Home Renovation Cost Estimator for Planning and Budgeting

Making your home perfect for you and your family can be quite the process. If you’re remodeling, one of the first steps is to sit down and plan what you want to do. A home remodel costs estimator can show you how to estimate remodel costs. Knowing this, you’ll be able to build a budget so you can get started with your project. 

We’ve compiled average costs for several common remodeling projects to give you a starting point for budgeting and planning. Find out how much your kitchen, bathroom, or other remodeling projects will cost.

How Much Does It Cost to Remodel Your Entire Home?

Remodeling and renovating sound similar but they are quite different. With a renovation, you’re refreshing a space by adding new paint, new fixtures, or even new flooring. If your home is working well for you but it doesn’t feel as stylish as you’d like, a renovation is probably your best bet. Renovations are also great DIY projects, which can help you save some money. 

With a remodel, you’re changing the actual layout or structure of a room or your entire house. That might mean changing your kitchen layout, removing walls, or building additional rooms. For remodels, it’s a good idea to bring in professionals to handle a lot of this work, as structural changes are usually required. 

Cost Based on Remodeling Scope

The cost to remodel a house often ranges between $18,000 to $76,500, with an average of $47,000, depending on the number of rooms being remodeled.

What’s included by price range:

• $15,000–$45,000: In this price range, you can finish several renovations, including paint, new floors, and even countertops. 

• $46,000–$70,000: At the mid-range, you’re getting the renovations from the lower end of the price spectrum as well as a completely remodeled room or two. With this budget, you also have the opportunity to install higher-end flooring like marble or hardwood.

• $71,000+: With a high budget, you have a lot more freedom. If you have a large budget, you can remodel your kitchen and bathrooms, and maybe even create a new layout by removing walls. You’ll also be able to paint, install new flooring, get custom cabinets, and have top-of-the-line appliances.

With a large remodel, you’ll also have to consider the possibility of installing or moving electrical, plumbing, and HVAC ducting for a new layout. Those changes can have a significant impact on your budget.

Potential ROI

You could see anywhere from a 40% to 80% return on a whole home remodel.

Ways to Save

You can save money on your home renovation by collecting several quotes from highly-qualified contractors, and going with the best deal. Just remember that the lowest number isn’t always the best—you should factor in their reviews, as well.

DIY is another way to save money on a renovation project, but you only want to take on easy projects yourself. Save the more complex jobs that involve electrical work or plumbing to the pros.

The materials you choose will also influence the price you pay. If you’re on a tight budget, opt for standard materials over high-end options.

Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen remodels are one of the most common (and most desired) home improvement projects. The kitchen is the heart of your home, and if it’s not a joy to be in, your home will never look or feel as comfortable and inviting as it should.

Kitchen remodeling provides you with many opportunities to show off your style while also creating a space that is useful in a variety of ways. Perhaps best of all, kitchen remodels enhance your life AND the value of your home!

Costs

When you’re estimating the cost of a kitchen remodel, it’s a good idea to budget approximately $30,000 or $75 to $250 per square foot. Your choice of appliances and finishes can push this figure up or down. Here’s a breakdown of specific projects and their typical costs.

Potential ROI

Remodeling your kitchen is a great way to increase the value of your home. You could see up to a 70%+ return on your investment when remodeling your kitchen.

Ways to Save

You can save money on your renovation by doing some of the work yourself. However, you only want to take on simple, DIY-friendly projects, such as interior painting, decorating, and cleaning. If you’re particularly handy, you can save on labor costs by installing flooring and cabinetry yourself. 

Bathroom Remodel

Bathrooms are one of the top remodeling projects for many homeowners. It’s easy to see why—bathrooms provide a great return on investment, and they can make you, your family, and your guests more comfortable.

Whether you are adding or enhancing an en suite, or you want to build a new small bathroom, few projects are as exciting and valuable. 

Costs

The cost of a bathroom remodel is approximately $10,800 or $75 to $275 per square foot. This can change depending on the size of the bathroom and the fixtures and finishes you choose.

Potential ROI

You could earn a potential ROI of 66% on a bathroom remodel.

Ways to Save 

Painting the bathroom can save you money that can be spent on other parts of the remodel. Changing small fixtures is also a quick and easy DIY project that will lower your overall costs.

Basement Remodel

Finishing or remodeling a basement is one of the most efficient ways to add more usable space to your home. A basement allows you to build extra bedrooms, add a bathroom, create a home gym or office, or even turn the space into a separate apartment unit. 

The amount of time and money needed to remodel a basement varies, but the payoff can be big. 

Costs

The average basement remodel costs around $21,390 or $30 to $75 per square foot. If you are framing an extra room or adding a bathroom, the price could be higher.

Potential ROI:

Most basement remodels see a high ROI of up to 75%.

Ways to Save:

Painting your newly remodeled basement reduces your overall costs and it can be a fun DIY project to do with your family. Installing your own flooring can also help you save money on your basement remodel.

Bedroom Remodel

Remodeling a bedroom can be as straightforward as installing new light fixtures, putting in new flooring, adding or changing a ceiling fan, and finishing the room with new paint. But it can also be a much larger—and more costly—undertaking.

Building a primary suite with a bathroom and large closet is a popular choice that can pay off huge, not just in ROI but how much you enjoy spending time in the room, too.

Costs

Bedroom remodels cost between $4,000 and $40,000. This range is so wide because it can include simple projects to adding an en suite bathroom.

