How Much Does a House Renovation Cost in 2025?

House Renovation Cost Factors

Renovating or remodeling your home depends on its size, the type of space, the quality of your building materials, and the scope of your project.

Home Size 

Home size is among the primary influences on renovation costs. Larger homes generally require more materials and labor, driving total expenses. Renovation ranges from $15 to $60 per square foot, but high-end materials, luxury appliances, and customization can push costs to $150 per square foot or more.

Cost by Room

Renovation costs vary depending on the room type, which falls into either wet or dry categories. Wet rooms refer to bathrooms, kitchens, and other spaces with plumbing connections. They are typically more costly to renovate than dry rooms, which include living rooms, bedrooms, and other areas that don’t require plumbing.

This isn’t a universal rule—for example, adding a fireplace to a living room costs $900 to $3,700, potentially exceeding standardized wet room costs.

Bathroom

Ranging from $70 to $250 per square foot, bathroom remodeling projects come with a range of prices depending on the cabinets, counters, and fixtures. Costs may increase significantly for changes in layout or size, which can require permits, an architect, and moving supply lines or drain lines. 

Kitchen 

Kitchen remodels cost about $15,000 to $50,000, with major remodels reaching $65,000 or more. Here are some examples of common kitchen renovation project types:

• Small ($10,000–$30,000): Upgrading lighting, faucets, paint, and trim. Adding budget-friendly backsplashes and counter extensions. Removing non-load-bearing walls.

• Mid-range ($30,000–$65,000): Upgrading appliances and replacing floors. Adding tile backsplash, cabinets, and moderately priced counters.

• High-end ($65,000–$130,000): Adding custom cabinetry and stone or granite counters. Installing high-end Energy Star appliances, overhead lighting, hardwood flooring, and a premium sink and faucet. Structural changes and significant plumbing or electrical modifications.

When remodeling or renovating your kitchen, three major elements impact your cost: cabinets, countertops, and flooring. Below are the general costs for each. 

• Cabinet costs:

  • Stock: $100–$300 per lin. ft.

  • Semi-custom: $150–$650 per lin. ft.

  • Custom: $500–$1,200 per lin. ft.

  • High-end custom: $13,000–$30,000 total

  • Refinished: $1,400–$3,500 total

• Countertop costs per sq. ft:

  • Stone: $15–190

  • Laminate: $8–$27

  • Butcher block: $50–$150

  • Concrete: $50–$100

• Flooring prices per sq. ft:

  • Vinyl: $2–$14

  • Stone: $6–$20

  • Laminate: $3–$13

  • Wood: $6–$25

In a full kitchen renovation, expect cabinetry, appliances, and labor to represent a large proportion of project costs. See how other costs add up below.

Bedroom 

Renovating a bedroom averages between $1,500 to $5,500. They typically only need paint and flooring, although structural changes such as an add-on might need an architect and permits. These projects can become more complicated and expensive if you convert an attic or basement into a bedroom, with these larger projects costing up to $40,000.

Living Room 

Remodeling a living room costs $10 to $60 per square foot or $2,500 to $16,000 total. A simple renovation involving fresh paint, window treatments, and entertainment unit installations generally costs less. A high-end custom remodel may drive expenses to $60 per square foot or more and include more complex tasks, such as new electrical outlets or light fixtures, windows, and flooring.

Based on an average-sized space, other living room remodeling projects include:

Basement 

Basement remodels cost $20,000 to $50,000 or $30 to $120 per square foot. These costs are largely determined by the scope of the project, whether it involves electrical or plumbing work, and if structural modifications are needed. For example, adding a bathroom to the basement requires hiring a plumber, adding plumbing lines, and purchasing fixtures.

Attic 

The typical cost to finish an attic bedroom is $40,000, ranging from $12,000 to $70,000. Instead of building new additions horizontally, which can also eat up valuable lawn and garden areas, renovating vertically with an attic remodel is an easy way to develop pre-existing square footage into suitable living spaces.

Price ranges depend on the size of the space and whether you're remodeling a bare attic or one that's already developed into a living space. Including a bathroom as part of the bedroom suite also increases the overall cost.

Garage

Garage renovation costs depend on the project’s complexity and range from $3,000 to $15,000, with some homeowners paying more than $30,000. Most spend around $11,000 to renovate a standard two-car garage with new cabinet storage and floor coating. 

Exterior 

Exterior updates cost between $6,000 to $20,000. Here are some of the most popular exterior remodels and their average cost:

• Home exterior painting: $1,800–$4,400

• Landscape installation: $1,400–$5,700

• Exterior door: $1,150

• Window installation: $6,250

• Deck railing: $450–$8,800

House Entryway

In addition to the front door, walkways, landscaping, lighting, and other details make up your entryway. Small entryway remodels range from $1,030 to $1,250, while mid-range projects cost about $2,570 to $3,120. Large foyer remodel costs are $8,880 to $10,780 or more. 

