Smart home budget calculator
Pick the devices you want and see what a smart home really costs: the upfront price range, whether you do it yourself or hire a pro, and the monthly and five-year ongoing cost that most calculators quietly leave out. No signup, no email.
Prices last verified June 2026.
Climate
$50 to $300 each
Security & entry
Smart lock
$100 to $300 each
Video doorbell
$50 to $350 each
Indoor camera
$30 to $180 each
Outdoor camera
$100 to $270 each
Sensor (motion, door, water)
$20 to $100 each
Lighting & power
Hub & voice
$25 to $300 each
Smart speaker
$40 to $300 each
Estimates only, in US dollars. Hardware bands are typical 2026 retail prices; the real total depends on the brands and exact models you choose. Pro-install labor is added per device when you pick "hire a pro." Ongoing cost is optional security monitoring plus camera cloud storage. Energy payback is deliberately conservative.
How this calculator works
Every device category carries a typical 2026 US price range, shown openly next to it. Your upfront estimate adds up the low and high price of everything you picked, and if you choose "hire a pro" it adds realistic install labor per device (plug-in gear like bulbs, plugs, and speakers needs none). The ongoing line is the part that catches people out: optional security monitoring plus camera cloud storage, shown per month, per year, and over five years, because those fees often outgrow the hardware. The rough energy payback uses conservative figures, the same ones in our energy-savings guide (about $50 a year for a smart thermostat).
These are estimates, not quotes, and we earn no commission and send you to no installer. New to how it all connects? Start with what the Matter protocol is, or pick hardware with our smart hub, thermostat, and smart plug guides.
2026 smart home device prices
The price bands behind the calculator, so you can see exactly where the numbers come from. Pro install is the added labor when a device needs wiring.
| Device | Hardware (each) | Pro install (each) |
|---|---|---|
| Smart thermostat | $50 to $300 | $150 to $500 |
| Smart lock | $100 to $300 | $150 to $350 |
| Video doorbell | $50 to $350 | $150 to $500 |
| Indoor camera | $30 to $180 | $100 to $250 |
| Outdoor camera | $100 to $270 | $150 to $400 |
| Sensor (motion, door, water) | $20 to $100 | $100 to $150 |
| Smart bulb | $10 to $40 | None (plug-in) |
| Smart light switch | $25 to $150 | $125 to $350 |
| Smart plug | $15 to $75 | None (plug-in) |
| Smart hub | $25 to $300 | $0 to $50 |
| Smart speaker | $40 to $300 | $0 to $50 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a smart home cost in 2026?
A basic setup (a few plugs, bulbs, a speaker, and a thermostat) runs roughly $300 to $1,500 if you install it yourself. A whole-home setup with security, cameras, and locks is more like $2,000 to $6,000, and luxury or fully professionally-installed systems can pass $10,000. Use the calculator above for a figure based on your own device list.
What are the ongoing monthly costs?
The upfront hardware is only part of it. Security monitoring is about $15 a month for DIY self-monitoring or $30 to $60 for professional monitoring, and camera cloud storage adds $3 to $20 a month. Those recurring fees often cost more than the hardware over five years, which is why the calculator shows them as their own line.
Is it cheaper to set up a smart home yourself?
Usually yes, by a lot. Most smart-home devices are designed for DIY install, and professional labor adds roughly $50 to $150 an hour, or $125 to $500 per device that needs wiring (switches, wired locks, some cameras). Plug-in devices like smart plugs, bulbs, and speakers need no install at all.
What is the cheapest way to start a smart home?
Start with a couple of smart plugs and bulbs and a speaker or your phone as the controller, often under $100 total, then add a thermostat or a lock once you see what you actually use. You do not need an expensive hub to begin; many devices work over Wi-Fi or Matter.
Sources
- Fixr: home automation cost
- HomeGuide: smart home cost
- Angi: home automation cost
- ENERGY STAR: smart thermostats
Prices change. We recheck and update them; this set was last verified in June 2026.