How Much Does It Cost to Renovate a House? [2026 Data]

In 2026, the national average cost to renovate a house is $52,143, based on 11,077 verified projects from Angi Pros. Most homeowners pay between $19,467 and $88,348, with the spread driven by home size, material quality, and project scope.

Whole House Renovation Cost Factors: What Affects the Price?

When budgeting for a house renovation, consider the following cost factors, including square footage and hourly labor rates.

Whole House Renovation Cost by Square Footage: Price by Area

House renovation costs $15 to $60 per square foot on average, though that range widens significantly based on the materials you choose. Premium finishes—such as custom paints, high-end flooring, or luxury fixtures—can push costs upward of $150 per square foot. Even with standard finishes, square footage remains one of the most influential factors in your total renovation budget. Here's a breakdown of whole-house renovation costs per square foot:

Home Renovation Cost by Project: Costs by Room Type

Room renovation costs range from $1,500 to more than $50,000 per room, depending on whether the space requires plumbing. Rooms with running water—like kitchens and bathrooms—consistently cost more to renovate than dry rooms such as bedrooms or living rooms. You can choose to overhaul all rooms at once or tackle them one at a time based on your budget and timeline. Here are common costs to expect for each room type:

General Contractor Costs: What Homeowners Pay

Hiring a general contractor typically costs between 40% and 50% of your total renovation budget. In exchange, the contractor handles all aspects of the project—from planning and permitting to managing subcontractors and final inspections. This arrangement frees up your time and reduces the stress of coordinating multiple tradespeople yourself. However, here is a look at some of the specialists that your local remodeling pro may bring on to help with your project.

Plumber Costs: What Homeowners Pay

Installing or replacing plumbing costs $350 to $2,000 on average, with minor repairs running about $330. Labor is a significant part of that cost—the cost to hire a plumber runs about $180 to $500 per hour. More extensive work, such as roughing in plumbing for a new home addition, will push costs toward or above the $2,000 mark. Some other projects a plumber might tackle during a home renovation include:

• Rerouting plumbing: $700–$1,500

• Adding a shower: $1,100–$8,500

• Replacing faucets or fixtures: $$150–$600

Electrician Costs: What Homeowners Pay

Rewiring a house costs $1,500 for a small project, and up to $10,000 or more for a full rewire. Installing new outlets runs about $75 to $490 per outlet, and upgrading an electrical panel costs about $1,250. Regardless of the scope, you can expect electricians to charge about $50 to $100 per hour for their time.

Once again, more extensive renovations, like gut renovations or installing a dormer or home addition, will drive up the price for electrical work. Some renovation tasks you'll need an electrician for include:

• Installing a ceiling fan: $140–$350

• Adding a light switch: $60–$300

• Installing a new breaker box: $500–$1,800

Additional Contractors to Consider Hiring: What They Cost

Depending on the scope of your renovation, you may need to bring in additional specialists beyond a general contractor. The pros you hire will vary based on your project, but costs can add up quickly across trades.

• HVAC contractor: $5,000 to $12,500 for a new HVAC system

• Drywall installer: $1.50 to $3 per sq. ft.

• Flooring installer: $3 to $15 per sq. ft.

• Window installer: $300 to $1,500 per window

Whole Home Renovation Costs by Location: Where Prices Are Highest

Where you live has a meaningful impact on what you'll pay for a home renovation, primarily because of regional differences in labor rates. Metropolitan areas consistently see higher labor charges than rural locations, and this gap is significant given how labor-intensive renovation work is. Regional material costs can also vary, though typically to a lesser degree than labor. The table below includes average home renovation prices in major cities across the U.S.:

Additional House Renovation Costs: What to Budget For

Beyond the primary cost factors, several additional expenses can affect your total renovation budget depending on the scope and specifics of your project. Items like permits, alternate living arrangements, and unexpected structural issues can add thousands of dollars to your final bill. Reviewing these potential costs before you begin helps you avoid budget surprises mid-project.

Home Age

Renovating an older home typically starts around $100,000 and can climb significantly from there. Older homes almost always require updates to plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems, which drives costs well above what you'd pay for a newer home. Hidden problems discovered during the renovation—such as termite damage costs or basement water damage—can add further to the total.

Permits

Building permits cost about $500 to $2,500 for major home renovations. Minor updates like painting a room typically don't require a permit. Check your local rules and regulations—or ask your contractor—to confirm what's required before work begins.

Alternate Living Expenses

For larger renovation projects—such as gut renovations or second-story dormers—you'll likely need to pay for alternative living arrangements, which can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the duration. The timeline for a home renovation is two to eight months on average, so these costs can add up quickly. Minor or contained renovations, like redoing a single bathroom or bedroom, typically allow you to stay in the home while work is underway.

Floor Plan Changes

Changing a floor plan costs about $350 to $500 for minor adjustments or over $10,000 for major structural changes. Major changes—such as removing load-bearing walls or rerouting plumbing and electrical—require a structural engineer and other certified professionals to ensure safety. The complexity of the work involved is what drives the wide gap between minor and major floor plan costs.

Major floor plan changes—like removing a load-bearing wall and installing a steel I-beam in its place—will fetch the highest prices when it comes to floor plan alteration.