Home Additions

Building a home addition costs $22,500 to $80,100, averaging $49,600, but can range anywhere from $5,000 to $150,000. The cost depends on the extent of the addition and the finish materials you choose. Different rooms may require different materials or components. For example, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other rooms with plumbing require more involved labor and are consequently more expensive to add compared to a primary bedroom or sunroom.

Floor Plan Changes

House renovation plans that include an addition, stair installation, load-bearing wall removal or relocation, or other structural changes require consulting a local structural engineer. Structural engineers cost between $350 and $750 total or $100 to $230 per hour and can ensure your plans are safely completed according to local building codes.

Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC

Many options are available when choosing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units. HVAC units are between $500 to $7,200 or more. Popular brands, including Amana, American Standard, Carrier, Coleman, and Lennox, cost anywhere from $1,900 to $4,900. Other common tasks and average costs associated with your in-home climate control options are as follows:

• Central air installation: $3,900–$8,000

• Furnace installation: $2,800–$6,900

• Heat pump installation: $4,250–$7,900

• Insulation installation: $1,400–$6,300

• Replacing ducts and vents: $500–$2,200

• Solar panel installation: $18,400–$36,400

Labor 

Labor costs for house renovation range widely from $20 to $150 per hour or more. Complex projects often involve hiring a general contractor or construction manager to oversee, and they may hire other employees or subcontractors. Additional project complexity, such as demolition or structural work, contributes to labor needs and costs. Various contractors potentially involved in your project include:

• General contractor: 10%–20% of the total project

• Architect: $125–$250 per hour

• Interior designer: $50–$200 per hour

• Kitchen designer: $65–$250 per hour

• Painter: $20–$50 per hour

• Plumber: $45–$200 per hour

• Electrician: $50–$100 per hour

• HVAC technician: $50–$150 per hour

• Landscape designer: $50–$150 per hour

Permits

For small projects in a bathroom or kitchen, permits range between $50 and $300. Meanwhile, building permits for more significant projects cost between $400 to $1,800. Before starting a house remodeling project, check with your local regulations to determine the needed permits. Permits are generally required for projects that modify the home’s structure or systems, such as:

• New construction

• Additions

• Major renovations

• Electrical upgrades or replacements

• Plumbing modifications or installations

• HVAC installation

Updating Appliances

Appliances cost anywhere from $200 to $10,000 or more. Prices range from budget-friendly to luxury, and the best value for your investment depends on your preferences and goals. For example, home chefs may opt to splurge on a six-burner stove that enhances kitchen enjoyment and functionality. Likewise, opting for more high-end Energy Star appliances can save money on energy bills and offer better longevity and durability over other models.

Appliance finish and their costs vary. Stainless steel is popular amongst homeowners, and other stainless-finish options include smudge-resistant slate, black, white, and ivory. The following includes estimated prices based on appliance categories:

• Basic/discount: $100–$2,000

• High-end store-bought: $300–$5,000

• Energy Star: $200–$3,500

• Custom built-in: $1,000–$10,000

Does Renovation Increase Home Value?

Renovations usually increase home value, but the actual return on investment (ROI) depends on the type of renovation, quality of work, and local real estate market. Kitchen and bathroom remodels are often the most impactful on home value. Most buyers focus on these rooms because they’re typically the most expensive to renovate.

Investing more doesn’t necessarily equal higher returns. For instance, strategically budgeting for a minor kitchen remodel can yield an 85% ROI, while a luxury kitchen remodel may only earn about 42% back.

In general, expect inexpensive cosmetic remodels to yield the best return. More in-depth projects affecting your home’s systems and structure may not earn the same ROI, but they offer other benefits, such as:

• Energy efficiency

• Structural durability and longevity

• Aesthetic appeal

• Convenience

• Living space enjoyment

Budgeting for Home Renovation

Home renovation projects can quickly exceed expected costs without strategic budget management. Try these tips to streamline your costs and maximize the value of your investment:

• Compare detailed estimates from multiple contractors and negotiate prices where possible.

• Purchase building materials through your contractor, who likely has access to wholesale supplies.

• Opt for standard or prefabricated materials that offer high quality without luxury pricing.

• Invest in energy-efficient upgrades to save long-term, such as insulation, double-paned windows, and appliances.

• Limit structural changes, which can quickly escalate costs due to additional complexity and labor.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed over 10,000 real 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.