How Much Does It Cost to Build a Wine Cellar?

To view your collection of exquisite bottles, perfectly aged and elegantly displayed in a well-cooled wine cellar. That's every oenophile's dream. But how much does it cost to build a wine cellar? The simple answer is that, depending on several factors (such as square footage), the national average cost of wine cellars ranges from $5,000 to over $100,000.

Factors That Affect Wine Cellar Cost

1. Size and Location

The size (in square footage) and location of the wine cellar significantly impact the price. A small closet conversion may only cost a few thousand dollars, while a complete basement transformation can exceed tens of thousands. Additionally, installing insulation, wine racks, or custom doors will considerably increase the project's total cost.

Estimated Costs of Wine Cellar by Size

• Small Wine Cellar (up to 500 bottles): $15,000 - $30,000
  • Ideal for beginners or those with limited square foot space in their cellar and a tasting room.
• Mid-Size Wine Cellar (500-1500 bottles): $30,000 - $60,000
  • Suitable for growing collections with more display space, may come with a tasting area.
• Large Wine Cellar (1,500+ bottles): $60,000 - exceeding $100,000
  • How many bottles do you plan to store? If you aim for an infinite wine cellar, you'll likely need a significant investment. Designed for serious collectors, a large wine cellar adds to your home value and often features tasting areas and lounges.

Estimated Costs of Wine Cellar by Location

• Passive Wine Cellar: $10,000 to $30,000+
  • This type of cellar is also often referred to as an underground wine cellar. This basement wine cellar utilizes natural underground conditions for optimal temperature and humidity. A wine cave like this is ideal for cooler climates and traditional wine cellars design.
• Active Wine Cellar: $15,000 to over $100,000
  • Employing cooling and humidity systems, in home wine cellars are best suited for those with an extensive collection who seek precise climate control in their wine storage area.
• Walk-In Wine Cellar: $15,000 and $50,000+
  • Offers extensive storage space. This wine cave cellar is suitable for avid collectors wanting a dedicated wine storage and tasting space.
• Spiral Wine Cellar: $20,000 to $60,000
  • A unique design built underground, spiral cellars are eye-catching solutions for those with limited square foot space. This underground wine cellar is similar to a basement wine cellar, featuring a spiral staircase that keeps it away from warm air and direct sunlight. It's ideal for those who need a high-capacity room in their wine storage space.
• Closet Wine Cellar: starts around $5,000
  • Transform a walk-in closet into a custom wine cabinet or wine cellar with custom wine racks. Best for wine lovers in small spaces or those starting a collection with storage capacity challenges, but who require precise climate control.
• Understairs Wine Cellar: $2,000 to $8,000
  • Utilizing space beneath stairs, the cost of this storage depends on the wine room design. Perfect for easy access.
• Crawl Space Wine Cellar: $500 to $1,000
  • Using an existing crawl space offers budget-friendly, insulated wine storage that doesn't receive direct sunlight. Great for those who want a traditional underground cellar with a tasting room for their favorite wines.

2. Wine Cooling System

The cooling unit is essential for your wine cellar, ensuring consistent temperatures and optimal conditions for the perfect bottle every time. Basic systems may suffice for small collections, but energy-efficient cooling units are preferable for larger ones.

Different Types of Cooling Systems

• Through-the-Wall Cooling Systems ($1,600 - $6,000)

These compact cooling units are easy to install and perfect for small to medium wine cellars. They function like window air conditioners, directly cooling wine bottles, making them a cost-effective choice for crawl spaces or traditional cellars.

• Ducted Cooling Systems ($3,000 - $12,000)

Ducted cooling systems conceal noise and heat, ideal for wine cellars. Though complex to install, they are perfect for medium to large spaces, offering practical and uniform cooling.

• Split Systems ($3,500 - $12,000)

These cooling units efficiently separate the evaporator and condenser for quieter cooling, perfect for larger wine cellars. They require professional installation and excel at maintaining a stable temperature and humidity.

• Self-Contained Cooling Systems ($1,600 - $7,500)

Ideal for small to medium cellars, these all-in-one units are easy to install and need no HVAC technician. They combine the evaporator and condenser for effective cooling.

This self-contained cooling system is easy to install and ideal for hassle-free cooling. With variable-speed fans and a digital display, it offers precise temperature control.

3. Racks and Storage Solutions

Bottle racking systems vary in cost. Consider pegs at $20 each or modular racks for $400. For luxury, invest in metal floor-to-ceiling racks or lockers to enhance your wine room. 

Wood Wine Racks ($400 - $6,000)

Wooden wine racks add a warm, rustic touch to wine cellars. They're durable, adaptable, and come in various styles and woods. Wood's natural insulation also protects your wine collection.

Vinostor Traditional 400 Bottle Corner Display

This corner display is perfect for dining rooms, game rooms, or man caves. Its modular wooden design offers customizable flexibility to fit your space.

