Home › Home & Construction › Home Renovation Cost Calculator
Home Renovation Cost Calculator
Use this free home renovation cost calculator to budget a remodel before you call a contractor. Pick the project type — kitchen, bathroom, basement, whole home, or an addition — enter the square footage, choose a finish level, and set your region. The calculator gives you a low-to-high cost range with a per-square-foot breakdown, so you can see whether the project fits your budget and where the money goes. The rates are national-average ranges in the style of published cost guides, and they vary by region, which is why the regional adjustment is built in.
| Cost item | Share | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated total | $25,000 – $50,000 |
Rates are national-average ranges in the style of published cost guides such as Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value report. Actual costs vary by region, contractor, materials, and the condition of your home — get two or three local quotes before committing.
How it works
The calculator starts with a per-square-foot rate for your project type and finish level. The rates are national-average ranges in the style of published cost guides such as Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value report. A midrange kitchen runs about $125–$250 per square foot, a budget kitchen $75–$125, and a high-end kitchen $250–$450. Bathrooms cost more per square foot because they pack expensive plumbing, tile, and fixtures into a small space: budget $100–$175, midrange $175–$300, high-end $300–$550. A basement finish is cheaper per square foot — budget $50–$90, midrange $90–$150, high-end $150–$250 — because the shell already exists. A whole-home remodel runs budget $60–$100, midrange $100–$200, and high-end $200–$350 per square foot, and a home addition runs budget $150–$200, midrange $200–$300, and high-end $300–$450, because an addition needs a foundation, roof, and new systems.
The total is the area times the rate, adjusted for your region and your contingency. Region matters because labor is the biggest cost driver and contractor rates vary widely: high-cost metro areas such as New York, San Francisco, and Boston run about 25 percent above the national average, while lower-cost areas run about 15 percent below it. Material prices, permit fees, and local code requirements vary too. The calculator applies a multiplier of 0.85 for a low-cost area, 1.00 for an average area, and 1.25 for a high-cost area. The contingency is added last: 10 percent is the standard recommendation, and 20 percent is sensible for an older home or a gut remodel, where hidden problems are almost certain.
Finish level is the single biggest choice you make. Budget means keeping the existing layout, painting or refacing cabinets instead of replacing them, laminate counters, and stock fixtures. Midrange means quality materials — semi-custom cabinets, quartz or granite counters, a new appliance package, and good tile — with some layout changes. High-end means custom cabinets, stone counters, professional-grade appliances, designer fixtures, and structural changes such as moving walls. Moving a wall, relocating plumbing, or changing the layout adds thousands of dollars fast, so the budget level assumes the layout stays put.
The breakdown shows where the money goes. In a midrange kitchen, cabinets are about 29 percent of the cost, labor about 25 percent, appliances about 14 percent, countertops about 10 percent, and flooring, plumbing, electrical, and everything else make up the rest. In a bathroom, fixtures and tile take a bigger share and cabinets a smaller one. In a basement, framing, drywall, flooring, and electrical dominate. The breakdown is a planning guide, not a quote: on your actual project the shares will shift with your choices, and the labor share rises in high-cost regions.
Three costs are not in the ranges, and you should budget for them separately. Permit fees often run $500–$2,000 depending on the project and the town. Architect or designer fees run 10–20 percent of the project cost on a large remodel. And if you have to move out during the work, temporary housing is a real cost too. Appliances bought separately from the remodel, new furniture, and window treatments are also outside the ranges. Add all of these to the calculator's range to get your true all-in budget.
High = area × high rate × region × (1 + contingency)
Worked example
You are remodeling a 200 square foot kitchen to a midrange finish, in an average-cost area, with no contingency added yet.
Step 1: Rate — a midrange kitchen costs $125–$250 per square foot.
Step 2: Base cost — 200 × $125 = $25,000 at the low end, and 200 × $250 = $50,000 at the high end.
Step 3: Region — an average area uses a multiplier of 1.00, so the range stays $25,000–$50,000.
Step 4: Contingency — with 0 percent contingency the range is unchanged. Adding the recommended 10 percent would raise it to $27,500–$55,000.
Step 5: Breakdown — cabinets at 29 percent are $7,250–$14,500, labor at 25 percent is $6,250–$12,500, appliances at 14 percent are $3,500–$7,000, and countertops at 10 percent are $2,500–$5,000.
The estimated cost is $25,000–$50,000. In a high-cost metro area the same kitchen would run $31,250–$62,500, and a high-end finish in an average area would run $50,000–$90,000. If the kitchen were only 120 square feet, the midrange range would be $15,000–$30,000.
FAQ
How much does a kitchen remodel cost?
A midrange kitchen remodel typically costs about 125 to 250 dollars per square foot, so a 200 square foot kitchen runs about 25,000 to 50,000 dollars in an average-cost area. A budget refresh with painted cabinets and laminate counters can run 75 to 125 dollars per square foot, while a high-end remodel with custom cabinets and stone counters runs 250 to 450 dollars per square foot.
How much does a bathroom remodel cost?
A midrange bathroom remodel typically costs about 175 to 300 dollars per square foot, because bathrooms pack expensive plumbing, tile, and fixtures into a small space. A small 50 square foot bathroom therefore runs about 8,750 to 15,000 dollars at midrange, while a budget refresh can run 100 to 175 dollars per square foot and a high-end remodel 300 to 550 dollars per square foot.
Why do renovation costs vary so much by region?
Labor is the biggest reason: contractor rates in high-cost metro areas such as New York, San Francisco, and Boston can run 25 percent or more above the national average, while rates in lower-cost areas run about 15 percent below it. Material prices, permit fees, and local code requirements vary too. This calculator applies a regional multiplier of 0.85 for a low-cost area, 1.00 for an average area, and 1.25 for a high-cost area.
Should I add a contingency budget to my renovation?
Yes. Most remodelers recommend a contingency of 10 to 20 percent on top of the estimate, because renovations almost always uncover something unexpected, such as water damage, outdated wiring, or a subfloor that needs replacing. Older homes and gut renovations need the higher end of that range. This calculator lets you add a 10 or 20 percent contingency to the range.
What costs are not included in a renovation estimate?
The ranges here cover the construction work, materials, and typical labor for the project, but they do not include architect or designer fees, permit fees, temporary housing if you have to move out, new furniture, or appliances bought separately from the remodel. Permit fees alone often run 500 to 2,000 dollars, and design fees run 10 to 20 percent of the project cost on a large remodel.