Home Remodeling Statistics (2026): Spending, Costs & Trends

Remodeling spending in America

• Homeowners spent an estimated $475 billion on home improvements and repairs in a single recent year. — Source: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) (2023)
• Home improvement spending grew more than 40% between 2019 and 2022 — the fastest run-up on record. — Source: Harvard JCHS, Improving America's Housing (2023)
• The average homeowner spends roughly $10,000 a year across improvements, maintenance, and emergency repairs. — Source: Angi, State of Home Spending (2023)
• More than half of homeowners report completing at least one home improvement project in the past 12 months. — Source: Angi, State of Home Spending (2023)
• Kitchens and bathrooms are consistently the two most-remodeled rooms in the house. — Source: Houzz & Home Survey (2024)

Why so much remodeling? The aging housing stock

• The median owner-occupied home in the U.S. is roughly 40 years old. — Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey (2023)
• More than half of all U.S. homes were built before 1980 — before modern electrical, insulation, and plumbing codes. — Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2023)
• In Washington DC, a large share of rowhomes date to the early 1900s, making plaster, knob-and-tube wiring, and galvanized plumbing common surprises mid-project. — Source: Make It Livable planner data (DMV) (2026)

Budgets, overruns, and ROI

• Roughly 1 in 3 renovating homeowners report going over budget on their project. — Source: Houzz & Home Survey (2024)
• A garage door replacement recoups nearly 200% of its cost at resale — the highest-ROI project tracked. — Source: Remodeling Magazine, Cost vs. Value Report (2024)
• A minor kitchen remodel recoups roughly 96% of its cost at resale; a major upscale kitchen remodel recoups closer to 40–50%. — Source: Remodeling Magazine, Cost vs. Value Report (2024)
• A midrange bathroom remodel recoups roughly 74% of its cost at resale. — Source: Remodeling Magazine, Cost vs. Value Report (2024)
• Remodeling costs in high-cost DMV submarkets like Bethesda and McLean typically run 10% to 18% above the regional average. — Source: Make It Livable planner data (DMV) (2026)

Common questions

How much do Americans spend on home remodeling each year?

Roughly $475 billion a year on improvements and repairs, according to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies. The average individual homeowner spends about $10,000 a year across improvements, maintenance, and emergency repairs.

What percentage of remodels go over budget?

About one in three renovating homeowners report exceeding their original budget. The most common causes are scope changes mid-project, hidden conditions (water damage, outdated wiring), and underestimating labor costs.

Which remodeling project has the best return on investment?

Exterior projects lead: garage door replacement, steel entry doors, and siding replacement all recoup close to (or more than) 100% of their cost at resale. Big interior remodels recoup less — a major upscale kitchen returns under 50%.