How Much Does a Home Theater Installation Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $10,000 - $60,000
The average U.S. homeowner spends $20,000 on a home theater installation, but the cost ranges from $10,000 to $60,000, depending on the size, location, and extent of the remodel.
The cost of installing a home theater ranges from $10,000 to $10,000. The average cost is $20,000, but there are a few factors involved in determining the final bill. Building a home theater costs can range from around $80 to $200 per square foot. Let’s review how to budget for a home theater installation.
- Average
- $20,000
- Low end
- $5,000
- high end
- $70,000
Size of Home Theater
If you’re building a new home theater from scratch, its size will be the most important cost factor. The larger the theater room, the more seating, speakers, or acoustic panels you may need, which will increase costs. Installing a home theater can range from $80 to $200 per square foot.
| Home Theater Size in Square Feet | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 200 square feet | $10,000–$50,000 |
| 300 square feet | $25,000–$60,000 |
| 600+ square feet | $70,000+ |
The price of building a home theater room varies based on your location, the materials, and the additional features. Costs for finishing a bare room, like an empty basement, will be a bit lower. And costs for renovating an existing, finished room like an unused bedroom will be lower since you’ll need to do less remodeling.
You can determine the necessary size of your home theater by the size of the projector screen or TV display. If you’re using a projector, a 100-inch screen is the smallest option, while TVs on max out around 85 to 90 inches, which tend to be the most expensive options.
Home Theater Installer Costs
You’ll need to hire a local home theater installation service to help you bring your project to life. A dedicated home theater designer will cost between $500 and $3,000, depending on the extent of the project and the theater size.
Home theater installers are best for homeowners who are starting from scratch with this home addition because they can help you design the room, outline the necessary features, and recommend other specialized professionals to hire for the project. Consult a local home theater installer to get an accurate estimate based on the size and scope of your installation.
Additional Pros to Consider Hiring
Depending on the additions and features of the home theater, you may need to hire specialized help. Consider the following pros:
Interior designer: $50 to $500 per hour
Electrician for wiring: $50 to $100 per hour
Additional Home Theater Installation Cost Factors
A home theater has a few key components: the screen, sound system, seating, and lighting. These parts of a home theater result in a cinematic experience that goes beyond your usual home entertainment system, but they’re also all factors that influence the final installation cost.
Screen
The viewing hardware is arguably the most important part of your home theater. Most people opt for a true movie experience with a projector and screen, and while splurging for a high-end model can be expensive, the installation labor cost starts at $100 and doesn’t usually exceed about $650.
An HDTV is also a great home theater option, and most come with a mounting kit so either you or a contractor can mount the TV on the wall. Costs for an HDTV installation can vary between $100 and $800 depending on whether you simply need to install it into the wall’s studs or if it needs additional bracing.
| Screen Components | Low Cost | High Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Projector | $110 | $20,000 |
| Projector screen | $140 | $17,000 |
| HDTV | $250 | $20,000 |
Audio Equipment
Almost as important as the visual experience, audio equipment is a big factor in installation costs. A true home theater experience usually entails a surround sound system, which includes various speakers, subwoofers, and other components that play sound all around you and create an immersive experience.
Depending on the layout that works best for your space, the cost to install a surround sound system ranges from $300 to $2,000, not including materials. You can expect to pay on the higher end for the cost to install ceiling speakers, wall speakers, or additional wiring.
Key questions to answer include:
Are you using wireless surround sound speakers, or wired versions?
Are you using a larger 7.1 surround sound system or a smaller version?
Are you using a speaker bar instead of a separate set of front speakers?
Are you purchasing an A/V receiver or connecting directly to speakers?
Are you installing mounted speakers, or speakers inset into the walls and ceiling?
Lighting
There are many lighting options you can choose from. LED strips along the floor or lamps or sconces near seating areas can add to the home theater experience and provide non-intrusive light. Recessed overhead lighting is also helpful when you need more even lighting throughout the room. Dimmable lighting is also preferable as you can control the exact lighting level whether you’re watching a movie or gaming.
Lighting installation costs can range from $150 to $2,500 and largely depend on the complexity of the job, such as if your local home theater contractor has to do new wiring or rewire old fixtures.
Seating
Technically, a regular sofa is perfectly adequate for a casual home theater. If you want to level up the experience, however, specific home theater furniture may be your best option. Home theater furniture comes with features that enhance your comfort and viewing experience, such as power reclining, built-in lights, drink and snack holders, and more.
Some furniture requires only straightforward assembly before it’s ready to go. In other cases, your home theater furniture may require more complex installation that ranges from $500 to $20,000.
Wiring
Most of the key components of your home theater system require some level of wiring. This process typically involves connecting screens, sound systems, lights, and streaming devices to your home’s electrical system.
Professional wiring by an electrician costs about $1,000 to $2,500. If your equipment requires new outlets or built-in wiring, such as ceiling lights or wall speakers, your installation costs will be higher. You can also expect additional costs if you have a significant amount of wiring that needs to be organized and concealed.
