A whole-home renovation is the biggest project most Orlando homeowners ever take on. It's also the one with the widest cost range — depending on whether you're refreshing finishes, opening up walls, or stripping the house to studs. Here's what the numbers actually look like in Central Florida in 2026, and what each dollar amount buys.
Average Whole-Home Renovation Costs in Orlando
Based on Karhan whole-home projects across Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden, Dr. Phillips and the surrounding area, here's the ranges we see most often, priced per square foot of finished living space:
- Cosmetic refresh (paint, flooring, light fixtures, hardware, no structural or plumbing work): $30–$60/sq ft
- Mid-range renovation (new kitchen + 2 baths, refinished or new flooring throughout, lighting, paint, some layout tweaks): $75–$135/sq ft
- Full gut renovation (down to studs, new plumbing + electrical, new HVAC, all-new finishes): $150–$250/sq ft
- High-end gut + addition (custom cabinetry, marble baths, premium appliances, structural reconfiguration): $275–$500+/sq ft
For a 2,200 sq ft Orlando home, that translates to roughly $65,000 on the low end of a cosmetic refresh, $165,000–$300,000 for a typical mid-range remodel, and $400,000+ for a full gut with high-end finishes.
What Drives the Cost?
1. Scope and How Deep You Go (the biggest single factor)
The single largest cost variable isn't materials — it's whether you're touching plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and walls, or just finishes. A finish-only refresh moves fast and stays predictable. The moment we open walls, the project's cost ceiling rises because we discover things: old galvanized supply lines, ungrounded wiring, undersized panels, slab cracks, or pre-1990 wood that needs reinforcement.
2. Kitchen and Bathrooms (40–55% of total budget)
The wet rooms dominate any whole-home budget. In a typical Orlando whole-home renovation, the kitchen alone runs $40,000–$100,000 and each bathroom $20,000–$60,000. If the house has 3+ bathrooms and a primary kitchen redo, that's already half the total before you've touched a bedroom.
3. Flooring (8–15%)
Engineered hardwood installed throughout a 2,200 sq ft Orlando home typically runs $14,000–$28,000 depending on grade. Luxury vinyl plank is cheaper ($8,000–$15,000). Porcelain tile floors or natural stone push higher. Subfloor leveling on older slab homes adds $2,000–$5,000.
4. Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC (10–20%)
If we're rewiring or repiping the whole house, expect $20,000–$50,000 for the trade work alone. New panels run $2,500–$5,000. New ductwork and AC handler/condenser for a 2,200 sq ft home in Central Florida is typically $9,000–$15,000. Many older Orange County homes still have polybutylene supply lines, which need to be replaced.
5. Permits, Engineering, and Project Management (5–10%)
Permits for a gut renovation in Orange County typically run $1,500–$5,000 depending on scope. Structural changes (load-bearing walls, opened floorplans) require an engineer's stamp at $800–$2,500. Project management is usually built into a general contractor's price — make sure you're getting it as a line item, not as an afterthought.
How Long Does It Take?
For a 2,200 sq ft Orlando home:
- Cosmetic refresh: 4–8 weeks
- Mid-range renovation: 12–20 weeks
- Full gut to studs: 20–36 weeks
- Gut + addition: 32–52 weeks
Permitting in Orange County and the City of Orlando typically adds 4–8 weeks before the first hammer swing on a gut renovation. Plan around that.
Should You Live In It During the Work?
For a cosmetic refresh, usually yes. For a mid-range renovation, sometimes — if you can live without the kitchen and one bathroom for 2–3 months. For a full gut, no — utilities will be off intermittently, ceilings will be open, and dust is everywhere. Most of our whole-home clients move into a short-term rental or with family for the duration.
What About Permits?
Any whole-home renovation involving plumbing, electrical, HVAC, structural changes, or moving walls requires permits in Orange County and Orlando city limits. We pull every permit and coordinate every inspection. Skipping permits on a job this size will surface during your next home sale or insurance claim — don't do it.
Does a Whole-Home Renovation Add Value in Orlando?
It depends on the scope and the neighborhood. A mid-range whole-home renovation in Florida typically returns 55–70% of its cost in resale, with kitchens and primary baths recouping the most. In the Orlando market, where land has appreciated faster than improvements, fully renovated homes in Windermere, Winter Garden, College Park, and Lake Nona often beat both comps and Cost vs. Value averages — particularly when the layout was opened up.
How to Get an Accurate Estimate
A whole-home number from a phone call is always a range. The only way to lock in a number is a walkthrough where we measure each room, talk through your goals room-by-room, and write a real scope document. We offer free phone consultations and free in-person walkthroughs across Orlando and Central Florida.
Ready to Get a Real Number?
Call us at (407) 821-4702 or visit our Whole Home Renovation page to schedule a free walkthrough.