Home Renovation Cost Calculator

Renovation cost is not one number — it is a spectrum from a fresh coat of paint to tearing a home back to its studs. The Home Renovation Cost Calculator lets you pick a scope (cosmetic, partial or full gut) and a quality level, then spreads the result across the phases that actually eat a renovation budget: demolition and clearance, materials, skilled labour, fixtures and finishes, and the overhead plus contingency that renovations always seem to need.

The per-square-foot rate rises steeply with scope because a full gut rebuilds systems you would leave alone in a cosmetic job. Use the estimate to set expectations, then confirm with detailed quotes — and remember the things behind the walls are exactly where renovations go over.

• Scope tiers: Cosmetic, partial remodel or full gut, each with its own base rate.
• Quality levels: Basic, standard and premium multipliers on the base rate.
• Area-based: Enter the area being renovated in sq ft (m² shown too).
• Phase split: Demolition, materials, labour, fixtures and overhead as shares of cost.
• Contingency: 0–35% to reflect how unknown the existing condition is.
• Effective rate: Blended $/ft² after scope and quality.
• Report & export: Copy or download as text, CSV or JSON.
• Learning guide: Scope comparison, hidden costs and where renovations leak budget.

1. Enter the area. Square feet of space being renovated.
2. Pick the scope. Cosmetic, partial or full gut.
3. Choose quality. Basic, standard or premium.
4. Set contingency. Higher for gut jobs and older homes.
5. Read the result. Total, $/ft² and phase breakdown appear instantly.
6. Export. Copy or download the estimate.

Example 1 — Cosmetic refresh. 1,200 ft² × $15 × 1.0 = $18,000, ~$20,700 with 15% contingency.

Example 2 — Partial remodel. 800 ft² × $60 × 1.3 = $62,400 before contingency.

Example 3 — Full gut. 1,500 ft² × $120 × 1.7 premium = $306,000 before contingency — near new-build cost.

Example 4 — Hidden abatement. Add $8k–$20k for asbestos/lead if the home is pre-1980; the calculator’s contingency should cover part of it.

Example 5 — Phase view. On a $100k partial reno, labour (~35%) and materials (~40%) dominate; fixtures and finishes are where upgrades sneak in.

• Scope honestly: See how cosmetic vs gut changes the total and the $/ft².
• Phase visibility: Know where the money goes before you start.
• Risk built in: Contingency sized to the unknown.
• Compare quotes: A number to normalise contractor bids against.
• Plan selections: Separate fixture/appliance allowances keep the budget real.
• Private: No account, nothing uploaded.