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Home Technology Budgeting Tool

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This tool will help you understand what you should expect to spend on a new home technology project.

In less than 20 questions you will receive a realistic budget range for various technology options in your home. This often takes 5 minutes or less. For another perspective on home technology budgeting, click here to read 'Budget Advice - 4 Vital Tips'.

By creating a budget you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.

Where are you? *

What is your home's square footage? *

(a round number is OK)

In square meters? *

(a round number is OK)

Describe the cost-of-living / cost of labor for your area: *

Fairly Inexpensive

About Average

Expensive

Let's talk about wiring. What best describes your situation? *

My house is already wired

I am building a house and need all new wiring

I need some new wiring installed

My house has old wiring, need all new

How extensive / future-ready would you like your home’s wiring to be?

Basic (basic audio/video wiring, network, security cameras)

Automated Home (home control wiring to subsystems & touchpanels, additional TV & speaker locations)

Full Technology Package (adds advanced lighting, motorized shading, fiberoptic cabling, distributed video systems, extensive speaker & TV locations, dedicated home cinema)

Prewire pricing will vary based on exactly what features you would like in your home. Read this article about the importance of wiring/cabling in today's "wireless" world. Your local HTA Certified technology integrator is the best resource for exact prewire pricing. Wiring budget is for low-voltage wiring only, not electrical.

How about Wi-Fi? *

Already Installed

Consumer-grade

Professional-grade

Enterprise-grade

Our modern lifestyle and home's technology systems rely on a robust network and Wi-Fi system. Consider the network and Wi-Fi system the most crucial technology system in the home. It is the foundation of the rest of your home’s technology. Network and Wi-Fi products supplied by your Internet provider or big box stores are not recommended by the HTA or any reputable technology integrator. Homeowners who value reliability, security, and performance and frequently stream TV and movies should consider only Professional & Enterprise-grade networks. Enterprise-grade networks offer the best security, performance, and reliability. Click here to read more about this subject.

Do you want a lighting control system for the whole house? *

Lighting control systems reduce wall clutter, allow preset lighting scenes at the push of a button, increase security, and add convenience. Learn 5 reasons you may want a lighting system by clicking here

Yes, for the whole house and exterior

Yes, for the main areas of the house and exterior only

Only for a couple rooms

No, I will use conventional wall switches

Do you want high-quality architectural lighting?

Yes

No

High-quality lighting is vital to safety, comfort, aesthetics, and wellness in your home. High quality interior finishes are enhanced with high-quality lighting, and conversely, they will not look as good with economy lighting. Many technology integrators sell high-quality architectural lighting fixtures that are superior to basic 'contractor-grade' fixtures.

Architectural lighting includes recessed lighting and linear or ‘tape’ lighting. It does not include decorative lighting such as chandeliers, table lamps, floor lamps, wall sconces, pendant lights, etc. An extensive professional lighting design may exceed the budget estimates of this tool. This calculator factors architectural indoor lighting only, though each tier of lighting described below is available for exterior/landscape lighting, too. Installation of the lighting fixtures is typically handled by an electrician.

Directions: There are four tiers of lighting fixture quality; for a definition of each, click on the icon next to each tier. For more information, click on this glossary of lighting terms. In the box next to each tier, enter the percentage of the home you’d like for that tier (ie – enter “50” if the box next to ‘Tier 3’ if you want 50% of your lighting to be of Tier 3 quality).

Tier 1 :

Low:

High:

Tier 2 :

Low:

High:

Tier 3 :

Low:

High:

Tier 4 :

Low:

High:

Note: contractor-grade lighting (Tier 4) is typically not sold by integrators, though your electrician will sell and install it. As such, the cost figure is shown in this section only and is not carried to the total lighting fixture cost that appears further down this page

Do you want any motorized shading?
Motorized shades add beauty, convenience, address privacy concerns, and can be used to save energy. If desired, provide your best guess on how many windows/shades you want to motorize. The higher-end of the budget range includes higher-end fabrics, large windows, and dual-roller shades (both sheer and privacy shades on one window). Learn 9 benefits of motorized shading by clicking here. *

If none, just enter 0

Let's talk music.

How many rooms would you like music in the two categories described below? Include exterior areas too!

Higher-quality sound or higher-grade architectural finishes.

If none, just enter 0

Basic background music.

If none, just enter 0

Now on to Televisions. Please select how many TV's you would like in each of the two categories below.
Range includes video sources such as AppleTV, a Blu-ray player, satellite receiver, and remotely-locating them for best aesthetics. A basic soundbar is included for better audio. For advice on the best size TV for your room, click here. Note: Do not include TVs for any home cinema or surround sound systems here. We'll ask about that later.

TV's between 60" - 100" diagonal size

If none, just enter 0

TV’s between 32" - 55" diagonal size

If none, just enter 0

Do you want to centralize your video sources (Cable TV, Apple TV, Roku, Blu-ray player, etc.) in one location and have them viewable on all TV's? *

This is called “video distribution” and reduces the amount of audio/video equipment located at each TV location / room.

Yes

No

Do you have a dedicated home cinema room? Please select a budget. *

Pricing listed below does not include seating or room build-out costs.

No

Entry Level ($15K - 50K)

This budget is typically for a 4-6 seat cinema room with a 100" - 120" diagonal screen, a sub $10K video projector, and a receiver-based audio system with in-wall speakers.

This budget is typically for a 4-6 seat cinema room with a 100" - 120" diagonal screen, a sub £8K video projector, and a receiver-based audio system with in-wall speakers.

