How much does Home staging cost?

Based on 41 real quotes from businesses in United States.

$1200

TYPICAL

$2500

$3500

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Yelp calculates estimated costs by gathering and analyzing real quotes provided to consumers by businesses on Yelp. Actual costs may vary.

Key takeaways

Home staging costs may include an initial consultation, decluttering, and furniture rental
Most home stagers have a minimum fee or 3-month commitment
Save money by staging fewer rooms, finding a realtor who provides staging, or negotiating a shorter commitment

When it’s time to sell your house or condo, you need to make your home look presentable—if not positively irresistible—so it sells quickly at the best sales price.

A professional home stager makes your space appealing to home buyers by decluttering items that should be removed—like Mr. Whiskers’ carpeted cat tree in the corner of your living room—while rearranging furniture and suggesting essential home improvement projects, like repainting a weathered front door.

Some stagers can even spruce up your landscaping to increase your home’s curb appeal. They know better than anyone: Making a great first impression is important. Read on to understand what home staging costs and how to save money on this service.

Total cost of home staging

Home staging services not only get your house ready for a photo shoot or an open house, they can make your home sell faster—often above your listing price. Home staging increases selling prices by 1–5%, according to the National Association of Realtors. An added bonus: These expenses are tax-deductible.

Staging prices vary based on the size of your home, whether you have it fully or partially staged, and any extra expenses like furniture rental.

It typically costs 1% of the home’s value to stage an average family home for 3 months, and around 1.25–1.5% for large luxury homes.

Home sellers who opt for complete staging services with furniture rentals usually spend $1 per square foot per month for the 3-month minimum commitment or until the home sells. For example, if you have a 2,500-square-foot home and you choose to stage every room in the house with rented furniture, you’ll likely pay about $2,500 for home staging each month.

Most homeowners don’t stage their entire house, and many are able to use their own furniture rather than renting, which may lower this average cost.

Costs details of home staging services

Your home staging costs will vary depending on the number of rooms staged, how many services you choose, and how much you can do yourself.

Initial consultation

During your initial design consultation, which typically lasts 90 minutes to 2 hours, a stager will give you interior design tips about how to arrange furniture, which items to remove, and necessary home improvement projects that will make the biggest difference to potential buyers. Average cost: $150–600

Rearranging and decluttering

Your stager will work with your existing furniture and accessories to make your home look as appealing as possible to as many potential buyers as possible. Removing stuff, especially personal items, to put into storage can often make a huge difference. Average cost: $800

Staging fee

The staging company may bring in accessories, props, and furniture to make your house look fresh, modern, and fully functional. You’ll be renting these items from the staging company, and they’ll charge for each month that the items remain in your house. Average cost: $400–700 per room per month

Outside furniture rental

If the stager brings in more furniture beyond their own collection to fill a vacant home or replace worn items, you’ll need movers and insurance for each piece and you’ll pay furniture rental fees in addition to staging fees. Average cost $500–600 per room per month

Cost factors

Some additional factors can increase your staging fees or lead to other costs.

Minimum commitment. Most home stagers have a three-month minimum commitment. Even if your home sells the same day you put it on the market, you’ll still need to pay 3 months’ worth of fees.
Storage unit. You may need to store clutter, excess furniture, and personal effects in a storage unit until your home sells. Self-storage fees can cost $95–260 per month.
Painting. Some people love bold wall color, but a neutral palette makes your home more attractive to a wider array of potential buyers. Hiring a painter can cost several thousand dollars if every room of your house needs repainting.
Home improvement projects. Your home stager may suggest replacing lighting fixtures, making repairs, and fixing cosmetic flaws to improve your home’s function and appearance. The cost of a handyman is around $89–250 per project.

How to save money

The following techniques may save money on staging.

Try DIY. After your initial staging consultation, ask your stager if you can perform certain fixes yourself. Some basic repairs, decluttering, and rearranging furniture may save on their total fees.
List with a realtor that provides staging. Some real estate agents provide free or discounted staging for their clients.
Negotiate a smaller commitment. In a hot real estate market, it probably won’t take 3 months to sell your house. Ask the staging company if they’re willing to offer a shorter commitment instead.
Stage fewer rooms. The living room, kitchen, dining room, and master bedroom make the biggest impression on potential buyers. Consider focusing on these rooms, and leave other rooms empty, or simply clean and declutter them.

Pro tip: Your kitchen and bathroom countertops should be free from clutter and clean with no visible dirt, grease, or grime.

FAQs

Is it worth it to stage a home?

Yes, it is. According to the National Association of Realtors, home staging increases selling prices by 1–5%. Since it typically costs 1% of your home’s listing price for 3 months of staging, you’re likely to at least recoup your money and may see up to a 5 times return on your investment.

Who typically pays for staging?

Homeowners usually pay their own home staging costs. Since staging increases your home’s worth and, therefore, your realtor’s commission, you might be able to convince your realtor to share the cost with you.

Are staging costs tax deductible?

Yes. According to the IRS, you can deduct qualifying home staging costs from the income you earn on your home sale, decreasing your taxable income. Speak to a tax service professional to ensure you file correctly.

Find a home staging professional in your area.

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