Home Renovation Budget Calculator

Build a renovation budget including materials, labor, permits, and a contingency.

Home Renovation Budget Calculator

Build a renovation budget including materials, labor, permits, and a contingency.

Not sure what things cost?

Pick an example to fill in starting estimates, then adjust any amount to fit your situation.

Choose your project size

Illustrative project budgets, not contractor estimates. Actual prices depend on scope, finishes, labor market and permits.

Materials ($)Labor ($)Permits / fees ($)Contingency (%)

Enter your estimates above.

What Americans spend on home improvements

2021–2023 U.S. Census homeowner spending medians

$6,500All improvements, per improving owner

$8,000Kitchen remodel

$5,000Bathroom remodel

$10,000Roofing

These are medians, not averages, and reflect reported project spending during 2021–2023. They are not current contractor quotes and vary by project scope and location.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Home Improvements infographic

How to use this calculator

Renovation budgets are easier to manage when direct project expenses and a contingency reserve are separated.

Enter the projected costs of materials, labor, and permits. Then select a contingency percentage for unforeseen issues or changes in scope.

The total applies the contingency percentage to the combined base costs. It is a planning estimate, not a contractor quote, and it does not account for financing interest or temporary accommodation.

Frequently asked questions

What is a contingency?

A contingency is money reserved for costs you did not anticipate in the initial budget.

Does this include permit costs?

Yes, if you enter them in the permits and fees field.

Can I use this for a DIY project?

Yes. Set hired labor to zero if appropriate, but consider tools, delivery, and your own time separately.

All results are illustrative estimates based on your entries, not professional advice or price quotes. Your inputs are processed in your browser.

Plan, compare and project

Use your current calculator inputs as a starting point. These projections use adjustable assumptions, not live quotes.

Annual cost increase (%)Projection length (years)Alternative option cost (%)

Choose your inputs and click Analyze my estimate.

Costs are held at your entered baseline and compounded at the selected annual increase. The alternative assumes the percentage you choose, not a market price. Savings-goal results represent the remaining target rather than an annual expense.

Comparable national benchmark unavailable for this exact cost. We do not invent a nationwide average.

Understand your real costs

Explore conservative and higher-cost scenarios, affordability, and long-term totals. These are illustrative planning models, not predictions or financial advice.

Planning period (years)Annual cost growth (%)One-time purchase cost ($)Expected resale value at end ($)

Three planning scenarios

Lower and higher scenarios adjust the entered cost by 20%. These are sensitivity tests, not confidence intervals. Upfront and resale amounts are held constant.

Can I afford it?

See how the estimated monthly cost fits your budget. Income and expenses stay in your browser.

Monthly take-home income ($)Existing monthly bills ($)Monthly savings target ($)

Save or share your plan

Saved estimates are stored only in this browser on this device. Avoid entering sensitive information on shared devices.

Explore costs by state

National averages often hide major differences. Choose a state to explore official local statistics; this tool does not invent a ZIP-code price estimate.

State

How have prices changed?

Historical trends depend on the expense category and location. Use the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI database to compare verified price indexes over time. CPI tracks price changes, not the total cost of a project.

BLS historical consumer price data · FRED: U.S. consumer price index history