Remodel Calculator | Estimate Home Renovation Cost

House Remodel Calculator provides accurate prices for the most popular remodels: bathroom, kitchen, interior painting, windows, siding, roofing, flooring, new heating and cooling, etc.

Simply enter your project details below, and get an instant house renovation cost estimate.

Estimate Home Improvement Costs

Click on the project you want to do and get a house remodel cost estimate from pros near you.

Across the US, homeowners spend $14,000-42,000 on the cost of remodeling a house. A basic remodel in a single room can be completed for as little as $3,000-8,000.

On the high end of the cost spectrum are luxury renovations with prices as high as $75,000-100,000 depending on the number of rooms and the amount of labor involved.

Most popular rooms to remodel are the kitchen and the bathroom. They are also the most expensive. An average kitchen remodel costs $7,000-17,000. A typical bathroom remodel costs $5,000-14,000.

Major structural changes to your house, as well as mechanical updates, such as plumbing are also among the most expensive ticket items to replace and update, which can easily add $10,000-12,000 to the total cost.

Licensed contractors charge $65-120 per hour depending on the field. Plumbers and electricians are among the most expensive pros to hire.

Renovation vs Remodel: Which Is Cheaper?

In most, cases, a renovation is much cheaper than a remodel, because its mostly cosmetic.

While most homeowners use the terms “renovation” and “remodel” interchangeably, they actually don’t mean the same thing.

Typically, a house renovation means updating the existing interior or structures of the house, without making any major changes to the layout, structure, and various systems running inside the home.

The goal of renovation is to restore something old to its original state.

As such, a renovation can include things like: refacing kitchen cabinets, repainting walls & ceilings, replacing old floors, re-tiling bathroom floors and walls, re-painting siding, installing a new shower in your bathroom, replacing windows and doors, etc.

On the other hand, a house remodel means making those major changes, whether to a single room or to your entire home. Some examples include: building a kitchen island, gutting and replacing everything in a kitchen or bathroom, building a deck or addition, moving walls to change your house layout, etc.

The goal of a remodel is to create something new.

Remodel And Home Renovation Cost Factors

Its important to keep in mind that remodeling and house renovation costs vary depending on a number of factors:

Quality and cost of professional labor: many established contractors that have a lot of clients charge more than newer companies that are willing to give lower prices to get work.

Your Geographic location: higher income areas have overall higher labor rates when it comes to pretty much any type of remodeling, compared to lower income towns.

Cost of professional labor can vary by as much as 20% depending on where you live. This is why for accurate remodeling estimates its so important to get quotes from local pros near you.

Size of the project: as a rule of thumb, bigger remodeling projects are overall cheaper per square foot compared to smaller ones.

For example, it will cost you less per sq.ft. to remodel two bathrooms in your home, as opposed to one tiny bathroom. Similarly, doing a whole house renovation will overall cost less per square foot than one particular room.

This is because contractors have to account for the cost of overhead, set up and clean up for every job that they do, regardless of size, so for the homeowner its more economical to hire for a bigger job.

Complexity of the job and access: a pro that will be giving you a real estimate will be looking at the complexity of the job involved and ease of access.

More difficult, time consuming and/or labor intensive jobs can cost up to 30% more for labor, compared to easier ones.

For example, you have a very high pitched, cut up roof on a two story house, it will cost a lot more to replace than the same size roof on a simple, one story ranch style home.

Quality of materials and finishing surfaces: in general, materials account for 40-60% of the total remodel cost. Materials prices can very greatly, from very cheap, to high-end luxury products.

Among the most expensive materials are kitchen cabinets, countertops, kitchen appliances, as well as heating and cooling systems, such as boilers, furnaces, etc.

You have to make decisions, based on your budget, how much you are willing to invest in materials. Usually, it better to invest in mid-range quality products that offer a nice compromise between durability, pricing and visual appeal.

Unexpected issues/hidden problems: one costly part of the renovation that most homeowners have to face is unexpected issues that can suddenly surface once the remodel actually begins.

These usually include things like mold, water damage, structural problems, plumbing and electric hazards because the system has not been installed up to code standards.

Once such an issue comes up, you have to either address it or halt the project. Because fixing these problems is very costly and can add as much as $10,000-15,000 to your initial remodel cost, its best to set aside at least 15% of your total projected remodeling budget for sudden issues.

