Smart Home Cost Estimator

With thousands of smart home products out there, getting started can feel overwhelming. Cut the noise and build a personalized blueprint for your smart home setup with this helpful calculator.

Home Size
Include finished space; homes ≥ 2,200 sq ft add a mesh Wi-Fi system.
Assistants / Hubs We recommend choosing just one of these. If you plan to use multiple assistants, check all that apply.
Smart Home Complexity Device counts scale with complexity.
Security Devices
Turn on to pick devices and (optionally) monitoring.
Choose install method. (Pro adds 10% in your total.)
Optional add-on from DIY or professional providers.
Indoor/outdoor mix allowed; doorbell below.
Budget (optional)
Leave blank for an unconstrained estimate.

Helpful Security.org Guides

Pricing in this tool is estimated from Security.org guides and typical U.S. MSRPs; actual prices vary by brand and retailer.

Anyone can make their home a smart home; it’s just a matter of how much it’ll cost. We created this smart home cost estimator to help you set a realistic budget based on your needs and favorite features.

What is a Smart Home?

Philips Hue Bulb
We’re slowly replacing all of our bulbs with Philips Hue Smart Bulbs.

A smart home uses a variety of interconnected devices that communicate and work cohesively to create automations, scenes, and schedules. You can control your devices through a smartphone app or voice assistant, or you can add sensors so that your devices react automatically to what’s happening in your home.

» Learn More: What Is Home Automation and How Does It Work?

What Can You Do With a Smart Home?

The possibilities of a smart home are nearly endless. They range from basic (e.g. lighting control) to advanced (e.g. blinds that adjust based on sunrise/sunset times). Here are some of our favorite smart home capabilities:

  • Automated temperature control: Sensors and our phones’ location tell our smart thermostat when we’re home and when we’re away so it can adjust the temperature for optimal power usage.
  • Vacation lighting mode: Empty homes are prime targets for burglars.1 To secure our homes during vacations, we can set smart lights to simulate an occupied home by turning on and off automatically.
  • Morning routine: Our smart home’s morning routine includes color-changing lights that simulate sunrise, a smart plug that turns on our coffee maker as soon as our alarm clock sounds, and a smart speaker that announces weather and traffic before we head out.

Those are just a handful examples of what you can do once you turn your home into a smart home.

How To Build a Smart Home: Key Components

Amazon Smart Plug
Here’s a look at Amazon’s affordable smart plugs that work seamlessly with Alexa.

Nowadays, almost anything in your house can be a smart home device, from your lights to your dishwasher. Instead of getting overwhelmed trying to change everything into a smart home device at once, start with these key components:

  • Smart Hub: This connects all of your smart home components into a single ecosystem. Check out our Google Nest Hub review and our Amazon Echo Show review to see if either of these popular smart hubs are right for you.
  • Lighting: You can add smart lights easily whenever you change your light bulbs. Best of all, smart bulb prices are only slightly higher than standard LED bulbs for some brands.
  • Thermostat: A smart thermostat easily pays for itself by reducing your energy bills by about $50 per year.2 They’re also easy to use and often incorporate voice assistants like Alexa or Google Home.
  • Security Components: All of the best home security systems can integrate with your smart home. Some even have native automation controls.
  • Plugs and Switches: You don’t need to upgrade appliances right away. You can make most electronics smart simply by plugging it into a smart plug or using a smart switch.

These five components offer the most value when making your home smart. They’re relatively inexpensive, easy to set up, and you’ll immediately notice how their capabilities make your life easier.

Pro Tip: You can use your home security system as the basis for your smart home ecosystem. We were particularly impressed when testing Vivint as they offer an intuitive interface for automating all of your smart home devices. For more options, check out our list of the best smart home security systems.

How Our Smart Home Cost Estimator Works

With the massive amount of smart home options on the market today, we built this smart home cost estimator to simplify things for you. Input the layout of your home, choose your preferred smart home ecosystem, add the smart home equipment you want, and set an optional budget.

Our tool takes that information and builds the perfect smart home to fit your needs. We also provide you with a detailed, step-by-step plan you can follow to achieve your smart home goals while staying on budget.

>> Product Recommendations: The Best Smart Home Devices of 2025

Frequently Asked Questions About Smart Home Costs

  • How much does a smart home system cost?

    It really depends on what you want to get out of your smart home. You can spend as little as $20 on a few smart lights or thousands of dollars for a complete overhaul with Home Assistant or other similarly complex platforms.

  • Can a smart home save me money?

    Yes, smart home devices can save you money by reducing energy bills and making your home more energy efficient. Their security applications can also help you avoid thousands of dollars in losses due to burglary or theft.

  • Does adding smart home devices increase the value of my house?

    It depends — permanently installed smart home devices can increase the value of your house, although you’ll take most of your smart home equipment with you if you sell your house.

  • Do I need a smart home hub?

    A smart home hub is not required, but it can make your smart home more cohesive and easier to manage. Matter-enabled devices are designed to work on nearly any smart home platform, but they are typically more expensive.

  • What’s the best smart home ecosystem?

    We recommend beginners sticking with one of the big two smart home ecosystems; Google Home or Amazon Alexa. Both of those companies will be around for the long haul ensuring your smart home investments don’t become antiquated. Advanced users typically gravitate toward Home Assistant for its incredibly customizable platform and wide device compatibility, but it often requires far more troubleshooting and tinkering to set things up the way you’d like them.

Citations

  1. Journal of Quantitative Criminology. (2020). “Location, Location, Location”: Effects of Neighborhood and House Attributes on Burglars’ Target Selection. researchgate.net/publication/336449250_Location_Location_Location_Effects_of_Neighborhood_and_House_Attributes_on_Burglars'_Target_Selection

  2. Energy Star. (Retrieved 2025). ENERGY STAR Smart Thermostats FAQs for EEPS. energystar.gov/products/heating_cooling/smart_thermostats/smart_thermostat_faq

Aliza Vigderman
Aliza Vigderman
Senior Editor, Industry Analyst
Aliza is a journalist with years of experience in the tech industry. In the past, she has written for websites like The Huffington Post, SquareFoot, and Degreed. Previously, she worked as a research assistant at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism. She’s excited to combine her research and journalism skills with her love of all things tech.
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