What home improvement work actually costs
National price ranges with the breakdown behind each number, so you can read a contractor quote before you sign it. 246 guides, each dated on the page, most tied to published US wage and materials data.
Browse by category
- RoofingWhat it costs to repair, replace or re-cover a roof, by material and roof size.28 guides
- Heating & CoolingFurnace, heat pump and air conditioning costs, from a tune-up to a full system replacement.28 guides
- PlumbingWater heaters, repipes, drain work and the emergency call-outs in between.27 guides
- Kitchen & BathroomKitchen and bathroom remodel costs, from a cabinet reface to a full gut.28 guides
- Siding, Windows & ExteriorSiding, window replacement, gutters and everything else on the outside of the house.28 guides
- Foundation & StructuralFoundation repair, underpinning, framing and the structural work nobody budgets for.28 guides
- ElectricalPanel upgrades, rewiring, EV chargers and the permit work that comes with them.28 guides
- Decks, Fences & OutdoorDecks, patios, fences, driveways, pools and the structures that go on them.23 guides
- Landscaping & LawnLawns, planting, trees, irrigation and the ground the rest of the yard sits on.28 guides
Recently updated
Each guide is reviewed when its underlying data moves, and at least once a year. Browse all 246 cost guides.
Lawn overseeding cost$0.10 to $0.30per sq ftSeeding a lawn costs $0.10 to $0.30 a square foot, and overseeding a thin lawn usually rides along with a core aeration visit for less. When to overseed by grass type, and when sod is the better buy.
4-ton AC unit cost$5,600 to $12,000per projectA 4-ton air conditioner costs $5,600 to $12,000 installed for the condenser and matched coil, typically $8,200. Whether the furnace blower and ducts can move about 1,600 CFM decides whether that is the whole bill.
Sump pump battery backup cost$350 to $1,800per projectA sump pump battery backup costs $350 to $1,800 installed, typically $900. Runtime depends on the battery, the pump's draw and how often your pit fills, and the battery needs replacing every few years.
Cost to paint a two-story house exterior$3.00 to $6.50per sq ftPainting a two-story exterior costs $3.00 to $6.50 per square foot for the upper walls and $2.00 to $5.00 for the ground band. Ladders, staging and lifts, not paint, make up the difference.
240V outlet installation cost$80 to $180per hourA 240 volt outlet is a new circuit billed at $80 to $180 an hour. A dryer outlet near the panel totals about $260 to $970 with the visit; a 50 amp outlet on a long run costs more because the wire is heavier.
Roof moss removal cost$0.60 to $1.00per sq ftRemoving roof moss by hand costs $0.60 to $1.00 per square foot, typically $0.80, against $0.15 to $0.60 for a soft wash. Thick moss needs both, and it is worth checking for a leak underneath.
Price your own job
The calculators take your measurements and your state and give a range with the line items behind it, so you can see which part of a quote is material and which is labor.
- Roof replacement calculator — footprint, pitch, material and stories.
- Interior painting calculator — room size, ceilings and trim, DIY or hired.
- All calculators, and the national rates behind them
Where these figures come from
- Labor
- Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the trade that does the work, in all fifty states.
- Materials
- BLS Producer Price Index series for what the job is made of, read monthly.
- Independence
- Funded by advertising alone. No contractor can pay to change a number or to appear in a guide.