Seattle Remodel Costs 2026: Price Ranges by Project

You’ve been living with the cramped kitchen, the dated bathroom, or the house that stopped fitting your family a few years ago. Before you can decide what to do about it, you want to know one thing: what does a home remodel cost in Seattle? It’s a fair question, and it’s surprisingly hard to get a straight answer. Online calculators lean on national averages, and every contractor seems to frame the number differently.

This guide gives you the real ranges Crescent Builds sees on Seattle remodels in 2026, project type by project type, along with what pushes a project to the low or high end and how to turn a construction range into an all-in budget.

How to read these numbers

Every range in this guide follows the same rules, so you can compare them:

Construction only. The ranges cover the cost to build: labor, materials, trade contractors, and project management.
Not included: design, interior design, permits and permit fees, surveys, engineering, and Washington sales tax.
2026 dollars. We refresh these ranges every January.
Typical, not a quote. Your home, your scope, and your finish choices set your number.

To estimate an all-in budget, add design and pre-construction costs (typically 5% to 15% of construction on a design-build project), plus sales tax, plus a 5% to 10% contingency for the unexpected.

Seattle remodel costs at a glance 2026 (construction only)

Project type	Typical construction cost
Bathroom, cosmetic refresh	$50K to $80K
Bathroom, full remodel	$80K to $120K
Primary bathroom or suite	$150K to $250K
Kitchen, refresh	$100K to $200K
Kitchen, comprehensive remodel	$200K to $300K
Kitchen, designer or chef’s kitchen	$300K to $400K and up
Kitchen plus main floor	Kitchen range plus $100K to $200K
Living space	$50K to $150K
Basement remodel	$250K to $350K
Attached ADU (lower floor)	$250K to $350K
Basement with dig-down or house lift	$400K to $500K
House lift only (lower level unfinished)	From about $100K
House lift and finished lower level	$250K to $450K
Garage conversion	$100K to $250K
DADU (detached ADU)	$450K to $600K
Exterior, porch and trim refresh	$50K to $100K
Exterior, full envelope (siding, windows, roof, trim)	$150K to $300K
Outdoor space, deck	$50K to $100K
Outdoor space, integrated outdoor living	$100K to $300K
Home addition (bump-out)	Adds $100K to $200K to the remodel it serves
Second-story addition	$600K to $700K and up, plus affected main-floor spaces
Whole home remodel, light touch	$500K to $700K
Whole home remodel, full	$700K to $1M
Whole home remodel with a second story	$1M to $1.5M
Boutique commercial	From a $20K tenant refresh to $1M+ for a full restaurant buildout

All figures are 2026 construction costs only. They exclude design, permits, engineering, and sales tax.

Magnolia kitchen with white cabinetry, dark counters, a mosaic backsplash, and a window over the sink

Kitchen remodel costs

A light-touch kitchen refresh within the existing layout (new countertops, some flooring, and paint) typically runs $100K to $200K. A comprehensive kitchen remodel runs $200K to $300K, and the average Seattle kitchen we build lands in the mid-$200Ks. A designer or chef’s-level kitchen, with custom details and layout changes, runs $300K to $400K and up. What keeps a kitchen at the low end is keeping the layout and focusing on surfaces, cabinetry, and fixtures. Moving walls, plumbing, or gas, and choosing fully custom cabinetry and high-end specifications, push it up. See the Greenwood Kitchen, View Ridge Kitchen, and Phinney Ridge Kitchen for the range of what’s possible. When the kitchen is part of a larger main-floor project, add $100K to $200K to the kitchen range. Refinished floors and fresh paint sit at the low end; new flooring and targeted upgrades across the main floor sit at the high end, as in Magnolia Kitchen + Living Spaces.

Cherry Hill bathroom with a dark wood vanity, glass-enclosed shower, and hexagon mosaic tile floor

Bathroom remodel costs

A cosmetic bathroom refresh that keeps the layout (new fixtures, paint, and flooring) typically runs $50K to $80K. A full bathroom remodel with a complete gut, new tile throughout, or relocated plumbing runs $80K to $120K. A primary bathroom or suite runs $150K to $250K. The low end is a comprehensive bath remodel with a light bedroom refresh. A closet remodel, relocated walls, a soaking tub, or more of the suite touched pushes it higher, as in the North Beach Whole Home.

Laurelhurst upper-floor bedroom under a sloped ceiling with French doors and warm wood floors

Living space remodel costs

Living rooms, dining rooms, offices, and other non-kitchen, non-bath spaces typically run $50K to $150K. A flooring and paint refresh sits at the low end. A fireplace surround or hearth tile, a wet bar, custom cabinetry and built-ins, and design work push it higher. See the Laurelhurst Upper Floor.

