Last updated on May 27th, 2024 at 01:48 pm
Indianapolis fondly referred to as “Indy” by locals, is Indiana’s capital and most populous city. Locals and tourists alike flock to Indy every May to watch the famous Indianapolis 500, and families enjoy visiting the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, which is the largest children’s museum in the world. After enjoying these activities, you can hop on over to one of Indy’s many vibrant restaurants. Although known for its sporting events, the city offers delicious food. In fact, Condé Nast Traveler named Indy the most underrated food city in the U.S. in 2016.
In 2012, CNN Money named Indianapolis the number 1 most affordable U.S. city to buy a home. With a median home price of $102,000, Indy is an excellent place for families to settle, and the city offers home buyers a wide range of home styles, including Victorian, Bungalow, Mid-Century Modern, Ranch, Colonial Revival, Contemporary, Cape Cod, and Tudor.
Building these homes in Indy are talented home builders, of which the top 15 are listed here. The home builders were ranked based on their awards, accolades, and the quality of their portfolio.
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work. On the other hand, if you want to learn more about the cost of building a custom home in Indianapolis, check out our cost guide article.
15) Bontrager Homes
8038 Bayview Pt., Indianapolis, IN 46256
With over 60 years of construction experience, Bontrager Homes is one of Indy’s most well-regarded custom home builders. The company has been led by the Bontrager family for generations. Currently, Scott Bontrager serves as the firm’s principal. The company is certified by the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI), the Indiana Builders Association (IBA), the Indiana Chamber, and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
The company’s excellent portfolio is mainly comprised of Victorian-, Mediterranean-, and Ranch-style homes. The English cottage home pictured here is stunning proof of Bontrager Homes’ capabilities. This massive estate extends in a direction adjacent to that of the main entrance. The fascinating layout is detailed with gray stonework and large French-style windows. The gray color of the home blends in nicely with the dark, hipped roofing. In its entirety, the home is a large abode that perfectly complements the surrounding natural landscape.
14) Woodstock Custom Homes
4838 E 64th St., Indianapolis, IN 46220
Woodstock Custom Homes is an Indy custom home builder that focuses on low-maintenance homes and markets to homeowners with active and dynamic lifestyles. Founder Bob Slawson found himself in the low-maintenance home’s market when he realized that home builders were focusing on building homes for families with family-type floor plans, while those who were looking to downsize into low-maintenance homes were not being addressed.
Within a decade, the company has engaged in 50 million dollars of business. The L-shaped home featured here is packed with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a three-car garage. The home is built in the Bungalow style, with dark wall tapestry and pyramidic roofing. This stylistic combination makes the home appear warm and welcoming.
13) Carrington Homes
8250 N 600 W, McCordsville, IN 46055
Based in McCordsville, Carrington homes is a custom home builder that serves Hancock County and Greater Indianapolis. Carl McIntyre is the principal and founder of the company. Under his leadership, the company has built hundreds of homes across Indiana and in 2016 was named Builder of the Year in Hancock County by the BAGI.
Most homes in Carrington Homes’ portfolio are massive homes with a grand facade and tall structures. The home featured in the photo is an over-the-top French Colonial manor. The home is an extensive culmination of century-old design elements. Hipped roofs in multiple layers cover the roof-to-ceiling wall tapestry and stone towers. The arches within the sections add depth and texture to the home’s facade. A unique feature is a way in which a bridge leads to the main door. The home’s design and rare materials make it an architectural masterpiece.
12) Davis Homes
3950 Priority Way S Dr., Suite #210, Indianapolis, IN 46240
Davis Homes is a family-operated custom home building firm that specializes in providing affordable homes in Central Indiana and Marion Country. The firm is led by Bradley Davis—an alumnus of Indiana University Bloomington. In the span of a decade, Davis Homes has completed over 20,000 projects throughout Indiana. In October of 2018, Davis Homes was announced as the 2019 Centerpiece Home Builder.
The company is fluent in conventional home styles, including Ranch and Craftsman. The Ranch-style house pictured here is a testament to the company’s capabilities. The home is pale-colored and accentuated with beige finishing on the foundation. The home also features a classic close-to-ground elevation and an asymmetrical facade that goes well with the pyramidic roofing.