So if you were planning to spend $50,000 on your house renovation, you should set aside at least $7,000 extra to mitigate any unforeseen problem and resume the remodel.

Check out our comprehensive House Remodeling Guide to find up-to-date materials and installation prices for the most popular renovation projects.

How To Use Remodeling Calculator

For any room you want to estimate, select the remodel finish you are looking to have:

– Low End (typically in a rental property)

– Mid-Range (most homes)

– High End (luxury properties)

The cost difference between each of these levels can be as much as $8,000-20,000 or more, especially when you are comparing between a mid-range vs. luxury remodel cost.

For more accurate pricing, select whether your project is “New Construction” or “Renovation”.

Finally, you can add demolition work to the cost estimate.

Bathroom remodel cost

Low-end and Mid-range settings presume the bathroom size is around 5×8 feet, with a new tub, vanity sink and cabinets, new toilet, tile floors and shower / bath-tub enclosure, and wall-paper on the walls.

A high-End setting presumes a 10×10 luxury bathroom, with a modern corner shower, whirlpool hot-tub, marble vanity sink, and tile on floors and walls.

Kitchen remodel cost

Select Low End, Mid Range (most homes) or High End – luxury kitchen remodel. This includes ripping out existing kitchen cabinets and appliances, installing new cabinets, laminated countertops (granite counters for a high- end remodel), stainless steel double sink with new faucets, garbage disposal, dishwasher, stove and refrigerator, as well as new tile flooring.

New flooring installation cost

Enter total square footage of flooring to be installed and choose the material – Laminate, Carpeting, Tile or Hardwood (standard quality level).

Optionally, you can select hardwood refinishing, which includes stripping existing hardwoods, and applying two coats of Urethane or Water-Based stain / clear coat. Estimate DOES NOT include removing the old flooring material.

Replacement windows prices

The cost of new windows varies greatly depending on the window type, frame material as well as window brand you select.

Enter the number of new windows to be installed and select the material – Vinyl, Wood, Fiberglass or Aluminum. Prices include Low-E / Argon gas, insulation around the frame and re-installing existing stops (inside trim).

For vinyl windows, prices are calculated for mid-range quality, which includes welded frame and sashes.

Since windows play a huge role in the energy efficiency of your house as well as overall comfort inside, its best to invest in the most energy efficient windows you can afford.

Siding replacement cost

Select your material: vinyl, wood, Hardie/fiber cement.

Enter the size of your house exterior walls (approximate amount) as sq. footage for new installation.

To calculate the size of your siding job, take ground measurements of your home, add each side together, multiply by 2, and multiply by wall height (typically 9.5 ft. per level) and multiply by 1.05 if you have gable ends.

Remodel Cost Per Square Foot

How much you spend on remodeling per square foot largely depends on the room your are renovating and the level of remodel you are looking for (low-end, mid-range, or luxury).

For regular rooms, such as an office, bedroom, living room, etc., remodeling cost per square foot is $20-35. However, a bathroom remodel costs as much as $40-90 per square foot.

Remodeling a kitchen is even more expensive: $50 – 100 per square foot or more.

High-end remodels cost as much as $200-300 per square foot.

Gut And Remodel Cost Per Square Foot

Fully gutting and remodeling a house is most expensive, and is pretty much equivalent to build a new house. Costs range from $100 – to $200 per square foot depending on the size of the home and complexity of remodel involved.

This includes all demolition work, structural and foundation work, permits and dump fees. If you have a 2,000 sq.ft. home, a gut remodel will cost at least $100,000.

Cost Of A Whole House Renovation

If you would rather remodel the entire home, rather than do it in stages (this is what most homeowners do because of budget constraints), here is an approximate break down of how much a whole house renovation costs.

For a typical size 2,500 sq.ft. home, the cost to do a cosmetic renovation without fixing any major problems is $20,000-35,000. This can include things like fresh paint, new inexpensive counters and flooring in the kitchen and bathroom, new lighting fixtures, sinks, faucets, shower heads, light landscaping.

For a 2,000-2,5000 sq.ft. house, a $50K remodeling budget is very solid and can give you all the major improvements.

Spending between $40,000-75,000 can go a long way and include things like a full kitchen and bathroom renovation, higher end flooring, new windows, siding, roof, deck.