Key Features:

• Ample Storage: Holds approximately 404 bottles, offering plenty of space and storage capacity for your wine collection.

• Modular Design: The wooden racking system is customizable and expandable for your needs.

• Versatile Placement: Each side spans about 5 feet in width, making it ideal for corner displays and a standout in any room. 

Metal Wine Racks ($100 - $2,000)

Modern metal wine racks offer a sleek industrial touch to wine cellars. They are sturdy, lightweight, and feature minimalist designs that provide enough space around the bottles to enhance airflow.

VintageView Evolution Wine Wall Post 10′ 2C Kit: Label Forward Wine Rack Kit

Transform your space with Evolution wine wall racks that store multiple bottles in a stylish display.

Key Features:

• Versatile Design: Off-the-wall mounting for room dividers or wine racks on glass or rigid walls.

• Durable Construction: High-quality steel wine racks for lasting strength.

• Customizable Wine Racks Options: Select your preferred bottle depth and finish to match your wine room design. 

Acrylic Wine Racks ($100 - $4,000)

Acrylic wine racks offer a contemporary look, making wine bottles appear to float on the surface. These wine racks are durable and resistant to moisture, perfect for humid cellars.

Fusion Wine Wall (Cork Forward) - White Acrylic (4 Foot)

Optimize your wine storage area with the Fusion Wine Wall Panel, suitable for 12-36 bottles in a stylish cork-out display.

Key Features:

• Easy Installation: Large panel sizes and the Fusion process enable quick custom bottle displays.

• Flexible Configuration: Options for single, double, or triple columns depending on your storage capacity needs.

• Customizable Finishes: Choose from four finishes—Aluminum, White Acrylic, Black Acrylic, Dark Finish—to complement your decor. 

Cable Wine Racks ($400 - $1,000)

Cable wine racks feature a modern design that maximizes visibility and airflow for your bottles. These wine racks are customizable and offer a clean, artistic look while providing support and security for your collection.

Blue Grouse Float Glass Shelving Unit

Designed to complement the float wine racking system, this shelving unit creates a show-stopping centerpiece. With high-tension steel cables and sleek glass shelves, it adds elegance to any space.

Key Features:

• Versatile Display: Perfect for showcasing liquor bottles or glassware.

• Easy Installation: Mounted floor-to-ceiling wine racks with high-tension steel cables, each glass shelf is securely held in place with matching clamps.

• Customizable Options: Select the light version with satin chrome and clear glass or the dark version with matte black and grey glass. 

4. Wine Cellar Aesthetics

$2,000 to $7,000

A wine cellar installed is a personal sanctuary for your collection, blending beauty and functionality. Costs vary for custom cabinets, wooden doors, and reclaimed flooring, ranging from $35 per square foot. 

Wine Room Door

The Chianti Square Top Cellar Door

Step dramatically into your storage space with this Chianti door, expertly crafted for wine cellars.

Key Features:

• LVL Technology: The Chianti door, featuring a solid wood core made with LVL technology, withstands the humid conditions of underground wine cellars for enhanced durability.

• Customizable Appeal: An optional black iron speakeasy with a grapevine design adds a vintage touch.

• High-quality Craftsmanship: Pre-hung with a Knotty Alder jamb (up to 6-1/8" wide) and a Rabbeted Jamb with Q-Lon weatherstrip for a perfect seal. 

Wine Cellar Flooring 

Vinostor Vintage Barrel Cooperage Flooring

Made from genuine barrels, this flooring is rich in history, incorporating unique stamps and markings from renowned wineries. 

Key Features:

• Genuine Barrel Origins: Each piece displays authentic barrel stamps, providing a unique, historic aesthetic for your prized collection.

• Superior Construction: Features tongue and groove installation, random widths, micro-beveled edges, and a thickness of 5/8".

• Versatility: Vinostor can also be made into seamless countertops with a thickness of 1 1/8".

5. Lighting

$200 to $2,000

Lighting in your home cellar serves both practical and aesthetic purposes, enhancing mood while making bottles easier to view and labels to read. Use natural light but avoid direct sunlight.

For a tight budget, consider simple LED spotlights or track lighting. If you can spend more, custom chandeliers or accent lights can add elegance to your cellar.  

6. Preservation System

$100 to $3,000 

When planning wine cellar costs, include preservation tools like stoppers and vacuum sealers to keep open wine fresh and prevent oxidation.

WineKeeper Napa 2 Red + 2 White (Mahogany) #7755

A marriage of craftsmanship and technology, this wood cabinet stores your bottles, cools and dispenses them by the glass, making each pour retain its intended flavor and body. 

Key Features:

• Wine Preservation System: Uses inert nitrogen or argon to prevent oxidation, preserving wine's taste.

• Efficient Storage: Holds backup bottles at ideal temperature, accessible via insulated sliding doors.

