How Much Does Home Staging Cost?

The cost of staging a home is not a one-price-fits-all situation. It can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on factors such as the size of the home, your location, whether you need to rent furniture or art, and whether you do it yourself or hire a professional. 

• Staged homes tend to sell faster and can receive offers up to 5% higher than unstaged homes.
• The location, extent of the staging services needed, and whether the home is vacant or occupied, are key factors in determining the staging cost. 
• Focusing on high-impact rooms, such as the living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom, is an effective way to save money and increase buyer appeal. 

Home staging is a way of decorating your space, either on your own or with the help of a professional, when you sell your home. Staging your home for maximum appeal can help it sell faster and generate more competition from potential buyers.

“People use home stagers as a way to market their home and hopefully get a higher price than they would if they did not stage the property,” says Charlotte Brooks, owner and principal broker of House Finch Realty in Cold Spring, New York. “In higher-end listings, home stagers can be used to help buyers envisage how they would use the spaces to take advantage of features like scenic views or large fireplaces.” 

According to data from HomeAdvisor, a full home staging may cost between $837 and $2,924. The average cost is around $1,844. “Depending on how much of the home you need staged and whether you need high-end design pieces, it can vary wildly from a few hundred dollars to thousands if you want marquis pieces and art,” Brooks explains.

Staging your home can create a warm, welcoming space that appeals to prospective buyers. It can also lead to higher sales prices. According to the 2023 Profile of Home Staging from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the benefits of staging a home include: 

• Faster selling time: 27% of seller's agents reported a slight decrease in time on the market. 
• Higher offers: Staged homes received offers that were up to 5% above the list price.
• Improved buyer perception: 81% of buyer's agents said staging helped buyers visualize the property as a future home.

There isn't one specific formula for determining how home staging will impact your sale price. However, you can consider NAR data, which shows an average price increase of 1% to 5%. Subtract the staging cost from the sale price to determine your return on investment. 

Consider this scenario:

• List price: $450,000
• Staging cost: $2,000
• Sale price: $472,500 (5% more than list price)
• Profit gained: $20,500 

Here are the six factors that have the greatest impact on the cost of home staging.   

The cost of your staging project will depend on the type of service you select. A whole-house staging event will cost significantly more than a few hours of advice from a professional stager. 

• Some professional stagers offer free consultations.
• Others charge $150 to $600 for a two-hour visit, according to HomeAdvisor.

There are a few ways to stage a home. A seller can remain in the home with minimal staging, using mostly their own furniture and decor. In this scenario, you may employ a home stager to suggest the removal of personal items or suggestions on where to strategically place them around the home. 

This may cost less, but it will take more time and effort for you as the seller. You will need to keep the staging in place, and the rooms in your house must be clean and clutter-free. This can be challenging, especially if you have kids and pets. 

An experienced home stager can also be hired to decorate your home for a potential sale using your own furniture and decor. Most real estate agents and staging experts recommend removing or keeping personal items like family photographs to a bare minimum. A professional stager will likely do a heavy edit on your belongings, including furniture, so you will need a place to store them. 

A full-service staging event in a vacant home will cost the most when you consider the staging services and any furniture and art rentals. According to the Home Staging Institute, you may end up paying upwards of 0.5% to 2% of the list price as a fee. Based on this example, if you listed your home at $500,000, a full home staging could cost as much as $10,000. 

Staging services and furniture rentals will vary depending on where you live and your local market for such services. For example, staging a home in the Hudson Valley outside of the New York City metropolitan area could cost upwards of $5,000, according to data from Angi. Outside of San Francisco, in the Mill Valley area, it could be $8,000. 

On average, according to The Staging Company, a professional home staging company that operates in Florida and Texas, each room could cost upwards of $500 to $600 if you plan to rent furniture.

Most major real estate photography companies offer virtual staging for listings if you cannot afford professional home staging services. “ It's a great, cost-effective option, especially if you have an empty home,” says Brooks. “For example, if there is a fireplace, I will always make sure that a fire is photoshopped into the image. We will usually make a note in either the copy of the listing description or photo captions that a room has been virtually staged. Most buyers are familiar with this tool at this point.” 

Before you stage a house, most real estate agents agree that you should prepare your home for sale by doing a deep clean (you’ll save a few hundred dollars by doing it yourself), fixing any obvious and minor imperfections prospective buyers may notice, and decluttering every room. 

If you’re willing to invest the time and effort, you can save substantially by staging your home yourself. 

“You don't want a blank slate, but you do want to create space for a buyer to envisage living in the property,” says Brooks. “We can make recommendations on things like how to position furniture, how to scape countertops and bookcases, and how to ensure the space appears as light and appealing as possible.” 

Brooks suggests these tips if you plan to DIY your home staging:

• Remove personal photos.
• Declutter closets by 30% to highlight storage.
• Rearrange or upcycle your furniture.
• Deep clean all rooms and outdoor spaces. 

According to NAR, the top three rooms to stage for buyers are the living room, primary bedroom and kitchen. 

• Stage these rooms first, especially if you’re on a budget. 
• Ask your stager or real estate agent for advice about furniture rentals or room-specific strategies. 

You don’t need to rent high-end furniture to make an impact. 

• Second-hand furniture shops, prop rentals for home decor, and shopping for upcycled furnishings are all ways to save money. 
• Move your current furniture around or update what you have by giving it a fresh coat of paint. 
• Consider borrowing items from friends and family to avoid costly furniture rentals. 

A good staging professional can help your home look its best, potentially leading to a faster sale and better offers. While full-service staging can cost thousands, there are cost-effective ways to stage your home, such as DIY efforts, virtual staging, or selective staging of key rooms.

Research local stagers, ask about free initial consultations and compare rates as you vet staging services to balance your staging costs when you list your home.