Thursday, March 5, 2026 / by Lauren Kerschen
Kitchen or Bathroom: Where Should You Spend $10K Before Selling?
You're selling your house.You've got $10K to spend on upgrades.
So the question becomes simple. Do you put it into the kitchen or the bathroom?
At first glance, most people immediately say kitchen. Kitchens sell houses. Buyers walk in and picture their life there. Morning coffee at the island. Dinner with friends. Natural light coming through the window above the sink. It is one of the most emotional rooms in the home.
And they are not wrong.
A kitchen remodel typically brings a return of about 100 to 110 percent.
That is a strong return. In many cases you can get your investment back and sometimes even a little more.
But here is where it gets interesting.
Bathroom remodels also bring a return of about 100 to 110 percent.
Same range. Same return.
So if the ROI is the same, what is the difference?
Cost.
Bathrooms are usually much less expensive to update than kitchens. That means you can invest less money and still see the same percentage return when the home sells.
When y ...
So the question becomes simple. Do you put it into the kitchen or the bathroom?
At first glance, most people immediately say kitchen. Kitchens sell houses. Buyers walk in and picture their life there. Morning coffee at the island. Dinner with friends. Natural light coming through the window above the sink. It is one of the most emotional rooms in the home.
And they are not wrong.
A kitchen remodel typically brings a return of about 100 to 110 percent.
That is a strong return. In many cases you can get your investment back and sometimes even a little more.
But here is where it gets interesting.
Bathroom remodels also bring a return of about 100 to 110 percent.
Same range. Same return.
So if the ROI is the same, what is the difference?
Cost.
Bathrooms are usually much less expensive to update than kitchens. That means you can invest less money and still see the same percentage return when the home sells.
When y ...
