Highest-return home improvements (2025 national data)

Cost recovered equals estimated resale value added divided by project cost, multiplied by 100. It is not a guaranteed return or a measure of the home’s total sale price.

For example, Zonda lists garage door replacement at $4,672, with $12,507 in estimated resale value added. That is about 268% recovered—not a 268% profit after paying for the work.

All figures are 2025 national averages, not local quotes. Percentages are rounded to whole numbers.

Project scope matters. A minor kitchen remodel is not the same project as a major kitchen remodel, and midrange and upscale versions have separate estimates.

Garage door replacement — about $4,672 cost, about 268% recovered

Steel entry door replacement — about $2,435 cost, about 216% recovered

Fiber-cement siding replacement — about $21,485 cost, about 114% recovered

Minor kitchen remodel, midrange — about $28,458 cost, about 113% recovered

Vinyl siding replacement — about $17,950 cost, about 97% recovered

Bathroom remodel, midrange — about $26,138 cost, about 80% recovered

Vinyl window replacement — about $22,073 cost, about 76% recovered

Asphalt-shingle roof replacement — about $31,871 cost, about 68% recovered

Major kitchen remodel, midrange — about $82,793 cost, about 51% recovered

Bathroom remodel, upscale — about $81,612 cost, about 42% recovered

Major kitchen remodel, upscale — about $164,104 cost, about 36% recovered

Zonda’s full report covers 28 projects. See the source link below for the complete national list.

Zonda points to curb appeal as a major reason exterior replacements perform well. Garage doors, entry doors, and siding change what buyers see when they first approach a home.

Zonda also notes that large interior remodels can depend more on personal taste. A kitchen layout or finish package that suits one household may not appeal as strongly to the next buyer.

The ranking does not mean every exterior project beats every interior project. A midrange minor kitchen remodel ranks ahead of vinyl siding, windows, and roofing.

Scope matters as much as category: Zonda estimates about 113% recovery for a minor midrange kitchen remodel, compared with about 51% for a major midrange kitchen remodel.

NAR’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report uses project costs estimated by NARI members and resale value estimates from Realtors. Zonda uses real estate professional surveys and construction cost data. Both offer national estimates, but their project definitions and methods differ.

Steel front door: NAR estimates 100% cost recovery, versus Zonda’s 216% for steel entry door replacement. Both place it at or near the top, but the estimated return differs sharply.

Kitchen: NAR estimates 60% recovery for a minor kitchen upgrade and 60% for a complete kitchen renovation. Zonda estimates about 113% for a minor midrange remodel and about 51% for a major midrange remodel.

Bathroom renovation: NAR estimates 50% recovery. Zonda estimates 80% for a midrange bathroom remodel and about 42% for an upscale remodel.

Windows: the reports are closer. NAR estimates 74% for vinyl and 71% for wood; Zonda estimates about 76% and 70%.

Do not average the two reports together. Use each as a separate reference, then compare the actual project specifications with the work you are considering.

A lower-ranked project may still solve an important problem. A roof that needs replacement or a bathroom that no longer works can matter more than its place on a resale list.

NAR gives added primary bedroom suites, kitchen upgrades, and new roofing a Joy Score of 10 out of 10. That measures reported homeowner happiness, not financial return.

Comfort, function, accessibility, and years of use are separate benefits. The cost-recovery percentage does not put a dollar value on them.

Local labor costs, material choices, buyer preferences, climate, and the home’s condition can change both project cost and resale value. Zonda reports pronounced regional differences.

A percentage above 100% does not guarantee that you will recover the full cost. Your actual scope, quote, and eventual sale may differ from the report’s assumptions.

Use a local contractor to define the work and a local Realtor to discuss buyer expectations. The ranking helps you compare projects; it is not a personalized pre-sale checklist.