How much does it really cost to renovate an apartment in Paris? This is the first question almost every prospective client asks us, long before thinking about materials or style. And it's a fair question: between a simple refresh and a heavy renovation with a full redistribution of space, the budget can vary by a factor of ten. This article does not cover architect fees, but focuses exclusively on the cost of the works themselves — structural work, systems, finishes, kitchen, bathroom, electrics, plumbing — to give you a realistic, costed view of the total price of a building project in Paris in 2026.
The four levels of renovation and their cost per m²
The cost of a renovation depends above all on its scale. Four levels of intervention are generally distinguished, each with its own price range in Paris in 2026.
A light refresh is limited to finishes: paint, flooring, replacing bathroom fixtures or the kitchen without touching the systems or partitions. This is the most economical option, costing between €300 and €800 per m². It suits an apartment that is already functional, where only the aesthetics need updating.
A partial renovation comes into play as soon as part of the electrics or plumbing is touched, or a few non-structural partitions are altered. This category covers a wide range, from €600 to €1,800 per m², depending on how many trades are involved and the condition of the existing systems.
A full renovation redoes all the systems (electrics brought up to code, new plumbing), the finishes in every room, and generally the kitchen and bathroom(s). This is the most common configuration for an older apartment bought with a long-term view to living in it. Budget between €1,200 and €2,000 per m², or up to €2,500 per m² depending on the chosen level of finish.
A heavy renovation with full redistribution of space involves creating or removing load-bearing partitions, a complete redesign of the layout, or transforming a home left derelict for decades. The budget then climbs to between €1,800 and €3,000 per m², and can exceed €3,500 per m² in older Haussmann-era buildings requiring substantial structural work.
As a concrete example, for a 50 m² Parisian apartment: a light refresh represents a budget of €20,000 to €40,000, a full renovation is most often between €60,000 and €100,000, and a heavy renovation with redistribution can reach €100,000 to €160,000.
The Paris premium: why works cost more than in the provinces
For the same floor area and level of finish, works in Paris cost on average 15% to 25% more than in the regions. This premium is explained by several constraints specific to the capital: difficult access to older buildings (no lift, narrow stairwells making rubble removal and material deliveries slower), limited parking for tradespeople, restricted working hours imposed by co-ownership regulations, and sustained demand that keeps building trade rates high. This extra cost must be factored in from the earliest budget planning, to avoid unpleasant surprises when the first quotes come in.
The budget item by item: what each trade costs
Beyond the overall price per m², it is useful to understand how the budget breaks down across the different trades, to identify where the main costs of a project are concentrated.
The kitchen, excluding high-end appliances, represents a budget of €1,500 to €2,500 per m² of kitchen for quality bespoke joinery. For a 10 m² kitchen, that means an investment of €15,000 to €25,000, plus appliances.
The bathroom is, along with the kitchen, the most expensive room per m² due to the density of technical fittings it concentrates. Budget between €1,200 and €2,500 per m², or a total budget of €4,500 to €25,000 depending on the size of the room and the quality level of the taps, tiling and sanitaryware chosen.
Plumbing: fully redoing the pipework (supply and drainage) costs €60 to €110 excl. VAT per m² of living space, an item that becomes unavoidable as soon as an older apartment hasn't been renovated in several decades.
Electrics: bringing the wiring up to code, mandatory in most heavy renovations, costs between €40 and €130 per m² depending on the condition of the existing installation and the number of light points and sockets required.
Standard paintwork on prepared walls and ceilings costs €25 to €50 excl. VAT per m², a rate that can rise to €80 per m² for decorative finishes (lime render, polished concrete, high-end wallpaper).
Moving partitions: building a non-structural partition generally costs €50 to €90 excl. VAT per m² of partition, while demolishing one costs €30 to €60 excl. VAT per m². Opening up a load-bearing wall, which requires installing a steel beam and a prior structural survey, represents a specific budget of €3,500 to €8,000 depending on the span and the complexity of the load transfer.
