How much does a smart home system cost?

1. How much does a Smart Home system cost?

Having gathered six years of experience in creating smart home systems, SMARTech had conducted an analysis of the value of the equipment and appliances purchased by Polish investors and related to the KNX/EIB system (main system in Europe). As a result, the range of investment on a system was determined. It is related to the house usable space and investor requirements (prices given excluding VAT):

• EUR 50-75/sq m – basic options (lighting control)
• EUR 75-100/sq m – typical options (lighting and heating/window blind control)
• EUR 100-150/sq m – comfortable variant (lighting, heating, window blinds/air conditioning)
• > EUR 150/sq m – luxury variant (lighting, heating, air conditioning, window blinds + extras)

The given prices cover the cost of the whole system (design, cabling, electric switch cabinets, system devices, outlets, system start-up) without actuators (lamps, radiators, window blinds, etc.). The often cited great price differences between systems in practice reach only up to a few per cent, because each system has to include cabling (which is often more expensive than the equipment itself), electric outlets, etc., so the price different in the system devices themselves does not greatly influence the cost of the whole installation.

The prices given for each system (net prices ecl. VAT) were calculated for a sample house having an area of 200 sq m, and cover the control of 40 light circuits (including 4 dimmed), 16 window blinds and 8 independent heating zones, as well as design, laying of the installation, equipment assembly and system configuration. If a system should not foresee heating control, then the price includes electronic programmable thermostats.

Of course, even a basic system configuration provides comfort that cannot be matched by traditional installations, and thanks to energy savings the cost of the system pays itself back within a few years. It is worth noting that prices of floors, windows, stone cladding or even interior designer services are at a level similar to the basic system configuration price. The KNX/EIB system can thus be perceived as yet another typical component of the home.

2. How can one compare the costs of a traditional installation with those of a smart installation?

The comparison of both types of installations depends on the individual needs of the investor.
If we use a smart home system solely to control the lighting – one can safely state that it will be more expensive than a typical installation is. However, if one includes the control of lighting, window blinds, heating, energy management as well as central and remote control – the smart home system is the simple and cheap way to interconnect them.


Looking to provide you with reliable information about the costs of KNX/EIB systems we present below their comparison with assembly costs at a sample typical house of 200 sq m.
The comfortable configuration was assumed: 40 lighting circuits (inc. 4 with dimming), 16 window blinds and 8 independent heating zones, and professional services.

Traditional installationKNX installationDevice or servicenet TOTAL:EUR 10 183EUR 16 618 

* You are sure to come across companies not providing you with reliable information on all of the costs. There also exist companies offering i. e. a design and start-up free of charge (or even a system without a design). In such a case it is worth considering whether we are sure that this system will be executed professionally, and with active (and intensive) cooperation with the customer.

In addition, a traditional installation covers the expense of time to choose suppliers and devices, transport, assembly, uncertain warranties from several suppliers, costs of future changes in case we want to change functionality, twice as high short circuit risk (2x more wire connection points), lower aesthetics and of course the lack of capabilities and advantages offered by a smart installation.

© The copying of text and photographs is forbidden and will be prosecuted.