The price per m² is a good way to spot an unusual quote, as long as you compare like with like. Here are the 2026 price ranges by project type and country.
You've received a quote for €35,000, €80,000 or €150,000, and your first instinct is probably to calculate: "How much is that per m²?"
It makes sense. The price per m² for building work is still one of the quickest ways to spot a quote that's abnormally high... or surprisingly low.
But there's a catch: THERE IS NO SINGLE PRICE PER M² IN CONSTRUCTION.
Retiling a 20 m² floor is obviously nothing like renovating a 20 m² bathroom. A 150 m² tiled roof doesn't cost the same as a complex slate roof with insulation. A 12 m² kitchen can cost €8,000 or €35,000.
In 2026, significant differences also remain between Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
ECV therefore provides you with indicative European price ranges for 2026 to help you quickly put your quote into perspective.
Important: these prices are estimates, not official rates. They vary depending on the region, materials, complexity, labour, VAT, site accessibility, quantity ordered and level of finish.
1. How much does a renovation cost per m² in 2026?
Before looking at each item, here is a first estimate. For a full renovation of a home in Western Europe in 2026, you can generally expect the indicative budgets below.
Level of renovation
Indicative 2026 range
Light refurbishment
€300 – €700/m²
Standard renovation
€700 – €1,300/m²
Full renovation
€1,200 – €2,000/m²
Major renovation
€1,500 – €2,800/m² and up
Very high-end / complex structure
€2,500 – €4,000/m² and up
These figures provide an initial indication. But to check a quote properly, you need to break down the work.
2. Bathroom prices per m² in 2026
The bathroom perfectly illustrates the limits of pricing per m²: plumbing, electrics, waterproofing, tiling, sanitary ware, taps, furniture, ventilation, heating, demolition and waste removal are all concentrated in a small area.
Indicative European range for 2026: standard renovation €700 to €1,500/m²; full or high-end renovation €1,500 to €2,500/m².
In France, the 2026 estimates encountered are approximately around €700 to €2,000/m². In the Netherlands, a standard bathroom can be around €700 to €1,500/m², with a luxury project costing more. In Spain, some market estimates are around €650 to €750/m².
Please note: a 4 m² bathroom is not half the price of an 8 m² bathroom. Fixed costs often drive up the price per m² for small rooms.
3. Kitchen prices per m² in 2026
For a kitchen, the price per m² should be used with caution. An entry-level kitchen and a bespoke kitchen with natural stone and premium appliances can occupy the exact same area.
Estimates: light renovation €200–€500/m²; standard €500–€1,000/m²; full €800–€1,500/m²; high-end €1,500–€3,000/m² and up.
In France, 2026 estimates place a full renovation at around €600 to €1,500/m². In the Netherlands, prices can range from a few hundred euros per m² for a light renovation to over €1,000/m² for a major project. In Portugal, the differences are also very significant depending on the furniture, appliances and the actual scope of the work.
4. Roofing prices per m² in 2026
Roofing work
Indicative price 2026
Repair / light overhaul
€40 – €100/m²
New roof covering
€80 – €180/m²
Major re-roofing
€120 – €250/m²
Roof + insulation
€150 – €300/m²
Roof structure + insulation + covering
€200 – €500/m² and up
In France, 2026 estimates place a roof renovation at around €130 to €260/m², with higher amounts when insulation is included. In Germany, a new roof covering can be approximately between €100 and €200/m², while a major renovation can reach several hundred euros per m².
Scaffolding, asbestos removal, dismantling, waste disposal, underlay, insulation, zinc work, roof windows, cornices and structural repairs can significantly change the total.
5. Tiling prices per m² in 2026
For standard interior tiling: supply €20–€80/m²; installation €30–€70/m²; supply + installation €50–€150/m². Some large-format tiles, natural stones or complex installations can reach €150–€250/m² and up.
The substrate, levelling compound, cuts, skirting boards, stairs and removal of the old flooring should be checked separately.
6. Window / frame prices in 2026
ECV recommends not thinking only in terms of m². A small window still incurs costs for manufacturing, hardware, transport, removal, installation, adjustment and finishing.
