Renovation cost calculator
Estimate what your remodel will cost by project, finish level and region — and see how much of that spend comes back at resale.
Free · no sign-up · 2026 cost benchmarks with regional and currency adjustments.
What are you renovating?
Pick a category, or search for your project directly.
Which market?
Adjusts benchmark costs to your currency and regional cost level.
How far do you want to take the finish?
There's no wrong answer — we'll show what each level costs and returns.
Want to fine-tune it?
All optional — we'll use typical values if you skip this.
Pick a project on the left, and your numbers will appear here.
Estimate your remodel budget in seconds
Choose a project, set your market and finish level, and adjust the scope to match your job. The calculator returns a typical cost and range, plus the resale value it tends to add — so you budget with the return in view, not just the sticker price.
Have a contractor quote already? Enter it to override the benchmark and see the resale picture against your real number.
Costs adjust to your market
Benchmarks are national midrange "Cost vs. Value" averages, then adjusted for finish level, project size and region (US, UK, Eurozone, Canada, Australia, New Zealand). They're planning estimates — always confirm with two or three local quotes.
What drives renovation costs
Labour and materials are the two biggest line items, and the split varies by project. For a typical bathroom remodel, labour accounts for roughly 40–50% of the total cost — demolition, plumbing, electrical, tile-setting and finishing are all labour-intensive. A siding replacement, on the other hand, is more heavily weighted toward materials. Knowing the split helps you understand where the money goes and where you have room to negotiate or save.
Beyond labour and materials, most projects carry costs that don't show up in a contractor's headline quote. Permits can run from a few hundred dollars for a simple bathroom to several thousand for structural work or additions. Design fees — if you hire an architect or kitchen designer — typically add 5–15% to the project cost. And if you're doing a major renovation in a home you're living in, temporary housing or eating out every night because the kitchen is gutted adds up faster than most people expect.
Finally, the scope you define at the start determines everything downstream. Moving a wall, relocating plumbing or upgrading electrical service doesn't just add its own cost — it ripples into longer timelines, more permits and higher finishing costs. A clear scope, locked before work begins, is the single most effective cost-control tool a homeowner has.
How costs vary by finish level
Finish level is the biggest variable after scope. A budget kitchen remodel — painting existing cabinets, laminate counters, basic appliances — can come in around $15,000 to $20,000. A midrange remodel with new semi-custom cabinets, quartz counters and stainless appliances averages about $27,000 nationally. An upscale version with custom cabinetry, stone counters, commercial-grade appliances and designer tile can run $80,000 or more. The jump from midrange to upscale often doubles or triples the cost while the ROI drops, because the market doesn't always pay back the premium.
The same pattern plays out in bathrooms. A midrange bath remodel averages around $25,000; an upscale version with heated floors, frameless glass, a freestanding tub and natural stone can exceed $45,000. In both cases, the midrange finish is the sweet spot for homeowners who want a noticeably improved space without spending past the point of diminishing returns.
Use the calculator's finish-level toggle to see the difference in your specific project. If the gap between midrange and upscale cost is $30,000 but the additional resale value is only $8,000, the numbers are telling you something — that extra $22,000 is a lifestyle choice, not an investment.
Hidden costs most homeowners miss
Permit fees are the obvious one — required for most structural, plumbing and electrical work, and often forgotten in early budgeting. But permits also come with inspections, and failed inspections mean rework and delays. Budget 1–3% of project cost for permits and inspections as a starting rule.
Waste removal catches people off guard, especially on gut renovations. A single bathroom demolition can fill a 10-yard dumpster; a whole-home remodel may need multiple hauls. Dumpster rental runs $350–$600 per load in most markets. Then there are the structural surprises that only appear once walls are open — water damage behind tile, outdated wiring that doesn't meet code, or a subfloor that needs replacing. Experienced renovators budget a 10–20% contingency for unknowns, and first-timers should lean toward the higher end.
If you're living in the home during a major renovation, factor in the disruption cost. A kitchen remodel that takes eight weeks means two months of takeout, paper plates and washing dishes in the bathroom sink. Some homeowners rent temporary housing for the worst of it — an expense that rarely appears in anyone's renovation budget but can easily add $3,000–$5,000.
How to use the estimate to get better contractor quotes
Walking into a contractor meeting with a benchmark cost range changes the conversation. You're not asking 'how much will this cost?' from a position of zero information — you're saying 'I've researched the typical range; help me understand where your quote sits and why.' That shifts the dynamic from price-taking to price-negotiating.
Get at least three quotes for any project over $10,000. Use the calculator's estimate as a sanity check: if a quote is significantly below the benchmark, ask what's excluded (permits, haul-away, finishing details). If it's well above, ask what's driving the premium — sometimes it's justified (better materials, longer warranty, tighter timeline), and sometimes there's room to adjust scope to bring the price in line.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a home renovation cost?
It depends entirely on the project, finish level, size and location. Use the calculator to get a typical cost and range for your specific project and market — for example a minor kitchen remodel averages around $27,000 nationally at a midrange finish.
Does the calculator include labour and materials?
Yes — the benchmark cost reflects a typical labour-and-materials job, and the results page shows an approximate labour/materials split.
Can I enter my own contractor quote?
Yes. Enter your quote to override the benchmark and still see the resale value and net cost against your real figure.
Are the costs specific to my country?
Choose your market and the benchmarks adjust to the local cost level and currency for the US, UK, Eurozone, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
How much does a whole-home renovation cost?
A whole-home cosmetic refresh (paint, flooring, fixtures, hardware) typically runs $15,000–$40,000 depending on the size and finish level. A full gut renovation of a 2,000-square-foot home — new kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, paint, and systems — can range from $100,000 to $250,000 or more. Use the calculator to price individual projects and add them up for a total scope.
What percentage of renovation cost is labour?
It varies by project, but labour typically accounts for 35–50% of total renovation costs. Labour-intensive projects like tile work, custom cabinetry and plumbing reconfigurations sit at the higher end. Material-heavy projects like siding replacement or window swaps skew lower.
Should I get multiple contractor quotes?
Yes — three quotes is the standard advice for any project over $5,000–$10,000. Comparing quotes reveals whether a price is in line with the market, helps you spot what different contractors include or exclude, and gives you leverage to negotiate. Make sure each contractor is quoting the same scope so the comparison is apples to apples.
How do I budget for cost overruns?
Set aside a contingency of 10–20% above your estimated project cost. For older homes or projects involving structural changes, lean toward 20%. For cosmetic updates in newer homes, 10% is usually sufficient. The contingency covers surprises behind walls — water damage, outdated wiring, code-compliance upgrades — that you can't see until demolition begins.
Keep exploring
Estimates are for planning purposes only. Actual costs, resale value and ROI may vary by market, property condition, project scope, contractor pricing and timing. This is general information, not financial, investment, construction, legal or tax advice.