Free cost calculator
What will your project cost in your state?
Locally calibrated estimates for 50 trades across all 50 states. Pick your project, enter your state, and get a hire vs. DIY range. Cited, and always free.
50
Trades
50
States
3+
Sources
Free
Always
Updated monthlyCalibrated from RSMeans, Angi, Fixr, HomeGuide, BEA, and BLS data, plus submitted quotes.
Next steps
Turn your estimate into a plan
Step 1 · Free
Grab a planning checklist
Scope, budget, permits, and timeline for your project. No cost, no spam.
Step 2 · Free
Open the project guide
The full plan for your project: DIY vs. hire, the tools and materials, and a local pro.
Step 3 · From $19.99
Get the full Blueprint
Step-by-step instructions, tool lists, permit steps, and a contractor hiring guide.
Your next step
Do it right, the first time.
Not ready? Free checklist →TIER 1
$19.99
DIYorBuy Project Blueprint
DIY or hire, decided for your project: both cost ranges, our verdict, a skill check, a shopping list with prices, tool costs, a hidden-cost forecast, a timeline, and a printable checklist.
- Hire-it-out cost range, zip-calibrated, with our verdict
- DIY-as-much-as-legal cost range and savings
- Skill self-check: can you actually DIY this?
- Step-by-step build sequence with a day-by-day timeline
- Itemized shopping list with current price ranges
- Tool list with rent-vs-buy and local rental costs
- Hidden-cost forecast (what people forget, quantified)
- Permit quick-check for your state
- Common mistakes and 5 questions to ask any contractor
- Printable project checklist
- 3+ cited cost sources
TIER 2
$29.99
Contractor Comparison
Hire smart and see the result first: an AI render of your space, brand picks with prices, a bid-comparison worksheet, a negotiation guide, and 3 to 5 vetted local pros. No lead-gen, no kickbacks.
- Everything in the Project Blueprint
- AI rendering of your space in your chosen style
- Design and materials board (colors and finishes)
- Brand-specific product picks with models and prices
- Material allowance ranges (spot a padded bid)
- 3 to 5 editorially vetted local contractors with credentials
- Bid-comparison worksheet (3 quotes, apples to apples)
- Negotiation guide: what is negotiable and typical markups
- Photo analysis of your space
- DIY-max vs full-hire side-by-side breakdown
TIER 3
$49.99
DIYorBuy Project Playbook
The done-for-you plan: priced scope options, a risk and contingency analysis, ROI, a phased timeline, county permit filing, a contractor vetting dossier, a rebate check, and a human review of your real quote.
- Everything in Contractor Comparison
- 3 scope levels priced (basic / mid / premium)
- Hidden-risks and contingency analysis (behind the walls)
- ROI and resale analysis for your area
- Week-by-week timeline and phasing plan
- County-specific permit filing guide (forms, fees, steps)
- Contractor vetting dossier (license + insurance checks)
- Rebates and incentives check for your state
- Fillable budget worksheet + payment-schedule template
- Interactive quote evaluator tool (score any bid)
- 30-day quote review (we annotate one real quote)
- Inspection-prep and warranty tracker
Real example
See exactly what you get
A different real project for each tier. Flip the pages with the arrows, or click to read the whole report at full size.
DIYorBuy Project Blueprint · $19.99
Contractor Comparison · $29.99
DIYorBuy Project Playbook · $49.99
Every Blueprint is human-reviewed before delivery. No contractor kickbacks. No lead-gen forms. Refund if cost data is materially off.
Common questions
About your estimate
Does the estimate include labor?
Yes. The hire range includes typical local labor for the job. The DIY range is materials plus any tools you would need to rent or buy, so you can compare the two honestly.
How accurate is this number?
It is a calibrated range, not a quote. It is built from several national cost benchmarks and adjusted to your state, so use it as the ballpark to sanity-check real contractor bids against.
Are permit fees included?
No. Permit fees are set by your local jurisdiction and vary too much to bake into a base range. Your state permit guide explains what your area charges and requires.
Can I trust an AI-assisted estimate?
The numbers come from real cost databases (RSMeans, Angi, Fixr, HomeGuide) and government data (BEA, BLS), not invented by a model. AI assembles and calibrates the data, a person reviews it, and the full methodology is public.
What drives your estimate
Why your number lands where it does
Four things move a home project cost more than anything else. Knowing them helps you read your estimate and spot when a bid is off.
Scope and size
A bigger footprint and a full tear-out cost more than a like-for-like refresh. The estimate scales with the work, not just the room.
Material grade
Builder-grade, mid-range, and high-end finishes can swing the same project by two times or more. Materials are usually where a budget moves most.
Where you live
Local labor rates and your region overall price level change the number. We apply BEA Regional Price Parity and BLS labor data by state.
Permits and code
Permitted work adds fees and inspection time, and stricter local code can raise labor. Your state guide covers what your area requires.
Our promise to you