Home Improvement Costs in Texas
Aggregated cost estimates, BLS labor wages, climate-driven booking windows, and project calculators across 21 Texas cities. Use the cost-comparison links to drill into any single calculator and see how the local multiplier swings the estimate from one metro to another.
Region: South · IECC climate zone 2A-3B · newer single-family with slab foundations and storm-rated roofing.
Cities covered
21
Calculator pages with local multipliers
Climate zone
2A-3B
long, hot summers and short, mild winters with strong storm exposure
Housing stock (median)
1990
13% built before 1970
Primary scope concern
extreme heat, hurricanes, and hail
Drives bid premiums for affected scopes
Texas Cities by Cost Multiplier
Higher multiplier = pricier metro vs national average| City | Population | Cost multiplier | vs U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 2,304,580 | 0.84× | -16.0% |
| San Antonio | 1,547,253 | 0.86× | -14.0% |
| Dallas | 1,304,379 | 0.92× | -8.0% |
| Austin | 978,908 | 0.97× | -3.0% |
| Fort Worth | 956,709 | 0.92× | -8.0% |
| El Paso | 678,815 | 0.80× | -20.0% |
| Arlington | 394,266 | 0.91× | -9.0% |
| Corpus Christi | 317,863 | 0.80× | -20.0% |
| Plano | 285,494 | 0.94× | -6.0% |
| Lubbock | 257,141 | 0.78× | -22.0% |
| Irving | 256,684 | 0.90× | -10.0% |
| Laredo | 255,205 | 0.80× | -20.0% |
| Garland | 246,402 | 0.90× | -10.0% |
| Frisco | 200,509 | 0.93× | -7.0% |
| Amarillo | 200,393 | 0.79× | -21.0% |
| Grand Prairie | 196,998 | 0.88× | -12.0% |
| McKinney | 195,308 | 0.92× | -8.0% |
| Brownsville | 186,738 | 0.78× | -22.0% |
| Killeen | 153,095 | 0.81× | -19.0% |
| McAllen | 142,210 | 0.79× | -21.0% |
| Midland | 132,524 | 0.84× | -16.0% |
Multipliers blend BLS metro CPI (where available), regional CPI, and an ACS state income/home-value signal. See the methodology for full sourcing.
Local Labor Rates Near Texas
State-level mean hourly wages from BLS OEWS, May 2023.
| Trade | SOC | Mean hourly (TX) | vs national | Loaded billing rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CarpentersMost relevant | 47-2031 | $22.43 | -22.5% | ~$54/hr |
| PaintersMost relevant | 47-2141 | $20.51 | -17.2% | ~$49/hr |
| Electricians | 47-2111 | $28.14 | -12.6% | ~$68/hr |
| Plumbers & Pipefitters | 47-2152 | $28.40 | -13.5% | ~$68/hr |
| HVAC Mechanics | 49-9021 | $25.10 | -12.4% | ~$60/hr |
| Roofers | 47-2181 | $20.52 | -20.7% | ~$49/hr |
| Construction Laborers | 47-2061 | $18.95 | -16.8% | ~$45/hr |
"Mean hourly" is the BLS OEWS state-level cross-industry mean wage paid to the worker. Loaded billing rate is a typical 2.4× multiple used in residential bids to cover overhead, insurance, taxes, vehicle, and contractor margin. Use it as a sanity check on a quoted hourly rate.
Recent National Cost Trends
Regional CPI moves with the national construction PPI but lags by 1–2 months. Watch this index before locking in a long-bid project in Texas.
Residential Construction PPI — Trailing 12 Months
BLS series PCU236211236211, single-family construction producer prices.
200.1
+0.9% vs Mar 25
The PPI is the wholesale price of materials and labor that contractors pay, before margin. A rising index usually flows into homeowner quotes within 2–4 months. Use this trend to decide whether to pull a project forward or wait.
When to Schedule Each Trade in Texas
Best months derived from NOAA climate normals: heating/cooling degree days, freeze months, and precipitation.
| Trade | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement & repair | · | · | · | ★ | ★ | · | · | · | ★ | ★ | · | · |
| Exterior painting | · | · | · | ★ | ★ | · | · | · | ★ | ★ | · | · |
| Interior painting | ★ | ★ | ★ | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ★ |
| Concrete (driveways, slabs, footings) | · | · | · | ★ | ★ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ★ | ★ | · | · |
| HVAC install or replacement | · | · | ★ | ★ | · | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ★ | ★ | · | · |
| Landscaping & sod / planting | · | · | ★ | ★ | ★ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ★ | ★ | · | · |
| Decks, fences, pergolas | · | · | · | ★ | ★ | · | · | · | ★ | ★ | · | · |
| Siding replacement | · | · | · | ★ | ★ | · | · | · | ★ | ★ | · | · |
| Windows & exterior doors | · | · | ★ | ★ | · | · | · | · | · | ★ | ★ | · |
Calculators with Texas City Comparisons
Each link opens a state-level cost comparison across every Texas city we cover for that calculator.
Appliance
Bathroom
Electrical
Exterior
- Power Washing
- Deck Building
- Siding Installation
- Window Replacement
- Door Installation
- Garage Door Installation
- Exterior Painting
- Garage Floor Coating
- Stucco Repair
- Deck Staining
- Pergola Installation
- Gazebo Installation
- Porch Enclosure
- Screen Enclosure
- Awning Installation
- Concrete Patio
- Paver Patio
- Walkway Installation
- Sidewalk Repair
- Driveway Installation
- Concrete Repair
- Retaining Wall
- Foundation Repair
- Foundation Waterproofing
- Basement Waterproofing
- Crawl Space Encapsulation
- Sump Pump Installation
- Masonry Repair
- Brick Repair
- Fence Installation