Project Cost Range
Costs in California

Home improvement costs in California (2026)

Most home projects in California cost about 12% more than the U.S. average. Construction workers here earn $78,280 a year on average, 20% above the national average. The table below shows what 100 projects cost in California.

Construction pay in California

$78,280 a year on average

Projects here cost about 12% more than the U.S. average.

Across the U.S.
How Much Do Gutter Guards Cost? Roofing $5–$12/linear ft $5.60–$13/linear ft
How Much Do Kitchen Countertops Cost? Remodeling $50–$200/sq ft $56–$220/sq ft
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost? Solar & Energy $15,000–$35,000 $16,800–$39,200
How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost? Remodeling $6,000–$25,000 $6,700–$28,000
How Much Does a Chimney Sweep Cost? Roofing $150–$400 $170–$450
How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $3,000–$10,000 $3,400–$11,200
How Much Does a Concrete Slab Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $4–$8/sq ft $4.50–$8.95/sq ft
How Much Does a Fire Pit Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $300–$5,000 $340–$5,600
How Much Does a French Drain Cost? Windows & Exterior $1,500–$6,000 $1,700–$6,700
How Much Does a Garage Conversion Cost? Remodeling $6,000–$27,000 $6,700–$30,200
How Much Does a Gravel Driveway Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $1,200–$3,500 $1,300–$3,900
How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost to Install? Heating & Cooling $6,000–$20,000 $6,700–$22,400
How Much Does a Home Addition Cost? Remodeling $22,000–$100,000 $24,600–$112,000
How Much Does a Home Battery Cost? Solar & Energy $12,000–$20,000/unit $13,400–$22,400/unit
How Much Does a Hot Tub Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $5,000–$25,000 $5,600–$28,000
How Much Does a Kitchen Island Cost? Remodeling $3,000–$10,000 $3,400–$11,200
How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? Remodeling $15,000–$50,000 $16,800–$56,000
How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost? Roofing $15,000–$40,000 $16,800–$44,800
How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $3,000–$16,000 $3,400–$17,900
How Much Does a Pergola Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $2,000–$8,000 $2,200–$9,000
How Much Does a Pole Barn Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $10,000–$40,000 $11,200–$44,800
How Much Does a Retaining Wall Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $3,000–$12,000 $3,400–$13,400
How Much Does a Septic System Cost? Plumbing $3,000–$20,000 $3,400–$22,400
How Much Does a Sprinkler System Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $1,600–$5,000 $1,800–$5,600
How Much Does a Storage Shed Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $1,500–$10,000 $1,700–$11,200
How Much Does a Sunroom Addition Cost? Remodeling $20,000–$60,000 $22,400–$67,200
How Much Does a Tankless Water Heater Cost? Heating & Cooling $1,500–$4,500 $1,700–$5,000
How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost? Remodeling $4,500–$15,000 $5,000–$16,800
How Much Does a Water Softener Cost? Plumbing $800–$3,500 $900–$3,900
How Much Does a Whole House Generator Cost? Solar & Energy $7,000–$15,000 $7,800–$16,800
How Much Does Air Conditioner Repair Cost? Heating & Cooling $150–$700/unit $170–$780/unit
How Much Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $3,000–$7,000 $3,400–$7,800
How Much Does an Egress Window Cost? Windows & Exterior $2,500–$6,000 $2,800–$6,700
How Much Does an Inground Pool Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $45,000–$90,000 $50,400–$100,800
How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $6,000–$35,000 $6,700–$39,200
How Much Does Artificial Turf Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $8–$20/sq ft $8.95–$22/sq ft
How Much Does Asbestos Removal Cost? Remodeling $1,200–$3,200 $1,300–$3,600
How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? Insulation $1–$4/sq ft $1.10–$4.50/sq ft
How Much Does Basement Waterproofing Cost? Windows & Exterior $2,500–$12,000 $2,800–$13,400
How Much Does Bathtub Refinishing Cost? Remodeling $300–$650 $340–$730
How Much Does Blown-In Insulation Cost? Insulation $0.9–$2.4/sq ft $1–$2.70/sq ft
How Much Does Carpet Installation Cost? Remodeling $2–$8/sq ft $2.25–$8.95/sq ft
How Much Does Chimney Repair Cost? Roofing $200–$2,500/unit $220–$2,800/unit
How Much Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost? Insulation $3,000–$8,000 $3,400–$9,000
How Much Does Drain Cleaning Cost? Plumbing $150–$500/unit $170–$560/unit
How Much Does Driveway Sealing Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $100–$300 $110–$340
How Much Does Drywall Installation Cost? Remodeling $1.5–$3.5/sq ft $1.70–$3.90/sq ft
How Much Does Flooring Installation Cost? Remodeling $3–$25/sq ft $3.35–$28/sq ft
How Much Does Foundation Repair Cost? Windows & Exterior $2,500–$15,000 $2,800–$16,800