• Complete Kit: Includes two-stage regulator, thermometer, interior lighting, and manual defrost for the wine enthusiast's optimal use.

7. Humidity Control

$1,000 - $15,000

Humidity control is vital in a wine cellar. Too dry can ruin labels and corks; too humid can cause mold. A high-quality cooling system stabilizes humidity. Monitor these factors in your wine cellar carefully:

• Ventilation: Proper ventilation controls humidity; lack of it leads to moisture buildup.

• Insulation: Insulated walls, ceilings, and floors help maintain a consistent temperature, protecting against changes in external humidity.

• Cellar Door: The quality and seal of the cellar door affect humidity levels. A well-sealed door reduces fluctuations.

• Frequency of Door Opening: Frequent door openings let in warm, moist air, destabilizing humidity. Limit openings for stability.

8. Wine Bar and Wine Cave Essentials and Accessories

Accessorize your spiral wine cellar or wine cave to showcase your style. 

Bar Essentials and Accessories:

• Corkscrew ($10 - $100): A must-have for effortless wine opening without damaging the cork.

• Wine Stoppers ($5-$50): Essential for preserving wine quality after opening, sealing it against air exposure.

• Wine Glasses ($10 - $300): Different shapes enhance tasting by affecting aroma and flavor.

• Wine Decanter ($20 - $500): Allows red wine to breathe, enhancing flavors and aromas.

• Drop-Stop Pouring Discs ($5-$25): Prevent spills and drips for a clean serving experience.

• Wine Thermometer ($10-$100): Ensures wine is served at the ideal temperature to maximize flavor.

• Wine Aerator ($15-$150): Increases oxygen exposure to release aromas and enhance flavors, especially in young wines.

• Foil Cutter ($5-$30): Quickly removes foil caps for a cleaner bottle opening.

• Glass Charms or Markers ($5 - $50): Decorative markers for identifying wine glasses.

• Wine Purifier ($20-$200): Filters and aerates wine while pouring, removing impurities and enhancing flavor.

• Wine Cork Holder ($25 - $100): A decorative way to display used corks as reminders of enjoyed wines.

• Wine Stain Remover ($5 - $30): A lifesaver for cleaning accidental wine spills.

Note: The above price ranges are estimates and can vary based on brand, quality, and region.

Other Wine Cellar Cost (Additional Wine Storage)

Wine Fridge ($700 - $11,000)

A wine fridge is a storage unit designed to keep wine bottles out of direct sunlight and away from UV light. With adjustable temperature settings and separate zones for red and white wines, they can be freestanding, built-in, or installed side by side.

Loft 1200 Cooler 166 Bottle 2-Zone #19188

This dual-zone refrigerator is a wine storage that provides precise temperature control for reds and whites. Its sleek stainless-steel design makes it a perfect addition to any home.

Key Features:

• Dual Temperature Zones: The upper zone is set to 41-54°F for whites and sparkling wines, while the lower zone is set to 54-66°F for red wines.

• Versatile Design: This front-vented wine storage works as a standalone or built-in installation.

• Sleek and Durable: The stainless-steel door features seamless corners, a fingerprint-proof coating, and reversible hinges for added convenience. 

Bonus: The R600a system and security lock store wine for your peace of mind.

Wine Cooler Cabinet, Custom Cabinets, or Credenza ($1,000 - $8,000)

A cooler cabinet offers temperature-controlled storage while enhancing your home's décor with a sophisticated, credenza-style look.

Le Cache Euro Credenza Chocolate

Specially designed by award-winning designer Martin de Blois, this credenza brings European elegance right to your space. 

Key Features:

• CellarPro Cooling Unit: Made in the USA, this condensing unit offers precise digital temperature and humidity control.

• High-Quality Craftsmanship: The credenza features premium cherry wood veneer, hardwood doors, hand-carved trim, and hand-turned pewter pulls with locks, elevating it to a piece of art.

• Insulation & Protection: Sealed seams, premium insulation, ventilation systems. This tinted double-paned glass wine cellar provides excellent thermal and UV protection for your collection.

Conclusion: How Much Does It Cost to Build a Wine Cellar

If you're starting or expanding your own wine cellar collection, it's essential to understand what drives the cost to build a wine cellar. Building a wine storage area, whether a glass wine cellar or a fully finished wine cave, has no fixed cost due to various factors that influence it. Prices can start from a few thousand dollars for a small setup with glass walls in an unfinished basement and exceed $180,000 for a luxurious large cellar with optimal wine storage. How many bottles are you planning to collect? Focus on your budget and storage preferences to choose the proper wine cellar, prioritizing essential elements like temperature control and storage solutions for a lasting investment.

What type of wine cellar are you planning to build?

Learn how long it takes to build a wine cellar in this guide

If you need guidance in building a wine cellar, don't hesitate to contact our customer service team. We'd be happy to assist you.