Ask three neighbors what their remodel cost, and you'll probably hear three very different numbers. They're all real, but none of them tell you what was included, what turned up behind the walls, or what the building department required before work could start.
In this blog, we'll break down the costs of different home remodels in the Palm Beaches, with real price ranges for whole home renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, additions, and outdoor living, plus the local factors that move those numbers.
A home remodel in the Palm Beaches typically costs $35,000 to $125,000 for a bathroom, $75,000 to $250,000 for a kitchen, and $250,000 to $3 million or more for a whole home renovation.
Here's how the most common projects compare:
*Want the full breakdown? Download our Home Remodel Cost Guide to see every pricing tier and details about what each one includes.
A whole home remodel in the Palm Beaches typically costs $250,000 to $700,000 for a cosmetic refresh, $700,000 to $1 million for layout and finish changes, and $1 million to $3 million or more for full custom work.
Whole Home Refresh ($250K - $700K):
Full kitchen with new cabinets and counters, 2 to 3 bathroom remodels, flooring, new fixtures and hardware, minor layout adjustments
Midrange Whole Home Remodel ($700K - $1M):
Wall removal and layout reconfiguration, custom or semi-custom cabinetry throughout, higher-end finishes, updated electrical and plumbing
Luxury Whole Home Remodel ($1M - $3M):
Full custom cabinetry and millwork, premium stone, imported tile, and designer fixtures, major structural reconfiguration, architectural details
*The Refresh range assumes a 2,000 to 3,000 square foot home. Larger homes, waterfront properties, and houses that need new mechanical systems tend to move into the next tier.
A kitchen remodel in the Palm Beaches typically costs $75,000 to $100,000 for an updated kitchen in the same layout, $100,000 to $150,000 with layout changes, and $150,000 to $250,000 or more for full custom work.
Kitchen Refresh ($75K to $100K):
Same layout, stock or semi-stock cabinets, quartz or laminate counters, new tile backsplash, flooring
Premium Kitchen Remodel ($100K to $150K):
Semi-custom cabinetry with organizers, premium stone counters and backsplash, wall removal or a reconfigured island
Luxury, fu ($150K to $250K+):
Full custom cabinetry and millwork, imported stone or premium materials, major structural changes
*Opening the kitchen to the living area is one of the most common reasons a project moves up a tier. If that wall is load-bearing, it needs an engineered beam, and the plumbing, wiring, and ductwork inside it have to be rerouted.
A bathroom remodel in the Palm Beaches typically costs $35,000 to $55,000 for a guest or hall bath, $55,000 to $95,000 for a primary bath, and $95,000 to $125,000 or more for a spa-style suite.
Guest or hall bath ($35,000 to $55,000):
Same layout, new vanity and toilet, a refreshed or replaced tub and shower, new tile floors and walls, and updated lighting and ventilation.
Primary bath ($55,000 to $95,000):
Custom tile shower with frameless glass, a double vanity with a stone top, layout changes, and heated floors or specialty lighting.
Spa suite ($95,000 to $125,000+):
Wet room or freestanding tub, steam shower and body sprays, premium stone and imported tile, and custom lighting design.
*These costs cover full demolition and rebuild, including waterproofing, plumbing, tile, fixtures, and finishes. What's behind the wall matters as much as what's on it, especially in a humid climate.
Home additions and ADUs in the Palm Beaches typically cost $150,000 to $750,000. Square footage, how much plumbing the new space needs, and how it ties into the existing house drive the final number.
An addition is new construction attached to an existing home, so every one includes:
*A single basic room or a sunroom sits toward the lower end of the range. A primary suite with its own bath, a second story, or a detached guest house with a full kitchen moves toward the top. Matching the existing roofline and getting HOA or architectural review approval are part of the job, so leave time for both.
Outdoor living spaces in The Palm Beaches typically cost $50,000 to $400,000 or more. The low end is a covered porch, and the high end is a full summer kitchen with a pool deck expansion.
You can use your backyard most of the year here, so these projects get a lot of use. Common scopes include:
A covered porch with lighting sits near the bottom of the range. A roofed outdoor kitchen with gas, refrigeration, and a new pool deck sits much higher because it adds structure, plumbing, and permits. Materials matter, too: salt air, strong sun, and summer storms are hard on finishes that would last for decades up north.
Six factors explain most of the gap between the low and high end of any remodeling range: existing conditions, layout changes, finish level, permits and engineering, site access, and material lead times.
Hidden conditions are the most common source of budget surprises, and they usually show up at demolition, not before. Older homes often have wiring, plumbing, or framing that doesn't meet current code, and it has to be corrected before new finishes go in.
