A complete guide to what professionally installed home automation costs in 2026, from one room to a full estate, with price ranges for each system and what moves the number up or down.
Updated October 2026 · Prepared by the Cali Automation design team, Irvine, CA
Short answer: Most professionally installed smart home systems in Orange County cost $15,000 to $40,000 for a focused system in a condo or smaller home, $50,000 to $120,000 for a typical 3,000 to 5,000 sq ft home, and $120,000 to $300,000+ for whole-home lighting, shades, audio, video and a theater in a larger estate. Equipment is usually 55 to 65 percent of the total; design, wiring, installation and programming make up the rest.
These planning ranges include equipment, pre-wire or retrofit labor, installation, programming and handover. They do not include TVs, furniture, construction work such as soffits or theater room build-out, or permits.
| Project | Typical range | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials Condo, townhome or 3 to 5 key rooms | $15,000 – $40,000 | Control processor and app, lighting control in main living areas, 2 to 4 audio zones, 1 to 3 TV locations, Wi-Fi access points, video doorbell, smart locks and thermostats |
| Core smart home 3,000 – 5,000 sq ft | $50,000 – $120,000 | Lighting control on the main floor and primary suite, motorized shades on key windows, 6 to 10 audio zones, 4 to 6 TVs, cameras, enterprise network and equipment rack, touch panels and keypads |
| Whole-home estate 5,000 – 8,000 sq ft | $120,000 – $300,000 | Whole-home lighting and shades, distributed audio and video, media room or theater, outdoor audio and landscape lighting, pool and spa, gate and garage control, full camera coverage |
| Signature residence 8,000+ sq ft | $300,000+ | Centralized lighting panels, tunable lighting, dedicated reference theater, multiple outdoor zones, guest house, redundant network and long-term service plan |
Ranges are for planning only. Your number depends on rooms, brands, finishes and whether the home is new construction or a retrofit.
Use our 3D smart home tour to turn rooms on or off, pick Control4, Crestron or Savant, adjust quantities and get the full device list emailed to you.
Most homes are built system by system. Here is what each one typically costs installed in Orange County.
| System | Typical installed cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Control system | $8,000 – $40,000 | Processor, touch panels, remotes, app and programming. Scales with the number of rooms and integrated systems. |
| Lighting control | $3,000 – $8,000 per room $35,000 – $120,000+ whole home | Keypads, dimmers and scenes. Centralized panels and designer keypads such as Lutron Palladiom sit at the top of the range. |
| Motorized shades | $800 – $1,800 per window $2,000 – $4,000+ large openings | Depends on fabric, size, blackout or dual shades, and hardwired versus battery motors. Sliding doors and tall windows cost more. |
| Whole-home audio | $1,500 – $4,000 per zone | In-ceiling or in-wall speakers, amplification and streaming. Premium architectural speakers raise the per-zone cost. |
| Outdoor audio | $6,000 – $30,000 | Landscape speaker systems with buried subwoofers, sized to the yard. |
| TV and video locations | $1,500 – $6,000 per TV | Mounting, wiring, sound bar or speakers and video distribution. TV not included. Hidden lifts and art-frame TVs cost more. |
| Media room | $25,000 – $75,000 | Large TV or projector, surround speakers, acoustic touches and lighting scenes in a shared living space. |
| Dedicated home theater | $75,000 – $250,000+ | Projector and screen, Dolby Atmos speakers, acoustic treatment, seating and lighting. Room construction is usually separate. |
| Network and Wi-Fi | $4,000 – $15,000 | Firewall, switches, wireless access points and an equipment rack. Every other system depends on it. |
| Cameras and access | $800 – $1,500 per camera $1,000 – $3,000 doorbell and locks | Recorder, cameras, video doorbell, smart locks and gate or garage control. |
| Climate, pool and sensors | $2,000 – $10,000 | Thermostats, pool and spa control, leak detection, water shutoff and energy monitoring. |
Cali Automation is an authorized dealer for all three platforms and for Lutron lighting and shades, so we recommend the one that fits the home rather than the one we happen to sell.
Usually the most cost-effective way into whole-home control. Strong for retrofits and mid-size homes, with wide support for third-party devices.
Typically priced between Control4 and Crestron. A polished, app-first experience that suits homeowners in the Apple ecosystem.
Usually the highest investment. Fully custom programming and the deepest integration, best for large estates and complex projects.
On the same home, the control platform alone can move the total by roughly 10 to 25 percent. The bigger cost drivers are the number of rooms, lighting loads and shades.
Pre-wiring during construction is the most cost-effective path. In a finished home we use wireless lighting, battery shades and existing wiring where we can, but retrofit labor typically adds cost and can limit options.
Every lighting load, shade, speaker pair and TV adds equipment, wire and programming time. Room count is the single biggest factor in the total.
Centralized, hardwired lighting panels cost more up front but are the most reliable option for larger homes. Wireless dimmers keep costs down in smaller projects and retrofits.
Designer keypads, architectural speakers, hidden TVs and premium shade fabrics all add cost without changing how the system works.
A dedicated theater or a full backyard entertainment area can be a third of the whole project on its own.
Software updates, remote monitoring and priority service are usually covered by an optional annual service plan.
Most professionally installed systems range from $15,000 to $40,000 for a focused system, $50,000 to $120,000 for a typical 3,000 to 5,000 sq ft home, and $120,000 to $300,000 or more for whole-home control in a larger estate.
Single-room lighting control usually costs $3,000 to $8,000. Whole-home lighting control typically runs $35,000 to $120,000 or more, depending on the number of lighting loads, keypads and whether the system uses centralized panels.
Most motorized shades cost $800 to $1,800 per window installed. Large sliding doors, tall windows, blackout fabrics and dual shades can cost $2,000 to $4,000 or more per opening.
A media room in a shared space usually costs $25,000 to $75,000. A dedicated home theater with projection, Dolby Atmos audio, acoustic treatment and seating typically costs $75,000 to $250,000 or more, plus room construction.
Usually, yes. Crestron typically carries the highest equipment and programming cost, Control4 is usually the most cost-effective, and Savant tends to fall between them. On the same home, the platform choice often changes the total by about 10 to 25 percent.
Yes. Wireless lighting control, battery-powered shades and existing wiring make retrofits practical, although retrofit labor usually costs more than pre-wiring during construction.
Many homeowners choose an optional annual service plan that covers remote monitoring, software updates and priority service. Equipment that streams music or stores camera video may also carry subscription fees.
Start with our 3D smart home tour to build an equipment list for your rooms, then book a design consultation. We review your plans or walk the home and send a detailed, itemized proposal.
Every home is different. Build your equipment list in the 3D tour, then book a design consultation for an itemized proposal.
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