How much does it cost to renovate a house in the UK?
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Fiona Duffy
Working on projects across the UK, specialising in affordable renovations & timeless design
We get a lot of emails from fellow UK home renovators keen to figure out house renovation costs asking: “How much does it cost to renovate a house?”
Believe it or not, some people that buy a property to renovate don’t itemise costs at all, going into their renovation blind 😬
This ‘hit and hope’ method is a surefire way to leave yourself out of pocket. That’s why I want to help you understand your renovation costs and feasibility in this guide.
“2 in 5 renovators overshoot their budget by an average of 20%” – Hiscox
Gulp 😳 You won’t be one of them. Not if I have anything to do with it.
For an average 3-bed house, renovation costs can differ hugely.
Neil and I spent approximately £95,000 on our renovation starting in 2016. But renovation costs have increased since, with our online renovation community spending anywhere from £40,000 to £300,000+. To replicate the work in our property today, we would likely need an additional £30,000-£50,000. Download our entire costs with a free renovation guide here for details. It shows you the work we did plus a breakdown of our entire costs and average renovation costs in our community today.
This insight will help you prepare and prevent the chances of your costs spiralling out of control 😩
Now, I want to get into the nitty-gritty details about renovation costs with you in this post so that you know what to expect.
I also want to give you crucial advice to help you prevent some shocking costly mistakes we see new renovators up against…
The cost of renovating a house is such a hot topic, so in this post, you’ll be learning:
How much a renovation costs & how to budget for yours
Our renovation costs – for our typical 1930s semi
The average renovation costs our community are spending on extensions, kitchens, bathrooms & loft conversions
House renovation costs for our 3-bedroom house in the UK
A little bit about our renovation costs
We’re Neil & Fi, and many years ago, whilst running a little home & interiors blog from a 1-bed flat in Hove, Sussex, we made a decision that would change the course of our lives forever.
We 'flipped' our flat. Made £70K in equity in under 3 years. Navigated the sale during the Brexit vote (to a European buyer, no less!) Then used the equity to renovate a fixer-upper house that hadn't been renovated since the 1960s.
You can see the step-by-step work we've done over on our 1930s House Renovation page. The property needed everything doing to it, shag pile carpet, wallpaper on every single wall, the lot! Check out the before and after renovation shots.
We know how you feel right now, because on our minds for most of the conveyancing process was “how much does it cost to renovate a house?”
The work itself was gruelling and had a steep learning curve, but we were hooked on renovation life.
I trained as an interior designer in 2019 to provide support to renovators. Working on all sorts of projects, from knock-throughs to double-storey extensions.
Back when we got our offer accepted on our house, we started researching house renovation costs to see if we could actually afford to renovate this place.
Having no friends or family in the building/trades industry at the time, we didn't have anyone we could rely on to give us accurate quotes for work. Nor did we fully know what we wanted to do to the house before we moved in (it's always advised to live inside the house before deciding anyway).
Other than decorating, neither of us were DIY savvy either, so we knew we'd have to pay for labour costs but had no idea what these would be.
I’m guessing you might be in the same boat?
All we had was Google and Neil's budgeting skills to make safe estimates of each item of work we'd like to do, plus contingency, then tracked it all item by item inside our house renovation costs spreadsheet throughout the renovation.
So with that, we did a great deal of very ‘safe bet’ calculations which gave us confidence we could do the work we wanted to do, and we were on an OK track financially.
Honestly, even now that we work in the industry, we repeat to people….
Gathering informed estimates for your renovation costs is the single best way to start your project off on the right foot. Do this even before you get the keys so you’re sure of your affordability.
I know how you must be feeling right now though.
It’s exhausting trying to guess how much your renovation project may cost you and the worry about overspending is intense.
If you want to budget for your renovation and get reassurance, check out our home renovation course. We provide templates and information to help you control your costs, and prevent expensive mistakes. We show renovators ways to make huge cost savings, too.
We’ve been right where you are now and our mission is to prevent your costs from spiralling.
Now that I live and breathe renovations, it’s my aim to reveal the industry secrets we wish we had access to back then, to help you save money on your project.
Want help right now? I get it. We recommend looking at our entire renovation costs itemised which you can download for free.
Free Renovation Costs Breakdown & “What we wish we knew” advice
Avoid the mistakes we made and renovate your home without breaking the bank!
What's inside?
Get a clear picture of your renovation expenses with our itemised cost breakdown download.