In this price range, the more you are looking to get done, the cheaper your materials will have to be. Here you will have to make a lot of decisions and compromises between quantity vs quality.

Spending $100K or more to fully renovate a 2,500 can offer you a high-end remodel, with expensive materials, higher end kitchen appliances, nicer looking siding, more extensive landscaping, new deck or patio.

When remodeling the entire home, its important to find a reputable General Contractor (GC) who will be overseeing all the work, managing the subcontractors and purchasing your materials.

While you can avoid hiring a general contractor, if you are renovating one room at a time, massive remodels are best managed by a pro. This will save you both time and money.

Home Renovation Cost Based On House Size

Here is a reference chart with average house remodeling cost estimates based on house size.

Square footage	Average remodel cost
1,000 sq.ft.	$18,000 – 25,000
1,500 sq.ft	$30,000 – 40,000
2,000 sq.ft.	$45,000 – 55,000
2,500 sq.ft.	$50,000 – 70,000
3,000 sq.ft	$ 60,000 – 85,000
4,000 sq.ft.	$ 80,000 – 100,000
5,000 sq.ft.	$120,000 – 150,000 +

Cost To Remodel An Old Or Historic Home

If you need to fully renovate an old house, you should budget for extra spending. Old houses have a lot of hidden issues that we discussed above that may not even come up during the inspection.

Most old houses also have outdated electric wiring and service (breaker) panel, heating and plumbing and sewage systems that are no longer up to code.

If you want to renovate an old or historic house, expect to spend at least $20,000 more than on a newer house of comparable size.

Doing minor cosmetic renovations are pretty much impossible in an old house, so prepare to spend at least $50,000 – 65,000 on a 2,000 sq.ft. home.

Historic house renovation cost will be even more expensive, since you have to adhere to specific rules and standards for siding, roofing, windows, stairs, etc.

Getting the right materials to maintain the historic look can easily add another $25,000-30,000 in labor and special materials.

Renovations With The Highest Return On Investment (ROI)

Whether you are looking to remodel an investment property or your own house that you may want to sell at some point, its smart to invest into those remodels that have the highest return on investment – ROI.

Among remodels with the best ROI are the ones that greatly increase the curb appeal and functionality of the house.

The table below details the average ROI you can expect to get from top house remodels.

Remodeling Project	Projected ROI
Interior Painting	100+%
Minor Kitchen Remodel	81%
Roof Replacement	68.5 – 85% depending on roof material
Install New Deck	65 – 83% depending on decking material
Siding Replacement	77 – 79%
Replace Entry Door	74 – 75%
Replace Flooring (hardwood)	75%
Window Replacement	70 – 75% depending on window material
Finish Basement With Bathroom	72%
Build Two Car Garage	74%
Bathroom Remodel (mid range)	72%
Finish Attic With Bathroom	62%
Kitchen Remodel (mid-range)	59 – 60%
Bathroom Remodel (high-end)	59%
Kitchen Remodel (high – end)	59%
Bathroom Remodel (high – end)	56%
Build A New Addition (high – end)	48%
Build A Patio	46 – 47%

When it comes to exterior remodels, siding replacement and roof replacement bring in the highest return on investment.

According to the Remodeling Magazine’s Value Report replacing old siding can bring as much as 79% ROI, while installing a new roof can bring in as much as 109% !!!!

These exterior projects are followed by new windows, doors, landscaping and adding a deck.

All of these renovations bring in 70-85% ROI. If replacing your siding is too expensive, consider painting it, as this will be a quick and budget friendly way to improve the home’s curb appeal.

In terms of interior remodeling, repainting is hands down the most effective way to boost the value and appeal of the home, without spending too much.

Of course, bathrooms and kitchens top the list of remodels with the highest return on investment, giving back at least 69-75% of what you spent. Often, the returns on kitchen and bathroom remodels can be as high as 80-85%

According the National Builders Association, adding a half bathroom, boost the value of an average house by 10.5%. Adding a full bathroom boost house value by as much as 20%

ROI Of An Expensive vs Cheap Remodel

Keep in mind that luxury level remodels that cost tens of thousands of dollars don’t bring in a high ROI, especially if the value of the property is not commensurate with this level of a remodel.

In practical terms, if your home value is $500,000, it does not make sense to invest $50,000 into a jaw-dropping master bathroom renovation. You you will not get most of your money back during the sale.

