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Renovation Cost Calculator

Estimate home renovation costs by project type, square footage, finish level, and location. See labor, materials, and permits breakdown.

Select the type of renovation project

sq ft

Area being renovated

Budget = basic, Mid-Range = quality, High-End = premium

Location affects labor and material costs

Enter project details, then click Estimate to see costs.

How Renovation Costs Are Estimated

What Determines Renovation Costs?

Renovation costs depend on four main factors: the type of renovation, square footage, finish level, and your geographic location. A budget bathroom remodel might cost $100/sq ft, while a high-end kitchen renovation can exceed $600/sq ft.

Cost Per Square Foot

Contractors and estimators use cost-per-square-foot as the standard unit for pricing renovations. This rate varies dramatically by project type and finish level:

  • Budget finishes: Stock cabinets, laminate countertops, basic tile, builder-grade fixtures
  • Mid-range finishes: Semi-custom cabinets, quartz countertops, porcelain tile, quality fixtures
  • High-end finishes: Custom cabinets, marble/natural stone, designer fixtures, premium appliances

Cost Breakdown

Renovation costs typically break down as:

  • Labor: 35–45% of total cost (demolition, framing, installation, finishing)
  • Materials: 45–55% of total cost (all physical materials, fixtures, and finishes)
  • Permits & Fees: 5–15% of total cost (building permits, inspections, design fees)

Regional Variations

Costs vary by 30–50% across the US. Metropolitan areas and high-cost-of-living states (CA, NY, MA, CT) have significantly higher labor and material costs. This calculator adjusts estimates based on your state’s cost region to give you locally relevant numbers.

Frequently asked questions

Kitchen renovations range from $75–$150/sq ft for budget finishes to $300–$600/sq ft for high-end. A typical mid-range kitchen renovation of 150 sq ft costs $22,500–$45,000. Major cost drivers include cabinetry (30–40% of budget), countertops, appliances, and labor.

Kitchen and bathroom renovations typically offer the best ROI, with mid-range kitchen remodels recouping 60–80% of costs at resale. Minor kitchen updates (new hardware, paint, countertops) often return 80%+ of the investment. Adding a bathroom or finishing a basement are also high-ROI projects.

A good rule of thumb: set aside 10–20% of your home’s value for a major renovation. Always add a 15–20% contingency for unexpected costs. Get 3+ quotes, prioritize must-haves vs nice-to-haves, and avoid changing the scope mid-project — change orders are the biggest budget killer.

Timelines vary widely: a bathroom renovation takes 3–6 weeks, a kitchen 6–12 weeks, a basement 4–8 weeks, and a whole-house renovation 3–6 months. Permit approvals, material lead times, and scope changes can extend timelines significantly.

Hire a GC for complex multi-trade renovations (kitchens, bathrooms, additions) — they manage scheduling, permits, and quality control. Self-managing subs can save 15–25% but requires construction knowledge, time, and the ability to coordinate multiple trades. GC markup is typically 15–25% of project cost.

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