Average Renovation Costs by Project Type
| Project | Average Cost Range | ROI at Resale |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel (mid-range) | $25,000–$50,000 | 60–80% |
| Bathroom remodel | $10,000–$30,000 | 55–70% |
| Roof replacement | $8,000–$20,000 | 60–70% |
| Window replacement | $5,000–$15,000 | 65–75% |
| HVAC replacement | $5,000–$12,000 | 50–60% |
| Hardwood flooring | $4,000–$10,000 | 70–80% |
| Garage door replacement | $1,200–$3,500 | 90–100% |
| Attic insulation | $1,500–$4,000 | 85–100% |
Browse by Project Category
Roofing
Kitchen
Flooring
HVAC & Insulation
How to estimate your renovation cost
- Select your project from the category list above to open the specific calculator.
- Enter your home or room size, material preferences, and local zip code for region-adjusted estimates.
- Review the cost breakdown — materials, labor, and permit fees are shown separately.
- Add a 10–20% contingency to the estimate to account for surprises common in renovation work.
- Get 3 contractor quotes and compare them against your calculator estimate before committing.
For the full picture — Home Renovation Costs in 2026 covers whole-house tiers, a room-by-room cost table, what drives the number in your metro, contingency norms, and how people finance the work.
One project doesn't fit the categories above: finishing a basement adds square footage rather than remodeling a room you already use, so it's priced per square foot for the core finish, with moisture control, egress, and a bathroom priced as separate add-ons. See the Basement Finishing Cost Calculator if that's the project you're scoping. Redoing a bedroom closet? The Closet Remodel Cost Calculator prices reach-in and walk-in closet systems per linear foot.
A whole-home renovation is priced per room and per scope tier, then adjusted for the things that are not the renovation itself: a permit at $500–$2,500, a contingency of 10–15 percent, and temporary housing at $2,000–$10,000 if you cannot live in it. The contingency is the line most budgets omit and most projects need.
The contingency is not padding
This calculator adds a contingency of 10 to 15 percent, and it is worth understanding why that is a structural part of a renovation budget rather than a hedge against pessimism.
Renovation differs from new construction in one decisive way: you cannot see what you are buying until you open it. A new build is priced against drawings. A renovation is priced against assumptions about what is behind the plaster, under the floor and inside the walls — and those assumptions are tested only after demolition, when the budget is already committed and stopping is expensive.
On a $60,000 renovation the contingency is $6,000 to $9,000. A household that has not set that aside has not budgeted a cheaper renovation; it has budgeted the same renovation and arranged to be short at the worst moment. The honest framing is that the contingency is part of the price, and the only question is whether you find out now or in week three.
What older homes add, and why it is not optional
The module carries a separate set of older-home risks, and they behave differently from the rest of the estimate: they are not upgrades you choose, they are conditions you discover.
The pattern is consistent across trades. Opening a wall in a house of a certain age reveals wiring that no longer meets code, plumbing at the end of its life, or framing that was modified by someone long gone. None of that was in the scope, all of it is now exposed, and much of it cannot legally be closed back up untouched once an inspector has seen it.
There is also a regulatory trigger specific to older housing. Work disturbing painted surfaces in homes built before 1978 falls under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, which requires the firm to be EPA-certified and to use certified renovators above a minor-repair threshold of 6 square feet interior or 20 square feet exterior. That is not a line item a homeowner chooses; it changes who can legally do the work.
Where the money goes
A whole-home renovation is a sequence of trades, and their rates differ more than most budgets assume. BLS OEWS figures for May 2025 put plumbers (SOC 47-2152) at a $34.70 mean hourly wage across 465,840 workers and electricians (SOC 47-2111) at $34.37 across 757,220 — both above the $65,360 annual mean across all construction and extraction occupations.
That matters for sequencing as much as for cost. The expensive trades work early, inside the walls, and they are the ones whose work must be inspected before anything can be closed. A schedule that lets finishing trades get ahead of them creates rework, and rework in a renovation is paid for twice.