Arched opening into a Magnolia kitchen with navy and walnut cabinetry and glass pendants

Basement, ADU, and house lift costs

Finishing a basement with workable ceiling height typically runs $250K to $350K, as in the Capitol Hill lower floor. An attached lower-floor ADU is priced much like a basement remodel, $250K to $350K, with the added kitchen and bathroom an ADU needs (see the Queen Anne ADU). When the ceiling is too low, a basement needs either a dig-down or a house lift, which typically brings the project to $400K to $500K. We help you choose whichever is more cost-effective for your house. A lift on its own, leaving the new lower level unfinished, starts at about $100K; lifting and finishing the new space runs $250K to $450K. See Whittier Heights Whole Home + House Lift.

Garage conversion and DADU costs

A garage conversion typically runs $100K to $250K, depending on what the space needs to do. The Phinney Garden Room, Phinney Ridge Guest Suite, and Capitol Hill Carriage House show the range. A DADU (detached accessory dwelling unit) is new construction, so it starts higher: typically $450K to $600K, driven by size, site, and finish level. See the Leschi ADU + DADU.

Wood-clad exterior wall and glass door opening from a North Beach home onto a deck

Exterior renovation costs

A focused front porch and trim refresh typically runs $50K to $100K. One 2026 porch and trim project came in at about $55K. A full envelope renovation (siding, windows, roofing, and exterior trim together) runs $150K to $300K. See Wallingford 2nd Story + Exterior Restoration, North Beach Whole Home, or Shoreline Whole Home.

Covered outdoor living space in Kirkland with a wood ceiling, outdoor kitchen, and lounge seating

Outdoor space costs

A deck on its own typically runs $50K to $100K. Integrated outdoor living, with outdoor kitchens, covered living rooms, fireplaces, and heating that make a space usable through Seattle’s wet months, runs $100K to $300K. See Magnolia Main Floor + Deck and the Kirkland Outdoor Living Space.

Broadview sunroom addition with folding glass doors opening to the garden

Home addition costs

A bump-out addition typically adds $100K to $200K to the interior remodel it serves. Additions almost always pair with a kitchen or primary suite remodel, which is priced on top. See the Broadview Sunroom + Garden Shed. A second-story addition starts at $600K to $700K, plus the main-floor spaces it affects. A focused upper floor with limited main-floor impact sits at the low end. See North Beach Whole Home and Wallingford 2nd Story + Exterior Restoration.

Miller Park kitchen with a wood-topped island opening to a dining room with a brass chandelier in a turn-of-the-century home

Whole home remodel costs

A light-touch whole home remodel (refinished floors, interior paint, new countertops throughout) typically runs $500K to $700K. A full whole home remodel, with complete kitchen and bath remodels and every space touched, runs $700K to $1M. Adding a second story brings a whole home project to $1M to $1.5M. See Wallingford Whole Home and North Beach Whole Home.

Olmste(a)d restaurant interior in Seattle with a teal bar, globe pendant lights, and plants

Boutique commercial costs

Every commercial space is different. Crescent Builds takes on everything from a $20K tenant refresh for a local business to a $1M+ full restaurant or bar buildout. See Ba Bar Capitol Hill, Olmste(a)d Restaurant, and The Yard Bar + Restaurant.

Remodel cost per square foot in Seattle

Cost per square foot isn’t constant. It drops as square footage goes up, because the most expensive parts of a project (plumbing, cabinetry, tile, and fixtures) are concentrated in small rooms. Typical 2026 construction costs:

Project	Cost per square foot
Bathrooms	$700 to $1,000
Kitchens (small kitchens at the top of the range)	$600 to $900
DADUs	$500 to $700
Whole home remodels and second-story additions	$400 to $600

Turning a construction range into an all-in budget

Design and pre-construction. On a design-build project, design and pre-construction typically run 5% to 15% of the construction total. That covers design, interior design, permits and permit fees, surveys, and geotechnical and structural engineering, with nothing added on top. If you already have an architect or designer, Crescent Builds’ pre-construction services typically run 2% to 5% of construction. Sales tax. Washington sales tax applies to remodeling and isn’t included in the ranges above. Contingency. We help each client set the right contingency for their project. As a rule, plan to go into construction with 5% to 10% set aside. Change orders. Nearly all of our design-build projects are built on a fixed-price contract, so once scope is set, the price is the price. Changes come from three places: your own requests to add work or change specifications during construction; unforeseen conditions hidden in an older house that couldn’t be found during pre-construction; and city or code requirements, when an inspector reads a code differently or codes change after the plans are approved. A quick example: a $250K kitchen with 10% for design and pre-construction ($25K) and a 7% contingency ($17.5K) comes to about $292.5K before sales tax.

What our award-winning projects cost

These Crescent Builds projects earned industry awards. Award entries are grouped by cost bracket, so we can share where each one landed. Costs have risen since many of these were built, so treat older projects as context rather than current pricing.