BONUS DOWNLOAD – Access the details of 60 renovations from our community, their costs, UK location & renovation objectives.
Learn 3 bite-size chunks of renovation know-how that’ll help you save money, avoid costly mistakes, and renovate your home with confidence (the part we wish we knew!)
Discover how to cut costs without sacrificing quality – find reliable tradespeople you can trust!
Calm your money worries – Information is power. You’ll get an instant temperature-check on whether this renovation is for you. Sign here up now >
How much does it cost to renovate a house in the UK?
In August 2023 we asked some of our home renovation course students via a questionnaire what their budget was, and crunching the numbers, out of the responses received, the average budget was £135,000. Many of these students were very certain about their figures as they’d either received estimates or partially completed their projects.
Here is a round-up of the data. As you can see, there is quite a wide range, but it should help you get an idea of the average cost to renovate a house – or at least a ballpark amount to start with. Our free costs download will show you details about their project scope.
| Budget (From) | Budget (To) | Renovations |
|---|---|---|
| £10,000 | £49,999 | 7 |
| £50,000 | £99,999 | 11 |
| £100,000 | £149,999 | 17 |
| £150,000 | £199,999 | 9 |
| £250,000+ | 7 | |
Data © Fifi McGee 2023
Data © Fifi McGee 2023
Important things to know when working out your budget:
There is a huge North-South divide when it comes to renovation costs
You might as well ignore labour cost estimates from outside your part of the country. (We wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing people hiring from cheaper areas!)
Throughout the pandemic the costs of supplies rose enormously and continue to be volatile - especially with inflation in place. This means that many renovation websites are showing out-of-date cost information. Always set a contingency budget (more about this in our free guide below).
Having done a 3-bed semi-detached 1930s house renovation which needed some elements of structural work flagged in the survey, as well as needing everything updated aesthetically, we have a clear idea of how much a renovation should cost.
A standard 3-bed semi-detached house in the UK should cost anywhere between £75K - £150K (excluding an extension or conversion). This price highly depends on the scale, quality and type of renovation work required.
Really though, the sky’s the limit when it comes to costing up a house to renovate. We’ve seen people renovate their houses for much less and much more! We’ve provided some examples later in this post.
Remember that every property has different requirements. Everybody’s design tastes and needs are different, and labour costs are different across the country. So if you’re trying to work out costs for a house renovation, it’s difficult to come to a single figure for all these reasons and more.
What were our house renovation costs?
Our renovation may be a little different to yours since we had to do a few unusual things. For example, the property had no gas and no central heating when we moved in.
In terms of the work we did, we initially wanted to do an extension on the back of our house which would skyrocket the cost of the entire renovation by an extra 100K+. In the end, we went with a remodel of the inside, which brought the cost down to about £65K for the initial part of our renovation (including the kitchen/diner and getting things comfortable).
As it currently stands, our renovation costs total £94K. You can Download our itemised costs and renovation guide for more detail.
| Area/Room | Total |
|---|---|
| Living Room | £4436 |
| Kitchen Diner | £31,522 |
| Utility Room | £3887 |
| Downstairs Loo | £575 |
| Bathroom | £7955 |
| Guest Bedroom | £1270 |
| Master Bedroom | £9246 |
| Office | £4622 |
| Hallway/Landing | £2039 |
| Exterior/House | £22,171 |
| Driveway/Front | £7025 |
| TOTAL SO FAR | £94,749 |
We also spent a fair amount on structural problems flagged in the structural survey, which may not be something you experience with a property you are renovating, but definitely should be factored into your budgets just in case unforeseen issues unveil themselves.
If you’re unsure where to start with all of this, don’t worry because the free renovation guide that comes with our renovation costs will get you on your way. Give us 15 minutes every day for 3 days to set your renovation up for success! And look out for our online renovation course openings too!
Renovations are a sea of uncertainty, but with some assistance on your renovation costs and all the other crucial stages, you will be just fine.
How about house renovation costs and budgets in our community?
We’ve been running our renovation community for many years now, and it’s interesting to hear what kinds of budgets our renovating students are looking at. Here’s a closer look at some of the types of renovations we support people through:
Property type: 3 Bed Victorian terrace
Location: South-East London
Approximate budget: £150,000
Project details: “We’re planning to completely redecorate, extend the kitchen into the side return, replace the bathroom, and potentially change the ground floor layout to use the space better. We may also consider extending into the loft.”
