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Free worksheet · Budget planning

Renovation Budget Planning Worksheet

Published

A renovation budget is far easier to manage as categories than as a single number. This worksheet lays out the categories most renovations touch, so you can see where money concentrates and where you have room to flex — and where to add a contingency.

It deliberately contains no prices, totals or averages. Real numbers come from quotes against your specific project. Use this to organise the categories and the questions, then let local professionals price them.

How to use this resource

  • Read it on screen, or print it (Cmd/Ctrl + P) or save it as a PDF straight from your browser — nothing is gated and no sign-up is needed.
  • Use it before speaking with professionals, to organise your thinking and arrive with clear, specific notes.
  • Copy it by hand into a notebook if you prefer — the structure matters more than the format.
  • Treat it as a planning aid, not a contract or a substitute for licensed professional advice.

Design and professional services

Designers, drawings, consultants and reviews.

Demolition and removal

Labour categories

The trades the project is likely to need.

  • General / carpentry
  • Plumbing (licensed)
  • Electrical (licensed)
  • Tiling
  • Painting / finishing
  • Specialist trades

Materials

Kitchen

Bathroom

Flooring

Lighting

Storage and built-ins

Delivery and waste

Contingency

A buffer for hidden conditions — not waste, but the line that keeps the project moving.

Notes

Frequently asked questions

Questions about this resource

Why are there no numbers or averages?

Because an honest renovation figure depends on scope, location, labour and materials. Publishing averages would mislead. This worksheet organises the categories so your own quotes have a place to land.

How big should the contingency be?

There is no universal percentage. Older properties and structural work usually warrant a larger buffer because they carry more unknowns. A contractor familiar with your project can advise.

Can I add my own categories?

Yes. Use the notes areas to add anything specific to your project — every renovation has its own shape.

Keep planning

Related guides, tools and resources

Free planning resources →The hub for all free templates and planning resources.Cost guides →Educational cost-framing — variables, not invented totals.House renovation cost factors →What actually drives renovation cost, by category.Project budget planner (tool) →Organise a renovation budget by category.What affects renovation cost? (Q&A) →The variables behind renovation pricing.Renovation contractors →Who prices the categories against real scope.Home renovation planning template →Frame the project before budgeting it.