Here’s How Much Remodeling Any Room Really Costs

Upscale bathrooms are all the rage, but if you have your heart set on opulent amenities like stone flooring, accent lighting, super-quiet humidity-controlled exhaust fans, privacy commode areas, and luxe faucets, be prepared to pay up. You could spend as much as $87,000 to have your contractor enlarge your existing bathroom, install dual vanities, stone countertops, a freestanding soaking tub, and a high-end glass-and-onyx shower. 

Simply updating an existing bathroom without any structural changes can run as much as $20,000, but most homeowners will pay around $9,500 for this type of renovation, which typically includes having a contractor install new tile flooring, new vanities with solid-surface countertops, a new tub-shower unit, and a new toilet. Keep costs under control by opting for midrange faucets and light fixtures, and doing your own painting.

Related: The 6 Best Reasons to Remodel Your Bathroom

For homeowners who want to age in place, remodeling a bathroom to incorporate universal design features can allow family members with mobility issues to remain at home as long as possible. Universal design upgrades include replacing a standard tub or shower with a curbless shower unit and installing wider, 36-inch doors; grab bars; a higher-profile commode; and lever-type handles for both both faucets and doors. Depending on how much the existing bathroom has to be structurally altered, the cost could reach as high as $33,000.

One way to update the look of your foyer while also boosting your home’s curb appeal is to replace your entry door. Replacing a standard entry door with a new fiberglass door that features dual sidelights can cost up to $9,000, depending on the quality and design of the door and how much structural work is required to accommodate its larger size. Opting for a steel security door of the same size will drop the cost to around $1,800. Spiffing up the foyer with tile flooring and a fresh coat of paint will add as much as $2,000 more.

Per square foot, kitchens are one of the most expensive rooms to remodel because they usually involve plumbing, wiring, and new appliances. You could easily pay up to $130,000, depending on the current configuration of your kitchen and the look you’re going for. A major kitchen renovation includes replacing cabinetry, flooring, sinks, lighting, and appliances, and may even require creating a completely different layout.

You can have a brand-new kitchen without breaking the bank if you don’t move any walls and opt for refacing your existing cabinets instead of replacing them. Refacing involves having veneer installed over the existing cabinet base and attaching brand-new cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Expect to pay up to $22,000 to get a new look that includes refacing the cabinets and installing solid-surface countertops. To control costs, opt for midrange sinks, faucets, and appliances. Choose luxury vinyl flooring instead of tile or stone, and you could save an additional $2,000.

Master suite additions top the list of homeowner remodeling wants, but they don’t come cheap. Adding a 600-square-foot addition over a crawl space and outfitting it with his-and-hers closets, an upscale attached bathroom with a double-shower system, dual vanities, and a soaking tub could set you back as much as $270,000. At that price, you can even have a private sitting area with a fireplace, built-in bookcases, and premium flooring.

Related: 10 Color Picks to Set Any Mood in Your Bedroom

While large master suites are hugely popular, if you can live with a slightly smaller addition, say 300 square feet, you could save more than $100,000. This smaller master suite could still include a large walk-in closet, custom tile shower, freestanding tub, and double vanities, and the price tag would come in under $130,000. If the bedroom you have now is spacious but lacks a bathroom, you could transform it into a master suite with a bath and walk-in closet for between $20,000 and $60,000—as long as you don’t have to build an addition to your home.

If you can upgrade your living room without tearing out walls or adding on to your house, plan on spending around $8,000 to get a fresh look. The living room is one of the least expensive rooms in the house to remodel because it doesn’t require plumbing and there are no pricey fixtures to buy. The cost for this project includes the price of new flooring, new paint on walls, new trim, and a newly textured ceiling. Be cost-conscious when choosing furniture and draperies, however, or you could add $5,000 to $8,000 to the total.

Any remodeling project that doesn’t require altering the structure of your home is usually pretty affordable. One of the most common is the basic bedroom update. It involves painting the walls, hanging new draperies, and adding a throw rug and new bed coverings. You can change the entire look and feel of any bedroom for less than $1,000.

If your basement is in good shape (no major leaks or cracks), you can turn it into living space for between $6,000 and $25,000, depending on its size and the number of rooms you’re adding. (For example, a single large recreation room will cost less to install than multiple bedrooms.) Installing a bathroom soaks up the biggest chunk of change and can add $8,000 to $15,000, or more, to the tally. If your basement doesn’t have an egress window (a window large enough to allow occupants to escape in case of fire), you can have one installed for around $2,500.

A remodeling reality check is worthwhile—even before you start planning.