Property type: 2 bedroom bungalow
Location: Northumberland
Approximate budget: £130,000
Project details: “Our initial thought is to completely change the layout. Move the kitchen and lounge to the back of the house and extend to make a bigger kitchen/dining area and move the bedrooms to the front, whilst creating an additional room, which would be my craft room/additional sleeping space with sofa bed. In addition, the thought is knock down the detached single garage and build a bigger garage into the side of the house with more storage space.”
Property type: 3 Bed semi-detached
Location: Glasgow
Approximate budget: £85,000
Project details: “Rewire, full new central heating system and plumbing, old one removed including asbestos water tank, all walls skimmed and painted etc, replacement coving, doors, new flooring in parts, new bathroom, kitchen and plans for an extension after kitchen is knocked into dining room, roofing, rendering, soffits, new front door. Not to mention plans for front and back garden, replacement of garage, and a garden room for my work studio!”
Property type: 2 Bedroom Victorian terraced house
Location: Brighton
Approximate budget: £100,000
Project details: “We are going to knock out a wall between the hall and dining room to create a more open plan space and install French doors from dining room out into the back yard. Putting a walk-on-able flat roof on the outhouse to utilise the raised garden space and make the outhouse into a habitable room. Either knocking through to make the kitchen into a kitchen breakfast room or keeping it separate for storage/a garden room. Creating a mansard loft extension to add (hopefully) 2 additional bedrooms and a shower room”
House refurbishment costs and what to watch out for!
In our online course for first-time renovators, we give students an extensive list of curveball renovation costs to watch out for, plus industry-known practices to make savings on their projects.
Some of the areas we help with are:
Quotes coming back higher than expected – This is so common. We help students pull back their spending in ways that are least compromising to their goals for their homes.
Incorrect cost comparison – Quotes are never usually like for like, so this is a big one to be careful with. You’ve got to be asking contractors the right questions.
Costs spiralling – This is an easy trap to fall into, which can lead to an incomplete or lacklustre project. Renovators can give themselves a head start by understanding the order of events (to prevent rework) and by avoiding common mistakes. We outline these in our online course and we provide a lot of free support to renovators joining our mailing list.
Let’s look at more specific renovation costs you may be considering…
How much does an extension cost?
Building a house extension to your existing home is a fantastic way to shape your house to your needs. In fact, rear extensions and side extensions have only increased in popularity in the last few years with many of our community completing extensions to a high standard.
Neil and I wrote about our experience with kitchen extension costs (and why we had to ditch the idea). But many factors will come into play when you are considering what type of extension you may wish to build. Design is one thing, but the cost of an extension may determine what you are able to afford with your property and your budget.
So how much does an extension cost? Normally it’s safe to assume that a minimum figure of £2500 per square meter plus contingency can be used for the initial stages when planning your budget. A clever architect should be able to provide some clever strategies to save money. But break it down and be aware that expensive fittings, cladding, fixtures, lighting and glazing can have a big effect on the price.
How much does a loft conversion cost?
If your house has enough space for a habitable loft room, converting it into a new bedroom, office or games space can be a cost-effective way to give you the room you need and add value to the property. In fact, this is exactly what our students Jen and Stu are doing right now…
Jen + Stu’s Hip to gable loft conversion
The average price of a loft conversion in the UK is around £45,000, but where a staircase needs to be replaced, if structural changes are needed, or if you’ll be going higher end on fixtures and fittings, this can increase.
Using a price per square meter can be a fantastic way to plan ahead with your budget, but given that the prices are much lower for a loft conversion than other typical building work, such as house extensions, they can sometimes not be as useful.
The main items to consider when considering a loft conversion is the size of the loft space, namely that there is enough head height so that someone can occupy the conversion without hitting their head! The second thing is to note the position of the stairs in the house. Will it be easy to provide access to the loft without changing too much of the floor below? And how many windows will be added? Will you add an en suite? And how ‘luxury’ will you finish it (lighting, flooring, etc)? These decisions will all inform the costs of your loft conversion.
How much does an architect cost?
If you’re changing structural elements of the property, chances are you’ll need to pay for an Architect for designs, advice and management services. We have a full guide about architect costs and whether or not you need to hire one for your specific build.
Architects’ prices can vary greatly depending on their location and reputation. From £5,000 to £15,000 for the full services required for an extension and house refurbishment. You can also use a percentage estimate to get a feel for architect’s fees, which usually range from 5% - 15% of your total project costs. This is the rule of thumb we used for our house renovation, and it worked out.
