Example 1
- area 40
- rate 800
32,000
What cost for 40 area at 800 per unit? → 32,000 (no reserve).
Remodel Cost per Sq Ft Calculator
Enter the area and the renovation rate per unit. The calculator multiplies the header area unit by the rate. At 40 and 800 the result is 32,000. At 60 and 1,000: 60,000. At 50 and 650: 32,500. The result is area times the rate you enter — not a contractor price list.
Result
Enter area and rate.
Not a contractor price list. The calculator multiplies area by the entered rate. Purchase price from size is on the total price from price per unit page.
How it works
Area40
Rate800
Cost32,000
The renovation-cost calculator multiplies area by the unit works rate. At 40 and 800 the result is 32,000. At 60 and 1,000 it is 60,000. At 50 and 650 it is 32,500.
Area is the first factor. Rate is the second. With metric units the result is labeled m²; with US units it is labeled ft². The multiplication formula stays the same. The currency in the header only labels the result — it does not convert exchange rates.
Optional reserve is a percent of the base cost. Design cost is the rate times area. Furniture enters as a flat amount. At 40, rate 800, 10% reserve, design 50, and furniture 15,000 the total budget is 52,200: base 32,000, reserve 3,200, design 2,000, and furniture 15,000.
This is not a contractor quote. The related total-from-unit-price calculator multiplies area by a purchase rate. Here this page uses a renovation rate, not a purchase rate.
Enter 40 and 800, then Calculate. A comma in 800.5 works the same as a period. An empty area or empty rate does not show a primary result. When reserve, design, and furniture are filled in, the result also shows the total budget.
Formula
renovation cost = area × unit rate
When you enter options: budget = cost + cost × reserve% / 100 + area × design + furniture.
This is simply area × works rate. At 40 and 800: 40 × 800 = 32,000. The calculator does not use a crew price list.
How to use
- Enter the area, for example 40.
- Enter the renovation rate, for example 800.
- Click Calculate. The result is 32,000.
- 60 and 1,000 give 60,000. 50 and 650 give 32,500.
- Optionally enter reserve, design, or furniture.
Area, rate, budget
cost = area × rate. At 40 and 800 the result is 32,000.
- area
- First factor. 40 × 800 is 32,000. 60 × 1,000 is 60,000.
- rate
- Works cost per unit. 650 at 50 gives 32,500.
- reserve
- Percent of base cost. At 12% of 32,000 the add-on is 3,840 and the sum is 35,840. At 10% plus design and furniture the Example 4 total is 52,200.
- budget
- Cost plus optional add-ons. At 10% reserve, design 50, and furniture 15,000 on top of 32,000 the total is 52,200. Not a contractor quote.
Examples
Example 2
- area 60
- rate 1000
60,000
What cost for 60 area at 1,000 per unit? → 60,000.
Example 3
- area 50
- rate 650
32,500
What cost for 50 area at 650 per unit? → 32,500.
Example 4
- area 40
- rate 800
- reserve 10%
- design 50
- furniture 15,000
32,000 base → total 52,200
What total from 40 × 800, 10% reserve, design 50, and furniture 15,000? → 52,200.
Related calculators
Common questions
How is renovation cost calculated?
The calculator multiplies area by the unit rate. At 40 and a rate of 800 the result is 32,000.
What is the cost for an area of 40 at 800 per unit?
32,000. The calculator multiplies 40 × 800. Reserve, design, and furniture add only when you enter them.
Does the calculator pick refresh or premium market bands?
No. You enter your own unit rate. It does not choose a market finish band for you.
Is this a free remodel cost calculator?
Yes. Enter area and unit rate and you see the product at once. No account required.
When do reserve, design, and furniture enter the result?
Only when you enter those fields. Reserve is a percent of the base cost. Design multiplies by area. Furniture adds as a flat amount. At 40, rate 800, 10% reserve, design 50, and furniture 15,000 the total budget is 52,200.
What is the total budget at 40 area, rate 800, 10% reserve, design 50, and furniture 15,000?
52,200. Base is 32,000 from 40 × 800, reserve 10% is 3,200, design is 40 × 50 = 2,000, and furniture is 15,000.
How do I check whether the remodel fits my budget?
Enter a budget in the optional fields. At a 52,200 total and a 50,000 cap you are short 2,200. At a 55,000 cap you have 2,800 of headroom.
How do I compare two renovation rates?
Open “Compare a second renovation rate”. At area 40, rate A 800 is 32,000 and rate B 1,000 is 40,000 — a +8,000 gap on the bare base alone.
Is the result a contractor quote?
No. The result comes only from the numbers you enter. The calculator does not use a labor price list.
Does the result show cents?
No. The format rounds to whole currency units. In the first example you see 32,000.
How is this different from total price from unit price?
That page uses a purchase rate. 50 × 8000 is 400000. Here a renovation rate multiplies area.
Does the header currency convert exchange rates?
No. The currency label only names the result. The product stays with the numbers you enter.
Do US units change the formula?
No. A US header appends ft² on the same multiplication. 40 times 800 stays 32,000.
Does a decimal in the rate field work?
Yes. 40 and 800.5 give a different cost than 800.
What happens with an empty area or rate?
The calculator does not show a primary result until both area and rate are greater than zero.
Where do I estimate purchase price from size?
On the total-price-from-unit-price calculator. This page computes renovation cost from area and the works rate.
Does the calculator apply national remodel cost bands for 2026?
No. You enter your own rate per unit. The page multiplies area by that rate and optional add-ons — it does not look up market $/sq ft bands.
Knowledge sources
The calculation multiplies area by a renovation rate and can add optional reserve and add-ons.
Page updated October 29, 2026.