HOME TECHNOLOGY
BUDGETING TOOL

HOME
TECHNOLOGY
BUDGETING
TOOL

This tool will help you understand what you should expect to spend on a new home technology project.

In less than 20 questions you will receive a realistic budget range for various technology options in your home. This often takes 5 minutes or less. The calculated price includes labor, accessories, and design & engineering. Tax not included.

By creating a budget you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.

Where are you?

What is your home's square footage?(a round number is OK)

Describe the cost-of-living / cost of labor for your area:

Fairly InexpensiveAbout AverageExpensive

Let's talk about wiring. What best describes your situation?

My house is already wiredI am building a house and need all new wiringI need some new wiring installedMy house has old wiring, need all new

How extensive / future-ready would you like your home’s wiring to be?

Basic (basic audio/video wiring, network, security cameras)Automated Home (home control wiring to subsystems & touchpanels, additional TV & speaker locations)Full Technology Package (adds advanced lighting, motorized shading, fiberoptic cabling, distributed video systems, extensive speaker & TV locations, dedicated home cinema)

Prewire pricing will vary based on exactly what features you would like in your home. Wiring budget is for low-voltage wiring only, not electrical.

How about Wi-Fi?

NoneConsumer-gradeSMB & Enterprise-grade

Our modern lifestyle and our home's technology systems are extremely reliant on a quality network and Wi-Fi system. Consider the network and Wi-Fi system to be the most important technology system in the home. Homeowners that value reliability, security, performance, and frequently stream TV and movies should consider only SMB-grade (Small and Medium Business) networks at minimum and Enterprise-grade networks ideally. Network and Wi-Fi products supplied by your Internet provider, office supply store, or computer store are not recommended by the HTA or any reputable technology integrator. Depending on your home’s size, construction methods, and specific needs, network costs may be higher than estimated here.

Let's talk music. How many rooms would you like music in the two categories described below? Include exterior areas too!

Higher-quality sound or higher-grade architectural finishes.If none, just enter 0Basic background music.If none, just enter 0

Now on to Televisions. Please select how many TV's you would like in each of the two categories below.

Range includes video sources such as AppleTV, a Blu-ray player, satellite receiver, and remotely-locating them for best aesthetics. A basic soundbar is included for better audio. For advice on the best size TV for your room, click here.

Note: Do not include TVs for any home theater or surround sound systems here. That is in the next 2 questions.

TV's between 60″ - 100″ diagonal sizeIf none, just enter 0TV's between 32″ - 55″ diagonal sizeIf none, just enter 0

Do you want to centralize your video sources (Cable TV, Apple TV, Roku, Blu-ray player, etc.) in one location and have them viewable on all TV's?;

This is called “video distribution” and reduces the amount of audio/video equipment located at each TV location / room.

YesNo

Do you have a dedicated home theater room? Please select a budget.

Pricing listed below does not include seating or room build-out costs.

No Entry Level ($15K - 50K) This budget is typically for a 4-6 seat theater room with a 100" - 120" screen, a sub $10K video projector, and a receiver-based audio system with in-wall speakers.Enhanced ($51K - 100K) This budget is typically for a 6-8 seat room with a 120" - 140" screen, a brighter, higher performance projector, and a higher quality sound system.Performance ($101K - 175K) This budget is typically for an 8-16 seat theater with a 12' - 15' wide screen, high performance projector, and theater-quality sound system.High-Performance ($176K - 375K) This budget is typically for an 8-20 seat theater with a 12' - 20' wide screen, reference-grade video projector, reference-quality sound system, and acoustic design.Ultra-High Performance ($376K+) This budget is typically a spare no expense theater with the very best equipment available and acoustic design. Equipment cost may well exceed $1M depending on room size and level of performance desired.

Do you plan on outfitting a room in your house with a surround sound system? Please select a budget.

A surround sound system creates an immersive sound experience, much like a dedicated home theater room, though in a dual-purpose room such as a Family Room, Master Bedroom, etc. They are often called ‘Media Rooms’. If you would like more than one media room location, click on the ‘Add Another Surround System’ button below.

No Entry Level ($5K - 15K) This budget is typically for a 65-75" TV with a "receiver-based" 5.1 audio system with in-wall or in-ceiling speakers and a subwoofer.Enhanced ($16K - 30K) This budget is typically for a 75-85" TV, a "separates-based" 7.1 audio system with higher performance in-wall or in-ceiling speakers and a subwoofer (or two).Performance ($31K - 75K) This budget is typically for a 85"-100" TV, a "separates-based" 11 speaker Dolby Atmos audio system with higher performance speakers and a subwoofer (or two).High-Performance ($76K - 175K) This budget is typically for a 75" TV for daytime use plus a 135" motorized projection screen for movie viewing and a theater-quality 11 speaker Dolby Atmos audio system.

Let's move on to Security. Do you want a security and fire detection system?

YesNo

How many security cameras do you think you need to cover your home?Enter camera number. If none, just enter 0.

Typically, homeowners want to see the following areas: front of house, front door, driveway / gate, sides of house, and pool. If you are more concerned about security, you may want to add cameras for the perimeter of your property. Good-quality cameras see about 75 feet of distance on average. The high range of the budget estimate includes higher resolution cameras, better night vision, and longer surveillance recording time.

Do you need a whole-house intercom / phone system?

YesNo

Do you want a lighting control system for the whole house?

Lighting control systems reduce wall clutter, allow preset lighting scenes at the push of a button, increase security, and add convenience.

Yes, for the whole house and exteriorYes, for the main areas of the house and exterior onlyOnly for a couple roomsNo, I will use conventional wall switches

Do you want any motorized shading?Motorized shades add beauty, convenience, address privacy concerns, and can be used to save energy. If desired, provide your best guess on how many windows/shades you want to motorize. The higher-end of the budget range includes higher-end fabrics, large windows, and dual-roller shades (both sheer and privacy shades on one window).If none, just enter 0

Do you want to control your house through different multiple apps?

Single appMultiple appNo house control

For example, a music app, an app to operate your TV, an app for lights, an app for locks, an app for cameras, an app to open close garage doors & gates, etc. Or do you want to control the house through a single unified app that controls all the systems in the home?

Does this home require very high-end architectural finishes that would apply to the home’s technology systems? This would include such items as mirror televisions, flush-mount wall devices, architectural lighting keypads, and motorized concealment systems for televisions, etc.

YesNo

Success! You have completed your budget estimate! Scroll below to see your budget range.

YOUR ESTIMATED BUDGET RANGE IS:

Low

Max

Entertainment

House Wiring Budget

House Music Budget

House Televisions Budget

Theater Budget

Media Room Budget

Security

Alarm Budget

Security Cameras Budget

Home Networking and Communications

Wi-Fi / Network Budget

Telephone / Intercom System Budget

Home Control / Smart Home

Lighting Control System Budget

Motorized Shading Budget

Home Control System

Hi-end Architectural Finishes & Concealment

Total Range

Please enter your name:Name is requiredEnter your email address:Enter valid email addressPlease enter your phone:Enter valid phoneZip / Postal Code (optional)

HOME TECHNOLOGY BUDGETING TOOL

HOME TECHNOLOGY BUDGETING TOOL

YOUR ESTIMATED BUDGET RANGE IS:

BLOG

HOME TECHNOLOGY
BUDGETING TOOL

HOME
TECHNOLOGY
BUDGETING
TOOL