Remodeling
Whole House Remodel Cost Calculator
Prices a whole-house remodel, where the question is how close this is to new construction.
Result
A planning estimate, not a quote. Access, the age of the equipment, what is found once it is opened up and local labour rates all move the real figure, sometimes a long way.
Get a Free Business AuditHow the calculation works
Hours times crew times rate, plus materials and the call-out, across every trade. At this scale the useful comparison is against building new, because a whole-house remodel takes on the cost of demolition and working within an existing structure while inheriting its constraints. Where the structure, foundation and layout are sound and worth keeping, remodelling wins. Where substantial structural change, full mechanical replacement and reconfiguration are needed, the two converge and the remodel can cost more for a worse result.
What moves the number
- How much of the existing structure and systems is genuinely being kept.
- Whether mechanical, electrical and plumbing are being fully replaced.
- Scope of permits, since extensive work can trigger upgrades beyond the work itself.
- Whether the house is occupied, which at this scale is rarely practical.
Where this one goes wrong
Extensive remodelling can trigger requirements beyond the work you intended. Depending on the jurisdiction and the proportion of the building affected, substantial alteration can bring parts of the house up to current code, which may mean electrical upgrades, egress windows, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, insulation levels or structural work that was not in the client's plan. Establish the threshold locally before committing to a scope, because the difference between a remodel that stays below it and one that crosses it can be large. Be honest with clients about the comparison against new construction too, since at this scale it is a real question rather than a rhetorical one.
Before you quote
- Establish what local rules trigger at the scope you are proposing.
- Price the comparison against new construction honestly.
- Confirm the house will be vacant, since occupied work at this scale is impractical.
Where the rules come from
Questions
About this calculator
Is a whole-house remodel cheaper than building new?
Sometimes, and it is a genuine question at this scale rather than an obvious answer. Remodelling keeps the foundation, structure and shell, which is real value, while taking on demolition and the constraints of an existing building. Where extensive structural and mechanical work is needed, the costs converge.
Will a big remodel force other upgrades?
It can. Many jurisdictions require parts of a building to be brought up to current code once alteration passes a threshold, which can mean electrical, egress, alarms, insulation or structural work beyond what you planned. Finding the local threshold before setting the scope is worth doing.
How long does a whole-house remodel take?
Longer than the sum of the trades, because of sequencing, inspections and material lead times. Planning and permitting often take a meaningful share of the total before anyone starts work. A realistic programme set at the outset avoids the pressure that produces shortcuts later.
The formula
total = hours x people x rate + parts + call-out, then sales tax
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How to use this calculator
- Hours on site (h). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 160 h.
- People needed. Enter your own figure; the page starts at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $88.
- Parts and materials ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $11,000.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $95.
- Sales tax (%). Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
The result updates as you type, so you can try a figure, see what it does to estimated total, and change it back. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or saved.
A worked example
These are the figures the calculator opens with. Every number in the results column below is produced by the same calculation the page runs, so you can follow it through before putting your own figures in.
What goes in
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Hours on site | 160 h |
| People needed | 1 |
| Labour rate charged | $88 |
| Parts and materials | $11,000 |
| Call-out or diagnostic fee | $95 |
| Sales tax | 0% |
What comes out
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated total main result | $25,175 |
| Labour | $14,080 |
| Before tax | $25,175 |
| Sales tax | $0 |
About $25,175: $14,080 of labour, $11,000 of parts and a $95 call-out.
How sensitive the answer is
Holding everything else steady and changing only labour rate charged, this is what happens to estimated total. It is worth knowing which of your inputs the answer actually hinges on, and which barely move it.
| Labour rate charged ($) | Estimated total |
|---|---|
| $44 | $18,135 |
| $66 | $21,655 |
| $88 example above | $25,175 |
| $132 | $32,215 |
| $176 | $39,255 |
Every other input is held at the example value while this one changes, which is not how a real job behaves. Treat it as a guide to which number matters most, not as five separate quotes.
What each figure means
- Hours on site (h)
- Measured in h, between 0 and 400, starting at 160 h.
- People needed
- A number, between 0 and 40, starting at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($)
- A money amount, starting at $88.
- Parts and materials ($)
- A money amount, starting at $11,000.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($)
- A money amount, starting at $95.
- Sales tax (%)
- Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
What the results tell you
| Result | What it is |
|---|---|
| Estimated total | The headline result. A money figure. |
| Labour | A money figure. |
| Before tax | A money figure. |
| Sales tax | A money figure. |
Estimating is the easy part
The jobs you never hear about cost more than the ones you mis-measure. BDEVY builds the marketing, systems and automation that bring them in.