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SHEET 01 / 04 · Tool

A working cost estimator

What will your ADU actually cost?

Pick a city, an ADU type, a size, and a finish tier. We pull your city's real permit fee, multiply by current per-sqft build costs, layer on soft costs and contingency, and show you a defensible range — not a contractor's optimistic quote.

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SHEET 02 / 04 · Calculate

Inputs

ADU type
200 1500 sqft
Finish tier

Numbers update as you adjust inputs. No round-trips, no waiting.

FOLIO · LA / DET / 800 / STD Estimated total project cost
$348k — $459k
Property value uplift +$250k—$350k

Based on Detached new construction · 800 sqft · Standard finish in Los Angeles. Property uplift assumes a single-family lot baseline of $1M.

Line-by-line breakdown

  • Build & finishes (360–$460/sqft × 800) $288k–$368k
  • City permit & plan check $6.500
  • Soft costs (design, survey, soils — 5–8% of build) $14k–$29k
  • Utility connections (water, sewer, electrical) $8k–$14k
  • Contingency (10% of subtotal) $31k–$41k
Property value uplift (assumed) +$250k–$350k
UNLOCK · LINE-BY-LINE

Drop your email to unlock the full breakdown.

See every line item — soft costs, contingency math, utility hookups. No spam. Omar reads every submission by hand.

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SHEET 03 / 04 · Methodology

How this is calculated.

  1. 01

    Build cost band

    We take the per-sqft cost range for your ADU type (detached / attached / garage conversion) from our 2026 LA-area cost survey, then apply a multiplier for the finish tier you picked (basic 0.85×, standard 1.00×, luxe 1.30–1.35×).

  2. 02

    City permit fee

    We add your selected city's typical permit + plan-check fee — pulled directly from each city's published fee schedule and verified May 2026. Impact fees (school, park) are handled separately because they depend on size threshold (the statewide 750 sqft exemption).

  3. 03

    Soft costs & utilities

    Design, survey, soils report, structural review: 5–8% of build. Utility connections (water, sewer, electrical separation): $8k–$14k. Both are conservative defaults — your project may be lower if you tie utilities into the primary residence.

  4. 04

    Contingency

    We add 10% of the subtotal as a contingency line. Don't skip this on a real project — change orders, site conditions, and price drift eat through it predictably.

  5. 05

    Property value uplift

    An ADU typically adds 25–35% to the appraised value of a single-family lot in LA-area markets, based on Fannie Mae appraisal guidance and recent comps. We show the dollar range against a $1M lot baseline — adjust mentally for your neighborhood.

What this estimator does not include: financing costs, landscaping, furniture, taxes during construction, or any second-mortgage points. Treat the band as your project envelope — not your bid.

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SHEET 04 / 04 · Get matched

Now find a builder who can deliver in your band.

We hand-pick three local builders who've actually permitted and finished ADUs at your size and finish tier. No spam. No obligation.

Omar reads every submission by hand.