Home Renovation Budget Calculator: Plan Your Remodel Spending

How to Budget for a Home Renovation

The golden rule: budget 5-15% of your home's value for a major renovation. For a $750,000 San Diego home, that means $37,500-$112,500. Always add a 15-20% contingency for surprises — older homes especially hide problems behind walls. Break your budget into categories: 40% for the highest-priority room (usually kitchen), 25% for secondary spaces (bathrooms), 20% for structural/systems, and 15% contingency.

Renovation Costs by Room

Kitchen: $25,000-$85,000. Primary bathroom: $15,000-$45,000. Secondary bathrooms: $8,000-$25,000 each. Living areas: $5,000-$20,000 (flooring, paint, lighting). Primary bedroom: $3,000-$12,000. Exterior: $5,000-$30,000 (paint, landscaping, hardscape). Systems: HVAC $5,000-$18,000, electrical panel $2,000-$4,000, plumbing repipe $4,000-$10,000.

Phasing Your Renovation to Stay on Budget

You do not have to do everything at once. Smart phasing: Phase 1 — fix structural issues, update systems (electrical, plumbing). Phase 2 — kitchen and primary bath (highest ROI). Phase 3 — secondary bathrooms and bedrooms. Phase 4 — cosmetic updates (paint, flooring, fixtures). Phasing lets you spread costs across 12-24 months and adjust based on actual spending.

Using Our Budget Calculator

Our home renovation budget calculator lets you input your home's value, select rooms to renovate, choose finish levels, and get a prioritized budget breakdown. It accounts for San Diego labor rates, current material costs, and typical permit fees. The calculator also suggests where to splurge vs. save for maximum impact and ROI.