A Breakdown of the Cost vs. Value Report

The Cost vs. Value report is an annual roundup of remodeling statistics presented by Remodeling Magazine that aims to help homeowners, home buyers and investors understand the initial remodeling cost and return on investment (ROI) of different renovation projects.

The United States-based report offers national, regional, and city-specific data to help you understand which remodels are worth your investment and which can fall by the wayside.

Here, we provide a brief breakdown of the report and highlight some of the top projects to tackle for better cost recoupment.

Top 5 Remodeling Projects With High ROI: And #1 is….

The latest report shows data from 2025; however, based on past history, it’s safe to assume the following projects and trends will continue to be popular well into the coming years.

1. Garage Door Replacement

Garage door replacement secured the #1 spot last year and has maintained its position at the top again in 2025; making it the leading choice in home improvement value.  With a ROI of an astounding 268%, one can assume replacing your garage doors will be well worth the money.

The report highlights a few of the most popular options that helped this project achieve its high value:

• Heavy-duty galvanized steel tracks.
• Durable steel doors.
• Insulated to a minimum of R-12.

In basic terms this means a $4,672 investment in a new garage door can return an impressive $12,507 in resale value—proving that upgrading your garage doors isn’t just a curb appeal boost, it’s one of the smartest, most profitable improvements you can make to your home.

2. Steel Entry Door Replacement

This year was all about replacing items that product your home’s entrances.  With an average project cost of $2,435 and a resale value of $5,270, removing existing entry doors and jambs with new 20-gauge steel doors data shows you can gain a ROI of 216%.  Second still to garage door replacement.

3. Manufactured Stone Veneer (Siding)

Although coming in third place again, manufactured stone veneer replacement delivers impressive returns, with property owners recouping more than 208% of their investment in 2025.  Stone veneer edged out vinyl siding, is still a top 5 home remodeling project with high ROI.

4. Fiber-Cement Siding Replacement

This was a new contender making its way into the top five this year.  Fiber-cement siding replacement involves upgrading your home’s exterior with durable, factory-primed and painted siding then adding fresh trim for a polished finish. A key step in the process is ensuring a continuous water-resistive barrier (WRB)—often known as house wrap—beneath the siding. The WRB acts like a protective shield, preventing moisture from getting behind your siding and helping safeguard your home from mold, rot, and water damage. With an average job cost of $21,485 and a resale value of $24,420, this upgrade delivers a 114% return on investment proving how it made its way into the top 5 of home projects that can actually pay you back more than you spend.

5. Minor Kitchen Remodel

For years, everyone has heard how updating kitchens can bring in a high return when selling a property and this year’s report has the data to prove it!.  Minor kitchen remodels took over 2023’s fifth place position; vinyl siding. and is holding strong again in 2025. By adding new cabinet fronts, fresh hardware and a modern cooktop/oven range, you can expect to see a 113% ROI.

History was Made (yet again) in this Year’s 2025 Cost vs. Value Report

This year’s report shows ROIs that surpass even last year’s record-breaking 2024 findings.  According to the 2025 release of the 38th annual Cost vs. Value report, exterior renovations continue to deliver the best return on investment. In fact, nine of the top ten projects are exterior improvements, with a new garage door ranking number one, followed by a steel entry door replacement and manufactured stone veneer. These updates boost curb appeal and resale value, with some projects returning more than double their cost.

With garage door and steel entry door replacement taking positions 1 and 2, their values result in ROIs over 215%, and an average ROI for the manufactured stone veneer project of over 208%. These “hot returns” are the highest in the history of the Cost vs. Value report and can be attributed to the unique housing market for existing homes.  With the combination of higher mortgage interest rates and existing homeowners sitting on loads of equity. “There has been a strong shift in the existing home market that favors move-up buyers.  A new garage door or new entry door can make a pronounced difference and it could be the thing that makes one house stand out against all the others, making the home worth a higher price.” says Todd Tomalak, a principal of Zonda Advisory.

This was just one of several aspects of the report.  Explore other key trends in the 2025 cost vs. value report that made an impact and showed definitive turnarounds.  

Start Your Remodel With the Highest Resale Value Project - A New Garage Door

It's clear from the research provided that garage door replacement ia advantageous when it comes to your remodeling projects by offering a generous return on your initial investment.

It is also one of the most economical projects for homeowners and home buyers. Where other projects can quickly get expensive, replacing your garage door is a solid, lower-cost option with a net-positive ROI. It’s a win-win!

Ready to get started on your new garage door upgrade? Find a local Amarr dealer near you to discuss your options.

Or, if you want to see what different kinds of garage doors would look like on your home first, then use our simple, online design your own garage door tool.