Very indicative estimates per installed unit: uPVC €500–€1,000; aluminium €700–€1,500; wood €700–€1,500. Triple glazing, sliding doors, large bay windows and special shapes can cost significantly more.
In the United Kingdom, replacing the windows of an average house can cost several thousand pounds depending on the number, material and glazing.
7. Painting prices per m² in 2026
Walls in good condition: €20–€35/m². Preparation + painting: €30–€50/m². Very damaged surfaces: €40–€70/m² and up.
Please note: 100 m² of living space does not equal 100 m² to be painted. Including walls and ceilings, the actual surface area can be several hundred square metres.
8. Plastering / rendering prices per m²
Light skimming: €15–€30/m². Full plastering / rendering: €25–€50/m². Difficult surfaces or major renovation: €40–€70/m² and up. Corners, high ceilings, stairs and small areas increase the price.
9. Parquet flooring prices per m² in 2026
Laminate installed: €30–€60/m². Engineered wood installed: €60–€120/m². Solid wood installed: €90–€180/m². Special or high-end installation: €150–€250/m² and up.
Add levelling compound, underlay, skirting boards and removal of the old flooring if necessary.
10. Roof insulation prices in 2026
Internal insulation: €40–€80/m². More comprehensive insulation: €70–€120/m². Sarking / external insulation: €100–€200/m² and up. The thickness, material and accessibility strongly affect the price.
11. Façade prices in 2026
Cleaning: €15–€40/m². Façade painting: €30–€60/m². Rendering / plastering: €50–€100/m². External insulation + finish: €120–€250/m². Some complex façades may exceed these values.
12. Electrical work prices per m² in 2026
Major electrical renovation: €70–€120/m². Completely new or technically complex installation: €100–€180/m² and up.
The number of sockets, circuits, light fittings, home automation equipment and charging points is often more relevant than the surface area alone.
13. Plumbing prices per m²
Plumbing is not well suited to calculation per m². For a full renovation, however, budgets of €50–€100/m² are common, and more for complex installations. The number of bathrooms, toilets, kitchens and water points is generally more relevant.
14. Terrace / patio prices per m² in 2026
Concrete: €60–€120/m². Outdoor tiling: €70–€150/m². Wood: €80–€180/m². Composite: €90–€180/m². Natural stone: €100–€250/m² and up. Earthworks, foundations and drainage can significantly change the price.
15. Comparison of 2026 prices by country
Here is a deliberately simplified ECV table to help you gauge the price levels for a standard to full renovation.
Country
Indicative renovation
Portugal
€600 – €1,400/m²
Spain
€650 – €1,500/m²
Poland
€600 – €1,400/m²
Czech Republic
€700 – €1,500/m²
Italy
€700 – €1,600/m²
France
€800 – €1,800/m²
Belgium
€800 – €2,000/m²
Germany
€900 – €2,000/m²
Austria
€900 – €2,100/m²
Netherlands
€900 – €2,100/m²
Luxembourg
€1,100 – €2,500/m²
Switzerland
€1,300 – €3,000/m² and up
United Kingdom
£700 – £2,000/m² and up
PLEASE NOTE: these ranges are ECV estimates that synthesise different levels of renovation and market sources. They do not constitute an official price list or a statistically harmonised index between countries.
16. ECV table: key 2026 project prices
Type of work
Indicative range
Light renovation
€300 – €700/m²
Full renovation
€1,200 – €2,000/m²
Bathroom
€700 – €2,000/m²
Kitchen
€500 – €1,500/m²
Roofing
€120 – €300/m²
Tiling supplied/installed
€50 – €150/m²
Painting
€20 – €50/m²
Plastering
€25 – €50/m²
Parquet flooring
€30 – €180/m²
Roof insulation
€40 – €200/m²
Façade with insulation
€120 – €250/m²
Full electrical work
€70 – €180/m²
Terrace / patio
€60 – €250/m²
These ranges are deliberately wide, precisely because a project cannot be correctly assessed with a single price per m².