11) Wedgewood Building Company
32 1st St., NE Carmel, IN 46032
Despite its relatively recent establishment in 2010, Wedgewood Building Company has been Greater Indianapolis’ most well-regarded home builder. For instance, the firm was included in the BAGI’s Outstanding Builders of the Year in 2018. Working in the industry together for more than 25 years, Gary McNutt and Bradley Love are Wedgewood’s founders and managing partners.
The company focuses on homes in desirable Indy communities, and its style of works varies from country and farmhouse to traditional. In a featured work, the firm gave a modern twist to a French-style home. The home features an interesting layout that includes a porch and a courtyard. Wedgewood gave the home a stylish edge by using minimalist lines and shapes in shades of gray and charcoal black accents while maintaining the French-style windows and silhouette. This liberal combination of modern features and traditional French elements gives the home a unique charm that demands to be noticed.
10) Executive Homes
1010 3rd Ave., SW Suite #202, Carmel, IN 46032
Greater Indy native Executive Homes has been serving the area since 1995. Peter Gray, the company’s founder, is a Construction Management graduate of Michigan State University. His team is packed with Purdue University alumni. Gray has also served on the Board of Directors of the BAGI for 16 years.
Executive Homes specializes in suburban homes that are often characterized by low elevation, combinations of roofing styles, and classic silhouettes and layouts. In the Craftsman-style home pictured here, the company’s alterations to the traditional design are almost undetectable. Aside from the intriguing roofing pattern, the home’s conventional elements were maintained. For instance, the low-pitched roof and triangular brackets are still present. This home proves that the wheel does not have to be reinvented in order to produce a great design. This unsuspecting home in an Indy suburb may be a familiar design, but it isn’t anything short of spectacular.
9) homes by design
4239 West 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46268
When Brad Bowman founded homes by design in 1999, he envisioned a company that would practice what his team refers to as “Old World Craftsmanship.” This work philosophy involves keen attention to detail and the use of certain techniques. Bowman leverages his more than 40 years of experience to lead the company.
Browsing through the company’s portfolio is a delight. Each project is excellent regardless of style. The work featured here is an outstanding Mediterranean-style home. The estate is a luxurious villa complete with a pool area and viewing platform. The home’s sophistication is highlighted by the tiled roof and the light yellow- and beige-toned stucco finishing.
8) Kent Shaffer Builders
8649 E 250 S Zionsville, IN 46077
Kent Shaffer Builders is a custom home builder that has been serving Indianapolis and other parts of Central Indiana for more than 30 years. The firm has built hundreds of premier homes in Indiana’s most sought-after neighborhoods. Now, by leveraging her Construction Management degree from Purdue University, Shaffer’s daughter aims to expand the family business.
Because the firm focuses on premier homes in coveted neighborhoods, the company prioritizes elegance and magnificence. A low elevation and wide floor area often characterize the firm’s works. The homes are often symmetrical and focus only on essential details. The country-style home pictured here is humble yet striking. Kent Shaffer Builders converted the familiar country facade into a more vigorous one. The dark teal color and the clay stones make the home appear youthful and unique.
7) Phil Myers Custom Homes
10139 Northwind Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46256
Since its inception in 1978, Phil Myers Custom Homes has been building high-quality custom homes. The firm offers a full range of services, and the costs of its projects range from $400k to more than $3 million. The company serves all of central Indiana—from Carmel to Zionsville.
The firm focuses on traditional styles that are characterized by a non-linear layout and low elevation. The home featured here is colored with simple and monochromatic tones and shades of gray. The hipped roofing beautifully complements the gray walls. At the rightmost portion of the home, the slightly tilted garage section allows for a larger and more functional space. The house’s orientation and layout seamlessly blend in with the surrounding community, which creates a feeling of accessibility.
6) H-E Homes
1828 E 106th St., Indianapolis, IN 46280
H-E Homes, or high-efficiency homes, is an Indianapolis custom home builder that specializes in efficiency and sustainability in construction. The firm is led by Andrew Brindley, who has been working in the industry since he earned his master’s degree in architecture from Ball State University.
H-E Homes delivers its promise to create efficient and sustainable homes, which often occupy small spaces. The slender, monochromatic home featured here best exemplifies the firm’s work. The slanted roof maximizes the home’s practicality by vertically expanding the space. The large windows are strategically placed in the main entrance of the home to maximize the amount of natural light that enters. The home is a promising example of a highly efficient home that fulfills the firm’s vision.
