Staging a home costs $837 and $2,924, and most homeowners pay an average of $1,844.
Local markets can have an impact on the tier of staging needed, with high-wealth areas likewise necessitating premium staging.
The number and type of rooms, as well as the total square footage, affect staging rates.
Furniture rentals, cosmetic upgrades, and minor repairs are typical add-on staging costs.
Home staging costs between $837 and $2,924, with an average cost of $1,844. Some factors influencing the cost to stage a home include the size of your home, the tier of staging services, and repairs and upgrades.
Home staging costs depend on a number of factors, including home size, upgrades, and more.
Staging an occupied home ranges from $1,000 to $3,000, assuming it’s furnished with quality items. Stagers often charge less for occupied homes since they can use the existing furniture and decor instead of sourcing additional pieces. In contrast, vacant homes cost $4,000 to $6,000 to account for more labor-intensive design, sourcing, and arrangement.
Occupied homes aren’t always less costly to stage, however—since staging is about maximizing the appeal and aesthetic potential of a home, mismatched furniture, clutter, or similar issues may require more work to remedy than a vacant home.
Staging costs average $300 to $700 per room or about $3 to $5 per square foot. Larger homes require more time, effort, and resources to space, especially if staging involves multiple rooms or outdoor spaces.
Living and entertainment spaces, such as the living room, master bedroom, and dining room, tend to be more expensive to stage due to their larger sizes and the need for more furniture and decor. Spaces designed around utility, such as the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room, don’t require as much furniture since their designs are largely built-in, therefore potentially carrying lower costs.
Home Size (Sq. Ft.) | Staging Cost Range |
---|---|
750 | $2,250–$3,750 |
1,000 | $3,000–$5,000 |
1,250 | $3,750–$6,250 |
1,500 | $4,500–$7,500 |
1,750 | $5,250–$8,750 |
2,000 | $6,000–$10,000 |
2,500 | $7,500–$12,500 |
3,000 | $9,000–$15,000 |
Staging may cost more in different locations, such as in more upscale neighborhoods or areas with a high cost of living. For instance, staging a home averages just $1,100 in Denver, which is a fraction of Los Angeles’ $4,000 average.
Sourcing furniture and decor is one of the most variable costs in home staging. Empty homes require renting or buying furniture to fill the space, which costs about $500 to $600 per room per month. The exact cost depends on the quality and style of the furniture, but most homeowners spend about $2,000 per month altogether for home staging furniture rentals. Stagers may also charge for decor items such as rugs, throw pillows, lighting, and artwork, but some professionals have their own supply of decor items for client use.
Before staging a home, stagers may recommend specific repairs or upgrades to make your home more marketable. These improvements can range from small cosmetic changes, such as new cabinet hardware, to more significant remodeling projects. Remodels are typically reserved for spaces in significant disrepair—otherwise, cosmetic upgrades or minor repairs, such as fresh paint, replacing light fixtures, fixing leaks, and basic landscaping, typically earn the best return on investment.
Repair/Upgrade | Cost |
---|---|
Painting | $200–$2,000 per room |
Floor repairs, refinishing, or replacement | $200–$2,500 |
Landscaping | $50–$100 per hour |
Plumbing repairs | $45–$200 |
Ceiling repairs | $150–$4,500 |
Electrical repairs | $50–$130 per hour |
Water damage | $1,350–$6,300 |
Hardscape repairs or maintenance | $50–$100 per hour |
Kitchen or bathroom remodel | $75–$250 per square foot |
Lighting upgrades | $70–$500 per fixture |
Garage door repair or replacement | $150–$1,700 |
Miscellaneous minor repairs | $50–$150 per hour |
Deep cleaning, which ranges from $25 to $80 per hour or $0.10 to $0.35 per square foot, involves scrubbing every surface, including floors, windows, kitchens, and bathrooms, to help the home look its best.
Even the best staging can’t hide dirt and clutter that coincides with occupation. An ideal home staging shows potential buyers what their home could look like with premium and lived-in design, but ideally without the wear, dust, and dirt of actual occupation. Cleaning, decluttering, and depersonalizing allows buyers to envision the home for themselves.
