Los Angeles, a city celebrated for its architectural diversity, presents unique considerations when planning a home remodel. From charming bungalows to sleek, modern residences, the cost to renovate your home can vary significantly based on several factors. This guide breaks down the costs associated with kitchen, bathroom, and whole-home remodels in Los Angeles, providing you with a detailed understanding to plan your project effectively.
Here’s a summary of typical starting costs for home remodeling in Los Angeles, compiled from the Cost vs. Value Report, and Sweeten contractors:
- 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.
Remodeling can feel like a path to reinvention, whether you’re moving into a new house or updating your current home to match your evolving lifestyle. Each remodeling project is unique, and creating a budget for it depends on the materials you select, layout changes, and modifications to plumbing or gas lines.
This guide details the costs to remodel a home in Los Angeles, California, focusing on kitchens, bathrooms, additions, ADUs, and permits.
Important Tip: Due to potential backlogs in material supplies, Los Angeles homeowners should consider scheduling and signing with a contractor early to lock in material prices and secure a start date. Delaying could lead to increased prices and longer wait times.
Understanding Remodeling Costs Per Square Foot in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has a competitive real estate market, but the housing stock is relatively new. This means that L.A. homes often have fewer hidden structural issues compared to older homes. Kitchen and bathroom remodels are most popular, but exterior upgrades and garage conversions are increasingly common to expand living spaces.
For a complete home renovation, expect to pay between $125 and $500+ per square foot. “Dry” rooms like bedrooms and living rooms are generally less expensive than “wet” rooms like kitchens and bathrooms. Renovating wet rooms can start around $400 per square foot.
Interior Designer Costs in Los Angeles
According to Haley Weidenbaum, an interior designer based in Los Angeles, many designers charge a flat fee for renovation projects. This approach benefits both the designer and the client, allowing for greater flexibility and transparency. However, it is essential to define a clear scope of work to ensure everyone understands what is included in the flat fee.
Kitchen remodel with green cabinets in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Kitchen Remodel Costs: A Detailed Breakdown
When planning a kitchen remodel in Los Angeles, keep in mind that California has banned new gas lines in new construction, impacting the choice of stoves. Check the latest building codes to ensure compliance, especially if you plan to resell your home.
The cost of cabinets in L.A. is generally lower than in more densely populated urban areas due to logistics of storage and delivery.
Los Angeles Bathroom Remodel Costs: Budget to High-End
- Budget bathroom: Expect to spend between $18,000 and $25,000 for a 35-square-foot bathroom, including demolition, plumbing work, and new finishes. This option typically involves materials from big-box stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot.
- Mid-grade bathroom: A mid-grade bathroom renovation in Los Angeles averages around $28,500. According to the Cost vs. Value Report, the cost is $849 psf or $29,744 for a 35-square-foot bathroom. This includes replacing all fixtures with solid-surface vanity and integrated sink, a recessed medicine cabinet with light, ceramic tile flooring, and a 30” x 60” tub.
- High-end bathroom: Upscale bathrooms can start around $40,500. The Cost vs Value Report estimates a high-end bathroom renovation and expansion at $88,491, expanding the bathroom from 35 to 100 square feet, or $770 psf. This budget allows for high-end faucets (potentially costing $2,000 each), marble flooring, custom vanities, built-in medicine cabinets, rain showers, and top-of-the-line lighting fixtures. These high-end finishes can make up half the total budget.
Whether you opt for a budget or high-end bathroom, a qualified general contractor can help you create a strategy to maximize your budget.
Master Suite Addition Costs in Los Angeles
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Mid-grade master suite addition: Building a 24’ x 16’ master suite with a walk-in closet, dressing area, freestanding tub, separate shower, and double vanity over an existing crawl space costs approximately $503 psf or $193,390, according to the Cost v. Value Report. This includes carpeting in the bedroom, tile on the bathroom floor, lighting, and an exhaust fan.
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Upscale master suite addition: Creating a 32’ x 20’ master suite with a separate sitting area and large master bath, also over a crawl space, costs approximately $606 psf, or $388,427, according to the Cost v. Value Report. This includes custom shelving and built-in storage, a walk-in closet and dressing area with windows, stone counters, and a partitioned space for a toilet. The suite also features a wet bar with a microwave, sink, and refrigerator.
A crawl space or raised foundation simplifies accessing rough connections, whereas renovations involving houses on slabs are more complex and costly due to fixture relocation, saw cuts, trenching, and backfill requirements.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Costs in Los Angeles
An ADU is a secondary housing unit on a single-family lot, typically smaller than the primary home. ADU construction is becoming more common in California due to recent legislation that facilitates easier and faster construction.
Costs for ADUs can range from $50,000 to over $200,000, depending on whether it’s a conversion or ground-up construction, the size of the project, and the existing structure’s condition.
Converting an existing structure with existing electrical and plumbing can be more affordable than new construction. Conversions average around $75,000, while ground-up constructions start between $125,000 and $150,000, according to Sweeten contractors Anna & Vahik.
Garage conversions can range from $58,000 to $196,000 based on the required work.
Remodeling Permit Costs in Los Angeles
Permit costs vary by town in Los Angeles and are typically determined by your project budget.
Sweeten contractors in L.A. estimate these costs range from $750 to $2,500 based on the scope of work.
Anna and Vahik note that average kitchen and bath remodels with no structural or layout changes (“express permits”) cost around $500 to $1,000. Larger projects with additions, structural changes, or exterior work requiring plan changes start at $5,000 and can reach $20,000 in cities like Santa Monica.
Starting Your Home Renovation in Los Angeles
These figures provide a starting point for estimating your potential costs for home remodeling in Los Angeles.
Ready to transform your Los Angeles home? With careful planning and a clear understanding of potential costs, you can bring your renovation vision to life.