Project	Award	Cost bracket at the time
Ballard Garden Studio	2019 Master Builders Remodeling Excellence (Landscape and Outdoor Living)	Under $50K
Broadview Sunroom + Garden Shed: sunroom	2019 Master Builders Remodeling Excellence (Addition)	$200K to $500K
Broadview Sunroom + Garden Shed: garden shed	2024 Master Builders Remodeling Excellence (Outdoor Solution)	Under $100K
Wallingford Whole Home	2020 Master Builders Remodeling Excellence (Major Remodel)	Over $500K
Miller Park Whole Home	2021 Master Builders Remodeling Excellence (Major Remodel)	Under $250K
Phinney Garden Room	2021 Master Builders Remodeling Excellence (Get Away Room)	Over $90K
North Beach Whole Home	2026 Chrysalis Award, regional (Whole House)	Over $1M
Olympic Hills Whole Home: kitchen	2026 Chrysalis Award, national (Kitchen)	$75K to $150K

Why our numbers look the way they do

These ranges reflect what it takes to complete a quality remodel in Seattle today: skilled trades, materials that hold up in our climate, the care it takes to work inside an older home, and a team that manages every detail from design through warranty. Can you find a lower number? Yes, but a lower number usually isn’t buying the same thing. A remodel isn’t a product that rolls off an assembly line. It’s a service, and what you’re investing in is the whole experience: the quality of the work, the level of management on your project, and how the process goes from first meeting through warranty. When a price comes in lower, one of those is usually what gave. We account for all of them, because all of them shape how your project turns out. If you want to hear a certain number, someone will tell you what you want to hear. That isn’t our goal. Pricing our work honestly is what lets us build to the standard we hold ourselves to, invest in our team, and give back to the community we build in. Your price will depend on your home and your goals. We’ll show you why a project costs what it does and where you have control, through finish and specification choices or by adjusting scope. If you want to bring the budget down, we’ll work through the trade-offs together, so the investment you make in your home is the one you want to make. For more on why online calculators miss the mark, see Online Remodel Cost Estimates in Seattle: Why You Can’t Trust Them.

How Crescent Builds prices a remodel

Crescent Builds has been a design-build remodeler in Seattle since 2007, with more than 480 completed projects, a place in the top 2% of Washington’s licensed contractors, 17 Master Builders Remodeling Excellence awards, and the association’s 2015 Remodeler of the Year award. Our budget is built alongside the design, so you make decisions with real numbers in front of you, and once scope is set, your fixed price holds. You can see how that works in our process and timelines by project type.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Seattle?

In 2026, a kitchen refresh typically costs $100K to $200K in construction, a comprehensive kitchen remodel $200K to $300K, and a designer or chef’s kitchen $300K to $400K and up. The average kitchen Crescent Builds builds lands in the mid-$200Ks. These figures are construction only and exclude design, permits, and sales tax.

How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Seattle?

A cosmetic bathroom refresh typically costs $50K to $80K in construction, and a full bathroom remodel $80K to $120K. A primary bathroom or suite runs $150K to $250K. These are 2026 construction-only figures, excluding design, permits, and sales tax.

How much does a whole home remodel cost in Seattle?

A light-touch whole home remodel typically costs $500K to $700K in construction, a full whole home remodel $700K to $1M, and a whole home remodel with a second-story addition $1M to $1.5M. These are 2026 construction-only figures, excluding design, permits, and sales tax.

How much does an ADU or DADU cost in Seattle?

An attached lower-floor ADU typically costs $250K to $350K in construction, and a detached ADU (DADU) $450K to $600K, since it’s new construction. A garage conversion typically runs $100K to $250K. These are 2026 construction-only figures.

What is the cost per square foot for a remodel in Seattle?

It depends on the room, because cost per square foot drops as square footage goes up. In 2026, bathrooms typically run $700 to $1,000 per square foot, kitchens $600 to $900, DADUs $500 to $700, and whole home remodels and second-story additions $400 to $600, all construction only.

Do these prices include design and permits?

No. The ranges are construction only. On a Crescent Builds design-build project, design and pre-construction (design, interior design, permits and fees, surveys, and engineering) typically add 5% to 15% of the construction total. Sales tax is also extra, and we recommend a 5% to 10% contingency.

Can I live in my house during a remodel?

It depends on the project and on how comfortable you are living through construction. Crescent Builds doesn’t require clients to move out. Some clients have lived on the lower floor through a second-story addition; others moved out for a single bathroom remodel because the disruption wasn’t realistic for them. We’ll ask whether you work from home and whether you have young children or pets, and set clear expectations so you can decide. See Living in Your Home During a Remodel.

How do I keep a remodel on budget?

Set scope early, build the budget alongside the design, and use a fixed-price contract once the plan is final. Your biggest levers are scope and finish level. Crescent Builds shows you where those choices move the number, and if you want to bring the budget down, we work through the trade-offs with you.

Start with a real number

Every home is different, and so is every budget. If you’re planning a remodel, get in touch. We’ll talk through your goals, look at your home, and give you an honest picture of scope, budget, and timeline before you commit to anything. You can also explore our kitchen, bathroom, whole home, and addition services.

Seattle Remodel Costs: 2026 Price Guide