Many homeowners opt for deep cleaning, staging, and moving at the same time since grouping these services can be a cost-effective strategy. Consider these other costs that may accompany deep cleaning:
Packing furniture: $100–$1,450
Packing specialty items: $25–$100
Storage unit rental: $100–$450 per month
Professional movers: $920–$10,000
Junk removal: $60–$700
Staging can involve various services depending on your home’s needs. Some home staging costs are one-time flat fees, while others may have recurring monthly expenses. Many staging companies offer different pricing structures, including:
Packages
Charge per hour
Charge per room
Charge per square foot
Set fee
Percentage of the listing price
Home Staging Service | Average Cost |
---|---|
Initial consultation (2 hours) | $150–$600 |
Furniture arrangement | $250–$350/room |
Organization and storage | $600–$800 |
Redesign | $250–$1,250 |
At a minimum, staging services typically start with a consultation, which costs $150 to $500 or about $25 to $150 per hour. During this consultation, the staging professional assesses your property, provides recommendations, and discusses the potential cost of staging based on your parameters and budget.
Once your stager creates a plan, they’ll provide an overview and cost estimate for their services. Many companies offer their services in 30-day increments, but some may require you to commit to 60 or 90 days.
Renting high-quality furniture isn’t necessarily enough to present your home in a broadly appealing way. Stagers arrange furniture in a manner that enhances the home’s flow, maximizes space, and shows homebuyers the potential of the space.
Homes with minimal personal items often earn better appraisals from homebuyers vs. decluttered and staged homes. Staging companies may also provide professional organization services, ranging from $600 to $800, that help streamline the space and create a more appealing environment.
If your home’s layout or decor is outdated or in poor repair, a redesign or remodel may be necessary to improve its appeal. Stagers may provide interior or exterior design services, crafting recommendations for your home’s style and helping to facilitate the services to implement redesigns. Depending on the scale of changes, a redesign can cost between $250 to $1,250.
Staging companies offer varying pricing structures and tiers, but most offer basic, standard, and luxury service packages. Basic staging usually includes minimal furniture and decor and focuses on key areas, such as the living room or master bedroom. Luxury staging involves premium furniture, artwork, and decor for a polished and upscale look. Standard staging is the most common, and it includes a broad range of furniture and decor for several main rooms.
Staging Tier | Cost per Room |
---|---|
Basic | $100–$400 |
Standard | $200–$700 |
Luxury | $600–$900 |
There are a few ways to save money on staging if you're on a budget. These include:
Focusing on only a few rooms: Especially in larger houses, staging only a few essential rooms, like the entryway, kitchen, and primary bedroom, can be a cost-effective strategy.
Start with a consultation: Before you pay for a full staging, meet with a stager for a consultation. Get a detailed overview of their recommendations, services, and estimated costs.
Ask your real estate agent: If you plan to stage your house when it goes on the market, consider getting input on staging from your real estate agent. Your agent likely has a deep understanding of your local real estate market and can help focus your staging costs on those that provide the best returns.
Skip extra projects: While some stagers may recommend additional renovations and repairs, these can add up quickly. For example, the cost to reface cabinets is about $7,200, while the cost to repaint interior walls is $1,990 on average.
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Yes, staging a home for sale is well worth the cost. Staged houses spend 33% to 50% less time on the market compared to non-staged homes. Staged homes also sell for 20% higher. This results in an extra 8% to 10% return compared to non-staged homes.
Most homebuyers start their search online to look through photos of each property. Properly staged homes allow prospective homebuyers to better visualize their lives in a new home. Staging can also make homes more attractive for in-person open houses and create a better first impression, potentially helping yours to stand out in a competitive market.
Either the seller or real estate agent pays for staging a house. Some real estate agents build staging costs into their services since it can help your home sell for more, therefore increasing their own commission.
Virtual staging is the process of digitally staging images or videos of your home for prospective buyers. Instead of physically rearranging furniture and decor, stagers digitally add these components to images. Depending on the amount of work involved, virtual staging can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000.