Project type
ADU, addition, remodel, garage conversion, kitchen, bath, or custom home.
Budget-first construction planning
Home Construction Cost Calculator
Estimate ADUs, additions, remodels, garage conversions, kitchens, bathrooms, and custom homes before you start designing or hiring.
Hard cost Soft cost Contingency Next step
Live calculator
Estimate now
Value first. No email wall, no fake exact quote.
Live calculator
Detailed estimate and review
Value first. No email wall, no fake exact quote.
Want a human to sanity-check the range?
Optional. The estimate already did its job. Send it only if you want a Bay Area planning review.
Project calculators
Pick the scope, then price the assumptions.
ADU calculator ADU Cost Calculator Estimate detached ADU, attached ADU, prefab, JADU, and garage conversion budgets before you commit to plans.
Addition calculator Home Addition Cost Calculator Estimate a first-story addition, second-story addition, bedroom suite, family room, or expanded living area.
Remodel calculator Remodel Cost Calculator Estimate whole-home remodel and renovation budgets before you compare design-build or contractor bids.
Renovation calculator Renovation Cost Calculator Estimate renovation budgets by size, location, finish level, existing condition, and planning stage.
Kitchen calculator Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator Estimate a kitchen remodel from value-conscious refresh to high-end layout change.
Bathroom calculator Bathroom Remodel Cost Calculator Estimate bathroom remodel costs for hall baths, primary baths, added baths, and layout changes.
Garage calculator Garage Conversion Cost Calculator Estimate the cost to convert a garage into living space or an ADU.
Custom home calculator Custom Home Cost Calculator Estimate custom home or new build budgets before you commit to a design direction.
Bay Area caveat
Local cost pressure is not a rounding error.
Labor, permits, utilities, engineering, access, and finish expectations can change the number by city. Generic national math is where Bay Area budgets go to embarrass themselves.
How it works
The formula is simple. The assumptions are the work.
Location
National, California, Bay Area, and high-cost South Bay/Peninsula multipliers.
Finish and complexity
Finish level, structural risk, utilities, access, and unknown conditions.
Soft costs and contingency
Drawings, engineering, permits, plan check, and a real risk buffer.
Guides
Budget-first reading before expensive decisions.
How to Estimate Home Construction Cost
Start with project type, size, location, finish level, complexity, soft costs, and contingency. Then make assumptions visible.
Design Cost vs Construction CostDesign cost buys decisions, drawings, coordination, and permitability. Construction cost buys labor and materials against that scope.
Preconstruction PlanningPreconstruction planning turns an idea into a priced scope before the expensive part starts.
Constructability ReviewA constructability review checks whether the planned scope can be built sensibly for the budget, site, city, and timeline.
Value Engineering ConstructionValue engineering is not cheapening everything. It is moving money away from low-value complexity and toward the parts that matter.
FAQ
No nonsense answers.
What does the calculator include?
It includes construction cost, soft costs, contingency, location pressure, finish level, and complexity. It does not pretend to replace drawings or bids.
Can I use it for Bay Area projects?
Yes. Bay Area and South Bay/Peninsula location options apply higher planning multipliers and recommend budget review before bids.
Is email required?
No. The estimate appears first. Email is only for saving or requesting a review.