However, if the house is worth $3,000,000, then spending this much on a bathroom remodel would be appropriate.

For higher value properties, one of the best remodels to increase the value of the house is to build an addition or to convert an attic into a living space.

Both of these remodels are very costly, but they boast a high return of over 80% Other projects to consider are finishing the basement, converting a room into a man cave, building a garage.

Another type of remodel that can significantly improve your home value, that most people don’t consider doing is updating the internal systems of your house, such as plumbing, heating, cooling, electric, sewage, etc.

For example, adding central air to your house, especially if you live in a hot climate can be a major boost to the value of your home.

Also, note that any mechanical or structural problems that your house may have will come up anyways during the inspection. At that point you will be in a position to either agree to fix or replace the system before sale or take a cut on the original price you were looking to get for your house.

To avoid this scenario, its best to do major work prior to sale and then advertise your home as having this brand new system. This way, you can actually get a significant portion of the remodeling cost back, AND top dollar for the house itself.

Pro Tip: when choosing to do a particular remodeling project, you should aim to get at least 60% ROI.

If you are not sure whether you can get this back, consult an experienced local realtor, because returns on investment vary greatly depending on the local real estate market, and what homeowners value in a specific neighborhood.

Overall, remember that remodeling does not have to be an all or nothing game. Even doing partial updates, such as replacing or refinishing kitchen cabinets as opposed to doing an entire kitchen remodel, can go along way in increasing your home value.

Cost To Remodel A Single Room

If you don’t have the budget to tackle a whole house renovation at once, you can go room by room. Here is how much you can expect to spend to remodel a single room/area of your home.

Remodeling Project	Average Cost (includes labor)
Kitchen Remodel	$25,000 – 45,000
Master Bathroom Remodel	$30,000 – 65,000
Complete Attic Remodel (with bathroom)	$40,000 – 50,000
Complete Basement Remodel (with bathroom)	$45,000 – 55,000
Small Bathroom Remodel	$8,000 – 20,000
Single Room Remodel	$7,500 – 12,000

House Value vs Remodel Cost

When it comes to smart budgeting for a renovation, emotions can easily cloud judgement. It’s natural for many homeowners to start pouring thousands of dollars into a dream kitchen or bathroom, especially if you hate the one you have now, without thinking about the bottom line.

However, the reality is that if you don’t have unlimited cash flow you should be mindful of the returns a particular remodeling project will bring you.

That is of course if you think you may sell your house in the next 5-10 years. In this case, there is one big rule you need to follow:

DO NOT spend more than the value of the room compared to the overall house value on its renovation. We are going to give an example of a renovation budget for a house that is worth $400,000.

Here is how the numbers break down:

Remodeling Project	% of Total House Value	Maximum Remodel Budget
Kitchen Remodel	15%	Up to $50,000
Master Bathroom Remodel	10%	Up to $40,000
Complete Attic Remodel	10 -15%	Up to $40,000 – 50,000
Complete Basement Remodel	10 -15%	Up to $40,000 – 50,000
Small Bathroom Remodel	5%	Up to $20,000
Build Patio/Deck	2 – 5%	Up to $8,000 – 20,000
Replace Roof	2 – 4%	Up to $8,000 – 16,000
Replace Siding	3 – 5%	Up to $12,000 – 20,000
Replace Windows	3 – 4%	Up tp $12,000 – 16,000
Single Room Remodel	1 – 3%	Up to $4 – 12,000

The kitchen is 15% of total house value. So you would be spending no more that $50,000 on a complete kitchen remodel

A Master bathroom is 10% of the total house value. So you should spend no more than $40,000 on a complete bathroom remodel.

A Small bathroom/powder room is 5% of the total house value. So you should spend no more than $20,000 on this remodel

One room in the house (bedroom, living room, office, etc.) is valued at 1-3% of the total home value. So don’t spend more than $4,000-12,000 on renovating a single room.

Finished attic and finished basement are both valued at about 10-15% of total house value. So you should spend no more than $40,000-50,000 on either one of these remodels

Patio or deck is worth 2-5% of house value. Don’t spend more than $8,000-20,000 on installing a new deck or patio in a $400,000 house.

A roof is typically worth 2-4% of the house value. So you should spend $8,000-16,000 on the cost of a new roof.

