How much does it cost to renovate an apartment in Belgium in 2026?
Short answer: In Belgium, market prices for renovating an apartment run from about €200 to €800 per m² for a refresh, €650 to €1,500 per m² for a full renovation and €1,200 to €2,500 per m² for a heavy renovation. For 70 m² that means roughly €14,000 to €56,000, €45,500 to €105,000 or €84,000 to €175,000, depending on finish level.
Prices in this article are indicative Belgian market ranges, not Alpha Services Benelux's price list. Your fixed price is in the quote.
Price per m² by renovation level
Expect roughly €200 to €800 per m² for a refresh, €650 to €1,500 per m² for a full renovation and €1,200 to €2,500 per m² for a heavy renovation. Price guides differ; the gap mostly reflects finish level.
| Level | Typical work | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh | Painting, new flooring, minor repairs | €200 - 800 per m² |
| Full renovation | Electrics, plumbing, floors, finishing; kitchen and bathroom sometimes separate | €650 - 1,500 per m² |
| Heavy renovation | New layout, all technical systems, insulation, structural work | €1,200 - 2,500 per m² |
The upper limit of €2,500 per m² applies with extra systems such as a heat pump, ventilation or home automation.
Note: some sources quote prices excluding VAT, others including VAT, and several do not say. Always ask whether a quote is excl. or incl. VAT.
Examples for 50, 70 and 90 m²
For 70 m², a full renovation comes to roughly €45,500 to €105,000. The other figures are simply the ranges from the table above multiplied by floor area.
| Floor area | Refresh | Full renovation | Heavy renovation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m² | 10,000 - 40,000 | 32,500 - 75,000 | 60,000 - 125,000 |
| 70 m² | 14,000 - 56,000 | 45,500 - 105,000 | 84,000 - 175,000 |
| 90 m² | 18,000 - 72,000 | 58,500 - 135,000 | 108,000 - 225,000 |
Smaller apartments often cost more per m², because the kitchen and bathroom cost about the same regardless of size. Also keep a 10 to 15 percent contingency.
Brussels versus the rest of the country
One source cites a 10 to 20 percent difference between regions: Brussels and Antwerp are more expensive than rural Wallonia. The other sources do not distinguish by region.
In practice, build a margin into a Brussels budget and allow for the constraints of working inside a building (access, deliveries, parking). These vary by project, so ask for them to be itemised in the quote.
What drives the price
Finish level and the extent of technical work weigh most. A refresh mostly touches surfaces; a heavy renovation changes the layout and renews the installations.
- Kitchen: about €12,000 to €20,000 in the mid-range.
- Bathroom: about €3,500 to €25,000, depending on size and finish.
- Windows: about €600 to €1,200 per m² of glazing.
- Load-bearing wall: needs a stability study, usually with an architect; the architect's fee is typically 10 to 15 percent of the renovation cost.
- Demolition and re-layout: the more you move, the more plumbing and electrics follow.
Our guides go deeper on the main items: kitchens and bathrooms.
Apartment in co-ownership: the syndic and the general meeting
If your works affect the common parts (facade, load-bearing walls, risers, street-side windows), a decision of the general meeting is needed. Work inside your own private unit is in principle possible without one, unless the co-ownership rules say otherwise.
- Different decisions require different majorities; your voting weight is your share, expressed in thousandths.
- An ordinary meeting takes place once a year; an extraordinary meeting is possible but costs money.
- Tell the syndic early: working hours, lift use, skip and noise are often regulated by the house rules.
- For a load-bearing wall, a stability study is added.
Have the syndic or a notary confirm the exact majority required for your specific work.
Order of works and timeline
The logical order is: strip out, technical installations in the walls, plastering and screed, then finishing. A full renovation takes several months, a bathroom or kitchen a few weeks.
- Strip-out and demolition.
- Electrics, plumbing and possibly heating in the walls.
- Plastering and screed.
- Screed drying: about 6 to 8 weeks according to one source, before the floor goes on.
- Flooring, painting, kitchen, bathroom and sanitaryware.
For planning detail, see our guide to renovation order and timeline.
6% or 21% VAT?
