Where the renovation cost figures on this site come from, how often we revisit them, and what happens when one turns out to be wrong.
A cost calculator is only worth using if you can trust the assumptions baked into it. This page explains where the per-square-foot rates, scope tiers and state figures on HomeProjectsCost come from and how we keep them current.
The per-square-foot rates and scope-tier ranges behind the calculators are built from published remodeling cost data, including the annual Cost vs. Value report tracked by the remodeling trade press, regional wage and construction-price series from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and typical material pricing reported by building-supply distributors and contractor networks. State figures are indexed against a national baseline using regional labor-cost differentials rather than a single flat multiplier, which is why a mid-range kitchen in Mississippi and one in Hawaii land so far apart on the by-state table.
Each tool starts from a stated formula rather than a black box: a per-square-foot rate tied to project type for the whole-home calculator, scope tiers (cosmetic, mid-range, full gut) for the kitchen and bathroom tools, and a pitch-adjusted footprint times a material rate for the roof calculator. The inputs and multipliers used in a given estimate are visible on the tool page itself, so the math behind a number is never hidden from the person reading it.
Material and labor benchmarks are reviewed at least once a year, generally in the first quarter after new cost-survey data is published, and sooner if a reader flags a figure that looks out of step with current pricing. The by-state table and the individual state pages are refreshed on the same schedule.
If a rate, a state figure, or an explanation on this site looks wrong, we want to hear about it. Send specifics through the contact page, including which page and which number, and we will check it against the source data and correct it, typically within a few business days.
The site is owned and edited by Chris Terry, who is responsible for what gets published here and how corrections get handled. See the authors page for who writes and reviews each guide.