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Renovation Budget Calculator
Estimate low, medium, and high renovation budgets from project scope, quality tier, and contingency
Estimated time
2 min
Project Inputs
Estimate renovation budget ranges by project type, area, quality tier, and contingency.
1) Project type
Kitchen projects often carry high finish and appliance-driven cost variability.
2) Area input
Use total square footage when you have a single combined scope number from plans or a takeoff.
sq ft
3) Quality tier + contingency
$220.00 to $380.00 per sq ft baseline
Standard: balanced material quality, better fixtures, and moderate layout changes.
Contingency is a reserve for unknowns like hidden damage, scope changes, or price swings.
%
How It Works
This calculator starts with a per-square-foot cost band for your selected project type and quality tier. It then multiplies by total area and applies contingency to produce low, medium, and high budget estimates.
Use total square footage for quick estimates, or room list mode when your project includes specific rooms with different sizes.
Total area = entered sq ft OR sum(room list sq ft)
Low/High rates come from the project + tier table; Medium = (Low + High) / 2
Budget = Total area x Rate x (1 + Contingency% / 100)
Planning range = Low budget to High budget
Total area = entered sq ft OR sum(room list sq ft)
Low/High rates come from the project + tier table; Medium = (Low + High) / 2
Budget = Total area x Rate x (1 + Contingency% / 100)
Planning range = Low budget to High budget
- Per-square-foot bands are planning defaults and can vary by market, finish choices, and structural changes.
- Contingency is a risk buffer and does not replace formal contractor line-item estimates.
- Room-list parsing reads the first numeric value on each line as that room’s square footage.
- Use this estimator for budgeting conversations, then validate with scope-specific bids.
Example Calculations
Kitchen refresh
Project type: Kitchen, 220 sq ft, Standard tier, 12% contingency
Low: $54,208, Medium: $73,920, High: $93,632
Standard kitchen finishes can span a wide range depending on layout and appliance scope.
Bathroom gut remodel
Project type: Bath, room list: Primary 95 + Hall 55 sq ft, Premium tier, 15% contingency
Low: $72,450, Medium: $96,600, High: $120,750
Premium bath projects scale quickly with waterproofing, tile, fixtures, and custom storage.
Whole-home update
Project type: Whole home, 1,850 sq ft, Basic tier, 10% contingency
Low: $71,225, Medium: $122,100, High: $172,975
Whole-home scope benefits from a contingency buffer because multiple trades overlap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in low/medium/high estimates?
Each estimate uses a per-square-foot cost band for your selected project type and quality tier. Contingency is then applied to each band.
How should I choose quality tier?
Use Basic for value-driven materials, Standard for balanced finish quality, and Premium for custom or high-end selections.
Should I use total sq ft or room list mode?
Use total sq ft for fast planning. Use room list mode when only certain rooms are being renovated or when room sizes vary.
Is labor included?
This calculator gives planning-level budget ranges, which generally represent combined project costs. Final quotes should come from contractors and local pricing.
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