Full Home Renovation Cost by State (2026)
Get a comprehensive whole-home renovation estimate covering all major systems and rooms. Compare local costs across all 50 states and 800+ cities — updated for 2026.
$50
$20 – $150
How much does full home renovation cost in 2026?
A full home renovation costs about $50 per square foot on average in the US in 2026, typically ranging from $20 to $150 per square foot depending on how deep the work goes. That puts a 2,000 sq ft home around $100,000 for a comprehensive remodel, though a light cosmetic refresh can run far less and a luxury gut-renovation far more. Kitchens, bathrooms, and major systems (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) drive most of the budget.
What affects full home renovation cost?
Depth of renovation
Scope is everything. A cosmetic refresh — paint, flooring, fixtures, and surface updates — runs $20–$40 per sq ft. A mid-range renovation that redoes kitchens and baths lands at $40–$80. A full gut-renovation down to the studs, with new systems and layout changes, runs $80–$150+ per sq ft. Defining how far you're going is the single biggest factor in the total, often a 5x swing on the same house.
Kitchens & bathrooms
These rooms carry the highest cost per square foot in any home and usually consume the largest share of a renovation budget. A full kitchen remodel averages around $26,000 and a bathroom about $11,500 on their own. The number of bathrooms, cabinetry and counter choices, and whether layouts change all multiply quickly. Cutting back here — keeping layouts and choosing mid-range finishes — is the most effective way to control a whole-home budget.
Major systems
Behind-the-walls work is expensive but often unavoidable in older homes. Rewiring, repiping, new HVAC, insulation, and a roof can each run thousands to tens of thousands. These aren't visible in the finished home, but skipping them on a dated property invites failures later. Bringing a home up to current code during a gut renovation frequently adds 20–30% that buyers and inspectors expect to see addressed.
Structural & layout changes
Moving or removing walls, raising ceilings, adding square footage, or reworking the floor plan adds engineering, permits, and premium labor. Removing a load-bearing wall requires a beam and support, often $3,000–$10,000. Additions cost far more per square foot than renovating existing space. Keeping the existing footprint and structure directs budget toward finishes, while structural changes are where renovations most often go over budget.
Full Home Renovation Cost Breakdown (2026)
Estimated national average per square foot by project option. Use the calculator on any city page for an estimate tailored to your location.
Renovation scope
| Cosmetic updates only | $13 /sq ft |
| Moderate (kitchen + baths + paint) | $28 /sq ft |
| Full renovation | $50 /sq ft |
| Full gut renovation | $75 /sq ft |
| Down to studs + systems | $100 /sq ft |
Finish quality
| Basic / Rental grade | $28 /sq ft |
| Mid-range | $50 /sq ft |
| High-end | $83 /sq ft |
| Luxury / Custom | $125 /sq ft |
Full Home Renovation Cost by State — Click Your State
Alabama
5 cities
avg $0
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Alaska
1 cities
avg $100
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Arizona
9 cities
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Arkansas
3 cities
avg $0
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California
23 cities
avg $100
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Colorado
6 cities
avg $100
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Connecticut
5 cities
avg $100
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Delaware
2 cities
avg $100
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Florida
15 cities
avg $0
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Georgia
6 cities
avg $0
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Hawaii
1 cities
avg $100
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Idaho
3 cities
avg $0
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Illinois
7 cities
avg $100
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Indiana
4 cities
avg $0
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Iowa
3 cities
avg $0
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Kansas
5 cities
avg $0
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Kentucky
3 cities
avg $0
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Louisiana
4 cities
avg $0
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Maine
1 cities
avg $0
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Maryland
4 cities
avg $100
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Massachusetts
4 cities
avg $100
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Michigan
6 cities
avg $0
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Minnesota
3 cities
avg $100
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Mississippi
2 cities
avg $0
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Missouri
5 cities
avg $0
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Montana
2 cities
avg $0
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Nebraska
2 cities
avg $0
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Nevada
4 cities
avg $100
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New Hampshire
2 cities
avg $100
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New Jersey
4 cities
avg $100
from $0
New Mexico
3 cities
avg $0
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New York
8 cities
avg $100
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North Carolina
8 cities
avg $0
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North Dakota
2 cities
avg $0
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Ohio
6 cities
avg $0
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Oklahoma
4 cities
avg $0
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Oregon
5 cities
avg $100
from $0
Pennsylvania
4 cities
avg $100
from $0
Rhode Island
1 cities
avg $100
from $0
South Carolina
4 cities
avg $0
from $0
South Dakota
2 cities
avg $0
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Tennessee
5 cities
avg $0
from $0
Texas
15 cities
avg $0
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Utah
4 cities
avg $0
from $0
Vermont
1 cities
avg $100
from $0
Virginia
5 cities
avg $100
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Washington
6 cities
avg $100
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West Virginia
2 cities
avg $0
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Wisconsin
3 cities
avg $0
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Wyoming
2 cities
avg $0
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Full Home Renovation Cost — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a full home renovation cost in 2026?
Whole-home renovations average about $50 per square foot nationally, ranging from $20 for a cosmetic refresh to $150 for a luxury gut-renovation. That makes a 2,000 sq ft home roughly $100,000 for a comprehensive remodel. The total depends most on how deep the work goes, how many kitchens and bathrooms are involved, and whether you're updating major systems or changing the layout.
Is it cheaper to renovate or build new?
Renovating is usually cheaper than building new when the home's structure, foundation, and footprint are sound, because you reuse the shell and avoid land and site costs. But a deep gut-renovation of a home needing new systems and structural work can approach or exceed new-construction cost. If you're replacing nearly everything anyway, get a teardown-and-rebuild quote to compare before committing.
How long does a full home renovation take?
A cosmetic refresh can take a few weeks, a mid-range whole-home renovation 2–4 months, and a full gut-renovation 6–12 months including design, permitting, and construction. Permit reviews, custom material lead times, and inspections between phases all extend the schedule. Larger and more complex projects, especially those with structural changes, are the most prone to delays, so build in a time buffer.
Do I need permits for a whole-home renovation?
Yes — comprehensive renovations almost always require multiple permits covering building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and sometimes structural work, with inspections at each phase. Fees can total several hundred to several thousand dollars. Permits are essential for insurance and resale; unpermitted whole-home work is a serious liability that can derail a sale. Your general contractor typically manages the permit process as part of the project.
How can I save money on a full home renovation?
Keep the existing layout and footprint to avoid structural and utility relocation costs, phase the project so you spread spending over time, and reuse what's sound — cabinets, hardwood, and fixtures. Choose mid-range finishes that look high-end, get detailed bids from several general contractors, and prioritize the rooms that drive resale (kitchen, baths). A clear, fixed scope upfront prevents the change orders that blow renovation budgets.
Other Renovation Calculators
Bathroom Remodel
avg $11,500
Kitchen Remodel
avg $26,000
Flooring Installation
avg $9
Interior Painting
avg $4
Electrical Wiring
avg $4,500
Plumbing
avg $3,500
Roof Replacement
avg $10,000
Bedroom Remodel
avg $6,500
Living Room Remodel
avg $9,500
Dining Room Remodel
avg $6,000
Kids Room Remodel
avg $5,000
Attic Conversion
avg $28,000
Home Office Remodel
avg $7,500
Basement Finishing
avg $50
Garage Conversion
avg $18,000
Entryway Remodel
avg $3,500
Closet Installation
avg $3,000