Home project costs in Reading, PA
Every project we cover, priced for the Reading metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
The BEA price index for the Reading area is 97.1 against 100 for the US, which puts Reading 115th among 300 metros we track. Goods prices, which matter most for materials, are at 100.7. BLS counts roughly 174,670 jobs here.
In Reading, 17 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 14 below, and 7 are level with it. The biggest premiums are kitchen backsplash (+10%), tile flooring (+10%) and shower pan (+7%); the biggest discounts are roof replacement (−5%), composite deck (−4%) and kitchen cabinets (−3%). The spread comes from which trades each job uses: a labor-heavy job follows local wages, while a materials-heavy job follows the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Reading Spaatz Fld, 3 miles away) shows a January average low of 23°F, a July average high of 87°F and 45 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are April through October; for exterior installation, they are March through November.
What local trades earn in Reading
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $21.78 | $23.46 | $29.13 | $22.66 | 1.04 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $22.60 | $26.41 | $29.57 | $29.12 | 0.91 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $24.70 | $29.95 | $36.80 | $28.78 | 1.04 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $24.25 | $29.99 | $36.66 | $30.67 | 0.98 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $23.74 | $28.71 | $31.46 | $27.41 | 1.05 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $27.79 | $36.09 | $44.80 | $30.38 | 1.19 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.77 | n/a |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | $22.39 | $24.07 | $30.19 | $26.65 | 0.90 |
Concrete & paving in Reading
The 7 jobs here average +2% versus the US in Reading, from +1% (concrete slab) to +3% (paver patio).
| Project | Size | Reading range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Reading | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +1% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Reading | 600 sq ft | $3,700 – $9,400 | +2% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Reading | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,550 | +2% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Reading | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,400 | +2% |
| Paver patio cost in Reading | 300 sq ft | $3,100 – $5,650 | +3% |
| Concrete patio cost in Reading | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,050 | +2% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Reading | 400 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,150 | +2% |
Decks & outdoor in Reading
The 2 jobs here average −3% versus the US in Reading, from −4% (composite deck) to −3% (wood deck).
| Project | Size | Reading range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Reading | 300 sq ft | $7,350 – $14,800 | −3% |
| Composite deck cost in Reading | 300 sq ft | $11,600 – $23,200 | −4% |
Building & additions in Reading
Across these 2 projects, Reading averages −1% against national midpoints. Detached garage is highest at −1% and home addition lowest at −2%.
| Project | Size | Reading range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Reading | 576 sq ft | $28,800 – $57,700 | −1% |
| Home addition cost in Reading | 300 sq ft | $37,300 – $75,500 | −2% |
Doors & windows in Reading
The 5 jobs here average −1% versus the US in Reading, from −2% (storm door) to level (garage door).
| Project | Size | Reading range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Reading | 1 door | $700 – $3,700 | level |
| Storm door cost in Reading | 1 door | $340 – $930 | −2% |
| Front door cost in Reading | 1 door | $480 – $2,500 | −1% |
| Window replacement cost in Reading | 10 windows | $4,500 – $15,000 | level |
| Patio door cost in Reading | 1 door | $590 – $5,900 | −2% |
Fencing in Reading
The 4 jobs here average −1% versus the US in Reading, from −1% (wood fence) to level (aluminum fence).
| Project | Size | Reading range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Reading | 150 linear ft | $3,000 – $7,550 | −1% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Reading | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,150 | level |
| Chain-link fence cost in Reading | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,100 | −1% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Reading | 150 linear ft | $3,800 – $11,400 | level |
Roofing & exterior in Reading
The 5 jobs here average −1% versus the US in Reading, from −5% (roof replacement) to +2% (attic insulation).
| Project | Size | Reading range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Reading | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,750 – $12,000 | −5% |
| Metal roof cost in Reading | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,800 – $31,800 | −2% |
| Gutters cost in Reading | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,250 | +1% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Reading | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,300 – $24,800 | −1% |
| Attic insulation cost in Reading | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,050 | +2% |
Kitchen & bath in Reading
Across these 5 projects, Reading averages +4% against national midpoints. Kitchen backsplash is highest at +10% and kitchen cabinets lowest at −3%.
| Project | Size | Reading range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Reading | 25 linear ft | $4,200 – $13,600 | −3% |
| Shower pan cost in Reading | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,950 | +7% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Reading | 120 sq ft | $18,600 – $31,700 | +1% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Reading | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,200 | +4% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Reading | 30 sq ft | $330 – $1,650 | +10% |
Landscaping & drainage in Reading
Across these 5 projects, Reading averages +2% against national midpoints. Retaining wall is highest at +4% and sod installation lowest at level.
| Project | Size | Reading range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Reading | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | level |
| Retaining wall cost in Reading | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,400 – $13,900 | +4% |
| Sod installation cost in Reading | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,300 | level |
| Sprinkler system cost in Reading | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,050 – $10,100 | +1% |
| Inground pool cost in Reading | 450 sq ft | $37,100 – $116,000 | +3% |
Flooring & interior in Reading
The 3 jobs here average +3% versus the US in Reading, from −2% (hardwood flooring) to +10% (tile flooring).
| Project | Size | Reading range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Reading | 500 sq ft | $5,400 – $12,300 | −2% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Reading | 500 sq ft | $2,000 – $7,000 | level |
| Tile flooring cost in Reading | 200 sq ft | $2,850 – $10,700 | +10% |
Reading against its nearest metros
Averaged over all 38 projects, Reading prices +1% against the US midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, 5 price higher and 1 lower. Lancaster is the lowest at roughly level (30 miles) and Philadelphia the highest at +4% (50 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, PAthis page | 97.1 | 100.7 | +1% | |
| Lancaster, PA | 30 miles | 98.3 | 100.7 | level |
| Allentown, PA | 40 miles | 100.0 | 100.6 | +1% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 50 miles | 102.6 | 96.8 | +4% |
| York, PA | 55 miles | 96.0 | 100.7 | +2% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 60 miles | 98.7 | 100.7 | +2% |
| Scranton, PA | 65 miles | 93.6 | 100.7 | +1% |