Understanding Home Renovation and Custom Build Costs : What Homeowners Need to Know
JANUARY 2025
One of the most common questions homeowners ask when starting a renovation or custom home project is, “What will this cost?”. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, understanding typical price ranges can help you plan realistic budgets and make informed decisions.
Here, we break down the costs of three key areas in home improvement and construction—kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, and custom home builds—based on high-end, custom projects.
The Cost of High-End Kitchen Renovation
Kitchens are one of the most common areas for home remodeling projects. They’re also one of the most expensive rooms to renovate, especially when designed as high-end, custom spaces.
What Influences Kitchen Renovation Costs?
Key factors that impact the budget include appliances, cabinetry, and countertops. Here’s a closer look at what contributes to the final price tag:
Appliances
A high-end kitchen often includes premium appliances from brands like Sub-Zero, Wolf, Thermador, or Miele. These alone can account for $40,000 to $50,000 of your budget.
Custom Cabinetry
Custom-built cabinetry tailored to fit your space and style typically costs between $40,000 and $50,000, depending on materials and finishes.
Countertops
Luxury countertops made from materials like quartz, marble, or quartzite can range from $15,000 to $25,000, uninstalled.
Beyond these major components, additional costs for flooring, new electrical wiring, plumbing, demolition, backsplash, insulation, and labor quickly bring the total to $150,000 to $200,000 or more.
For homeowners envisioning a high-end kitchen, this budget provides the craftsmanship, functionality, and wow factor custom kitchens are known for.
The Price Tag on High-End Bathroom Renovations
While it may not be as large as a kitchen, a bathroom renovation comes with its own unique costs, especially for high-end designs and finishes.
Hall or Guest Bathroom
Standalone bathrooms, like a small hall bath, can cost anywhere from $60,000 to $75,000 depending on fixtures and finishes. However, bundling a bathroom remodel as part of a larger project often reduces costs, bringing standalone bathrooms down to $40,000 to $60,000.
Primary Suite Bathrooms
For a primary suite bath, you’re looking at $100,000 to $150,000, with some projects reaching as high as $200,000 if luxurious features and materials are chosen. Think intricate tile designs, freestanding tubs, high-end fixtures, and custom vanities.
Bathrooms might be smaller spaces, but their costs often surprise homeowners due to the plumbing, tile work, countertops, and cabinetry involved.
The Cost of Building a New Custom Home
Building a custom home is an exciting opportunity to bring your dream home to life, but it comes with higher costs compared to pre-designed production homes.
What To Expect For Custom Home Costs?
For a fully custom, high-end house, expect prices to range from $400 to $600 per square foot, covering only the home itself. This excludes additional expenses like driveways, utilities, landscaping, pools, and hardscaping.
While production builders can construct homes for as low as $200 per square foot, these are pre-designed and built for scalability rather than customization. Custom homes involve bespoke designs, personalized finishes, and layouts tailor-made for the homeowner’s unique preferences, resulting in higher costs.
Why Custom Costs More
When every detail—from flooring to cabinetry—is selected specifically for the homeowner, and architectural drawings and blueprints are unique, the level of craftsmanship and personalization involved naturally increases expenses.
Planning for Your Dream Project
Whether you’re renovating your kitchen or bathroom or building your own custom home, costs can vary greatly depending on preferences, materials, and labor needs. For high-end spaces tailored to your vision, understanding these ranges helps ground expectations and prepare for financial commitments.
If you’re planning your next home improvement or custom build project and need expert advice, reach out to a professional contractor. A knowledgeable team can help provide accurate estimates and bring your vision to life.