How Much Does Garage Door Replacement Cost? Windows & Exterior $1,000–$3,500 $1,100–$3,900
How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost? Roofing $100–$350 $110–$390
How Much Does Gutter Installation Cost? Roofing $1,000–$4,500 $1,100–$5,000
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Deck? Outdoor & Landscaping $4,000–$25,000 $4,500–$28,000
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Detached Garage? Remodeling $20,000–$50,000 $22,400–$56,000
How Much Does It Cost to Build an ADU? Remodeling $80,000–$250,000/sq ft $89,600–$280,000/sq ft
How Much Does It Cost to Epoxy a Garage Floor? Remodeling $1,500–$3,500 $1,700–$3,900
How Much Does It Cost to Finish a Basement? Remodeling $15,000–$50,000 $16,800–$56,000
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Ceiling Fan? Electrical $150–$600/unit $170–$670/unit
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Fence? Outdoor & Landscaping $2,000–$8,000 $2,200–$9,000
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Fireplace? Remodeling $1,000–$10,000 $1,100–$11,200
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Mini Split? Heating & Cooling $2,000–$14,500 $2,200–$16,200
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Skylight? Roofing $1,200–$4,200/unit $1,300–$4,700/unit
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Sump Pump? Plumbing $650–$2,000 $730–$2,200
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Toilet? Plumbing $250–$800 $280–$900
How Much Does It Cost to Install an EV Charger at Home? Solar & Energy $1,000–$3,000 $1,100–$3,400
How Much Does It Cost to Install Recessed Lighting? Electrical $125–$300/unit $140–$340/unit
How Much Does It Cost to Install Sod? Outdoor & Landscaping $1–$3.5/sq ft $1.10–$3.90/sq ft
How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House Exterior? Windows & Exterior $3,000–$10,000 $3,400–$11,200
How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Interior of a House? Remodeling $2,000–$6,000 $2,200–$6,700
How Much Does It Cost to Pump a Septic Tank? Plumbing $250–$600 $280–$670
How Much Does It Cost to Reface Kitchen Cabinets? Remodeling $4,000–$10,000 $4,500–$11,200
How Much Does It Cost to Repipe a House? Plumbing $4,000–$15,000 $4,500–$16,800
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Boiler? Heating & Cooling $4,000–$10,000 $4,500–$11,200
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Central AC Unit? Heating & Cooling $4,000–$12,000 $4,500–$13,400
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Furnace? Heating & Cooling $3,000–$12,000 $3,400–$13,400
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Roof? Roofing $7,000–$18,000 $7,800–$20,200
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Water Heater? Heating & Cooling $900–$3,500 $1,000–$3,900
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Well Pump? Plumbing $1,500–$4,000 $1,700–$4,500
How Much Does It Cost to Replace an HVAC System? Heating & Cooling $7,000–$20,000 $7,800–$22,400
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Ductwork? Heating & Cooling $1,400–$12,000 $1,600–$13,400
How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House? Electrical $8,000–$30,000 $9,000–$33,600
How Much Does It Cost to Soundproof a Room? Remodeling $1,000–$3,000 $1,100–$3,400
How Much Does It Cost to Stucco a House? Windows & Exterior $8,000–$30,000 $9,000–$33,600
How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade an Electrical Panel? Electrical $1,500–$6,000 $1,700–$6,700
How Much Does Landscaping Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $3,000–$15,000 $3,400–$16,800
How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost? Remodeling $1,500–$6,000 $1,700–$6,700
How Much Does Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost? Remodeling $1–$6/sq ft $1.10–$6.70/sq ft
How Much Does Pressure Washing Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $200–$600 $220–$670
How Much Does Radiant Floor Heating Cost? Heating & Cooling $6–$20/sq ft $6.70–$22/sq ft
How Much Does Radon Mitigation Cost? Windows & Exterior $800–$2,500 $900–$2,800
How Much Does Roof Repair Cost? Roofing $350–$1,900 $390–$2,100
How Much Does Sewer Line Replacement Cost? Plumbing $3,000–$12,000 $3,400–$13,400
How Much Does Siding Replacement Cost? Windows & Exterior $7,000–$20,000 $7,800–$22,400
How Much Does Spray Foam Insulation Cost? Insulation $1.5–$5/sq ft $1.70–$5.60/sq ft
How Much Does Stamped Concrete Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $8–$20/sq ft $8.95–$22/sq ft
How Much Does Tile Installation Cost? Remodeling $7–$20/sq ft $7.85–$22/sq ft
How Much Does Tree Removal Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $400–$1,800/unit $450–$2,000/unit
How Much Does Tree Trimming Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $250–$1,000 $280–$1,100
How Much Does Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost? Remodeling $3–$10/sq ft $3.35–$11/sq ft
How Much Does Window Replacement Cost? Windows & Exterior $5,000–$15,000 $5,600–$16,800

