A Los Angeles general contractor typically charges in the range of $150 to $450 per square foot depending on the type of project, with smaller single-room remodels landing at the lower end and ground-up construction or ADUs landing at the higher end. There is no single flat rate, because the cost depends heavily on project type, scope, materials, and site conditions.
Rather than quoting one number that would not apply to most projects, here is how cost actually breaks down by project type in the Los Angeles market, along with the pricing structures contractors use and what tends to move a project from the low end of a range to the high end.
Typical Cost Ranges by Project Type
Kitchen Remodel
A full kitchen remodel in the Los Angeles area generally runs from $25,000 to $100,000 or more, depending heavily on cabinetry, countertop material, appliance package, and whether the layout is changing or staying the same. Moving plumbing or electrical to reconfigure a kitchen layout adds cost beyond a straightforward finishes-only remodel.
Our kitchen remodeling page explains how we scope and price a kitchen line by line.
Bathroom Remodel
Bathroom remodels typically fall between $10,000 and $30,000, with higher-end projects using custom tile work, freestanding tubs, or layout changes reaching $50,000 or more.
For a fuller breakdown by tier, read our bathroom remodel cost guide.
Full Home Renovation
A full home renovation covering most or all of a house commonly ranges from $100,000 to $300,000 or more, with the total driven primarily by square footage, how many rooms are involved, and whether structural or systems work (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) is part of the scope.
If you are adding square footage rather than renovating what exists, see our room additions page.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
ADU costs vary the most of any category because there are several distinct types of projects grouped under the same name. A garage conversion ADU generally runs $120,000 to $150,000. A new detached ADU is priced more by size: roughly $150,000 to $200,000 for 400 to 500 square feet, $200,000 to $250,000 for 600 to 800 square feet, $250,000 to $300,000 for 800 to 1,000 square feet, and $300,000 to $350,000 for 1,000 to 1,200 square feet, with two-story detached units running $350,000 to $400,000. On a per-square-foot basis, new ADU construction in the LA market generally falls in the $300 to $450 per square foot range, which is meaningfully higher than a standard home addition due to the cost of extending utilities and building a fully independent structure.
We publish a full ADU cost breakdown, including a real project that went from $180,000 to $265,000.
Why the Range Is So Wide
Scope and Structural Work
Cosmetic work (new flooring, paint, fixtures) costs far less than structural changes (moving walls, reworking foundations, changing rooflines, or relocating plumbing and electrical). Any project that opens up walls or touches the structure of the home should be budgeted well above a finishes-only project of similar square footage.
Materials and Finish Level
Cabinetry, countertops, flooring, and fixtures carry an enormous price range on their own. Two kitchens of identical size and layout can differ by tens of thousands of dollars purely based on the materials selected.
Permits and Site Conditions
Projects requiring permits through the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) or another local building department carry costs for plan review, permit fees, and inspections. Site conditions such as difficult access, older electrical panels that need upgrading, foundation issues discovered mid-project, or drainage problems can all add cost that a homeowner did not anticipate at the estimate stage.
Labor Market and Timeline
Labor costs in the LA market are shaped by demand for skilled trades at any given time, and a compressed timeline can also increase cost if it requires more crews working simultaneously.
How General Contractors Structure Pricing
Most residential general contractors in the LA market price projects one of two ways. A fixed-bid (or lump-sum) proposal quotes a single total price for the defined scope of work, which gives a homeowner cost certainty as long as the scope does not change. A cost-plus arrangement bills the actual cost of labor and materials plus an agreed contractor fee or percentage, which offers more flexibility on projects with scope that may evolve, but less certainty about the final number going in. Either structure can work well; what matters is that the proposal clearly states which one you are agreeing to and what happens if the scope changes.
Getting an Estimate You Can Actually Compare
A useful estimate should break down the scope of work, the specific materials or allowances included, and the payment schedule, not just a single bottom-line number. When comparing bids from multiple contractors, the lowest number is not automatically the best value if it is missing scope, using lower allowances than a competing bid, or leaving out permit costs that another contractor included. The most reliable way to get an accurate number for your specific project is a site visit and a written proposal that spells out exactly what is and is not included.
For what a project actually involves rather than what it costs, see the work we take on across Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and Riverside counties.