17. Why can two contractors' quotes be 30% different?
Two roofing quotes can show €175/m² and €240/m² and both be perfectly reasonable. The second might include scaffolding, superior insulation, new gutters, underlay, waste disposal, structural repairs and roof windows, while the first only includes removal and a new roof covering.
The actual content of the quote is more important than the isolated unit price.
18. An abnormally LOW quote should also worry you
If three companies quote €94,000, €101,000 and €97,500, and a fourth quotes €59,000, ask the question: WHY? Different materials? Items missed out? Underestimated labour? VAT missing? Measurement error? A desperate need to sign a contract?
A very low price deserves as much explanation as a very high one.
19. VAT inclusive or exclusive: a mistake that can be costly
Always compare ex. VAT with ex. VAT and inc. VAT with inc. VAT. A quote for €100,000 ex. VAT is not the same as €100,000 inc. VAT. The rules and rates for VAT on renovations differ between countries and depending on the project conditions.
20. Why the price per m² can be misleading
A 60 m² house can be proportionally more expensive to renovate than a 150 m² house, because both may require a consumer unit, a boiler, a kitchen, a bathroom, a toilet and site setup. The fixed costs are spread over fewer square metres.
21. The 10 factors that can make your price per m² skyrocket
- Quality of materials
- Local labour costs
- Site accessibility
- Scaffolding
- Demolition
- Waste removal
- Asbestos
- Structural work
- Level of finish
- VAT and services actually included
Two seemingly identical quotes can conceal very different services.
22. The keywords people are actually searching for
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All these searches ultimately hide the same question: "IS THE PRICE MY CONTRACTOR IS QUOTING ME NORMAL?"
23. The ECV method: never just compare the total
A quote for €87,450 allows for almost no conclusion. You have to break it down: how many m²? What materials? What quantity? What unit price? What labour cost? What VAT? What brands? What insulation thickness? What services are excluded? What deposit? Which company?
Only then does the price per m² become truly interesting.
24. A practical example
You receive a quote for a 100 m² roof: €28,000, which is €280/m². Is that too expensive? It's impossible to say without knowing what the €28,000 includes.
SCENARIO 1: simple replacement of tiles on an easily accessible roof — €280/m² might seem high.
SCENARIO 2: scaffolding + dismantling + waste disposal + underlay + insulation + covering + zinc work — €280/m² could be plausible.
SCENARIO 3: same as above + major structural repairs + roof windows + asbestos removal — €280/m² could even be surprisingly low.
This is why ECV would never simply display an average price without analysing the actual content of the quote.
25. The average price is an indicator, not a verdict
If the market indicates €100 to €180/m² and your quote is €195/m², it doesn't mean the contractor is ripping you off. Likewise, a quote at €85/m² is not automatically a great deal.
The price is a signal to be analysed, not a conviction.
Conclusion: how much should my project cost in 2026?
There is no official European price list that can state that a renovation costs one single amount per m². The cost depends on the country, city, building, materials, complexity, quantities, labour, VAT and level of finish.
The ranges presented in this article are strictly indicative. Their main purpose is to help you spot an anomaly.
If several sources indicate a price of around €120–€200/m² and your quote is €380/m², it doesn't automatically mean it's wrong. It means: YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY.
This is precisely the difference between looking at the price of a quote and analysing a quote.
Indicative sources and references 2026
- France: market sources and 2026 professional guides relating to renovation, kitchen, bathroom and roofing prices.
- Germany: 2026 cost guides for roofing and renovation work, including Aroundhome.
- Netherlands: 2026 data and guides from the Kamer van Koophandel for economic context and from work platforms such as Werkspot for renovation estimates.
- Spain and Portugal: 2026 price guides and market data from specialised platforms such as Habitissimo.
- United Kingdom: 2026 cost guides from Checkatrade for various residential projects.
- European Union: Eurostat, Construction producer prices and costs, for the context of construction cost trends in the European Union.
- Belgium: Statbel and FPS Economy for indices, construction prices and applicable VAT rules depending on the situation.
- IMPORTANT: the ECV ranges in this article are indicative, non-contractual and not statistically harmonised between countries. A quote must always be analysed based on its location and exact content.
