Polish homeowners turn to DIY renovations as labor costs soar

A survey by Nieruchomosci‑online of 1,003 adults in the second quarter of 2026 found that 55 % of Poles carried out their most recent home renovation themselves or with family, while only 24 % entrusted the entire job to professional contractors. The study showed that rising labour costs have pushed many owners to limit the scope of outsourced work, reserving specialists for technically demanding stages.

Most respondents (50 %) spent no more than 15 000 zł on the renovation, with 23 % staying under 5 000 zł. About one‑fifth paid between 15 000 and 30 000 zł, and a small share (1 %) reported expenses exceeding 200 000 zł. Labour rates have risen by several tens of percent over the past five years, and for popular tasks wages have roughly doubled. Homeowners of houses are more likely to DIY (36 % fully self‑performed) than apartment owners (25 %). "Costs and the belief that we can do it better ourselves drive the trend," said Anna Zachara‑Widła, consumer‑behaviour researcher at the portal.