The factors that make a project's budget vary
Two apartments of identical floor area can show very different works budgets. Several factors explain these differences.
The condition of the existing building is the first criterion: a Haussmann-era apartment with flooring to redo, mouldings to restore and lead plumbing to fully replace costs noticeably more to treat than a 1990s apartment in overall good condition.
The scale of the redistribution weighs directly on the budget: every wall that is moved requires a survey, co-ownership approval if the wall is party or load-bearing, removal, redoing floors and ceilings, and repainting the affected surfaces.
Co-ownership regulations can extend the length of the project — restricted working hours, a ban on certain structural work on public holidays — which feeds through into the labour cost charged by companies.
The level of finish can double the budget: choosing between entry-level tiling and natural stone, or between standard paint and hand-applied lime render, can represent a difference of several tens of thousands of euros on a mid-sized project.
VAT rates applicable to renovation works
The VAT rate applied to works depends on their nature and the age of the property. The standard rate of 20% applies to homes less than two years old or works classed as a reconstruction. The intermediate rate of 10% covers the vast majority of improvement, alteration and maintenance works carried out in a home completed more than two years ago — this is the most common rate for renovating a Parisian apartment. Finally, the reduced rate of 5.5% applies specifically to energy-performance improvement works, provided they are carried out by an RGE-certified contractor in a home more than two years old.
These reduced rates can be combined with public grants such as MaPrimeRénov', Energy Saving Certificates (CEE) or the zero-interest Éco-PTZ loan, for projects with an energy-renovation component — a point systematically worth checking in advance, as these schemes can significantly reduce the overall budget.
How long does a project take, and why it matters for the budget
The length of a project has a direct impact on the final cost, since every extra week represents fixed costs (equipment hire, site security, coordination). A simple refresh takes 2 to 4 weeks. A full renovation redoing the systems generally takes 2 to 4 months. A heavy renovation with layout changes and permit applications can span 3 to 6 months of works, on top of the design and administrative approval time beforehand — bringing the total project length, from initial decision to handover, to 4 to 6 months on average.
How we set a works budget at Supra Studio
At Supra Studio, setting a works budget is never limited to applying a theoretical price per m². Our first site visit allows us to precisely assess the condition of the building, identify the items that will need a full overhaul (systems, structure, insulation) and those that can be kept, then have each item costed by the companies we work with regularly. This method delivers a realistic, detailed, item-by-item budget before you commit to anything.
Planning a renovation project in Paris? Book an appointment for an on-site consultation, or get in touch to assess your project's budget.
Frequently asked questions
What budget should I plan for renovating a 50 m² apartment in Paris? For a simple refresh, budget €20,000 to €40,000. For a full renovation redoing the systems, the budget is generally between €60,000 and €100,000. For a heavy renovation with redistribution of space, plan for €100,000 to €160,000.
What's the difference between the works budget and architect fees? The works budget only covers what tradespeople charge (structural work, systems, finishes). Interior architect fees, calculated separately as a fixed fee, a percentage of the works or an hourly rate, cover design and site supervision. The details of these calculation methods are available in our article on interior architect fees in Paris.
Why do works cost more in Paris than in the provinces? Mainly due to access constraints in older buildings, limited parking for tradespeople and working hours often restricted by co-ownership regulations. This premium averages 15% to 25% compared with an equivalent project in the regions.
Which works qualify for the reduced 5.5% VAT rate? Only energy-performance improvement works carried out by an RGE-certified contractor, in a home completed more than two years ago, qualify for this reduced rate. Most other renovation works fall under the intermediate 10% rate.
Should a safety margin be included in the works budget? Yes, it is recommended to allow a margin of 10% to 15% of the total budget to absorb the unforeseen issues that are common in older Parisian buildings: discovering non-compliant wiring, a beam that needs treating, or a structural issue revealed once the partitions are opened up.