Updating Appliances

New appliances can cost $200 to $10,000 each, depending on the type and quality you choose. Energy Star-rated appliances typically fall in the $200 to $3,500 range, while custom built-in appliances generally run $1,000 to $10,000. If you're already renovating a kitchen or laundry area, factoring appliance upgrades into the project budget upfront can help you avoid a separate expense later.

Mold or Asbestos Remediation

Mold remediation costs $2,230 on average, while asbestos removal costs about $1,200 to $3,100 depending on the extent of the damage. Both issues require professional attention—attempting to handle them yourself puts your family's health at serious risk. If you discover mold or asbestos during a DIY renovation, stop work immediately and bring in a licensed professional.

Keep in mind that you might need alternative housing during the renovation if mold or asbestos could become airborne during the process, and potentially put your family at risk. As such, these issues can contribute to higher costs overall.

Foundation Repairs

Foundation repairs cost between $2,200 and $7,700 in most cases and are often essential to keeping a home structurally sound. A structural engineer should be involved to ensure the repairs are completed correctly and safely. Foundation work must typically be addressed before any other renovation can begin.

Home Accessibility

Designing a home with accessibility in mind can add complexity and cost to a renovation project. Before finalizing your plans, consult with anyone in your household who has specific accessibility needs to determine whether features like a home elevator, stair lift, or other universal design accommodations are needed. Communicating these requirements clearly with your pro from the start ensures the finished space meets your household's needs.

Why You Should Hire a House Renovation Pro

If you hire a home renovation company near you for the job, you can expect to pay 20% to 40% of the total project cost for labor. Most renovation projects will require hiring professionals for tasks such as electrical, plumbing, and other specialized work.

Here is why it's ideal to hire a home renovation pro

Home renovations can be a huge undertaking, so here are the reasons you should hire a pro:

• Professionals will obtain the necessary permits to comply with local building regulations.

• The pros have the skills to complete the job safely and efficiently.

• DIY mistakes can cause severe property damage and lead to costly repairs.

• They have access to high-quality materials and connections to reliable suppliers, which will give you a wider range of options.

• Most home renovation pros warranty their work, so you will save costs and have peace of mind if something goes wrong.

If you want to DIY a home renovation

We don't recommend tackling extensive home renovations yourself due to the potential risk of injuries and problems that can arise. However, if you are a handy DIYer, you can focus on these types of tasks to save time and labor costs.

• Clear and prepare the work area.

• Cover furniture, appliances, air ducts, and any other items that require protection from dust and debris.

• Make living arrangements if the project is in areas that you need for day-to-day living, such as the bathroom or kitchen.

• If you have experience, you can perform light demo tasks yourself, such as removing non-structural items and old carpeting, to save on labor costs.

• Performing simple tasks such as caulking, filling in holes, and painting can help reduce the amount you will pay a pro.

Renovating vs. Remodeling a Home

The primary difference between renovating your home and fully remodeling it comes down to cost and project scope. Remodeling generally includes making structural or floor-plan changes, adding rooms, or significant tear-outs and rebuilding. Renovations, on the other hand, can be as simple as replacing furniture, adding window treatments, painting, updating appliances, or adding storage or shelving.

While remodeling can completely change your home's look, feel, and functionality, the project will cost significantly more than renovating the space or a room at a time. If you're looking to meet a budget and remodeling is threatening to max it out, consider performing renovations instead. Doing so can refresh your home's look, including DIY tasks like painting, making repairs, and updating fixtures and components to provide a fresh feel to any space. 

Ways to Save Money on Home Renovation Costs

Renovating a house costs a lot of money upfront, but there are ways to save while achieving the home of your dreams.

• Budget-Friendly Materials: Mid-range options are more durable and last longer than the least expensive materials on the market while offering a similar look at a lower cost than high-end alternatives.

• Do Safe DIY: You can't complete an entire home renovation on your own, but you can take on some smaller, easier tasks to save money on labor costs. Many homeowners can handle painting rooms, tearing out old carpets, or installing shelves themselves to save on individual project costs.

• Consider Short- and Long-Term Savings: While you may be tempted to buy the least expensive flooring option or windows on the market, keep in mind that you often get what you pay for. While you could save upfront on low-cost materials, you may spend more on maintaining, repairing, or replacing these materials down the road.

• Maximize Space: House renovation costs heavily depend on the size of the house or each room, so you can save by sticking to smaller square footage while making the most of the existing space.

• Multiple Quotes: Before signing any home renovation contracts, get at least three quotes for each professional service you plan to hire. Compare what each price includes to get the best value for each part of the renovation process.

Does Renovating Increase a Home's Value?

Completely remodeling your house will include elements that can have an excellent return on your investment (ROI), while other parts of the job may not significantly increase the home's value. Home improvement or remodeling projects with excellent ROIs can fetch between 60% and more than 100% of your investment in terms of house value increases.

Kitchen remodels, upgrading to energy-efficient windows and doors, installing efficient appliances, adding attic or basement living space, adding a deck, and upgrading the exterior finishes can all earn excellent ROIs.

Luxury installations, such as high-end fixtures and finishes, generally do worse when it comes to ROI, as does installing sub-par materials such as wall-to-wall carpeting throughout the home or using outdated laminate countertops. Depending on your location, installing a pool can realize moderate returns or none at all, and can even reduce the home's selling appeal.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed over 10,000 real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.