And if you haven’t read it already “Why you shouldn’t start your project with an architect” is one of our most-read posts.
How much does a new bathroom renovation cost?
Giving your house a new bathroom can be a perfect way to re-adapt or refurbish your existing property and increase the property’s value. But how much does a new bathroom cost? Prices can vary depending on the layout and products you choose to use.
A completely new bathroom can cost anywhere between £2,000 to £12,000 and higher! The price will be lower if water mains, drainage etc, are already available in the room, and you won’t be changing the plumbing location. The price of a bathroom makeover will also depend on the brands and materials you want, and you will also find that the price will increase where tricky plumbing solutions (hello wet rooms!) are required.
Our Reno Club student Kate created magic in her bathroom transformation recently. Keeping the plumbing layout virtually the same cut costs drastically…
BEFORE
AFTER
How much does a kitchen renovation cost?
Renovating the kitchen in a home is a popular item on any project list. Kitchens are an opportunity to get creative and provide something with different finishes and design which complements your home.
For this reason, the prices for a kitchen can vary greatly. On the one hand, you may decide to design, renovate or build the kitchen yourself. On the other hand, you could go for a completely bespoke, handmade and high-end kitchen design.
So how much does a kitchen cost? Prices for a kitchen renovation can range anywhere between £5,000 to £50,000+ (yes, quite a varied sum!).
Our renovation course students, Matt & Georgie, were savvy with their budgets and got their bespoke kitchen for £17K 👇🏻
our student’s kitchen came in at £17K (matt & georgie)
Factors that will lower your kitchen price include:
Sourcing cheaper materials
DIY when fitting the kitchen
Having a smaller kitchen (fewer cabinet costs, lower sqm worktops etc.)
Little to no changes to the plumbing and electrics or appliances
Matt + Georgie moved their kitchen into the dining room
Factors that may increase your kitchen price include:
Having a bespoke kitchen made and fitted
Expensive materials and fittings (Such as marble worktops and stone floors)
A larger kitchen, including islands and new appliances
Works that may be required to house the kitchen (plumbing, electrics etc.)
Is 40K enough to renovate a house?
£40K is a very tight budget and would probably only cover the basics but it can be done! Our course student Anna wrote about she renovated a small cottage in Cornwall with £40K and wrote “Renovating on a budget” – so make sure to check that out if you’re working with very tight budgets.
3 quick tips to reduce your home renovation costs
1. Be selective about what you renovate
Choosing what to renovate in your initial plan and design is perhaps more important than how well you renovate. This will not only allow you to save money but will also allow your renovation to celebrate what already works in your property.
Being selective may mean avoiding or phasing large and expensive work that requires structural work. In these cases, it can be better to work around what is already in your property to save you money on your renovation costs or phase your project.
2. Stick to simple materials and items and add features later and over time.
While it can be tempting to jump straight into creating a wow factor in your renovation, feature materials and items are normally complementary and work well because the simple things have been done right.
This can save you money on your renovation by cutting back on expensive features and adding them in moderation throughout time.
3. Concentrate on your main renovation goals
Renovation projects can often spiral out of control as a result of additions and unrealistic expectations regarding cost and the amount of work things require.
Concentrating on one or two key goals of your renovation will help you keep focused on the key requirements of your renovation. This will save you time and budget. Our renovation course has many exercises to guide you to prioritise and itemise key elements of your renovation to keep you focused.
Find out your renovation costs – we can help
Are you planning a home renovation project but you’re worried about overspending and blowing your budget? Do you feel overwhelmed by the numerous expenses associated with the renovation process? We understand how you feel, and we want to help.
We've produced a resource for saving money on every aspect of your home renovation project. With our free guidance, you'll have access to insider tips and tricks that can help you stay within your budget while achieving your dream home renovation.
The guide is designed to help you avoid costly home renovation mistakes that lead to overspending.
We'll show you how to make smart choices when it comes to materials, contractors, and project management so you save money without sacrificing quality.
With this guide, you'll gain the confidence and knowledge you need to navigate your home renovation project successfully. It’s honestly something we wish we had access to when we were in your shoes, new to the world of renovations.
Don't let the fear of overspending hold you back from achieving the home of your dreams - sign up for the Survivor's Guide to Renovating today and start saving!
Thanks for reading,
Fi (+ Neil)