What these prices are: Each one is the U.S. price for that project, adjusted for what construction workers earn in California. Materials cost about the same in every state. Across the U.S., building material prices are up 10.1% from a year ago (see material prices). So the difference between states is mostly pay. These are numbers to plan with, not quotes, and big cities can differ. Get two or three written bids from local contractors.

What each trade earns in California

Average yearly pay for each trade in 2025, and how it compares with the U.S. average. Pay is the main reason prices in California differ from the rest of the country. The numbers come from U.S. government wage data.

TradeCaliforniavs. U.S.
Electricians $85,860 +20%
Plumbers $82,320 +14%
Heating and cooling technicians $75,370 +16%
Carpenters $78,810 +20%
Roofers $67,420 +16%
Painters $62,460 +13%
Construction laborers $64,870 +25%

Costs by city in California: Los Angeles ·Riverside ·Sacramento ·San Diego ·San Francisco

Hiring a contractor in California

In California, general contractors get a state license from the Contractors State License Board. Ask for the license number and look it up.

  • Check the license before you sign. Use the official California license lookup to check that the license or registration is current. Also ask for a certificate of insurance (proof the contractor is insured) that names you as the certificate holder.
  • Get two or three written bids for the same work. Comparing them tells you more than any one price. It is also the quickest way to spot a quote that needs a closer look.
  • Keep the deposit small, and pay as the work gets done. Many states limit how big a deposit can be. A request for most of the money up front is a common warning sign.

Common questions

Do contractors need a license in California?
In California, general contractors get a state license from the Contractors State License Board. Ask for the license number and look it up. Before you sign anything, check that the license or registration is current. Also ask for a certificate of insurance.
Is it expensive to renovate in California?
A typical project in California costs about 12% more than the U.S. average. Construction workers here earn $78,280 a year on average, 20% above the U.S. average of $65,360 (2025 U.S. government wage data). Labor is a big part of what most jobs cost, so local pay moves the price.
Why does California cost more than average?
Materials cost about the same across the country. What changes the price is local pay. California ranks 7 out of 51 for construction pay, where number 1 pays the most. The list covers every state plus D.C.
Do these California prices include my city?
These prices cover all of California. Big cities and very remote areas can cost more, so compare these prices with local quotes. For a number that fits your project, use the calculator in any cost guide.

Compare every state on the cost by state page, see prices in big cities on the cost by city page, or see the wage data behind these prices.