How Much Does It Cost to Renovate a House?

Whether you’re purchasing a new home or seeking change in your current one, it might be time for a renovation. So how much does it cost to renovate a house? As you might expect, there’s not a straightforward answer. “Usually scope is what drives the cost. Projects with limited scope will cost less,” says Aaron Enfinger, secretary of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and the COO of the Cleary Company in Columbus, Ohio. In determining the cost to remodel a house, you’ll also have to factor in materials—naturally, some high-end finishes are more expensive, which bumps up your home renovation cost. Then there’s a slew of additional spends to consider. To help you set a budget for your home remodel, we’ve prepared a handy guide that breaks down some of the common costs associated with renovating a house.

Cost estimates by room type

Certain rooms typically cost more to renovate than others, depending on the work that needs to be done. “Most commonly, because of the heavy plumbing and electrical needs, the complexity involved with a kitchen renovation or bathroom remodel leads those spaces to be the most labor-intensive home renovations, involving the highest amount of thinking, craftsmanship, and problem solving,” says National Kitchen and Bath Association member Stephanie Bullwinkel of Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. in Brookfield, Illinois. “This—along with prices for cabinetry, counters, backsplashes, fixtures, and appliances—makes them the top home renovation expenditures.” Of course, you can always change the scope of the project, the appliances, and the finishes to reduce cost in these rooms.

In general, here is what you can expect to pay when you’re remodeling a house:

Kitchen: $10,000–$50,000

Bathroom: $9,000–$20,000

Bedroom: $10,000–$15,000

Living room: $5,000–$10,000

Dining room: $2,000+

Office: $5,000

Attic or basement: $12,300 to $33,300

Foyer: $1,000–$10,000

Laundry room: $2,000+

Closet: $1,000+

Garage: $3,000–$15,000

Cost estimates by project

Beyond room renovations, there are many other projects associated with home remodeling. Here’s what you can expect to pay for some of the most popular ones, though it’s entirely possible a project’s total cost could fall well above or below these numbers.

Roofing: $20,000+

Exterior siding: $14,000+

Windows: $8,500–$20,000

Patios or decks: $2,000–$11,000

Central air conditioning: $3,800–$7,600

Furnace or heat pump: $2,800–$7,500

Cost estimates per square foot

The size of your house is, perhaps unsurprisingly, important to consider when determining home remodeling costs—rooms with more square footage generally command higher prices during renovations. Here’s a breakdown of the average home renovation cost per square foot of floor plan in a home or a specific room, but please note that these ranges will typically skew higher in metropolitan areas with a higher cost of living.

Whole house: $10 to $250 per square foot

Kitchen: $100 to $250 per square foot

Bathroom: $120 to $275 per square foot

Living room: $10 to $60 per square foot

Basement: $100 to $300 per square foot

Overall home renovation spend

According to a 2022 Houzz study, the median national spend on home renovation projects in 2021 was $18,000, with the 90th percentile spend being $100,000. Houzz reports that renovation spend is highest among recent homebuyers ($30,000), followed by short-term homeowners ($19,000) and long-term homeowners ($15,000). HomeAdvisor, on the other hand, found most home renovation costs to fall between $17,947 and $78,308, with a national average of $48,049.