Construction & DIY Calculators
Price a project and order its materials. The California ADU cost calculator works out what a backyard cottage, addition, garage conversion or junior ADU costs to build in 20 cities, using each city's permit and impact fees with the state exemptions applied, and how long the rent takes to repay it. For materials, the concrete and concrete bag calculators give cubic yards and bag counts; gravel, mulch, asphalt and sod are worked out by area and depth; and paint, drywall, tile and wallpaper by wall or floor area. There are also calculators for fencing, rebar, roof pitch, stair layouts and air conditioner size in BTU, each with the waste allowance contractors actually use.
ADU cost and permit fees
What an accessory dwelling unit or garage conversion costs to build in California, with each city's permit, impact, capacity and school fees and the state's 750 and 500 sq ft exemptions applied, and how long the rent takes to pay it back.
- California ADU Cost & ROI CalculatorWhat an ADU or garage conversion costs to build in 20 California cities, with each city's permit, impact and school fees and the state exemptions applied, and how long the rent takes to pay it back.
- Los Angeles ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Los Angeles runs about $315,000 all in, $16,728 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- San Diego ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in San Diego runs about $309,000 all in, $23,450 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- San José ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in San José runs about $334,000 all in, $9,519 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- San Francisco ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in San Francisco runs about $364,000 all in, $14,228 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Fresno ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Fresno runs about $227,000 all in, $6,974 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Sacramento ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Sacramento runs about $255,000 all in, $8,978 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Long Beach ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Long Beach runs about $294,000 all in, $8,872 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Oakland ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Oakland runs about $336,000 all in, $11,728 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Bakersfield ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Bakersfield runs about $229,000 all in, $8,228 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Anaheim ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Anaheim runs about $290,000 all in, $10,228 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Santa Ana ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Santa Ana runs about $282,000 all in, $9,728 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Riverside ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Riverside runs about $255,000 all in, $8,228 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Irvine ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Irvine runs about $309,000 all in, $10,728 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Chula Vista ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Chula Vista runs about $282,000 all in, $9,228 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Fremont ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Fremont runs about $327,000 all in, $10,228 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Santa Clarita ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Santa Clarita runs about $294,000 all in, $13,728 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- San Bernardino ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in San Bernardino runs about $247,000 all in, $8,228 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Pasadena ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Pasadena runs about $309,000 all in, $11,128 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Berkeley ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Berkeley runs about $342,000 all in, $9,728 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
- Santa Monica ADU Cost & Permit Fee CalculatorA 600 sq ft ADU in Santa Monica runs about $352,000 all in, $14,728 of it city and school fees. Price your own build, fees and rental payback.
Materials and quantities
Order the right amount the first time, with the waste allowances contractors use. Measurements are in US units.
- Asphalt CalculatorTons of hot-mix asphalt for a driveway, path or parking area, with waste and delivered cost.
- Rebar CalculatorBars, lap splices, weight and sticks to buy for a slab, footing or deck grid.
- Concrete CalculatorCubic yards of ready-mix for slabs, footings, grade beams, columns and caissons, with waste and cost.
- Concrete Bag CalculatorHow many 40, 60 or 80 lb bags of premix concrete for a pad, a set of post holes or a known volume.
- Gravel CalculatorTons and cubic yards of crushed stone, pea gravel or road base for a driveway, path or slab sub-base.
- Roof Pitch CalculatorRoof pitch from rise and run or an angle, and the roof area, squares and shingle bundles for a house.
- Paint CalculatorGallons and quarts of paint for a room's walls and ceiling, less doors and windows, for any number of coats.
- Tile CalculatorHow many tiles and boxes for a floor or wall, allowing for the grout joint and waste for your layout.
- Mulch CalculatorCubic yards and bags of mulch for a garden bed or tree ring, with the cost in bags and in bulk.
- Drywall CalculatorDrywall sheets for a room's walls and ceiling, with the screws, joint tape and compound to finish them.
- Fence CalculatorPosts, rails, pickets or panels and bags of post concrete for a wood fence, including gates.
- Sod CalculatorSquare feet, pallets and pieces of sod for a new lawn, with a waste allowance and the cost.
- BTU Calculator for Air ConditionersWhat size air conditioner a room needs, in BTU per hour and tons, from its area, ceiling height, sun and use.
- Stair CalculatorNumber of steps, riser height, total run and stringer length for a straight staircase, checked against code.
- Wallpaper CalculatorRolls of wallpaper for a room or feature wall, counted strip by strip and allowing for the pattern repeat.
Questions about construction & diy calculators
Which cities does the ADU cost calculator cover?
Twenty of California's largest, from Los Angeles, San Diego, San José and San Francisco to Fresno, Sacramento and Bakersfield. Each has its own page with its permit, impact and school fees; the California ADU cost calculator compares them all in one table.
How much extra material should I order?
Most trades add 5–10% for waste: concrete for uneven subgrade and what stays in the chute, tile and drywall for cuts and breakage. Each calculator includes a waste allowance you can change. The concrete calculator defaults to 10%.