What does it cost to renovate an apartment in 2026?

In short

• A surface renovation costs roughly 2,500-5,000 kr per m².
• A medium-scale renovation often costs 6,000-12,000 kr per m².
• A full renovation usually costs 12,000-25,000 kr per m².
• The average for a full renovation is around 14,000 kr per m².
• Renovating a 50 m² apartment can cost from 125,000 kr to over 1.2 million kr.
• Renovating a 70 m² apartment can cost from 175,000 kr to over 1.7 million kr.
• A new kitchen often costs 75,000-300,000 kr.
• A fully renovated bathroom usually costs 200,000-400,000 kr or more.
• You should set aside a contingency of at least 10-15 percent.
• A simple renovation normally does not require a building application, but load-bearing walls, changes of use and work that affects other units may require one.

Price per square metre

The price per square metre is useful in early planning, but it cannot replace a detailed quote.

A bathroom costs about the same to fully renovate whether the apartment is 40 or 80 square metres. Small apartments with a new bathroom and kitchen can therefore end up with a higher price per square metre than large apartments.

What do the different levels mean?

Simple surface renovation

A surface renovation changes the look without major intervention in the structure or the technical systems.

This can include:

You normally keep the existing floor plan, kitchen, bathroom, pipes and most of the electrical system.

Medium-scale renovation

A medium renovation goes further than new surfaces, but it is not necessarily a complete full renovation.

This can include:

The bathroom can be kept if it is in good technical condition. This is often what separates a medium renovation from a costly full renovation.

Full renovation

In a full renovation, large parts of the apartment are upgraded, often right down to the substrate.

The work can include:

A full renovation usually involves a carpenter, painter, electrician, plumber, tiler and project manager.

What does it cost to renovate different sizes?

The ranges are wide because two apartments of the same size can have completely different needs.

A 70 square metre apartment with a newer bathroom can be far cheaper to renovate than a 50 square metre apartment where the bathroom, kitchen, pipes and electrical system all have to be replaced.

Common costs when renovating an apartment

The costs can overlap. In a quote from a main contractor, for example, project management, site setup and coordination will often be spread across several items or combined in one price.

What does it cost to paint an apartment?

Professional filling and painting of an apartment often costs between 60,000 and 200,000 kr.

The price is affected by:

Painting directly onto smooth walls is far cheaper than fully skim coating old walls with hessian, wallpaper or major damage.

If you want perfectly smooth walls and ceilings, the preparation work can make up most of the cost.

What does it cost to lay new flooring?

New flooring in an apartment often costs between 50,000 and 200,000 kr including materials, installation and skirting boards.

Standard parquet typically costs from around 400 to 2,000 kr per square metre for the material alone. Labour, underlay, removal and levelling come on top.

The price depends on:

Herringbone parquet, solid wood and special patterns are more expensive to lay than standard laminate or click parquet.

If the old floor is uneven, levelling can be a significant additional cost.

What does it cost to renovate the kitchen?

A new or extensively upgraded kitchen usually costs between 75,000 and 300,000 kr. A typical kitchen project is often around 150,000 kr.

The price can include:

You can save a lot by keeping the kitchen where it is. If the sink, dishwasher, cooker and extractor hood are moved, new pipes, drainage, electrical circuits and ventilation may be needed.

A cosmetic kitchen upgrade can cost far less. New fronts, handles, a worktop and paint can give a clear lift without replacing the whole kitchen.

What does it cost to renovate the bathroom?

A full bathroom renovation usually costs between 200,000 and 400,000 kr. Large bathrooms, high-end products or complicated solutions can cost 500,000 kr or more.

A typical bathroom project includes:

The bathroom is often the most expensive part of an apartment renovation. Even a small bathroom requires many of the same trades and work steps as a larger one.

If the bathroom is in good technical condition, you can save a lot by keeping it and doing a simpler cosmetic upgrade.

What does the electrical work cost?

Electrical work when renovating an apartment can cost from around 30,000 kr to over 200,000 kr.

A smaller project can include:

A larger electrical upgrade can include:

Work on the fixed electrical installation must be carried out and documented by a registered electrical contractor.

Ask for a declaration of conformity (samsvarserklæring) once the work is finished.

What does the plumbing work cost?

Plumbing work can cost between 20,000 and 100,000 kr or more, depending on the scope.

It becomes particularly expensive if:

Keep wet rooms and the kitchen close to the existing water and drainage runs where possible. Long new pipe runs can be expensive and technically difficult to carry out in an apartment.

Example 1: Surface renovation of 50 m²

The apartment is getting new floors, painted walls and ceilings, new skirting boards and some minor electrical upgrades. The bathroom and kitchen are kept.

That is roughly 3,700 kr per square metre.

Example 2: Medium renovation of 70 m²

The apartment is getting a new kitchen, new floors, fully skim-coated walls, more electrical points and some minor changes to the floor plan. The bathroom is kept.

That is roughly 8,500 kr per square metre.

Example 3: Full renovation of 80 m²

The apartment is getting a new bathroom and kitchen, a changed floor plan, a new electrical system, upgraded pipes, new floors and new surfaces.

That is roughly 14,125 kr per square metre.

The example shows why the bathroom and kitchen matter so much for the overall price.

What affects the price most?

Bathroom and kitchen

Wet rooms and kitchens require several trades, expensive equipment and technical installations. These are usually the largest cost items.

Changing the floor plan

Moving walls can affect floors, ceilings, electrical cables, ventilation and pipes. If the wall is load-bearing, the project becomes more complicated and may require a building application.

