ReckonBoxWhat a smart home costs to build
A smart home budget is the sum of the devices you plan to buy at their typical prices, plus any professional installation. A starter set of a thermostat, eight bulbs, two plugs, two cameras, a lock, and a hub comes to about $1,060 in devices.
That figure sits right in the middle of the real range. A smart home averages about $839, with most people spending between $201 and $1,584, and a full build reaching $2,000 to $7,000. The spread is enormous because "smart home" means anything from a single $35 bulb to a whole-house system with cameras on every corner. This tool builds the number up device by device, so the total reflects your actual plan rather than an average that fits nobody.
Typical prices, device by device
A smart thermostat runs about $130, a smart bulb about $35, and the rest fall in between. Prices vary by brand and features, but these typical figures anchor a budget.
| Device | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Smart thermostat | $130 ($70 to $280) |
| Security camera | $150 |
| Smart lock | $200 |
| Smart hub | $100 |
| Smart bulb | $35 |
| Smart plug | $25 |
The quantities are where budgets diverge. One thermostat covers a small home, but bulbs add up fast, since a single room can take four to eight, and a whole house runs to dozens at $35 each. That is why lighting, cheap per unit, often becomes the largest line on a full build, with whole-home lighting systems reaching $1,000 to $3,000 once every fixture is covered.
Hubs and installation, the two swing costs
A hub and professional installation are the choices that move a budget most. Many Wi-Fi devices connect straight to your router and skip the hub entirely, while Zigbee and Z-Wave gear usually needs one, about $100, which also lets devices work together locally and keeps running if the internet drops. Installation is the other swing: bulbs, plugs, and most thermostats are genuine do-it-yourself jobs with no labor cost, but a video doorbell without existing wiring or a whole-home lighting system is where a pro earns their fee. Enter an install cost to see it in the total, or leave it at zero for a DIY build.
What this does not cover
This estimates the upfront hardware cost from typical prices, which move with sales, brands, and premium features a basic model lacks. It does not include a monthly subscription some cameras and security systems charge, the running electricity the devices themselves use, or the energy they can save, which offsets part of the cost over time. For that offset, the smart home energy savings calculator estimates what a thermostat and LED bulbs pay back. Budget the hardware here, then weigh the savings there.
Price the bulbs by the roomful, not the unit, because a $35 tag becomes the biggest line once every socket in the house wants one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a smart home cost? A smart home averages about $839, with most people spending between $201 and $1,584, and a full build running $2,000 to $7,000. A starter setup of a thermostat, eight bulbs, two plugs, two cameras, a lock, and a hub comes to about $1,060 in devices before any professional installation. The total depends entirely on how many devices you add.
What do individual smart devices cost? Typical prices are about $130 for a smart thermostat (the range is $70 to $280), $35 for a smart bulb, $25 for a smart plug, $150 for a security camera, $200 for a smart lock, and $100 for a hub. Prices vary by brand and features, so this tool uses these typical figures and you can scale the quantities to your plan.
Do I need a smart home hub? Not always. Many Wi-Fi devices connect straight to your router and an app, with no hub needed, while Zigbee and Z-Wave devices usually do need one. A hub, about $100, adds reliability and lets devices work together locally, so a large setup often justifies it while a handful of bulbs does not. This tool lets you include or skip it.
Should I pay for professional installation? Bulbs, plugs, and most thermostats are genuine do-it-yourself jobs that add no labor cost. Hardwired items, a video doorbell without existing wiring, or a whole-home lighting system are where installation adds up, and a full installed lighting system runs $1,000 to $3,000. Enter a professional install cost to see it in the total, or leave it at zero for a DIY build.
Does this include energy savings? No, this is the upfront cost to buy and optionally install the devices. Some of them, especially a thermostat and LED bulbs, pay part of that cost back in energy savings over time. The smart home energy savings calculator estimates that return, so together they show both what a setup costs and what it saves.