Home Remodeling Costs in Los Angeles

The City of Angels offers a diverse range of architectural styles, from charming bungalows to sleek modern masterpieces. However, the cost of bringing your renovation vision to life can vary significantly.

Our guide to home remodeling costs in Los Angeles includes kitchen, bath, and whole-home (plus ADUs and permit tips!)

Summary of home remodeling costs in Los Angeles:

• Full home renovation: $125-$500+ per square foot (psf)
• Budget kitchen: Starting at $28,000 (based on a 200-sq-ft kitchen)
• Mid-grade kitchen: Starting at $45,000
• High-end kitchen: Starting at $85,000
• Budget bathroom: Starting at $22,000 (based on a 35-sq-ft space)
• Mid-grade bathroom: Starting at $32,000 (based on a 35-sq-ft space)
• High-end bathroom: Starting at $45,000
• Mid-grade master suite addition: $550 psf or $220,000 (based on a 24′ x 16′ space)
• High-end master suite addition: $650 psf or $416,000 (based on a 32′ x 20′ space)
• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU): Starting at $60,000 for a conversion and $150,000+ for ground-up construction.

Here’s a breakdown of typical starting costs for home remodeling in Los Angeles, compiled from the Cost vs. Value Report, and Sweeten contractors.

UPDATED: Read our most up-to-date Los Angeles Kitchen Remodeling Costs and Bathroom Remodeling Costs

Moving into a new house—or realizing your home hasn’t kept up with your lifestyle—can make renovation feel like a path to reinvention. Creating a budget for that planned remodel is unique to every project. The materials you choose, changes in layout, or moving plumbing or gas lines, all factor into the equation.

We have compiled a guide detailing the cost to remodel a home in Los Angeles, California. The costs to remodel focus on five categories: kitchen, bathroom, additions, ADUs, and permits.

Pro tip: Do not wait! Some sectors are experiencing a backlog in the supply of materials. For L.A. homeowners interested in renovating, it’s smart to schedule and sign with a contractor to lock in your material prices. Additionally, you’ll want to book a start date on the contractor’s schedule. If you do wait, prices will only continue to go up, and your material order starts at the back of a long queue.

Remodeling costs per square foot in Los Angeles

It’s no secret that Los Angeles is one of the pricier real estate markets in the United States. However, the housing stock in the area is fairly new. As a result, L.A. homes won’t experience behind-the-wall issues that are often found in older structures. Kitchens and baths are the most popular renovation types. Exterior upgrades and garage conversions are also on the rise to create additional living space.

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most sought-after renovation projects in Los Angeles. However, exterior upgrades and garage conversions are also gaining popularity as homeowners seek to create additional living space.

For a full-house renovation, average costs range from $125 to $500+ per square foot. Dry rooms, like living rooms and bedrooms, tend to be less expensive to renovate than wet rooms, such as kitchens and bathrooms. While dry rooms might fall on the lower end of this range, wet rooms could start closer to $400 per square foot.

Interior designer costs in Los Angeles

We also checked in with L.A.-based interior designer Haley Weidenbaum on how interior designers calculate fees. She explains, “Typically for renovation projects, I will charge a flat fee. This is beneficial for both designer and client. It allows the designer to work more freely and offers more transparency between the designer and the client. However, it is important for both parties to agree on a scope of work. Everyone should be on the same page and understand what is included under this flat fee.”

How much a Los Angeles kitchen remodel costs per square foot

When preparing for a kitchen remodel, remember that California banned the running of new gas lines to any new construction—which means no gas stoves. This move is essential in the lowering of the carbon footprint. Even though buildings with existing gas lines aren’t affected, be sure to check the latest codes. If you’re looking to renovate for resale, you don’t want to invest in appliances that aren’t in compliance. 

The logistics of storage and delivery make the cost of cabinets in L.A. less expensive than more densely populated urban areas. 

• Budget kitchen remodeling costs: Sweeten kitchen remodels can start at $24,500 for 200 square feet. The finishes would be budget-friendly from retailers such as Home Depot. This budget includes budget finishes, energy-efficient appliances, laminate countertops, and mid-grade sink and faucet finishes.
• Mid-grade kitchen remodeling costs: We have seen Sweeten project costs come in at $37,500. At this budget, refreshing a kitchen can include new stock or semi-custom cabinets, appliances, and manufactured or quartz countertops.
• High-end kitchen: Projects on the higher end of the scale can start at $76,000. A large part of that cost can be in custom cabinetry. Sweeten contractors Anna and Vahik estimate that a high-end renovation averages upwards of $100,000.