Enhanced ($51K - 100K)

This budget is typically for a 6-8 seat room with a 120" - 140" diagonal screen, a brighter, higher performance projector, and a higher quality sound system.

Performance ($101K - 175K)

This budget is typically for an 8-16 seat cinema with a 12' - 15' wide screen, high performance projector, and cinema-quality sound system.

This budget is typically for an 8-16 seat cinema with a 3.65m - 4.57m wide screen, high performance projector, and cinema-quality sound system.

High-Performance ($176K - 375K)

This budget is typically for an 8-20 seat cinema with a 12' - 20' wide screen, reference-grade video projector, reference-quality sound system, and acoustic design.

This budget is typically for an 8-20 seat cinema with a 3.65m - 6m wide screen, reference-grade video projector, reference-quality sound system, and acoustic design.

Ultra-High Performance ($376K+)

This budget is typically a spare no expense cinema with the very best equipment available and acoustic design. Equipment cost may well exceed $1M depending on room size and level of performance desired.

This budget is typically a spare no expense cinema with the very best equipment available and acoustic design. Equipment cost may well exceed £800K depending on room size and level of performance desired.

Do you plan on outfitting a room in your house with a surround sound system? Please select a budget.

A surround sound system creates an immersive sound experience, much like a dedicated home cinema room, though in a dual-purpose room such as a Family Room, Master Bedroom, etc. They are often called 'Media Rooms'. To learn the difference between a home cinema and media room, click here. If you would like more than one media room location, click on the "Add Another Surround System" button below.

No

Entry Level ($5K - 15K)

This budget is typically for a 65-75" TV with a "receiver-based" 5.1 audio system with in-wall or in-ceiling speakers and a subwoofer.

Enhanced ($16K - 30K)

This budget is typically for a 75-85" TV, a "separates-based" 7.1 audio system with higher performance in-wall or in-ceiling speakers and a subwoofer (or two).

Performance ($31K - 75K)

This budget is typically for a 85"-100" TV, a "separates-based" 11 speaker Dolby Atmos audio system with higher performance speakers and a subwoofer (or two).

High-Performance ($76K - 175K)

This budget is typically for a 75" TV for daytime use plus a 135" motorized projection screen for movie viewing and a cinema-quality 11 speaker Dolby Atmos audio system.

Let's move on to Security. Do you want a security and fire detection system? *

Yes

No

How many security cameras do you think you need to cover your home? *

Enter camera number. If none, just enter 0.
Typically, homeowners want to see the following areas: front of house, front door, driveway / gate, sides of house, and pool. If you are more concerned about security, you may want to add cameras for the perimeter of your property. Good-quality cameras see about 75 feet of distance on average. The high range of the budget estimate includes higher resolution cameras, better night vision, and longer surveillance recording time. To learn more about security camera option, click here.

Do you need an access control / entry intercom? *

Allows you to see and speak to someone at your front door or front gate(s). The basic option is a doorbell camera (like a Ring doorbell camera). More advanced solutions offer higher-end finishes, allow guests and staff access to the home based on custom conditions, and options such as biometric access and keycard access.

Entry level (video doorbell only):

If none, just enter 0

Advanced access control:

If none, just enter 0

Do you want to control your house through different multiple apps? *

Single app

Multiple app

No house control

For example, a music app, an app to operate your TV, an app for lights, an app for locks, an app for cameras, an app to open close garage doors & gates, etc. Or do you want to control the house through a single unified app that controls all the systems in the home? Learn more on the pros and cons of each by clicking here.

Does this home require very high-end architectural finishes that would apply to the home’s technology systems? This would include such items as mirror televisions, flush-mount wall devices, architectural lighting keypads, and motorized concealment systems for televisions, etc. *

Yes

No

Success! You have completed your budget estimate! Scroll below to see your budget range and advice on finding the right installer for your project.

Your Estimated Budget Range is:

Realtime Exchange Rate 1 USD =

	Low	High
Infrastructure
House Wiring Budget	0	0
Wi-Fi / Network Budget	0	0
Lighting and Shading
Lighting Fixtures Budget
Tier 1 Fixtures Budget	0	0
Tier 2 Fixtures Budget	0	0
Tier 3 Fixtures Budget	0	0
Lighting Control System Budget	0	0
Motorized Shading Budget	0	0
Security and Communications
Alarm and Fire Detection Budget	0	0
Security Cameras Budget	0	0
Access Control / Entry Intercom Budget	0	0
Entertainment
House Music Budget	0	0
Television Budget	0	0
Media Room Budget	0	0
Home Cinema Budget	0	0
Home Control / Smart Home Budget	0	0
Hi-end Architectural Finishes & Concealment	0	0
Total Range	0	0

The pricing shown above is converted from US$ using the exchange rate shown here.

The calculated price includes labor, accessories, and design & engineering. Tax not included. The calculated budget ranges in quality and performance from very good to top-of-the-line. Using a car analogy, this equates to an entry-level luxury car up to the very best. Budgets can be lowered by mixing in some DIY-level products.

Your preliminary budget indicates that home technology integration firms that are HTA Certified at the Luxury and Estate levels are the most appropriate choices. Estate level firms regularly deploy a large percentage of their projects at budgets of $250K and higher.

The three levels of HTA Certified companies are Foundation, Luxury, and Estate. Click the logos below to learn the definition of each:

To get a snapshot of a particular firm's "sweet spot" of project size and services offered, click into the firm’s profile and pay special attention to the Company Statistics, Customer Service/Aftercare, Project Size Information, and Home Size & Value Information sections to determine if this company may be a good fit for your needs.

Click here to see HTA Certified firms near you

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