A Los Angeles general contractor typically charges in the range of $150 to $450 per square foot for remodeling work, depending on the type of project, with smaller single-room remodels landing at the lower end. Room additions run $300 to $500 per square foot on the ground floor and $400 to $650 for a second story, and ground-up new construction runs $300 to $600 per square foot all-in. There is no single flat rate, because the cost depends heavily on project type, scope, materials, and site conditions.
Green Design and Build is a licensed general contractor (CSLB #1110975) based in Van Nuys that designs, permits and builds remodels, additions and ADUs across Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, western Riverside and western San Bernardino counties.
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
| Project type | Typical Los Angeles range |
|---|---|
| Remodeling work (per square foot) | $150–$450 per sq ft |
| Kitchen remodel | $25,000–$100,000+ |
| Bathroom remodel | $8,000–$18,000 refresh; $18,000–$40,000 mid-range; $40,000–$80,000+ high-end |
| Full home renovation | $100,000–$500,000; a full gut to the studs runs higher |
| Garage conversion ADU | $100,000–$200,000 |
| Detached ADU | $180,000–$260,000 (about 500 sq ft); $225,000–$350,000 (700–800 sq ft); $300,000–$450,000+ (about 1,000 sq ft) |
| Room addition | $300–$500 per sq ft ground floor; $400–$650 per sq ft second story |
| New construction | $300–$600 per sq ft all-in |
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 run $8,000 to $18,000 for a same-layout refresh and $18,000 to $40,000 for a mid-range remodel, with higher-end projects using custom tile work, freestanding tubs, or layout changes reaching $40,000 to $80,000 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 $500,000, and a full gut to the studs runs higher, 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 $100,000 to $200,000. A new detached ADU is priced more by size: roughly $180,000 to $260,000 for about 500 square feet, $225,000 to $350,000 for 700 to 800 square feet, and $300,000 to $450,000 or more for about 1,000 square feet, with two-story and hillside designs at the top of that range ($450,000 or more). On a per-square-foot basis, new ADU construction in the LA market generally falls in the $300 to $450 per square foot range, close to the $300 to $500 for a ground-floor addition; the ADU figure includes a kitchen, a bathroom and its own utility connections.
We publish a full ADU cost breakdown, including a real project that went from $180,000 to $265,000.
These are typical Los Angeles budgeting estimates, not a price list or a quote. Your project can come in lower or higher depending on the house, the scope and the finishes; the only real number is a written proposal after a site visit.
Why the Range Is So Wide
Four things move a project within these ranges: how much structural work the scope includes, the materials and finish level, permits and site conditions, and the labor market and timeline.
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, western Riverside and western San Bernardino counties.
Related cost guides: Kitchen remodel cost · Room addition cost · Whole-home renovation cost. If you plan to finance the work, our financing page explains the programs we offer and how progress payments work under California law.
Get a number for your project, not an average
We will walk the site, confirm what your city requires, and send an itemized written proposal with every allowance named. The site visit and the estimate are free.