Acoustic Panels
Acoustic panels help soundproof the room and direct sound for the best experience possible. You can purchase and install acoustic panels for a few hundred dollars in a small, DIY home theater. However, for a larger project or a professional installation, expect to pay between $300 and $1,000.
Entertainment Devices
Audio and video equipment form the backbone of a home theater. You need devices to house or stream your entertainment content to your system, beyond the basic smart features of a TV or projector. Consider how these device budget into the overall cost:
Blu-ray player: $50 to $100
Game console: $250 to $500
Set-top box like Apple TV or Roku: $100 to $150
Digital TV tuner to pick up broadcasts: $30 to $100
Accessories
There are several other additions you can include to enhance your home theater. These include:
Blackout curtains: $75–$400
Popcorn machine: $65–$600
Soundproofing: $1,200–$10,000
Smart home technology: $300-$2,000
Permits
Home theaters may require significant construction and new wiring, which could mean you’ll need a building permit based on your municipality’s regulations. You can expect to pay $100 to $200 for a permit for this kind of addition.
DIY Home Theater Installation vs. Hiring a Pro
Building a DIY home theater is one of the most effective ways to cut down on installation costs. Keep in mind that home theaters have a lot of parts and can be complex to install. If your home theater needs any electrical work or remodeling, you should be prepared and confident in your abilities to safely handle these jobs.
Some contractors can perform the entire installation, but home theater installation is often split between several contractors. Hiring a professional to complete your installation ensures that the project will be handled with the appropriate safety measures. Pros can also install your system efficiently and correctly, so you can get the best sound and visual quality from your equipment. Some contractors even offer design services, therefore handling the project from start to finish for you and with consideration to your goals, preferences, and budget.
Home Theater Remodel vs. Renovate
Remodeling a home theater involves significant structural work, such as adding a new room or finishing a bare-bones basement or attic. On the other hand, renovating means taking a finished space and doing some minor work (new wiring or adding acoustic panels) to turn it into a home theater.
Remodeling is a much more expensive project because of the extensive work required. However, it also adds more space to a home and allows you to create a dedicated, immersive setup. Renovating is a great option if you want to create a home theater without adding a new room or breaking the bank. For example, you could renovate a bedroom into a home theater, or give your living room a makeover to add more home theater features.
Does a Home Theater Increase Home Value?
You can expect to yield 65 percent return on investment (ROI) on a home theater installation. At most, you may get 70 percent of your financial investment back as home value from the right home buyer. Consider the ROI as if you have a new finished room without any equipment or seating inside, or as an expansion to an existing living room.
Ways To Save Money on Home Theater Installation
Getting a full cinematic experience at home is far from free, but there are a variety of ways that you can get the most for each dollar you invest in your home theater installation.
Try the following cost-saving tips:
Get multiple quotes: Talk to a few contractors and get installation recommendations and quotes from each one so you’re fully informed.
Buy an all-in-one system: Some home theater contractors offer discounts for purchasing and installing all-in-one home theater packages.
Opt for energy efficiency: Energy-efficient components, such as LED lighting or low-wattage projectors, can help lower your energy bill.
Use existing furniture: Don’t buy new furniture if you can move a spare sofa or chairs into the home theater instead. Don’t install permanent seating in the room, since you can find portable seating for less money.
Pick a speaker bar: A speaker bar is a compact way to house several speaker units in one piece. Today’s high-quality versions sound great and connect to other speakers like subwoofers and rear speakers, so you’re not giving up much, especially in smaller theater rooms.
Use a smart power strip: Smart power strips can monitor your energy usage and shut devices down at certain times of day.
Stick with HDTVs: In small spaces, ditch the projector and use an HDTV. They’re less affected by ambient light, and even OLED models are priced very favorably compared to the cost of a good projector and screen installation.
Don’t use a dedicated room: For a smaller project, plan an A/V upgrade to your current entertainment center, perhaps replacing an old TV with a projector or bringing in an audio expert to suggest how to place surround sound speakers. It can make a lot of difference for a much lower cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard home theater screen size is 100 inches to 120 inches for a full home theater room, but the ideal size TV to buy depends on a few factors. For example, a screen that’s less than 120 inches may be better in a room with less space and where seating is positioned more closely to the screen. If your seating is close to the screen, a smaller screen is better, in the 60- to 70-inch range. This is common for smaller basement conversions to home theater rooms.
The biggest and best home theaters are 24 by 15 feet, but in smaller spaces you can make do with 15 by 20 feet, 10 by 12 feet or even smaller. You should aim for a ceiling height of about 9 feet. Remember, the size of your theater will affect layout, projector placement, screen size and other factors.
The room itself, if properly finished, should last the lifetime of the house. But it’s the equipment inside that you’ll need to consider. Generally, take a look at your home theater every four to five years and see if everything is still up to date. If any significant new technologies, formats, or compatibility options have come out since then, think about if it’s worth an upgrade.