Written by

Kristen Cramer

October 17, 2023

Edited by

Sarah Noel

Fact-checked by

Tara Farmer

Home staging cost

Home staging costs $1,500 to $4,000 on average, depending on the home size, local real estate market, and whether the house is vacant or occupied. Staging a vacant home costs the most because it requires furniture rental. Staging a house by rearranging your existing furniture costs less.

Home staging consultation fee

Professional home stagers charge $150 to $600 for an initial consultation alone to review the home with the homeowners and realtor during a walk-through. Then the staging expert sends a report recommending changes the homeowners can make with or without their assistance to improve the home's appeal.

Home stagers often recommend these changes:

• Decluttering the home

• Updating the artwork and throw pillows

• Removing some of the furniture

• Painting bold-colored walls a more neutral color

Whole-home staging

Whole-home staging costs $1,500 to $4,000 on average for the first month, including some furniture rental. Prices vary according to your furnishing options:

• The cost to stage a house is $1,000 to $3,000 on average if using your current furniture. The home stager will rearrange the furniture and add artwork and other décor like area rugs, throw pillows, and accessories to enhance the space.

• Home staging costs $3,000 to $6,000+ for vacant homes that require furniture rental—one of the most expensive aspects of staging. Fees for furniture rental alone can reach $2,000 per month for large homes.

Room staging

Staging individual rooms costs $300 to $700 per room on average, depending on the size and purpose. Staging a living room or bedroom with rented furniture and décor typically costs more than staging a kitchen where the cabinets and appliances take up most of the space.

Home staging cost factors

Your home's dimensions, location, and whether it is vacant or still occupied have the most impact on the staging cost. Common cost factors include:

• Home size – Staging fees are higher for larger homes with more rooms that require extra furniture and décor.

• Home layout – Staging a single-story home with a simple layout typically costs less than staging a two-story home, as some companies charge extra for carrying furniture upstairs.

• Additional areas – Home stagers often charge more to stage hallways, niches, lofts, or outdoor spaces in addition to the main rooms.

• Furniture – Staging a vacant home requires furniture rental, which significantly increases the monthly cost depending on the quality, types, and amount of furniture. Fees are lower if the stager uses your current furniture instead.

• List price of home – Some professional home stagers charge a percentage of the home's list price, resulting in higher total staging costs for homes listed at higher prices.

• Luxury vs. standard staging package – A luxury staging package that includes high-end furniture and accessories costs substantially more than a standard package. However, homes in upscale neighborhoods may require luxury staging to meet the expectations of buyers in the target market.

• Contract length – Staging contracts typically run for 30 days. Each 30-day extension costs an additional 10% to 30% of the original contract fee. For example, if you paid $3,000 for the initial staging and the home doesn't sell within 30 days, you'll pay $300 to $900 for each additional 30 days.

• Minimum staging charge – Most home staging companies charge a minimum fee, with amounts varying significantly depending on the home size and location. Minimum charges in major metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles can be as high as $5,000.

Additional home staging services

Depending on your home's current condition, the home stager may recommend more improvements and services, including:

• Decluttering – Most stagers charge $650 to $1,000+ extra for decluttering services, depending on the home's current condition. Decluttering involves removing any items that won't help to sell the house, packing them up, and placing them in storage.

• Paint-color changes – Interior painting costs $1 to $3 per square foot of surface area. Home stagers typically recommend painting rooms a neutral color to make them appealing to the largest number of buyers.

• Updating window treatments ­– The stager may recommend removing or updating the window treatments to brighten the space and maximize the natural light.

• Upgrading light fixtures – Replacing a light fixture costs $80 to $350 on average, depending on the type and style. If your home features outdated light fixtures, the stager may suggest replacing them to modernize the look.

• Professional cleaning – Having your house professionally cleaned increases its appeal to buyers.

  • House cleaning services cost $25 to $75 per hour per cleaner or $30 to $50 per room.

  • Carpet cleaning costs $35 to $55 per room.

