A home renovation in Ireland costs between €450 and €3,500+ per square metre in 2026 depending on renovation level, property condition, and location. Use our calculator in full house mode for a whole-property estimate, or switch to room by room mode to build up costs for the specific rooms you are renovating. All figures include VAT at 13.5% and show professional fees and contingency separately.
Rates assume the full floor area is being renovated. If you’re only renovating selected rooms, use the room-by-room calculator instead — pricing a whole house at full-house €/m² rates when only a kitchen and bathroom are being touched will overstate the budget.
Select rooms and finish level for each
build cost (inc. VAT 13.5%)
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select options above
professional fees
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architect, engineer
contingency
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set aside before starting
total budget
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build + fees + contingency
Select your renovation type and options above to see your cost estimate.
Additional costs not included above
These figures are estimates for planning purposes only. A written quote from a contractor who has visited your property is the only accurate figure. Dublin premiums vary by area, trade and access — treat the Dublin/national split above as indicative, not fixed. Properties with known structural, damp or services issues should get a site assessment before relying on any calculator figure.
What Does a Home Renovation Cost in Ireland in 2026?
Renovation costs in Ireland fall into four broad levels, and location changes the range at every level. A light refresh covering decoration, flooring, and cosmetic upgrades runs €450 to €800 per m² nationally, or €550 to €950 per m² in Dublin. A mid-range renovation including a new kitchen, bathroom upgrade, rewiring, and insulation runs €800 to €1,400 per m² nationally, or €950 to €1,600 per m² in Dublin.
A full renovation involving structural changes, full replumb, and rewire runs €1,400 to €2,100 per m² nationally, or €1,600 to €2,400 per m² in Dublin. A major structural renovation or deep retrofit on a period property runs €2,100 to €3,000 per m² nationally, or €2,400 to €3,500+ per m² in Dublin.
For a typical 110m² three-bed semi-detached in Dublin in average condition, a mid-range renovation runs approximately €110,000 to €185,000 before professional fees and contingency. For a full breakdown of renovation costs by room and property type, see our home renovation costs guide.
What the Calculator Includes and What It Does Not
The calculator includes the build cost with VAT at 13.5%, an estimate for professional fees, and a contingency allowance. Fees range from 0–3% for a contractor-led project with no architect, up to 8–12% for a full architectural service, select the level that matches your project. Contingency scales with property condition, from 7.5% for a property in good condition up to 22% where structural, damp, or services issues are already known.
The calculator does not include planning permission costs (€1,500 to €4,000 where required), development levies (€20 to €30 per m² in Dublin), a structural survey (€300 to €600, always recommended for pre-1980 properties), or skip hire and site clearance.
SEAI energy upgrade grants are shown as a separate line because they reduce the net cost of energy-related works. The current maximum for a heat pump grant is €12,500, external wall insulation is €8,000, and attic insulation is €2,000 (rising to €2,500 for first-time buyers from March 2026). Apply before any works begin.
What Drives Your Renovation Cost
Property age
The single biggest variable beyond the renovation scope itself, and it’s condition, not age alone, that matters. A well-maintained 1930s house can cost less to renovate than a neglected 1980s house with decades of DIY work behind the walls. Once walls and floors are opened, older or poorly-maintained properties regularly reveal outdated wiring, lead pipework, and inadequate insulation. The calculator applies a premium based on condition: 0% for good/previously renovated, 5% for average condition, 12% for poor/original condition, and 20% for known structural, damp, or major services issues, with a site assessment recommended before budgeting further in that last case.
Specification
Has a larger impact than most homeowners expect. The difference between a budget-spec and high-spec kitchen renovation on the same footprint is €15,000 to €25,000. Deciding on specification before briefing a contractor, rather than during the build, is the most effective way to control costs.
Location
Dublin projects typically run higher than the national average, but not by a fixed amount, the premium depends on area, trade, access, and whether the property is occupied during works. City-centre or difficult-access jobs can run 10–25% above national rates, while commuter-belt Dublin is often closer to 5–15%. The calculator’s Dublin and national rate bands reflect this rather than applying a single blanket uplift.
How to Use These Estimates
The figures from this calculator are planning numbers, not quotes. They will tell you whether a project is broadly feasible within your budget and help you assess whether a contractor’s quote is in a reasonable range. They will not tell you exactly what your specific renovation will cost.
Get a structural survey before finalising your budget for any property built before 1980. Get three written quotes from contractors who have physically visited the property. Compare quotes on scope, not just total price. A quote that excludes VAT, skip hire, or making good is not comparable to one that includes them.
If you are planning a renovation in Dublin and want a fixed written quote from a contractor who manages every trade from first fix to snagging, get in touch with the Build Me team.