It is also why the temporary-housing line, at $2,000 to $10,000 here, is not a luxury item. A renovation you are living in runs slower, because crews work around you, and a slower renovation costs more in every other line.
What the estimate excludes
- ·Structural change. Moving or removing load-bearing walls needs engineering, and neither the design nor the steel is priced here.
- ·Additions. This is a renovation model, not an extension one — new footprint is a different project.
- ·Furniture, fittings and appliances. Frequently a five-figure line that is discovered after the build budget is set.
- ·Financing costs. Interest during the works is real and is not in the build number.
- ·Local permit fees beyond the modelled band. These are set locally and vary widely.
Methodology
Room costs by scope tier, the $500–$2,500 permit band, the 10–15 percent contingency, the older-home risk items and the $2,000–$10,000 temporary-housing band are the constants held in this page's own cost dataset and module, applied to the rooms and home size you enter (600–5,000 sq ft, up to six rooms). Wage figures are BLS OEWS May 2025. Structural work, additions, furnishings and financing are not included.
Sources
- US EPA — Renovation, Repair and Painting Program — accessed 2026-09-07
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — OEWS Profile: Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters (47-2152), May 2025 — accessed 2026-09-07
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — OEWS Profile: Electricians (47-2111), May 2025 — accessed 2026-09-07
Methodology & sources
The cost figures on this page are generated from a single, sourced cost-data file (Whole-home renovation priced per square foot of finished floor area, at the three scope levels This Old House publishes as named anchors. Excludes additions and anything that increases the footprint. Permits, contingency and unforeseen-condition work are costed separately. National figures for 2026.). This Old House puts the national average whole-home renovation at $52,275 for a 1,250-1,600 sq ft home with a typical range of $19,500-$88,400; HomeAdvisor independently reports $52,151 and $19,470-$88,356. The per-square-foot figure is a whole-house planning rate — it is not what any single room costs, which is why this calculator also totals the rooms you are actually doing and shows you whether the two agree. Last verified August 2026.
- This Old House — How Much Does Home Renovation Cost? (page updated 31 Mar 2026) — retrieved 2026-08-30
- HomeAdvisor — How Much Does It Cost to Remodel Multiple Rooms? (page updated 19 Jun 2026) — retrieved 2026-08-30
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home renovation cost?
Home renovation costs vary widely by project scope: Minor kitchen update: $5,000–$15,000. Full kitchen remodel: $15,000–$75,000+. Roof replacement: $8,000–$22,000. HVAC replacement: $5,000–$12,000. New flooring (1,500 sq ft): $3,000–$18,000 depending on material. Bathroom renovation: $6,000–$30,000. Whole-home renovation: $20–$150 per sq ft. Always get 3 contractor bids — quotes can vary 20–50% for the same project.
What home renovations add the most value?
Which projects return the most at resale varies by market, by year, and by how the work was specified, and the published recoup percentages disagree with each other by wide margins — so this page does not quote one. What holds across sources: exterior and curb-appeal work (garage door, entry door, stone veneer, siding) recoups a far higher share than interior remodels, and a minor kitchen refresh recoups more than a major gut. Energy-efficiency upgrades such as insulation and HVAC return part of their cost at sale and save on utilities every month until then.
How do I budget for a home renovation?
Start with a scope-based estimate using per-project calculators, then add: 10–20% contingency for surprises, permit fees (typically $500–$3,000 depending on scope), and carrying costs if you need to vacate. Finance options include: HELOC (best rate for equity-rich owners), cash-out refinance (good if rates are lower than your current mortgage), personal loan (for small projects under $25,000), and contractor financing. Avoid financing renovations that won't recoup costs at sale.
Do I need permits for home renovations?
Permits are generally required for: structural changes, additions, new electrical circuits, plumbing changes, HVAC replacement or new installation, window enlargements, and decks over 30 inches high. Cosmetic work (painting, flooring, cabinet refacing, fixture swaps) typically does not require permits. Always check with your local building department — unpermitted work can cause issues with insurance claims, home sales, and safety inspections.