Keep in mind that while a roof is not worth a lot per se, it can be a huge downer for your house value at the point of sale, if its an old roof or it is leaking.

So if your roof is nearing the end of its service life or has major issues, its best to replace it before you put your house up for sale.

Siding is worth 3-5% of the total home value. Spend around $12,000-20,000 on new siding.

If you are on a budget don’t just settle for cheap vinyl siding, as today there is a wide range of beautiful siding options for any price point.

Windows are worth around 3-4% of the total value of your house. So spend about $12,000-16,000 on replacement windows.

What Is The First Thing To Do When Remodeling A House?

Many homeowners facing a whole house renovation, wonder where they should start remodeling first.

The answer really depends on your budget, the extent of the renovation you are looking to do, your time frame, and whether your are renovating to sell or to live in this house.

However, here are a few general ideas to get you started on a solid remodeling plan:

1. The first thing you should do is fix any problem areas the house may have. These most likely were discovered and discussed during the inspection, prior to the sale of the home.

Serious problems that need to be addressed right away are a leaking roof (or a very old roof that may leak at any moment), mold, any water damage, structural problems, very old or damaged windows, issues with heating, cooling, water heater, furnace, etc.

2. Once you take care of problem areas, or if you are lucky and the house doesn’t have these, you can move on to the phase of improving the look and enjoyment of your new home.

At this point, most folks choose between remodeling a bathroom or the kitchen.

You can always do both, if you have the cash flow. Keep in mind that doing a full kitchen remodel will cost at least $10,000 more compared to a full bathroom remodel.

If you are strapped for cash, consider doing more cosmetic updates in the kitchen and bathroom, such as fresh paint, replacing sinks, hardware, refacing cabinetry, as opposed to replacing them.

3. The next item on the typical remodeling bucket list is repainting the entire home. This can also be the Number 1 thing you do, if funds are limited.

A fresh coat of paint is the fastest and cheapest way to give a house a face lift. If you are looking for something more fancy, you can also add crown moldings and lighting in this phase of the remodel.

4. Next, consider replacing flooring in the entire home, or just rooms that have floors that are in bad shape.

5. If your house does not require any major interior or exterior remodeling, many homeowners put in efforts and money into making the home more green and energy efficient.

This can involve things like a more energy efficient roof, such as a metal roof, solar panels, new windows, new house insulation, new energy efficient boiler or furnace, energy efficient kitchen appliances.

6. For exterior projects, which are usually done once the interior feels livable and nice, installing new siding is a very popular remodel.

This is because siding makes the biggest visual impact and makes or breaks the curb appeal of the home. If you are prepping the house up for sale, replacing old, ugly siding should be a top priority.

7. Extensive landscaping, building or extending the deck, building a patio, gazebo, etc, are all projects that add a lot of enjoyment to the home, but are not a necessity for a good sale, if the rest of the house is in very good shape. Minor landscaping is a good idea to attract buyers, if the lawn/yard look very unkempt.

8. For people looking to add a touch of luxury to their homes, there are improvements such as installing radiant heat flooring, hot-tub, sauna, steam shower, inside or outside pool.

9. Projects such as building an addition, converting a basement or attic into living space, adding a second floor to the existing home are all undertaken in cases where there is not enough space in the existing house and its cheaper to expand the existing foot print of the home, rather than buy a bigger house.

Additional Remodel Estimating Tools

If you want a more accurate cost estimate for a specific remodeling project, please use the appropriate calculator:

• Bathroom Remodel Cost Estimator
• Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimator
• Kitchen Countertops Cost Calculator
• Interior Painting Cost Calculator
• Window Replacement Cost Calculator
• Flooring Cost Estimator
• Roof Replacement Cost
• Siding Cost Estimator
• Deck Cost Calculator
• Attic (Shed Dormer) Home Addition Cost Calculator
• Home Building Cost Calculator
• Gutter Installation Cost Calculator
• Concrete Calculator
• Rental Income Calculator
• Tree & Stump Cutting / Removal Calculator

HVAC / Heating / Cooling / Plumbing Calculators:

• HVAC BTU Load Calculator
• Central AC + Furnace Calculator
• Mini Split Sizing Calculator
• Water Heater SizingCalculator (40-75 Gal Tank)
• Tankless Water Heater Sizing Calculator
• Furnace Cost & BTU Load Calculator