DIY Statistics (2023)
DIY, short for "Do It Yourself," is all about taking control of your home improvement and getting things done on your own.
It's a hands-on approach to various tasks and projects, without necessarily relying on professionals.
In this article, we'll dive into some interesting insights about this trend and explore the following topics in more detail:
- How Many People Take On DIY Projects?
- Reasons People Take On DIY Projects
- Most Popular DIY Projects
- Do DIY Projects Save Money?
Key DIY Statistics
- 75% homeowners attempt some sort of DIY project.
- 62% percent of Americans say a top reason for attempting a DIY project is to save money.
- 80% people attempting DIY projects make mistakes, and 45% of DIYers report that they have completely butchered a DIY project.
- 43% of DIYers use YouTube as a source of information for their project.
- Home interior projects are the most popular, performed by 31% of homeowners who take on DIY projects.
- American DIYers typically have spent from $2,000 to $5,000 on their largest DIY project.
How Many People Take On DIY Projects?
An estimated 75% homeowners attempting DIY projects themselves. DIY projects are clearly a popular way for people to enhance their homes.
Younger homeowners are more likely to attempt DIY projects, often because they have less disposable income, and they believe that the DIY approach will be less costly than hiring a contractor.
Furthermore, younger people are very comfortable accessing information online, with 43% of DIYers reporting that they use YouTube as a source of information for their project.
Impact of The Global Pandemic
During the global pandemic, people had more free time on their hands and spent more of it at home than usual. This resulted in an uptick in people attempting DIY projects, with around 81% doing so during this time.
Nearly half of homeowners attempted four or more DIY projects with varying degrees of success.
Reasons People Take On DIY Projects
62% percent of Americans say that a top reason for attempting DIY projects is to save money. Financial aspects were motivating in more ways than one. In addition to the initial cost savings, 77% of DIYers said they believed their project would increase the future sale value of their homes.
Having something fun to do, and learning a new skill is also appealing to DIYers. Here’s a breakdown of the top four reasons reported why people take on a DIY project.
Reasons Why People Prefer to Hire a Professional
In some cases, people prefer to hire professionals rather than attempt certain projects themselves, with a top reason being that they want to make sure the job is done right. Here are the top four reasons people say that they’d rather hire someone than attempt to go the DIY route.
Making sure a project is done right is a reasonable concern. In fact, 4 out of 5 people attempting DIY projects make mistakes, and 45% of DIYers report that they have completely butchered a project.
The difficulty of a project can impact one’s willingness to take it on via DIY. In addition, more advanced projects may require special tools that minimize the cost-effectiveness of DIY in these scenarios.
Most Popular DIY Projects
The most common types of DIY projects are home interior projects (painting, flooring, décor) which are taken on by 31% of homeowners surveyed.
Here’s a breakdown of the most popular DIY projects:
Outdoor projects are quite common, too, as landscaping was the second most common DIY project for homeowners.
This corresponds with data that shows nearly half of DIYers surveyed (48%) had purchased lawn and garden products in the past 3 months.
This breakdown of purchasing behavior helps us gain additional insights into the types of projects people take on:
Do DIY Projects Save Money?
American DIYers typically spend between $2,000 to $5,000 on their largest DIY projects like remodeling, renovation, or room additions.
- 31% of DIYers have reported spending over $5,000 on a project.
- 13% have spent over $10,000 on a DIY project.
- Adding a kitchen is one of the most expensive DIY projects coming in at a mean cost of $11,870.
More challenging projects such as adding a kitchen or rec room also have the biggest opportunities for potential savings.
Here’s a breakdown of the costs and average savings of DIY projects compared to bringing in a professional to get the job done:
| Project Cost | DIY Cost (Mean) | Pro Cost (Mean) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen addition | $11,870 | $44,590 | $32,720 |
| Rec room addition/renovation | $10,760 | $22,480 | $11,720 |
| Kitchen remodel | $6,867 | $17,320 | $10,453 |
| Bedroom addition/renovation | $6,653 | $36,600 | $29,947 |
| Roof replacement | $5,036 | $9,079 | $4,043 |
| Bathroom remodeling | $3,131 | $9,904 | $6,773 |
| Siding addition | $2,897 | $7,926 | $5,029 |
| Driveway addition/renovation | $1,597 | $5,097 | $3,500 |
Across all projects, going the DIY route is almost always more cost-effective, saving anywhere from 50% to 80%.
However, this doesn’t always tell the story. For example, you could tile a bathroom floor yourself for a significant discount, but this would require massive amounts of time, expensive equipment, and skills that often cut into your savings significantly.
It’s also worth noting that mistakes and setbacks can increase the costs of DIY projects.
- 44% of DIYers report having done something wrong and had to redo it.
- 39% of DIYers have spilled paint.
- 37% have broken something and had to replace or repair it.
- 33% have used the wrong tool
- 29% have gotten a minor injury from a DIY project.
At the end of the day, it’s worth weighing the risks, pros, and cons, before deciding if you should attempt a larger DIY project yourself or hire a professional.
Conclusion
DIY projects are very popular in the U.S., with about 3 in 4 homeowners giving them a try.
Saving money remains a primary motivation, as 62% of people see DIY as a cost-effective option. However, it's worth noting that DIY isn't always smooth sailing, with the majority of DIYers admitting to occasional mistakes.
Home interior projects steal the spotlight, being the top choice for 31% of homeowners. Plus, DIY projects typically fall within the $2,000 to $5,000 range.
While DIY may come with its share of challenges, they can also be fun, enjoyable activities that save money if done right.
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