For renovation work on a dwelling first occupied at least 10 years ago, VAT is 6% instead of 21%, provided the dwelling is mainly used privately after the works and the contractor invoices you directly.
- The 10 years count from first occupation, not from the construction date.
- Materials you buy yourself stay at 21%.
- New builds do not qualify for this rate; extensions are subject to additional conditions – have your contractor check, or see financien.belgium.be.
- Exception: a new gas or oil boiler has been taxed at 21% VAT instead of 6% since summer 2025 (circular 2025/C/47); have your contractor check the transitional rule for older contracts.
- The contractor must put the elements justifying the 6% rate on the invoice.
Details are in our guide to 6% VAT on renovation. For possible support: in Flanders, vlaanderen.be/mijn-verbouwpremie; in Brussels, municipal premiums and advice from Homegrade (homegrade.brussels); in Wallonia, energie.wallonie.be (the Primes Habitation have been replaced by loans via Rénopack and Rénoprêt).
Comparing quotes and avoiding surprises
Ask for at least three quotes on the same basis so they can really be compared. A fixed written quote after a site visit is the best protection against extras.
- Check whether the price is excl. or incl. VAT and which VAT rate is applied.
- Have kitchen, bathroom, demolition, waste removal and protection of common areas itemised separately.
- Agree that any extra work is approved in writing, beforehand.
- Keep a 10 to 15 percent contingency.
Alpha Services Benelux, active since 2014, carries out renovations with its own team and issues a fixed written quote after a site visit. The prices in this guide are market ranges, not a price list. See our renovation work or get a first idea with the renovation calculator (in Dutch).
Fixed quote after a site visit
Alpha Services Benelux does the work with its own team, active since 2014. VAT BE 0541.320.178.
Request a quoteFrequently asked questions
How much does it cost to renovate a 70 m² apartment?
Based on market ranges, roughly €14,000 to €56,000 for a refresh, €45,500 to €105,000 for a full renovation and €84,000 to €175,000 for a heavy renovation. Your finish level determines where you land within each range.
What is the price per m² for a full apartment renovation?
The sources cite roughly €650 to €1,500 per m². A heavy renovation with a new layout and all technical systems sits higher, around €1,200 to €2,500 per m². It depends on finish and whether kitchen and bathroom are included.
Is renovating in Brussels more expensive than elsewhere?
One source cites a 10 to 20 percent difference between regions, with Brussels and Antwerp above rural Wallonia. Other sources give no regional figures, so compare local quotes.
Do I need permission to renovate an apartment in co-ownership?
If the works affect common parts, the general meeting decides, and different majorities apply to different decisions. Work inside your private unit is usually possible without, unless the rules say otherwise. Tell the syndic early.
What VAT applies to an apartment renovation?
6% if the apartment was first occupied at least 10 years ago, is used privately and the contractor invoices you directly. Materials you buy yourself stay at 21%. A new gas or oil boiler is an exception and is taxed at 21%.
How long does an apartment renovation take?
A full renovation takes several months; a bathroom or kitchen a few weeks. The screed needs about 6 to 8 weeks to dry before the floor goes on. Good planning with your contractor limits waiting time.
Sources
- Appartement renoveren: Regels, kosten & tips (2026) — Renovatie Kampioen
- Prijs totaalrenovatie 2026: kosten per m² & budget — Renovatie Kampioen
- Prix rénovation appartement: coûts au m², budget, TVA 6 % — Renovatie Kampioen
- Prijzen renovatie 2026 — Bouwadviseur.be
- Budget rénovation m² : estimation et prix détaillés (page du 30/03/2026) — MV House Construct
- Rénover votre habitation ? Voici le prix à payer ! — Beobank
- Wanneer en hoe krijg je verminderd btw-tarief van 6% voor werken aan je woning? — Test Aankoop
- Modification des taux de TVA pour les installations de chauffage alimentées par des combustibles fossiles — FOD Financiën
- RENOLUTION-premies — Leefmilieu Brussel
- Réforme des primes rénovation en Wallonie : le nouveau régime Rénopack / Rénoprêt en vigueur dès le 1er octobre 2026 — Certinergie