Renovation Cost Calculator
Renovation budgets fail in two places: underestimating the per-metre rate and forgetting the rooms that cost five times more than the rest — kitchens and bathrooms. This calculator handles both.
Enter the total area, pick a finish quality tier, and flag kitchen and bathroom remodels for a realistic low–high budget range.
Enter valid values to see the results.
Formula
Tier rates (materials + labour, USD): basic ≈ $350/m² ($33/ft²), mid-range ≈ $700/m² ($65/ft²), premium ≈ $1,200/m² ($111/ft²). Kitchen adds $5k–25k, bathroom $3.5k–16k depending on tier. Materials are typically 55–65% of the total.
How to measure
- Use the total floor area of the rooms being renovated, not the whole property.
- Be honest about the tier: “mid-range” means new flooring, paint, some electrical and plumbing — not moving walls.
- List fixed-scope items (kitchen, bathroom) separately — their cost barely scales with area.
Worked example
Practical tips
- Keep a 10–15% contingency beyond the upper bound — hidden wiring, rot and levelling surprises are the norm, not the exception.
- Get three itemised quotes and compare line by line, not by total.
- Kitchens and bathrooms are 40–50% of a full renovation budget while being 15% of the area.
- Doing demolition and painting yourself typically saves 10–15% of the total.
Waste allowance
The +20% upper bound covers normal overruns. Add a separate 10–15% contingency for structural surprises in older buildings.
Renovation cost per m² by tier (materials + labour)
| Tier | Per m² | Per ft² | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $250–450 | $23–42 | Paint, flooring, fixtures refresh |
| Mid-range | $550–850 | $51–79 | Full refinish, some electrical/plumbing |
| Premium | $950–1,500 | $88–139 | Designer finishes, layout changes |
Common mistakes
- 1 Budgeting by total area rate while forgetting kitchens and bathrooms cost 3–5× more per m².
- 2 No contingency: renovations of pre-1990 buildings uncover issues in most projects.
- 3 Comparing contractor quotes by total instead of line items — cheap quotes often exclude demolition, disposal or levelling.
- 4 Starting without a written scope: “while you are here” additions are the most expensive way to build.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a full renovation cost per m²?
Basic refresh: $250–450/m². Mid-range full renovation: $550–850/m². Premium with layout changes: $950–1,500/m². Prices vary widely by country and city.
How much does it cost to renovate a 60 m² apartment?
Mid-range: about $42,000 plus $8,000 for a bathroom and $12,000 for a kitchen if included — roughly $50,000–62,000 all-in with a realistic range.
What percentage of a renovation budget is labour?
Typically 35–45%. Materials dominate in premium tiers (expensive finishes), labour dominates in basic ones.
How much contingency should I add?
10–15% for modern buildings, 15–20% for pre-1990 stock where wiring, pipes and level floors cannot be assumed.
Which rooms cost the most to renovate?
Bathrooms ($3,500–16,000) and kitchens ($5,000–25,000) — plumbing, tiling and appliances concentrate cost. Bedrooms are the cheapest: mostly paint and flooring.