Free tool
Home maintenance budget calculator
How much should you set aside each month for repairs and upkeep? Enter your home's value and age. We start from the common 1% rule and adjust it for older homes, harsh climates and extras like a pool. Nothing is stored.
Set aside about
$425 a month
- Per year
- $5,100
- Rate used
- 1.5% of value
Reasonable range: $283 to $708 a month
A rough rule of thumb, not a quote. Big replacements like a roof or HVAC are easier to plan separately with the replacement planner.
How we adjust the 1% rule
- Start at 1% of the home's value a year.
- Add 0.5% for a home 10 or more years old, and another 0.5% at 25 years.
- Add 0.5% for a harsh climate and 0.25% for extras like a pool.
Not spent this year? Keep it. Unused reserve covers next year's bigger job.