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. 250 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.29 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.28 guides
- Kitchen & BathroomKitchen and bathroom remodel costs, from a cabinet reface to a full gut.29 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.24 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 250 cost guides.
Roof permit cost$250 to $900per projectA re-roof permit costs $250 to $900 with the inspection, typically $450. Most jurisdictions require one for a full replacement or an overlay, the roofer usually pulls it, and skipping it shows up at resale and with insurers.
Aluminum fence cost$25 to $55per linear ftOrnamental aluminum fence costs $25 to $55 per linear foot installed, typically $40. Pool-rated panels, self-closing self-latching gates and sloped ground push it up; check your local code before ordering.
Custom kitchen cabinets cost$500 to $1,500per linear ftCustom kitchen cabinets cost $500 to $1,500 per linear foot installed, typically $800, against $150 to $650 for semi-custom. What the premium buys, how lead times work, and where semi-custom is enough.
Plumber service call fee$50 to $250eachA plumber's service call fee is $50 to $250, typically $125, and most firms credit it against the repair. After-hours visits carry a higher call-out and $150 to $300 an hour, so batching small jobs pays.
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.
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.