Potential ROI:

The potential ROI of a bedroom remodel is about 55%.

Ways to Save

You can cut, paint, and install trim to lower the amount you are spending on this remodel. Painting the walls yourself is also a great way to keep a little extra money in your pocket. Flooring installation is a relatively straightforward process if you choose the right materials and it saves you from having to pay someone else to do it. Finally, find furnishings on your own to save on designer fees.

Living Room Remodel

Shared spaces are one of the most used and most overlooked rooms in the home. From small projects like new paint to big layout changes, remodeling your living room can make your family time even more special (and correct awkward living room layouts).

If you live in an older home, creating an open floor plan is a wonderful way to make better use of the space. Open floor plans are also in-demand, which can help you if you want to sell your house. 

Costs

The average living room remodel costs between $1,500 and $20,000. The cost will be higher if the layout is changed and lower if most of the remodeling is cosmetic.

Potential ROI:

The typical ROI of a living room remodel is about 50% or more.

Ways to Save:

Paint your new living room on your own to save some cash. Installing the new flooring in your living room can be a fun project that you’ll be proud of every day. Finally, decorating your living room on your own lets your taste really shine and is more affordable than having a designer do all of the work for you.

Flooring Remodel

New flooring not only makes your home more attractive, but it can also increase its value. Changing out the old carpet for natural stone flooring or hardwood can be an excellent way to update a room or cap off a large remodel. Thanks to the variety of flooring materials, you can easily find a material that fits your budget. 

Costs

The cost of installing new floors varies based on the materials that you choose and how much work needs to be done to get the floor ready for installation.

Potential ROI: 

The potential ROI when installing new flooring is about 55%.

Ways to Save

You can save a lot of money on labor by installing flooring on your own. You can also save money by repairing your floors if the damage is minimal. Finally, if you’re on a tight remodeling budget, don’t spring for the higher-priced flooring like porcelain tile or hardwood, and instead go for something less expensive, like linoleum.

Roofing Remodel

Your roof is the first line of defense against the elements. Repairing or replacing your roof after it has been damaged (or at the end of the material’s recommended life span) will keep your home safe.

No matter what style of home you have, the roof’s material can be attractive and functional. The price of replacing a roof varies based on the size of your roof and the materials you choose, but it’s worth the price.

This is one of those jobs best left to professionals. They’ll do the job faster and more safely.

Costs

Because the cost of a new roof changes considerably based on the material and the size of the room, it is a good idea to get an estimate from a roofer to get an accurate idea of what you’ll have to pay.

Potential ROI:

A new roof is a home upgrade with a high ROI. You could see a return of 56% to 61% on your investment.

Ways to Save

You can’t do much in the way of DIY work when it comes to roofing projects. Working on a roof is inherently dangerous, and always best left to a roofer. However, you can save a little money by opting for less expensive material, like asphalt shingles versus metal or stone. Also, compare prices from several qualified roofers to get the best deal.

Exterior Remodel

Exterior remodeling can cover a lot of things, including paint, landscaping, siding, installing fencing, and more. No matter which projects you take on, exterior remodeling means a good ROI and improved curb appeal for your home.

Landscaping can be a particularly good choice for a revamp because it creates more usable space that your family will be able to enjoy for many years to come. The ROI on landscaping projects can be particularly high, too.  

Costs

The cost for exterior remodeling projects depend on the materials and the amounts of labor needed. Talking to a professional is a good idea to get an accurate estimate.

Potential ROI:

Your potential ROI will depend on the exterior renovation project you tackle. Some common ROIs include:

• Fencing: 50%–70%

• Landscaping: 70%–100%

• Siding: 69%

• Windows: 68%

Ways to Save

There are a few ways to cut costs with exterior projects. Painting the outside of your home is a potential DIY project if you have the right equipment and can do the job safely. Installing fencing can be physically demanding, but doing it yourself will save a lot of cash. Adding plants to existing landscaping yourself is an affordable way to beautify your property, too.

Additional Remodeling Projects

In addition to the projects we’ve discussed, there are plenty of other ways to remodel your property. Whether you’re trying to decide on a project that will make your home more comfortable and functional or you want to see the best ROI, there are options that will fit almost any budget.

Remodeling your garage, repairing or replacing the deck, or even something as simple as changing your exterior doors can inject your personal style into your house. 

Costs

The remodel projects listed below are just a few of the many other projects that you can take on to change the way the inside or outside of your home looks and works. 

• Deck Installation: $790–$11,220

• Replacing Exterior Doors: $500–$1,700 per door

• Garage Remodel: $1,500–$50,000

Potential ROI:

Again, your ROI depends on which project you spring for, but some common ROIs include:

• Deck: 66%

• Replacing Doors: 65%

• Garage Remodel: 80%

Ways to Save

Doing work yourself can go a long way in terms of cost-savings. Removing your old deck can save you a decent amount of money that the new deck builder would charge for demolition. Replacing doors on your own is a DIY project that handy homeowners can do.

Whether you’re an experienced DIYer or you’re just learning, doing some of the work on a remodel can help you save money. Anything you can do to minimize costs means you can spend more on materials, appliances, and labor. Once you figure out the reno cost per square foot, you’ll be able to best allocate your budget to the areas that are most important to you.

There are some projects that are best left to professionals, though. If you want to change the physical layout of a room, replace a roof, or finish a basement, a local remodeling contractor will be able to do the work efficiently and safely.