5) Old Town Design Group
1132 South Rangeline Rd., Carmel, IN, 46032
Hailed as the best custom home builder by the Indiana Business Journal, Old Town Design Group is one the best home builders in Greater Indianapolis. Although the firm is based in Carmel, several of the firm’s projects can be found throughout Indianapolis. A graduate of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University, Jeff Langston serves as the principal of Old Town.
Old Town stands apart from its competitors by its multiple BAGI Home-A-Rama award-winning projects. Known for building high-end, Craftsman style home, but they also do a variety., the firm’s projects can cost from $750k to $1Mil+. The work featured here is a large, modern-style home.
4) Compendium Group
1401 E 11th St., Indianapolis, IN 46201
Compendium Group is a design-centered builder in Downtown Indianapolis. The company is headed by Micah Hill—an NAHB Green Certified Professional and former president of the Builder’s Association of Greater Indianapolis. Hill was also featured on the Indianapolis Business Journal’s “40 under 40” list in 2015. Compendium Group was named Builder of the Year by the Local Builder’s Association of Indianapolis in 2018.
The name “Compendium” reflects the construction process, which involves bringing various design elements together and presenting them as a whole with clients as partners throughout. The work featured here is the firm’s warm and modern style home. This home is a creative use of materials and methods in downtown Indianapolis.
3) G&G Custom Homes
15822 Shining Spring Dr., Westfield, IN 46074
Though based in Westfield, Indiana, custom home builder G&G Custom Homes has built several houses in Indianapolis. Joe Garcia founded the company 15 years ago after moving from one construction job to another. In 2014 and 2016, the firm was recognized with Home-A-Rama awards from the BAGI.
The company specializes in Craftsman, Victorian, Tudor, and Colonial styles. A Colonial-style home, the work featured here is a wooden masterpiece. The timber is colored with weathervane tones and neutralized by large river rocks at the home’s foundation and columns. The porch conveniently surrounds the eastern portion of the home. The house also extends from its western section while maintaining structural consistency.
2) Werk
933 N Layman Ave., Studio 1, Indianapolis, IN 46219
Werk is an Indianapolis custom builder with a strong emphasis on design. The firm operates in partnership with Haus Architecture, which is one of the most sought-after architecture firms in Indy. Christopher Short has been serving as the company’s principal for over 12 years. Short founded the company to actualize the designs create by Haus Architecture, which he also manages. Short’s diligence has helped the company garner popularity. For instance, Werk has been featured multiple times in Dezeen Magazine and Indianapolis Monthly.
Werk’s portfolio consists primarily of modern homes and modern renditions of classic architectural styles, such as lake houses, cottages, and Tudor-style homes. Through a modern home in the middle of an Indianapolis plain, Werk shows what can be achieved with only a simple structure and basic materials. The home is an elevated, slender house made of wooden panels. A room that is tangential to the main structure of the home adds depth to the entire home. There is also an adjacent garage that nicely completes the layout of the home. This modern house is a testament to the claim that simplicity is the key to excellence. Without overdoing the design, the company provided a functional home that seamlessly blends with the Indy landscape.
1) Sigma Builders
4630 Lisborn Dr., Carmel, IN 46033
For more than 20 years, Sigma Builders has been serving Carmel, Indianapolis, and Greater Indianapolis. Most of the firms’ projects fall in the luxury spectrum, but the company concentrates on achieving high-quality work at low costs. The firm is headed by Dave Berman—a Construction Management and Architecture alumnus of Indiana State University. Under Berman’s leadership, Sigma Builders has achieved prominence. Berman and the firm were featured in Builder’s Magazine in 2017.
The company focuses on homes in Indy’s suburbs. The work featured here is a 6,600-square feet French manor. The home is a massive two-story estate with six bedrooms and six baths. The house’s facade is layered with intricate brickwork matched with a dark, hipped roof. The complementing two-tone color of the home provides a simple yet elegant look.
*This article was edited on February 6th to reflect new information.
How can I find a home builder near me?
Read our latest articles on the best custom home builder near Indianapolis. If you don’t see your city below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.
Custom home builders in Fort Wayne
Custom home builders in Indiana
About Our Rankings
This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration.
Get Bids For Your Build
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