Moving a wall costs more than the wall itself. It usually means structural engineering, new electrical runs, relocated plumbing, and HVAC adjustments.
Finish selections can triple the cost of a single category. Stock, semi-custom, and full custom cabinetry span roughly a 3x price difference, and stone, tile, fixtures, and appliances follow the same pattern. Spend where it shows and hold back where it doesn't, and you can stay within a tier.
Permits and engineering add both cost and time, especially when a project needs wind-load calculations or a structural engineer's stamp. Review timelines vary by building department, and many towns here, including Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and North Palm Beach, run their own.
Tight lots, second-story work, gated communities, and HOA rules all add labor and logistics. Material handling alone can add 5 to 10% on a complex site.
Long lead times cost money because overhead and supervision run as long as the project does. Custom cabinetry typically takes 8 to 14 weeks and imported tile 6 to 10 weeks, so making selections early protects both the schedule and the budget.
Flood zone rules, wind code, and community construction calendars affect remodeling budgets in the Palm Beaches in ways national cost guides don't account for.
If your home is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area and your remodel costs 50% or more of the structure's value (not including land), the whole house may have to meet current flood standards.
That's called a substantial improvement. It can mean elevating the home or flood-proofing the lower level, which changes the math on a project. Some jurisdictions also add up improvements over several years, so earlier permits can count toward the total.
Most of coastal Palm Beach County falls within a wind-borne debris region, so new or replacement windows and doors need impact-rated glass or approved shutters. It's a real line item in a whole home remodel, and it can lower your insurance premiums through Florida's wind mitigation credits.
Many gated and country club communities require architectural review approval before work starts, and some limit construction during season. If you're a seasonal resident, plan your timeline around those windows and around when you'll be in town to make selections.
Two bids are only comparable when they describe the same scope, the same allowances, and the same exclusions in writing.
Before you compare totals, make sure each proposal covers:
☐ A written scope, room by room
☐ Allowance amounts for cabinets, tile, fixtures, and appliances, and what each one actually buys
☐ A clear list of exclusions
☐ Permit fees, engineering, and drawings
☐ Site protection, dust control, and daily cleanup
☐ How change orders are priced and approved
☐ Payment milestones tied to completed work
A low bid is often low because something on this list is missing. To learn more, read up on how to interpret a remodeling estimate and the costs to look out for in your bid.
BlueLadder Builders gives every homeowner a written proposal with scope, allowances, exclusions, and pricing before any agreement is signed.
It starts with a call about your goals, budget range, and timeline, so we both know it's a fit before anyone schedules a site visit. Then one of our three partners comes out to walk the house with you, take measurements, and ask a lot of questions. About a week later, you get the proposal in writing. No verbal ballparks.
Once you sign, payment milestones and a target schedule are set. Your selections, change orders, and progress photos all live in your client portal, so you always know where the project and the budget stand. One of the owners stays involved in your project every day, through the final walkthrough.
BlueLadder Builders LLC is a Florida Certified Building Contractor (CBC1268807).
A home remodel in The Palm Beaches typically costs $35,000 to $125,000 for a bathroom, $75,000 to $250,000 for a kitchen, and $250,000 to $3 million or more for a whole home renovation. Additions and ADUs run $150,000 to $750,000, and outdoor living spaces $50,000 to $400,000 or more. These ranges include design, permitting, labor, and materials.
Usually yes for a kitchen or a single bathroom, and usually no for a whole home renovation. When the kitchen, most of the bathrooms, and the mechanical systems are out at the same time, most homeowners move out for some or all of the build. Seasonal residents often schedule the heaviest work for when they're up north.
You get a written change order with the cost and schedule impact before the extra work goes ahead. Hidden issues like outdated wiring or past water damage are common in older homes, so it's smart to keep a contingency in your own budget.
A kitchen remodel typically takes 8 to 14 weeks, a bathroom 4 to 8 weeks, an addition 4 to 6 months, and a whole home remodel 4 to 8 months. Design, engineering, and permitting come before construction, so plan for that time, too.
Yes, most remodels need a permit once they involve structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work, or add square footage. Your town's building department or the county issues it, and your contractor should handle the submittals, revisions, and inspections for you.
Remodeling is usually less expensive when the structure is sound and you're keeping a location you love. The exception is a home in a flood zone where the remodel would trigger the FEMA 50% rule, since elevation or flood-proofing costs can make a rebuild worth pricing out.
The ranges above are a starting point. The number that matters is the one written for your house, with your scope, your finishes, and your building department's requirements built in.
If you're planning a remodel in Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, or anywhere in The Palm Beaches, schedule a consultation with BlueLadder Builders. One of our partners will walk the house with you and put a real number in writing.