The typical cost of a smart home ranges from $205 to $1,666. A small DIY install can cost as little as $65, but a whole-house upgrade can cost as much as $4,500.
The future is now: Smart home automation lets homeowners do everything from monitoring the temperature of their home from far away to opening and closing curtains without getting off the couch.
But how much does a smart home cost? You can spend as little as $65 for a small, DIY smart home device, such as a smart thermostat or doorbell camera, but you can also spend as much as $4,500 to completely upgrade a large, luxury home with a complex network of smart devices and appliances. On average, a homeowner spends $903 on the typical smart house upgrade.
The single largest factor affecting how much you’ll spend on a smart home depends on the functionality—or functionalities, plural—with which you want to equip your house. Installing one or two smart devices or appliances on your own may not cost much, but hiring a professional home remodeler (or whoever you hire for home automation) to outfit your home with complete smart automation functionality can cost a pretty penny.
The table below lists typical prices for various smart home automation features.
| Device, Appliance, or Function | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Hub | $50–$900 |
| Home security | $300–$1,225 |
| Lighting | $15–$3,000 |
| Heating and cooling | $70–$2,000 |
| Kitchen appliances | $400–$10,000 |
| Home entertainment | $30–$2,000 |
| Lawn and garden | $200–$5,000 |
| Other features | $50–$1,200 |
Smart home hubs cost between $50 and $900, depending on the brand and the hub’s functionality. Smart hubs (think Amazon Alexa or Google Home) allow you to control multiple smart devices with your voice, but they may not be necessary, as you can also control smart devices and appliances with a smartphone or the device itself.
The typical cost range for a home security system is $300 to $1,225, depending on the extent of the system. Most home security features nowadays include some sort of smart functionality, whether you’re getting alerts from sensors on your phone or using your device to check security cameras.
Outfitting your home with smart lighting costs between $15 and $3,000. Why such a disparity? You can upgrade lighting in specific rooms of your house—or through your whole home—to smart lamps and bulbs. A single smart bulb can cost $15, but a whole-home upgrade can go as high as $3,000.
Smart bulbs and lamps allow you to use your phone (or hub) to turn on and off lights without switches and, potentially, to change the color of the lighting.
You can also consider motion sensor lighting as an alternative. Installing motion sensor lighting costs between $350 and $500.
You can control the heating and cooling of your home with a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats cost $70 to $280, and they allow you to control the temperature of your home with your smartphone. Smart thermostats can learn your routines to heat and cool your home more efficiently (leading to lower energy consumption and lower utility bills). Smart thermostats can also remind you when it’s time to change an air filter.
You can also invest in a fully automated heating and cooling system, but this will bring costs up dramatically. Expect to spend $800 to $2,000 for installation of elements such as smart ceiling fans and air conditioning.
You can outfit your home with a number of smart kitchen appliances that make cooking and managing the kitchen space easier. These appliances can get expensive, however:
A smart refrigerator can better regulate temperatures, see what’s in the fridge in real time, and even monitor expiration dates. But smart fridges can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 or more.
Smart microwaves can be controlled via smartphone, allowing you to set cook times and power levels. These can cost from $500 to $1,500.
Similarly, smart ovens make it easier to monitor your dinner (or dessert) while it cooks (or bakes). You can use your smartphone to preheat your oven and turn it on and off. Smart ovens cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000.
Smart dishwashers make it easy to monitor status from your smartphone—but unfortunately, you’ll still have to load and unload it. Smart dishwashers cost between $400 and $1,600.
Smart home entertainment systems cost between $30 and $2,000. You can keep your upgrade small by simply connecting your TV to external speakers, but you can also install a more complex home entertainment system, with control of all your various devices through your smartphone, for much more.
A smart home system makes watering your plants and grass much easier. Smart home systems for lawns and gardens cost between $200 and $500. Depending on the size and functionality, you can also purchase a robotic lawn mower for anywhere from $600 to $5,000 or more.
Smart homes truly have no limit. You can purchase anything from a smart grill or vacuum to a smart window or garage door. Here are some prices to consider:
Smart garage door openers: $50–$500
Smart blinds or curtains: $50–$400
Smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: $50–$150
Smart locks: $50–$150
Smart doors and windows: $50–$125 per square foot
Smart grills: $1,000–$1,200
Smart vacuums: $300–$800
Additional factors can also influence the cost of a smart home upgrade, including the following:
You can purchase individual smart home features, such as a smart fridge, thermostat, or security camera, individually. Individual components will be more affordable. But if you want a comprehensive system, many brands offer packages, some of which may be customizable, that include a number of services and features for one price–typically lower than what you’d spend to buy the individual components separately.
Different brands have different equipment costs, and some may even have monthly or annual subscription costs. The table below breaks down what some of these costs are for popular brands:
| Brand | Upfront Cost | Ongoing Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADT | $600–$1,450 | $45–$60 per month | Security monitoring service; can integrate with other brands |
| Amazon | $20–$250 | Options include Echo, Alexa, FireTV, and Blink for home entertainment and security | |
| Creston | $20,000–$100,000 | Complete home automation; high-end product that requires professional install | |
| Elan | $10,000–$150,000 | Complete home automation; high-end product that requires professional install | |
| Frontpoint | $100–$800 | Security system, as well as comfort options | |
| $30–$3,000 | Nest products such as security cameras, doorbells, hubs, speakers, thermostats, and more | ||
| Ring | $100–$800 | DIY solution options | |
| Savant | $1,600–$5,000 | Customizable system for entertainment, luxury, and security | |
| SimpliSafe | $200–$2,000 | $0.33–$2.66 per day | Security system with DIY install and monitoring component |
| Vivint | $600–$2,500 | $30–$45 per month | Security system with monitoring component |
Note that Apple doesn’t sell smart home products, but you can use an Apple app on your smartphone to control a large number of systems in one place.
