Home improvement costs by project
What U.S. homeowners paid for 27 kinds of work, nationally and in 15 big metros, from the Census Bureau's 2023 American Housing Survey. Then put the quotes you get side by side.
What owners paid
The typical (median) job for work done in about 2021 to 2023, across every size of job in the category, and the range of the big-metro medians. These are what owners paid, not today's bids.
Exterior work
Attached garage and carport$4,6003 big metros: $5,000 to $39,610
Porch, deck, patio and terrace$4,7508 big metros: $5,991 to $10,000
Roofing$10,00015 big metros: $8,000 to $15,000
Siding$5,0007 big metros: $3,000 to $10,000
Window and door$2,80013 big metros: $2,100 to $8,000- Chimney, stairs and other exterior$2,0575 big metros: $500 to $4,286
Rooms and remodeling
Bedroom addition and renovation$7,0002 big metros: $6,000 to $17,140
Bathroom addition and renovation$28,020 to $140,0002 big metros; no U.S. figure published- Recreation room addition and renovation$10,0004 big metros: $3,000 to $20,000
Kitchen addition and renovation$25,0004 big metros: $5,098 to $70,000- Bathroom remodeling$5,00013 big metros: $4,571 to $10,000
- Kitchen remodeling$8,00010 big metros: $7,000 to $17,140
Interior systems and finishes
Insulation$1,5006 big metros: $1,000 to $2,857
Water pipe$1,0006 big metros: $686 to $2,121- Plumbing fixture$54214 big metros: $500 to $1,182
Electrical wiring and panel$1,0009 big metros: $1,000 to $2,143- Security system$42914 big metros: $334 to $557
Flooring, carpeting, paneling and ceiling tile$3,00015 big metros: $2,000 to $5,000
HVAC$5,50015 big metros: $4,000 to $8,440
Water heater, dishwasher and garbage disposal$80015 big metros: $700 to $1,200
Driveways, fences and buildings
Disaster repairs
Compare your own quotes
A typical figure is a check, not a price. Put the quotes you get side by side, or build a project budget for work across several trades. Every comparison is in compare quotes.
- Water heater quote comparisonCompare the equipment, removal, connections and access included in written water-heater quotes.
- HVAC quote comparisonPut HVAC equipment, duct work, controls and commissioning beside each quoted price.
Solar panel quote comparisonCompare the system, roof work, electrical scope and contract terms in written solar quotes.- Window replacement quote comparisonCompare each opening, frame scope, finish repair and disposal item in written window quotes.
- Septic system quote comparisonCompare septic system quotes: the design and permit, the tank, the drain field, the digging and what happens to the old system.
Work the survey does not cover
Building a new house, a barndominium and other new construction are not part of this survey; keep the prices you get together in the budget worksheet. The survey does not publish a metro median for septic tank or pool, court and recreational structure in this snapshot. These remain unknown rather than being assigned a neighboring value.