Home staging costs and effectiveness vary by method and market

Home staging methods and costs vary significantly depending on whether services are physical or virtual. According to the NAR 2025 Profile of Home Staging, physical staging through a service has a median cost of $1,500 per home, while staging performed by a listing agent has a median cost of $500 per home.

Virtual staging offers more diverse pricing tiers. AI-driven virtual staging tools typically cost between $5 and $25 per photo. Designer-led virtual staging ranges from $20 to $150 per photo. Specialized 3D designer-built staging, such as that provided by ArchiCGI, scales based on order volume, with prices ranging from $350 per photo for small orders down to $224 per photo for orders exceeding 60 photos.

Real estate professionals remain divided on the return on investment for staging. In a survey of 11 agents, five believed staging is worth the cost because it helps buyers visualize living in a space and creates emotional connections. Four agents suggested the value depends on the specific market and property, while two argued that funds might be better spent on cleaning, decluttering, repairs, or strategic pricing.