How much a Los Angeles bathroom remodel costs per square foot

• Budget bathroom: A budget bathroom renovation at 35 square feet, including demo, plumbing work, and new finishes, starts at $18,000 and can reach $25,000, according to the Sweeten contractors. Bathrooms in this category typically lean on big-box stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot to source the majority of materials.
• Mid-grade bathroom: A mid-grade bathroom in Los Angeles will cost on average between $28,500. According to the Cost vs. Value Report, the cost is $849 psf or $29,744 for a 35-square-foot bathroom. All fixtures are replaced featuring solid-surface vanity and integrated sink, recessed medicine cabinet with light, ceramic tile floor, and a 30” x 60” tub.
• High-end bathroom: The average cost Sweeten contractors report working on for upscale bathrooms start around $40,500. The Cost vs Value Report puts a high-end bathroom renovation and expansion at $88,491. This is based on a bathroom expanded from 35 to 100 square feet. It worked out to be $770 psf.

With the highest budget, clients are looking at faucets that can cost $2,000 per piece, marble flooring, custom vanities, built-in medicine cabinets, a rain shower, and top-of-the-line lighting fixtures. As a result, those pricey finishing materials can amount to half the budget. Whether it is budget or high-end, a good general contractor can work with a reasonable budget and create a strategy for the bath remodel.

How much a Los Angeles master suite addition costs

• Mid-grade master suite addition: For approximately $503 psf or $193,390, you can build a 24’ x 16’ master suite including a walk-in closet, dressing area, freestanding tub, separate shower, and double vanity over an existing crawl space, according to Cost v. Value Report. This pricing includes carpeting in the bedroom and tile on the bathroom floor, lighting throughout, and an exhaust fan.

A crawl space and a raised foundation make it easier for the crew to crawl underneath the subfloor to access the rough connections. It becomes more challenging and expensive when working on a renovation with a house on a slab on grade. If fixtures are being relocated or saw cuts, trenching, and backfill are required, then these can add to the cost of the renovation.

• Upscale master suite addition: For approximately $606 psf, or $388,427, it’s possible to create a 32’ x 20’ master suite with a separate sitting area and a large master bath, also over crawl space, according to the Cost v. Value Report. This includes custom shelving and built-in storage, as well as a walk-in closet and dressing area with windows. The bath has everything that is included in a mid-grade remodel, along with stone counters and a partitioned space for a toilet. The suite also features a wet bar with microwave, sink, and refrigerator for this budget range.

When you’re ready to get started on your kitchen or home remodel, work with us to renovate with the best contractors.

How much do Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) cost in Los Angeles?

An ADU is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot. They tend to be adjacent to a primary housing unit, and are usually much smaller than the average home. You can learn more about building ADUs, as well as the numerous new laws passed in 2016 and 2019 that are encouraging their proliferation in California by making them faster, easier, and more efficient to build.

Existing electrical and plumbing

Sweeten general contractors have worked on projects ranging from $50,000 to over $200,000. The specific cost depends on factors like whether it’s a conversion or ground-up construction, the size of the project, and the condition of the existing structure.

Converting an existing structure with electrical and plumbing can be more affordable than starting from scratch. Sweeten contractors Anna & Vahik report that in Los Angeles County, conversions average around $75,000, while ground-up constructions start between $125,000 and $150,000.

Garage conversions can vary widely in cost. Some Sweeten contractors have converted garages with existing plumbing and electrical service for as little as $58,000. However, other conversions have cost closer to $196,000, depending on the extent of the work required.

Costs for remodeling permits in Los Angeles

The cost of permits changes from town to town in Los Angeles. However, typically the cost will be determined by your budget and require a bit of high school math to figure out.

According to Sweeten contractors in L.A., this number varies between an estimated $750 to $2,500 depending on the specific scope of work for each project.

Sweeten contractors Anna and Vahik explains, “Permit costs vary for different neighborhoods. Average kitchen and bath remodels (“express permits”) with no structural changes or layout changes cost around $500 to $1,000. Bigger projects such as additions, remodels with structural changes, or exterior work that need plan changes start at $5,000 and can go up to $20,000 in cities like Santa Monica.”

Starting a home renovation in Los Angeles

These figures provide a jumping-off point to estimate your potential costs for home remodeling in Los Angeles. On the planning side, our Renovation Checklist offers you a downloadable roadmap to organize all of the moving parts of a renovation including laying out your “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.”

Ready to get started?

Post your project on Sweeten for free and make your dream home in LA a reality. Sweeten puts you in control of your renovation, from finding the perfect contractor and gathering design inspiration, to using cost guides  to plan your budget wisely.

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