The larger your house, the more you’re likely to spend when converting to a smart home. For instance:
Homes with more acreage would require more lawn and garden upgrades. If purchasing a robotic lawn mower, you’d need one big and powerful enough for a larger yard.
Home security systems in large homes will either require more hardwiring or, and wireless, which is more affordable, may not be an option.
A larger home likely has more windows and doors; upgrading to smart windows and smart locks would then be more costly.
How your smart home system is wired (also called the protocol) has a big impact on cost. Hardwired systems are more expensive. For instance, rewiring a house costs between $600 and $2,600.
Wireless security systems are portable and more affordable, and there are more options available. It’s also possible to choose a hybrid protocol that connects wireless and wired systems together so they can all be managed centrally.
Before making a decision, compare the differences between wired and wireless security systems and other smart home features.
While it’s possible to install some elements of a smart home yourself, any elements requiring hardwiring should be left to a local electrician. Further, you might need to hire a home remodeler or a handyperson for whole-house smart home automation upgrades. Budget between $85 and $100 an hour, depending on where you live and the type of contractor you hire.
Where you live can impact the cost of a smart home installation. While the devices and appliances themselves won’t vary much in cost (you can order most of the products online), labor costs can vary significantly by location.
The table below shows typical smart home cost ranges in a few major U.S. cities.
| City | Smart Home Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Atlanta, Georgia | $1,325–$5,000 |
| Denver, Colorado | $250–$2,975 |
| Houston, Texas | $300–$1,675 |
| Los Angeles, California | $175–$1,850 |
| New York, New York | $250–$3,375 |
| Orlando, Florida | $675–$1,050 |
Smart homes have ongoing costs you’ll need to budget for.
Some smart home devices, particularly security systems, may have an ongoing subscription cost for monitoring. These costs can vary depending on the service and where you live, but budget anywhere from $30 to $60 a month for basic service.
A complex wireless smart home system may require stronger WiFi than you currently have. Be prepared to upgrade your WiFi system and spend more each month for a stronger signal.
Like other appliances, smart appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators can break down, and you’ll need to hire an appliance repair contractor near you to fix them. Because they’re smart devices, such costs may be higher than the typical cost of appliance repair.
It’s possible to install a number of individual smart home features on your own, such as a doorbell, a security camera, or even a ceiling fan if you’re handy. But comprehensive smart home upgrades require a professional to ensure they’re set up safely and correctly; in fact, many systems require professional installation.
Depending on the complexity of the project, you may need to hire a local home remodeler, electrician, handyperson, or security system professional.
Upgrading to a smart home can be expensive. Here are a few tips to stay within your budget:
Take a piecemeal approach: You don’t have to upgrade your whole home overnight. Start small, such as installing a smart thermostat or microwave, or upgrading your home entertainment system. Eventually, you can convert your whole home with small upgrades here and there.
DIY the install: While some components of a smart home may require professional installation, several elements can be tackled yourself, such as smart doorbells, thermostats, lights, and a garage door opener. If you’re not confident installing smaller elements yourself, consider a handyperson, who tends to be more affordable than licensed professionals.
Wait for deals: Many smart technology products are available online or in stores such as Best Buy, Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Target. Wait for big sales like Black Friday or shop online during Cyber Monday to get the lowest prices.
Smart home automation costs can get high, so what do you actually get for your money? Here are some of the top reasons to upgrade to a smart home.
First and foremost, you can enhance your family’s safety with a smart security system. Cameras and sensors can deter would-be criminals from entering your property, and if there is a break-in, systems can alert authorities immediately.
Smart homes can greatly improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Depending on what devices and features a smart home upgrade includes, they might boast helpful features such as:
Programmability: People aging in place who struggle with memory loss can benefit from the programmability of certain systems. Smart thermostats can handle the temperature every day. Smart locks can automatically lock doors every night.
Chores: Smart devices like programmable vacuums can clean the house for you, while smart fridges can help you keep track of your grocery list.
Safety: A whole-house smart system may include several safety features for people with disabilities, such as timed ovens, voice-activated emergency calls, and smoke detectors that automatically call fire departments.
Voice commands: Manual tasks, such as turning on and off lights or opening and closing the curtains, can be accomplished via voice commands.
Installing a smart thermostat makes it much easier to monitor the temperature in your home. If you have a regular schedule, these thermostats can even learn when you’re not home to run the heating and cooling systems less often.
Many homeowners update to a smart home because they simply make everyday life more convenient. Smart homes cut out manual tasks that eat up time and make it easier to monitor your home on the go via your smartphone.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Smart home upgrades can be worth the money. Several upgrades, including smart thermostats and ceiling fans, can help reduce your energy bills. Others make life more convenient, freeing up your time to do what you love (or get more work done). And some smart home upgrades, such as entertainment systems, simply make life more enjoyable. All are worthy causes.
A comprehensive smart home system can be really attractive to buyers and increase the value of your property. Components such as a smart security system, smart lawn and garden systems, and smart appliances can all drive up the value of your property.
