51.6 million
homeowners made improvements
That was 59% of U.S. homeowners in the 2021–2023 American Housing Survey window.
Source 01 · U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey ↗2023 dataHome care reference
Home Repair &
Maintenance Statistics
Current U.S. numbers on home improvements, household leaks, and electrical fire risk. Built as a practical reference for homeowners, writers, and anyone reporting on the work it takes to keep a home in good shape.
Last updated October 27, 2026 · 8 sourced statistics
At a glance
The scale behind the small jobs.
Home maintenance is usually made up of ordinary tasks: a fixture that needs replacing, a leak that needs attention, a repair that has been waiting too long. Taken together, those jobs add up to a major part of how U.S. homeowners spend on their homes. The figures below link straight to the original source so they can be checked, quoted, and cited.
$827 billion
spent on home improvements
U.S. homeowners reported this total across 2021–2023, covering 140 million improvement projects.
Source 02 · U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey ↗2021–2023$6,500
median improvement spend
Among homeowners who made improvements during 2021–2023, the Census Bureau reported this median total.
Source 03 · U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey ↗2021–202364%
of projects were professionally completed
Professionals handled 90 million of the 140 million reported improvement projects in the 2021–2023 survey period.
Source 04 · U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey ↗2021–202332%
included key kitchen or utility replacements
Water heaters, dishwashers, and garbage disposals were the most common improvement category among homeowners who made improvements in 2021–2023.
Source 05 · U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey ↗2021–20239,400 gallons
can be wasted by household leaks each year
EPA estimates the average family can lose this amount from leaks, or about 180 gallons in a week.
Source 06 · U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense ↗EPA statistic, accessed October 202646,652
home electrical fires each year
This is NFPA’s annual average for 2020–2024, covering home structure fires involving electrical failure, malfunction, or electrical equipment.
Source 07 · National Fire Protection Association ↗2020–2024 average, report published May 202628%
of home electrical fires occurred in winter
NFPA reports that January, February, and December accounted for this share of home electrical fires in its 2020–2024 analysis.
Source 08 · National Fire Protection Association ↗2020–2024 average, report published May 2026What the numbers say
Useful context, not a substitute for looking at the job.
The Census figures show why smaller repair and replacement work deserves attention before it turns into a major project. The EPA and NFPA figures point to two areas that are worth treating seriously: hidden water loss and electrical concerns. Neither set of numbers tells you what is happening in one particular home, but they make a practical case for staying ahead of obvious leaks, worn fixtures, and safety questions.
For a local homeowner, the next sensible step is often simple: make a list, start with what is leaking, loose, unsafe, or getting worse, and get clear about which jobs need a specialist or contractor. Smaller repairs, installations, and maintenance tasks can often be grouped into one well-used service visit.
See the work Harris handles →Method & sources
How this reference is kept useful.
This page uses public figures from primary or specialist sources. Every statistic above names and links to its original publisher, with the reporting period or source date beside it. It is reviewed about monthly, or sooner when a key source publishes updated data. Figures are presented as reported by their sources, not as estimates for an individual home or job.
- Source 01U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey · 2023 data
- Source 02U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey · 2021–2023
- Source 03U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey · 2021–2023
- Source 04U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey · 2021–2023
- Source 05U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey · 2021–2023
- Source 06U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense · EPA statistic, accessed October 2026
- Source 07National Fire Protection Association · 2020–2024 average, report published May 2026
- Source 08National Fire Protection Association · 2020–2024 average, report published May 2026
Cite this page
Handyman Harris. “Home Repair & Maintenance Statistics: U.S. Data for 2026.” Updated October 27, 2026. https://harris-skillie.com/home-repair-statistics
Need help with the list?
Small repairs.
Straight answers.
For practical repairs, installations, and punch-list work in San Lorenzo, Harris can help you sort out what needs attention first.