House leveling: what it is, methods and cost

Signs you may need house leveling

• Floors that slope enough to roll a ball
• Doors out of square, gaps at the top of door frames
• Cracks in drywall corners
• A visible dip in the roofline or brick lines

How house leveling is done

1. Floor elevation survey to find the high and low points
2. Pier and beam: jack the beams, then add steel shims or new piers
3. Slab: install piers and lift with hydraulic jacks
4. Lift slowly while watching for cracks and plumbing stress
5. Re-survey and record the final elevations

How much house leveling costs

On pier and beam homes leveling is mostly labor under the house (shimming, adding piers). On slabs it means piers, so the price follows the pier count. Full house lifting is a different job, used for replacing a foundation or raising a house out of a flood zone.

Source: HomeGuide, Foundation repair cost (updated Feb 2026); HomeGuide, Pier and beam foundation repair cost (updated Dec 2025); This Old House, Foundation repair cost; HomeGuide, Foundation inspection cost (updated Feb 2026). Checked October 2026.

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Before you hire

• Ask for before and after elevation readings in writing
• Ask whether plumbing will be tested after lifting a slab
• Ask how often pier and beam shims may need re-adjusting and whether that's covered

Permits, codes and licensing

Contractor licensing is set by each state, and some leave it to cities or counties. Some states license this work at state level (for example the CSLB in California, the Registrar of Contractors in Arizona or the DBPR in Florida); others only require registration or local licenses. Check the license or registration number on your state's or city's public lookup before you pay a deposit, and ask for proof of liability insurance.

Companies that offer house leveling

349 companies in the directory name this repair on their own website (the quote is on each company page); they are listed first in each state. Another 0 are companies that usually offer it but don't say so online – confirm when you call.