Home Renovation Cost Report 2026
Aggregated cost data from 235 project guides across 12 categories and 49 US metro areas. Every number on this page comes from our own research - cross-referenced against HomeAdvisor, Fixr, HomeGuide, and BLS wage data.
Key Findings
- ●The median home renovation project costs $2,800 nationally. The average is $6,342, pulled up by major structural and addition projects.
- ●Renovation costs range from $130 (dimmer switch installation) to $175,000 (second story addition) - a 1,000x spread.
- ●Structural projects (additions, conversions) average $17,767 per project - 3x the site-wide mean.
- ●Regional cost multipliers swing from -18% below national average (Memphis) to +55% above (San Francisco).
- ●Electrical projects are the most affordable category on average at $1,478, making them high-ROI upgrades for most homeowners.
Cost by Category
Average project cost within each of our 12 renovation categories, based on 235 guides.
| Category | Guides | Avg Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Structural | 21 | $17,767 |
| Outdoor Living | 23 | $16,391 |
| Basement | 12 | $8,475 |
| Kitchen | 19 | $6,435 |
| HVAC & Energy | 23 | $5,559 |
| Bathroom | 24 | $4,868 |
| Exterior | 39 | $2,930 |
| Painting & Walls | 16 | $2,647 |
| Flooring | 18 | $2,414 |
| Smart Home & Tech | 7 | $2,321 |
| Plumbing | 17 | $1,862 |
| Electrical | 16 | $1,478 |
Most and Least Expensive Projects
The full cost spectrum: from quick upgrades under $500 to major additions topping $100K+.
Top 10 Most Expensive
Top 10 Most Affordable
Regional Cost Multipliers
How renovation costs vary across 49 US metro areas. A multiplier of 1.42 means costs run 42% above the national average.
| Metro | Region | Multiplier | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | West Coast | 1.55x | +55% |
| New York City | Northeast | 1.42x | +42% |
| San Jose | West Coast | 1.38x | +38% |
| Los Angeles | West Coast | 1.35x | +35% |
| San Diego | West Coast | 1.35x | +35% |
| Boston | Northeast | 1.32x | +32% |
| Seattle | West Coast | 1.28x | +28% |
| Philadelphia | Northeast | 1.22x | +22% |
| Hartford | Northeast | 1.20x | +20% |
| Baltimore | Northeast | 1.18x | +18% |
| Chicago | Midwest | 1.18x | +18% |
| Portland | West Coast | 1.18x | +18% |
| Providence | Northeast | 1.15x | +15% |
| Sacramento | West Coast | 1.15x | +15% |
| Denver | Mountain West | 1.12x | +12% |
| Buffalo | Northeast | 1.08x | +8% |
| Miami | Southeast | 1.08x | +8% |
| Salt Lake City | Mountain West | 1.08x | +8% |
| Austin | Southeast | 1.05x | +5% |
| Boise | Mountain West | 1.05x | +5% |
| Minneapolis | Midwest | 1.05x | +5% |
| Virginia Beach | Mid-Atlantic | 1.05x | +5% |
| Pittsburgh | Northeast | 1.02x | +2% |
| Las Vegas | Mountain West | 1.00x | 0% |
| Nashville | Southeast | 0.95x | -5% |
| Phoenix | Mountain West | 0.95x | -5% |
| Tampa | Southeast | 0.94x | -6% |
| Dallas | Southeast | 0.93x | -7% |
| Richmond | Southeast | 0.93x | -7% |
| Tucson | Southwest | 0.93x | -7% |
| Albuquerque | Southwest | 0.92x | -8% |
| Charlotte | Southeast | 0.92x | -8% |
| Houston | South | 0.92x | -8% |
| Jacksonville | Southeast | 0.91x | -9% |
| Atlanta | Southeast | 0.90x | -10% |
| Raleigh | Southeast | 0.90x | -10% |
| San Antonio | Southeast | 0.89x | -11% |
| Cincinnati | Midwest | 0.88x | -12% |
| Columbus | Midwest | 0.88x | -12% |
| El Paso | Southwest | 0.88x | -12% |
| Kansas City | Midwest | 0.88x | -12% |
| New Orleans | Southeast | 0.88x | -12% |
| Oklahoma City | South Central | 0.88x | -12% |
| St. Louis | Midwest | 0.88x | -12% |
| Louisville | Midwest | 0.87x | -13% |
| Cleveland | Midwest | 0.86x | -14% |
| Detroit | Midwest | 0.85x | -15% |
| Indianapolis | Midwest | 0.85x | -15% |
| Memphis | Southeast | 0.82x | -18% |
What This Means for Homeowners
The median renovation project in our database costs $2,800. That means half of all home improvement projects come in under that figure. If you're planning a single room update - a bathroom refresh, new flooring, or a paint job - you're likely in that lower half.
The mean is pulled up to $6,342 by big-ticket items: room additions, second stories, pool installations, and ADU builds. These are the projects that cross six figures, and they skew the average significantly. Don't let that number scare you off a more modest renovation.
Regional pricing matters more than most homeowners expect. The same kitchen remodel that costs $25,000 in Indianapolis could run $38,000 in San Francisco or $35,000 in New York City. Before budgeting, check your metro's cost multiplier in the table above - it's the single most important adjustment to make.
One trend worth noting: electrical and smart home upgrades remain the most affordable renovation category by average cost. If you're looking for high-impact improvements on a limited budget, projects like dimmer switches, smart thermostats, and under-cabinet lighting deliver noticeable results for under $500.
Methodology
This report aggregates data from all 235 project cost guides on Cost to Renovate. Each guide is independently researched using at least two data sources: HomeAdvisor/Angi, Fixr, HomeGuide, Homewyse, and BLS occupational wage statistics.
Category averages are calculated as the mean of national average costs across all projects in that category. Regional multipliers come from BLS metro-area wage data for construction trades, adjusted for local permitting costs and material transport factors.
All cost data reflects 2025-2026 contractor pricing. We update individual guides as new data becomes available and plan to publish this report annually.
Explore the Data
Every number in this report links to a detailed cost guide with breakdowns, calculators, and contractor tips.
Sources
- HomeAdvisor / Angi - True Cost Guide (2025-2026)
- Fixr.com - Construction cost data (2025-2026)
- HomeGuide.com - Cost guides and contractor estimates (2025-2026)
- Homewyse.com - Construction cost data based on BLS statistics
- Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025)
- Remodeling Magazine - Cost vs. Value Report 2026