Real cost ranges for Boston, MA, priced in USD. Every row is what homeowners actually spend across the scope spectrum — the low end is a pull-and-replace on the existing footprint, the high end is a full custom build with premium finishes.
~1 min readUpdated 19 Apr 2026
Cabinets, counters, appliances, and plumbing/electrical updates drive the range. The top of the band reflects full layout changes and premium finishes; the bottom holds for pull-and-replace scopes on the existing footprint.
Scope yours with Baily in BostonTile, fixtures, and waterproofing are the big drivers. Primary and ensuite bathrooms with walk-in showers or freestanding tubs sit near the top of the band; hall baths come in closer to the bottom.
Scope yours with Baily in BostonDetached units and garage conversions vary most by square footage, foundation type, and utility runs. Where local law does not recognize ADUs, this row maps to the nearest annex / granny-flat / laneway equivalent.
Scope yours with Baily in BostonWhole-home scope covers all trades plus permitting, structural, MEP, and finishes. Historic properties, listed buildings, and seismic-retrofit markets sit well above the median.
Scope yours with Baily in BostonMaterial choice (asphalt shingle, tile, standing-seam metal, membrane) dominates the range. Pitch, access, and city-specific wind/fire codes add the rest.
Scope yours with Baily in BostonComposite decking, hardwood, pavers, and concrete slab are the main price bands. Elevated decks and outdoor-kitchen integrations push the high end.
Scope yours with Baily in BostonFraming, insulation, egress windows, and waterproofing move together. Adding a bathroom or full kitchen pushes the cost well above the base finish scope.
Scope yours with Baily in BostonGunite, vinyl-liner, and fiberglass each have distinct price bands. Spa integration, water features, and decking lift the top of the range.
Scope yours with Baily in BostonPrep work (siding repair, pressure wash, priming) is the hidden driver. Coastal and high-UV markets use specialty coatings that cost more but last longer.
Scope yours with Baily in BostonHardwood, LVP, tile, and stone span a wide range. Subfloor repair and leveling for old construction add meaningful cost on top of the finish material.
Scope yours with Baily in BostonAsk Baily about your Boston remodel and you will not be passed around. Boston is the densest pre-war housing market in the United States by share of stock, and its regulatory stack — the Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License, the Boston Landmarks Commission's eight designated districts, the Massachusetts Lead Law on pre-1978 stock and the Massachusetts Stretch Code — makes quote-spray sites like Angi genuinely unfit for the market. A Beacon Hill townhouse, a Back Bay brownstone flat, a South End bow-front and a triple-decker in Jamaica Plain each answer to different rulebooks, different de-leading obligations and different envelope-energy requirements. Baily holds that context. We introduce one Baily-vetted Boston builder who holds an active Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License (CSL) at the appropriate classification, who engages Massachusetts-licensed electricians under 527 CMR 12 and plumbers under 248 CMR 10, who has presented before the Boston Landmarks Commission, and who has delivered a compliant Massachusetts Lead Law de-leading project. One pro per homeowner, from the first enquiry through Certificate of Occupancy. No quote spray, no twelve strangers. The builder we introduce is the builder who walks the final inspection with you.
Read the full Boston guideCost ranges are only half the picture. See how one-builder scoping compares to a bid fan-out before you talk to either.
Tell Baily what you are planning. You will get one vetted local builder, not a pool of strangers. No lead auction, no resold contact details.
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