Moving water and drainage

Moving the kitchen or bathroom can require new pipe runs through floors, walls or shared structures.

The age of the apartment

Older apartments can have:

This increases the risk of unforeseen costs.

Choice of materials

The price difference between affordable standard products and custom-made solutions can be very large.

Kitchens, parquet, tiles, bathroom fixtures and doors come in almost every price range.

Access and floor level

Apartments can be more demanding to renovate than detached houses. Materials and waste have to be carried through the stairwell or lift, and there may be restrictions on working hours and parking.

Number of trades

The more trades involved, the more important coordination becomes. Waiting time and work done in the wrong order can increase the cost.

Where you live

Price levels are often higher in Oslo and other large cities. Local competition, travel distance and demand affect prices.

How long does it take?

The duration is affected by the size of the project, product lead times, the number of tradespeople and any applications.

Bathrooms and custom-ordered kitchens can have long lead times. Order critical products before the project starts.

Also remember to budget for alternative accommodation if the apartment cannot be used during the work.

In what order should the work be done?

A typical full renovation is carried out like this:

The order can vary. What matters is that the trades plan the work together before the project starts.

Do you need to apply to the municipality?

Ordinary maintenance and cosmetic renovation normally do not require a building application.

According to the Norwegian Building Authority (Direktoratet for byggkvalitet), you can as a general rule do the following without applying to the municipality:

You may have to apply if you are going to:

A non-load-bearing partition wall can normally be moved without an application if the work takes place within the same fire compartment and the requirements for light, ventilation and fire safety are still met.

If you are unsure, contact the municipality before the work starts.

Does the board of the co-owned property or housing cooperative need to approve the renovation?

Permission from the municipality and permission from the co-owned property (sameie) or housing cooperative (borettslag) are two different things.

Even if the work does not require a building application, the bylaws and house rules may require that the board is notified or approves the work.

Contact the board if the project affects:

Also agree on working hours, use of the lift and protection of the stairwell and common areas.

Ask for written approval when this is required.

Which tradespeople do you need?

A full renovation can require:

You can sign separate agreements with each company or choose a main contractor who coordinates the whole project.

Separate agreements can give you more control over prices, but require you to manage progress, dependencies and the division of responsibility yourself.

A main contractor may cost more, but you normally get one contract and one party with overall responsibility.

What documentation should you receive?

The documentation should be collected digitally and stay with the apartment.

Ask for:

The documentation is important when selling the home, making a complaint, dealing with an insurance claim and for later renovations.

Ask for the documentation to be registered in Boligmappa.

How large a contingency should you have?

Set aside at least 10-15 percent of the budget as a contingency.

When renovating older apartments, 15-20 percent may be sensible.

If the project budget is 1,000,000 kr, you should therefore have between 100,000 and 200,000 kr available for unforeseen costs.

Common surprises are:

The contingency should not be spent on planned upgrades. It should be available if something unforeseen actually comes up.

How to save money

Keep the bathroom if it is technically sound

The bathroom is often the most expensive part of the apartment. If the bathroom is documented and in good condition, you can settle for cosmetic changes.

Do not move the kitchen

Keeping the sink and dishwasher close to the existing water supply and drainage can save significant amounts.

Keep the floor plan

Fewer changes to walls means less work on floors, ceilings, electrics and ventilation.

Choose standard sizes

Standard kitchen cabinets, doors and fittings are often cheaper than custom-made solutions.

Decide on materials early

Changes along the way create extra work, delays and new orders.

Reuse what works

Parquet can be sanded, kitchen fronts can be painted, and some doors and skirting boards can be kept.

Compare complete quotes

A low quote may be missing important costs. Compare the scope of work, materials, documentation and reservations - not just the total.

Do your own work where it is legal

Clearing, painting, simple demolition and waste handling can reduce the cost. Always clarify responsibility with the tradespeople before doing parts of the work yourself.

Do not carry out electrical work, work on water pipes or risky work in wet rooms without the right qualifications.

How to get good quotes

Write one detailed job description that all the companies receive.

It should contain:

Ask for the quote to be broken down into:

That makes it easier to spot if something is missing.

Contract and secure payment

The contract should describe:

According to the Norwegian Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet), a price estimate may as a general rule not be exceeded by more than 15 percent unless something else has been expressly agreed.

For larger projects, payment should be split according to progress. Avoid paying the full amount before the work has been inspected and the documentation received.

Fikso is built to make the renovation process safer. The customer secures the payment before the work starts, and the money is paid out in line with the agreed process. If a disagreement arises, the payment can be held back while the parties' documentation is reviewed.

Handover of the finished apartment

Do not approve the project without a thorough inspection.

Check:

Record all faults and outstanding work in a handover report. Take photos and set a deadline for rectification.

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion: What should you budget for?

A simple renovation of the apartment typically costs between 2,500 and 5,000 kr per square metre. If the whole apartment is to be fully renovated, you should normally expect 12,000-25,000 kr per square metre.

A realistic budget could be:

The most important thing is to define what "renovation" means in your project. Painting and new floors are something entirely different from a new bathroom, kitchen, pipes, electrical system and a changed floor plan.

Write a detailed description, obtain comparable quotes and keep a contingency. That reduces the risk of the project ending up far more expensive than planned.

Method and sources

The prices are indicative estimates based on published price databases and price guides for Norwegian renovation projects. The actual price depends on location, condition, standard, materials and scope of work.

Rules and price information have been checked against:

This article provides general information and does not replace a site visit, professional design work or a specific quote.