Renovation Cost Calculator

Renovation Contingency Calculator

Estimate a contingency reserve based on your planned renovation budget and project uncertainty.

Location

Project details

Estimate

Project Details

Adjust the inputs below. Your estimate updates instantly.

Adjust the scopeEvery change updates the planning range instantly. No account or email required.

Location

Planned project budget ($)

Scope complexity

Home age

Scope certainty

Planning estimate only. Confirm measurements, products, labour, permits, access and site conditions. GST, HST and provincial sales taxes are not automatically added.

Default example2026.Q3 method

Typical contingency reserve

$6,500

Planning range: $4,900 – $9,400

Canadian dollars · taxes not automatically added

Low$4,900

Typical$6,500

High$9,400

Current inputsEdit inputs ↑

$65,000 planned scope · Canada average / not sure · scope 1.00×

Biggest scope signals

•Updates with your selections

What affects this estimate

Compare written quotes using the same scope.
Confirm what demolition, disposal, permits and cleanup include.
Keep a contingency for changes or hidden conditions.

Change project inputs How this range is calculated

What this estimate includes / excludes

Included in the model

Project size, the scope choices shown above, a broad low/high unit-cost allowance and the selected market adjustment.

Not automatically included

Taxes, financing, hidden conditions, exact permit/design fees, hazardous-material work or site-specific structural issues unless an input explicitly models them.

Data version 2026.Q3 · model reviewed September 2026Review log →

After the estimate

Use the range to price one written scope.

Ask contractors to price the same materials, quantities, preparation, permits, disposal and exclusions. A cheaper total with smaller allowances is not necessarily a cheaper project.

Read the detailed planning guide →

1Confirm measurements

2Normalize allowances

3Keep a contingency