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? Get both cost ranges calibrated to your zip, our verdict, and the full build plan: steps, materials, mistakes, and a realistic timeline.
- Hire-it-out cost range (zip-calibrated)
- DIY-as-much-as-legal cost range
- DIY vs hire verdict and decision framework
- Difficulty rating and top cost drivers
- Hidden costs people forget
- Step-by-step build sequence
- Materials breakdown and labor vs materials split
- Common mistakes to avoid
- 5 questions to ask any contractor
- Realistic day-by-day timeline
- 3+ cited cost sources
TIER 2
$29.99
Contractor Comparison
Everything in the Blueprint plus an AI rendering of your space in your chosen style, brand-specific materials picks, and 3 to 5 vetted local contractors. No lead-gen, no kickbacks.
- Everything in the Project Blueprint
- AI rendering of your space in your chosen style
- Brand-specific materials picks (Daltile, Moen, etc.)
- 3 to 5 editorially vetted local contractors
- DIY-max vs full-hire side-by-side breakdown
- Photo upload and AI analysis
TIER 3
$49.99
DIYorBuy Project Playbook
Everything in Contractor Comparison plus priced scope options, ROI, a fillable budget, county permit filing, and a human review of your real contractor quote.
- Everything in Contractor Comparison
- 3 scope levels priced (basic / mid / premium)
- ROI analysis (resale impact)
- Project budget worksheet (fillable)
- County-specific permit filing guide
- Interactive quote evaluator tool (score any bid)
- Pre-construction and inspection checklists
- 3 AI visualizations
- 30-day quote review (we annotate one real quote)
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