• Landscaping improvements – The home stager may recommend strategic improvements for curb appeal, such as trimming trees or planting flowers. Expect these costs for landscaping:

  • Landscapers charge $50 to $100 per hour for a 2-person crew.

  • Tree trimming costs $100 to $900, depending on the tree size.

  • Planting flowers costs $10 to $30 per pot.

  • Planting shrubs or bushes costs $25 to $85 per shrub.

Is home staging worth it?

Several real estate studies have shown that home staging is worth the cost. A professionally staged home is more appealing to buyers, spends less time on the market, and sells for a higher price than a non-staged home.

When deciding whether staging your home is worth the investment, consider these facts from the National Association of REALTORS® 2023 Profile of Home Staging:

• Out of all staged homes, 48% of them spent less time on the market.

• Staging influenced 34% of buyers to increase their offer by 1% to 10%.

• An 81% majority of buyer's agents said home staging made it easier for their clients to visualize a property as their future home.

• Home staging convinced 40% of potential buyers to schedule a showing after seeing photos of the staged house online.

How to save money on home staging costs

Follow these tips to save money on home staging while still increasing the chance your home will sell for a higher price:

• Stage only the most important rooms instead of the whole house. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, staging the living room had the most impact on buyers, followed by staging the primary bedroom and kitchen.

• Use your own furniture and décor instead of renting.

• Limit the furniture rental cost by renting only a few key pieces of furniture.

• Consider soft staging, which involves staging the artwork and accessories while using your own furniture.

• Hire a home stager for a consultation, then apply the stager's recommendations yourself.

• Request virtual staging, where a professional home stager digitally inserts décor and furniture into photos of the empty rooms in your house. This approach can be cost-effective because most homebuyers tour houses online before visiting in person.

• Declutter and clean the home yourself.

Home staging FAQs

What is home staging?

Home staging is the process of preparing a house for sale by redecorating, decluttering, and rearranging design elements to appeal to more buyers. Staging often includes adding or updating décor and accessories.

The goal of staging is to give your home an up-to-date, attractive, and inviting style. A professional stager will accentuate the home's best features while ensuring potential buyers can envision how it will look with their own personal touches.

Who pays for home staging?

The seller pays for home staging. Realtors typically don't cover the cost of staging, though some may be willing to offer that service in exchange for a higher commission on the sale price.

Are home staging costs tax deductible?

Home staging costs are tax deductible if the house sells. According to the IRS, the cost to stage a house qualifies as an advertising expense that's deductible from the capital gains on the sale. However, if you take the house off the market without selling it, then the home staging costs aren't deductible.

Can I stage an empty house?

Yes, you can stage an empty house. In fact, staging a vacant home makes it more appealing by helping buyers to more easily envision themselves living in a fully furnished space.

Why is home staging so expensive?

Home staging is expensive because it involves furniture rental and bringing in accessories and décor like art, rugs, pillows, and bedding. The staging company may need to rent these items for 30 days or more, depending on how long your home stays on the market.

Staging also includes design services to show off your home's best features and determine the best ways to arrange the furniture to maximize the appeal of the space.

Getting estimates from home staging companies

Because home staging can result in a significantly higher sale price and a faster sale, finding the right home stager is crucial. Follow these tips to find the best home staging companies near you:

• Get quotes from at least 3 staging companies familiar with your area.

• Ask your realtor for recommendations.

• Look for home stagers certified by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) or the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP).

• Read staging company reviews on HomeGuide and Google.

• Get a detailed written contract that outlines the staging services included in the fee.

Questions to ask home stagers

Discuss these questions with professional home stagers to ensure you hire the best one for the job:

• How long have you been staging homes?

• Do you have experience staging homes in my local market?

• Are you certified by RESA or IAHSP?

• Can you provide references and photos of your previous work?

• Can you walk me through your home staging process?

• Do you offer an initial consultation? If so, how much does it cost?

• What services does your staging fee include?

• What add-on services do you offer for an extra fee?

• Do you offer partial staging for specific rooms?

• Do you provide furniture and décor, or will I need to rent those items separately?

• Can you work with my existing furniture and décor, or do I need to remove everything from my home?