How much does it cost to install and set up a home theater?

Many people want to view their favorite films and shows in the comfort of their own homes, and they can maximize their enjoyment by setting up TVs, sound systems, and other equipment to create home theaters. Home theaters are entertainment centers built in private homes to replicate the quality of viewing media in a cinema.  

Is the creation of a home theater a DIY project? If so, what sort of time and expense are involved? According to electronics expert Robert Silva, the average home theater setup will require only 1.5 hours of time. It’s easily done on a DIY basis by someone familiar with the equipment and with the selection of appropriate locations for speakers. If you don’t have these skills, it’s recommended that a qualified professional be hired for the installation. For this guide, we examine the cost of hiring professionals to install a home theater.

For this discussion, we will consider the cost of installing a home theater with a mounted ¹ 48" LED TV a smart HTIB, cable service and audio setup, which averages $1,300. However, a premium home theater with TV calibration, custom furniture, audio setup, and speakers stands, among other things, can cost up to $16,500.

Cost breakdown

For this discussion we will consider the costs of hiring an electronics specialist to set-up a home theater in a room dedicated to this purpose.

The equipment involved will include:

• Satellite or cable TV service: $30 - $240
• Home theater speaker array: $150 - $1200
• TV: $130 - $8000
• AV or home theater receiver: $35 - $4000
• DVD player: $30 - $260
• Cables and cords (HDMI, AV, speaker, etc.): $15 - $2000
• Sound meter: $40 - $270 (often provided by installation professionals)

Labor

Generally, home electronics stores will offer qualified services for reasonable rates, and this is especially true if the homeowner purchases components for their home theater from the shop.

Consultations for home theater installations run at $100. The cost of a basic installation starts at $150 and can grow to $800 or more when you add in TV mounting ¹, audio set-up, and more. If you have a complex and expansive home theater project, the labor costs will be higher and can be determined during a consultation.

Enhancement and improvement costs

In addition to the basic supplies, it might be a good idea to consider:

• Wireless speakers - These are useful for larger rooms that can benefit from optimal placement of a 7:1 speaker array.
• Speaker stands & mounts ¹ - These cost less than $100 per pair and can allow the installer or the homeowner to position speakers in perfect locations.
• TV mounts ¹ - TV mounts ¹ allow you to hang your tv on your wall, and cost $10 - $700. Flexible models that allow you to change the TV’s position are at the higher end of the cost spectrum.
• Upgrading electrical supplies - Not all homes will have the appropriate number of suitable outlets for the average home theater set-up. This might mean that an electrician (charging an average of $65 - $85 per hour) will be needed to install additional 120 volt receptacles (approximately $100 each) to facilitate usage of the equipment.
• Streaming media devices - Devices like Roku, TiVO, and Apple TV will give your home theater a full library of movies, TV shows, games, and apps. They cost $40 - $600.
• Home theater furniture - With the amount of equipment needed to set up a home theater, it’s handy to have a place to neatly put it all. TV stands/cabinets cost $70 - $3000.
• TV calibration - This is a professional service that will adjust your TV’s image to be optimally sharp and colorful. This costs $150 - $250.
• Remote control programming - If your chosen home theater equipment includes a smart remote, professionals can program it to be linked to all of your home theater devices. This costs $50 - $100.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

² Subwoofer: Component of a loudspeaker system designed to produce low end bass frequency sounds