ROI & Resale

Renovation ROI by Project Type: What Actually Pays You Back

Not every remodel returns the same at resale. Here is the 2026 ranking, from decks at the top to second stories at the bottom.

6 min read · Updated 2026-06 · Re-verified quarterly

Renovation ROI by Project Type: What Actually Pays You Back

65–75%Deck additions

53–60%Bathroom additions

Up to 70%Kitchens & basements

Key takeaways

Deck and outdoor additions lead resale ROI at 65–75%.
Kitchens and finished basements recoup up to 70% while adding usable space.
ADUs win on long-term return because they also generate rental income.

The 2026 ranking

Resale ROI varies sharply by project type. From highest recoup to lowest:

Deck and outdoor additions: 65–75%. The return champion. They extend living square footage for a fraction of an interior project’s cost.
Kitchens and finished basements: up to 70%. The highest-impact interior work, adding usable space and buyer appeal.
Bathroom additions: 53–60%. Solid recoup, faster sales, real daily value.
Master suite additions: 50–60%. Strong when the home lacks a primary suite buyers expect.
Second-story additions: 40–50%. Lower recoup because of the structural tie-in cost, but the right move when moving is off the table.

The outlier: ADUs

ADUs do not fit the resale-recoup chart cleanly because their biggest return is rent, not resale. They add roughly 41% of cost in appraisal value, then pay monthly on top. Over five to seven years, many fully recoup on rental income alone. See our ADU cost and ROI guide.

How to use this

ROI is one input among several. The best project is the one that fits how you live and how long you will stay. If you are renovating to sell soon, weight the recoup numbers. If you are staying, weight daily use and let the return be a bonus. Get a tailored range from our cost estimator.

FAQ

Which remodel has the best ROI?

For pure resale recoup, deck and outdoor additions lead at 65–75%. Kitchens and finished basements reach up to 70%. For long-term return, ADUs win because they add rental income on top of appraisal value.

Do bathroom additions pay back?

Bathroom additions recoup roughly 53 to 60% at resale, higher in hot markets. The value also shows up in daily comfort and in homes that sell faster.

Why do second stories return less?

Second-story additions typically recoup 40 to 50% because of the structural cost of tying into an existing foundation and framing. They still make sense when moving is not an option.

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