59%
of homeowners made improvements
51.6 million of the nation’s 86.9 million homeowners made improvements between 2021 and 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2023 American Housing Survey, 2023 ↗HOMEOWNER REFERENCE
HOME REPAIR &
IMPROVEMENT STATISTICS.
Current U.S. data on the work homeowners take on, what they spend, and the projects that keep homes running well.
Last updated October 5, 2026. Data sources are dated 2023 and 2025.
AT A GLANCE
A PRACTICAL LOOK AT HOME IMPROVEMENT.
Home repairs and improvements range from small equipment replacements to major projects. These figures bring together the latest available national homeowner data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
$827B
spent on improvements
Homeowners reported $827 billion in improvement spending across the 2021 to 2023 survey period.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2023 American Housing Survey, 2023 ↗$6,500
median improvement spend
That was the median amount owners spent on home improvements during the 2021 to 2023 survey period.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2023 American Housing Survey, 2023 ↗64%
of projects used professionals
Professionals completed 64% of the 140 million reported improvement projects, while homeowners completed 36% themselves.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2023 American Housing Survey, 2023 ↗32%
included key home equipment
Water heaters, dishwashers, and garbage disposals were the most common reported improvement type among owners who made improvements.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2023 American Housing Survey, 2023 ↗$611B
national market in 2022
U.S. home improvement and repair spending rose from $404 billion in 2019 to $611 billion in 2022.
Source: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Improving America’s Housing 2025, 2025 ↗49%
went to replacement work
Replacement projects, including roofing, windows, and HVAC, made up 49% of improvement expenditures in 2023.
Source: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Improving America’s Housing 2025, 2025 ↗44 years
median U.S. home age
The median age of the U.S. housing stock reached 44 years in 2023, underscoring the need to replace aging components.
Source: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Improving America’s Housing 2025, 2025 ↗WHAT THE NUMBERS SHOW
SMALL REPAIRS ARE PART OF A MUCH BIGGER PICTURE.
Replacement work accounts for a meaningful share of improvement spending, and the country’s housing stock continues to age. For homeowners, that makes routine attention to fixtures, weather protection, doors, trim, drainage, and worn exterior details more than a cosmetic concern. It is how a manageable repair list stays manageable.
National figures cannot predict the cost or scope of one Charlotte project. They do provide a useful picture of where homeowners are investing and why clear, capable help with practical repairs matters.
EXPLORE HANDYMAN SERVICES →METHODOLOGY & SOURCES
HOW TO READ AND CITE THESE FIGURES.
Each figure above links to the original source and is reported using that source’s time period and definitions. The Census figures summarize the 2023 American Housing Survey, including homeowner activity from 2021 through 2023. Harvard’s figures are drawn from its 2025 analysis of U.S. housing and remodeling data. This page is reviewed regularly as major source releases are updated.
U.S. Census Bureau and HUD, 2023 American Housing Survey home improvements summary ↗Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Improving America’s Housing 2025 ↗
CITE THIS PAGE
Great American Handyman. “Home Repair & Improvement Statistics.” Updated October 5, 2026. https://greatamericanhandyman.com/home-repair-statistics