean more labor, equipment, and materials to complete the job.
Severity
Slight settling may only require a few easy pier height adjustments, while more extreme tilting needs extensive blocking work. The more out of level the home, the higher the cost to properly re-stabilize the frame through the process. Severity goes hand-in-hand with the repair difficulties.
Labor rates
The number of crew members and hours required are factored into quotes. Simple jobs need fewer tools and staff, while complex leveling jobs use more technical equipment and specialty staff adding to the expense. Local labor rates based on region and metro/rural areas lead to price variation.
Additional cost factors
Other factors that can raise the final invoice include:
Condition of existing concrete piers – If the concrete pier blocks, wooden pads, and supports are broken or degraded, replacements will cost more. Repairing slab foundations also introduces major additional costs beyond standard blocking.
Accessibility issues – Limited space around the home, steep sites, or obstructions require extra workarounds by the crew, so they charge accordingly. Similarly, long distances between the shop and job location add to their fuel costs passed onto the client.
Location variances – Rates are typically higher in expensive metro regions for all construction services. Always get quotes from local companies since adjacent towns could have hundreds of dollars’ difference.
Mobile home leveling costs by raising process
The cost of leveling a mobile home can vary based on the specific process or method used for raising the home. The following table details the potential costs associated with different mobile home leveling processes.
| Leveling process | Average cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blocking and shimming | $450 – $900 | Involves using blocks and shims to adjust the height of the mobile home's piers and achieve a level position |
| Jack and leveling beams | $600 – $1,200 | Hydraulic jacks and leveling beams lift and level the mobile home, with higher costs to cover the use of specialized equipment. |
| Screw jacks or hydraulic screw systems | $800 – $1,500 | Screw jacks or hydraulic screw systems provide a more precise leveling process for homes with specific leveling needs. |
| Helical piers or push piers | $1,000 – $3,000+ | These advanced systems go deep into the ground to provide support. The higher cost reflects the use of specialized materials and a complex installation process. |
| Cribbing and lifting | $1,200 – $2,500 | A more labor-intensive method used for severe leveling issues that involves building a temporary structure underneath the home and using hydraulic jacks to lift the mobile home to the desired level |
| Sinking foundation repair | $2,000 – $5,000+ | This method for homes with a sinking foundation involves lifting the home, addressing the foundation issues, and stabilizing it. Costs are higher due to the complexity and time involved. |
Signs your mobile home is not level
Catching leveling issues early provides the opportunity to fix them promptly before the problems worsen or cause secondary damage. Here are some key signs you need an inspection:
Doors or windows becoming difficult to open or close
Cracks in walls, ceilings, or trims
Exterior siding visibly buckling
Levels show that the floor is not even
Visible gaps between wall, ceiling, or floor trim
Sliding cabinet doors suddenly harder to operate
Importance of mobile home leveling
Mobile home leveling is important for several reasons:
Safety – An uneven home puts stress on walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and windows. This can lead to cracks or even collapse over time, creating safety hazards for residents. Proper leveling helps ensure structural integrity.
Prevent damage – As a mobile home settles unevenly, the tilting and sagging can quickly cause water leaks, mold growth, pest infestations, ruined carpets, and major repairs if left unaddressed. Leveling provides stabilization before secondary damage sets in.
Comfort & function – Sloping floors, jamming doors, and visible ceiling cracks diminish livability and comfort. Leveling realigns everything for normal home function and enjoyment without annoying issues.
Resale value – Buyers and appraisers look closely for signs of unevenness. A properly leveled home holds value better and is easier to finance or insure going forward.
Code compliance – An uneven trailer could mean the home no longer meets basic codes and standards overseen by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This leads to citations and makes selling difficult.
How to save on trailer house leveling
While shopping around for the best deal, homeowners can keep costs down by:
Having any foundation repairs or issues like broken piers addressed first
Requesting discounts for bundled services done at once
Opting for shorter warranty periods on labor (6 months vs. 1 year)
Scheduling the work during off-peak times of year for contractors
DIY vs professional mobile home leveling
Homeowners may be tempted to level their mobile home to save money, but DIY leveling, especially for extensive jobs, is not recommended. With specialty tools and processes involved, releveling mobile homes takes experience. Homeowners could spend $500 just acquiring equipment with no guarantees of getting their home properly realigned.
FAQs about mobile home leveling
Who levels mobile homes?
Mobile home or manufactured home installers provide leveling services when installing new mobile homes. There are also contractors, handypersons, or park staff that can stabilize and relevel existing homes for a fee. Homeowners can attempt to self-level using hydraulic jacks, but professional releveling is recommended to prevent injury or damage to the home.
How do you level a mobile home?
To level a mobile home, professionals locate the center beam and use a long level to check for levelness. If low spots are identified, they slowly raise the beam using a specialized jack positioned near the low point and insert shims to maintain the level position.
They repeat this process for all low spots until the mobile home is level.
How often should you relevel a mobile home?
Mobile home manufacturers recommend checking stability every 6 months. While visual inspections are fine twice yearly, a full professional releveling every 2 to 3 years ensures long-term structural soundness.
Does mobile home insurance cover leveling costs?
Standard mobile home insurance policies do not cover leveling because coverage typically focuses on sudden and accidental damage caused by covered perils like fire, wind, hail, and vandalism. There are some cases where your policy may offer limited coverage for specific types of leveling, including:
Leveling required after a covered event, such as a storm that causes the mobile home to become unlevel.
Leveling due to ground movement like a landslide or sinkhole.
Leveling due to specific structural defects covered by the policy.
How long does it take to level a mobile home?
Leveling a single-wide mobile homes takes 3 to 5 hours, while a large double-wide takes 6 to 8 hours. Factors that can affect the duration include the severity of the unevenness, the accessibility of the support piers, the experience of the crew, and the need for foundation repairs.
Is releveling bad for mobile homes?
When done properly, releveling corrects serious issues. However, frequent lifting or dropping strains the mobile home frame. Addressing the root problem, whether poor drainage or a busted foundation, is the best route long-term.
Getting estimates from mobile home leveling contractors
With such a wide range of prices, it pays to put together detailed requests for estimates. Be sure to follow these suggestions when getting estimates from mobile home contractors near you:
Provide specifics on your home’s age, current foundation type, visible issues you’ve noticed, and any access limitations on your property.
Collect at least 3 bids from local companies with good reviews for their mobile home leveling services on HomeGuide and Google.
Compare the options only after getting full details on what preparation, materials, labor, and cleanup work each company includes.
Don’t automatically choose the cheapest option. Instead, look for a contractor with a good reputation, experience with mobile homes similar to yours, and a warranty on their work.
Get everything in writing, including a contract that outlines the scope of work, price, payment schedule, and warranty information.
Questions to ask a mobile home leveling company
Requesting specifics about the project will protect both parties against misunderstandings. Ask prospective contractors these important questions:
What preparation work do you need me to complete before arrival?
Will you adjust/replace broken piers and blocking or only reset existing ones?
Is there a warranty on labor should adjustments be immediately needed?
Do I pay anything if you show up but decide the job risks exceed your capabilities?
What precautions do you take inside the home during the lifting/settling process?
Will you provide before and after photos documenting the improvements?
We use our proprietary database of project costs, personally contact industry experts to compile up-to-date pricing and insights, and conduct in-depth research to ensure accuracy in all our guides.