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Manhattan Apartment Renovation Cost Estimator

Real Manhattan renovation pricing, in plain English. A refresh runs $100–$320 per square foot. A full renovation runs $350–$750 per square foot. A gut runs $600–$1,200 per square foot at trophy-building level. Below, model your specific apartment — including the condition multipliers, soft costs, co-op overhead, and the contingency NYC renovations always need.

Top-end ranges calibrated against active TRH NYC client pricing on Park Avenue, Fifth Avenue, Central Park South, and Central Park West trophy buildings. Broad-market lower ends sourced from early-2026 Manhattan contractor guides (Corniel 3/2026, Chapter 1/2026). Costs up ~6–9% vs. 2024–2025 driven by labor, tariffs, and DOB code changes.

Address and apartment

Pick the building and the property type sets itself. Add the apartment for a Roebling estimate of its value.

Apartment size

square feet

Renovation scope

Kitchen and baths fully replaced, new floors, all finishes refreshed. Layout mostly stays the same.

What’s typically included

Complete kitchen replacement (cabinets, counters, appliances)
Bathrooms gutted to studs and rebuilt
New hardwood or stone flooring throughout
Smooth-wall plaster refinishing
Updated lighting design and electrical panel
Plumbing replacement where walls are opened
Custom millwork (basic level)

Building type

Co-ops add alteration-agreement fees, board review time, and stricter insurance / bond requirements.

Current condition

Estate / prewar conditions add 15–25% for asbestos abatement, system upgrades, and prewar surprises.

Add central HVAC?

Yes — adding central air / ductwork. Adds $20K–$50K depending on apartment layout and existing infrastructure.

Moving walls / changing layout?

Yes — adds ~15% for additional engineering, DOB filings, and structural work.

Estimated all-in cost

$631,925 – $1,366,200

$421 – $911 per square foot · 1,500 sq ft renovate

Hard construction

$525,000 – $1,125,000

Trade breakdown (11 items)

Demolition

$26,250 – $56,250

Plumbing

Where walls are opened

$42,000 – $90,000

Electrical

New panel + selective rewire

$42,000 – $90,000

Kitchen (complete)

Cabinets, counters, appliances, install

$84,000 – $180,000

Bathrooms (gut & rebuild)

$73,500 – $157,500

New flooring

$31,500 – $67,500

Carpentry & millwork

$52,500 – $112,500

Tile & stone

$21,000 – $45,000

Painting & finishes

$26,250 – $56,250

Materials & supplies

$21,000 – $45,000

GC supervision & overhead

Project mgmt, super, equipment, profit

$105,000 – $225,000

Soft costs

$16,500 – $43,000

Architect / drawings

Plan set + DOB filing

$12,000 – $22,000

Permits & DOB filings

$3,000 – $8,000

Engineering (if structural)

$1,500 – $5,000

Interior design (optional)

$0 – $8,000

Co-op overhead

Alteration agreement, insurance, deposits

$8,000 – $20,000

Contingency

15% — strongly recommended for NYC prewar surprises

$82,425 – $178,200

Timeline

5.1–7.4 months total

Design, drawings & permits~8 weeks

Construction14–24 weeks

The full breakdown

See every line item.

Estimates based on 2025–2026 Manhattan contractor pricing. Actual costs and timelines vary widely by building, contractor, and contract terms.

What goes into the number

Hard construction — demo, framing, plumbing, electrical, kitchen, baths, floors, finishes.
Soft costs — architect, DOB filings, engineering, permits, interior design.
Co-op overhead — alteration agreement, insurance bond, security deposit, building fees.
Contingency — 15% reserve for prewar surprises (aging plumbing, subfloor leveling, asbestos).

What inflates the number

Prewar buildings — old systems, period restoration requirements, frequent asbestos abatement.
Layout changes — moving walls, especially load-bearing, adds engineering + filings.
Strict co-op boards — limited work hours, monthly review cycles, expanded insurance requirements.
Custom millwork + smart-home systems — can add $50K–$200K+ at the gut level.

What the timeline really means

Design, drawings & permits — architect develops the plan set, files DOB permits, and (for co-ops) runs the alteration agreement through the building. These typically overlap rather than run sequentially.
Construction — only happens once permits are cleared. Co-op work hours (typically 9 AM – 4 PM weekdays only) often double the calendar time vs. a free-standing house.

Renovating a specific apartment?

Every building, every contractor, every board agreement is different. Before you commit to a contract, the right call is a 30-minute conversation about your specific situation — what the board allows, which contractors actually deliver in your building, and what the all-in number really looks like.

Schedule a consultation →