Storm cellars
The storm cellar, a room dug into the yard with a slanting door, has been part of farms and small towns across the Plains for generations. Today most new cellars are factory-made precast concrete, steel or fiberglass units set into a hole in a day, rather than built by hand. An underground shelter of this kind typically costs $4,000 to $20,000+ installed, depending on size, material and how hard the ground is to dig.
A free matching service, not a storm shelter installer. We find one who covers your area and tell you who they are before anything is shared. How it works
Signs an old cellar needs attention
- Water stands on the floor after rain, or the walls are damp and cracked.
- The door is wood, rusted through, or will not latch from inside.
- Steps are crumbling, or there is no handrail.
- There is no vent, or the vent pipes are blocked.
- Trees have grown close enough to drop limbs on the entry.
- Nobody knows when or how it was built.
What a new storm cellar costs
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Underground shelter, installed Typical span across the guides | $4,000 to $20,000+ |
| Basement shelter or storm cellar HomeGuide | $4,000 to $10,000+ |
| Fiberglass unit Underground only (Angi) | $3,000 to $10,000 |
| Tornado-rated steel door Replacing an old door (HomeGuide) | $500 to $2,500+ |
| Upgraded ventilation Angi | $100 to $3,000 |
Installed ranges from Angi (updated September 9, 2026), HomeGuide and NerdWallet, read October 26, 2026. Where they differ we show the span they broadly share. A guide, not a quote. Repairing an old cellar is quoted after a visit; no guide publishes repair prices. The cost calculator gives a range for a new one.
What a good quote includes
Ask for these six points in writing. Two quotes that cover them can be compared line by line.
The standard it is built to
Whether the design meets ICC 500 and FEMA P-361 (and P-320 for homes), and whether the unit or door carries an ICC 500 label. Ask for the test or engineering report, not a badge.
Size and number of people
Inside dimensions and how many people it is sized for. FEMA P-320 asks for at least 3 square feet of floor per person in a home tornado safe room.
Everything in the price
Unit, delivery, digging or slab work, anchoring, backfill, concrete, permit and cleanup, each listed, so nothing turns up later as an extra.
Drainage and venting
How water is kept out (grading, seals, a drain or sump) and how air gets in. ICC 500 sets a minimum mechanical ventilation rate for tornado shelters.
Permit and inspection
Who applies for the building permit, who books the inspection, and whether the firm calls 811 to locate buried lines before digging.
Warranty in writing
What the warranty covers (leaks, rust, floating, the door), for how long, and who to call if something goes wrong.
Want a new storm cellar, or an old one checked? Tell us about it and we will find an installer near you.
Ask for a free quoteHow a new storm cellar goes in
Locate lines
Call 811 or have the installer do it, so gas, water and power lines are marked before digging.
Dig and base
The hole is dug and a gravel base laid for drainage.
Set the unit
A precast, steel or fiberglass unit is lowered in and anchored so it cannot float in wet ground.
Backfill and grade
Soil is packed around it and the ground sloped away from the door, then the entry and vents are fitted.
Questions people ask
Is an old storm cellar still safe?
It may be, but there is no way to know without a look. Doors, steps, vents and water are the usual problems. A shelter installer can tell you whether to repair it or replace it.
How deep is a storm cellar?
Most modern units are set so the roof sits at or just below ground level, with the hatch raised a few inches above grade to keep rain out. One published unit measures 5 by 8 feet and 5 feet 4 inches high, with its hatch opening set 12 inches above ground.
Can I build my own storm cellar?
Some people do, using FEMA P-320 plans, but digging, concrete and waterproofing are hard to get right. Our DIY storm shelter guide covers what is involved.
How do I keep a storm cellar dry?
Slope the ground away, keep the door seal in good order, keep vents clear and consider a drain or sump where groundwater is high. Our waterproofing guide goes into detail.
Should I register my storm cellar?
Yes. FEMA recommends giving its location, ideally with GPS coordinates of the entrance, to your local fire department and emergency management agency.
Get storm cellar quotes
Three short steps: where you are, what you need, and how to reach you. It takes about two minutes.
This is a free matching service, not a storm shelter installer. We find one who covers your area and name them to you first. Nobody contacts you until you say yes.
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
- Within one working day we will email or call to tell you which storm shelter installer covers your area.
- Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They look at the site and give you a fixed price. No marketing from us, ever.