Free ADU, JADU, new home, apartment and build-out cost calculators for Los Angeles
Free tools from Hemisphere A&E, an architecture and design-build firm in Los Angeles. See what it costs to build an ADU, a new home or a business space in LA County, what it could rent for, and what it adds to your home value. Plain English, updated for 2026.
ADU cost calculator
Estimate the cost to build a backyard ADU, a garage conversion, a junior ADU (JADU), or an ADU plus a junior ADU. See building cost, site work, city fees and design, the monthly rent, the cash you keep after costs, and how much the ADU adds to your home value. A typical 750 sq ft backyard ADU with a standard finish costs about $300,000 all in.
New home cost calculator
Estimate the cost to build a new home on an empty lot, tear down and rebuild, rebuild after a fire in Altadena, the Palisades or Malibu, or build a home plus an ADU. See land, building cost, finished value, equity created and rent. A new 1,800 sq ft home in a typical LA County area costs about $873,000 to build.
Tenant improvement (build-out) cost calculator
Opening a cafe, restaurant, shop or office? Estimate the build-out cost, the landlord allowance, your share, your monthly cost, and the sales you need each month to make it work.
Apartment building cost and unit calculator
Find how many units your lot can hold by density and floor area ratio (FAR), with the state density bonus, CHIP, SB 684 and SB 79 in mind. See the cost per unit, rent, yield on cost and finished value of a duplex, fourplex, walk-up or mid-rise, or of adding up to 8 ADUs to an apartment building you own (SB 1211).
Same project, different neighborhoods
Building costs stay about the same across LA County, but home values and rents do not. The highest equity comes from Prime areas like Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Manhattan Beach and Pacific Palisades, then the Westside and South Bay, like Mar Vista, Westchester, Torrance and Redondo Beach.
Check your area by ZIP code
Type your ZIP code to see who runs permits (City of Los Angeles, LA County or your own city), what California ADU and SB 9 law allows, fire-area warnings, and a starting estimate. Covers 270+ LA County ZIP codes.
Know before you build
Plain-English answers about junior ADUs, ADUs, attached or detached units, single-family homes, floor area ratio (FAR), tenant improvements, change of use, accessibility, and food, alcohol and sign permits.
Free guides and checklists
SB 9 lot splits, permit steps in Los Angeles, design costs, how to read your lot report (ZIMAS), fire rebuild guide for Altadena and the Palisades, lease checklist, restaurant opening checklist, solar and energy rules for new homes, and a glossary of building words.
The five phases of architecture services
Schematic design, design development, construction documents, bid and negotiation, and construction administration: what happens in each phase and what you get. Plus LEED, AIA contracts, and design-build vs. design-bid-build.
Free lot check
Send us your address. We look up your zoning and lot size, what fits (ADU, junior ADU, SB 9, new home, apartments or remodel), red flags like fire zones or hillside rules, and a rough cost range. No cost, no pressure. Email info@hemisphereae.com or call (619) 762-7144.
Which project fits me? A 5-question quiz
Answer 5 quick questions about your lot, goal, budget and timing. We point you to the right project: a junior ADU, a garage conversion, a backyard ADU, an ADU plus a junior ADU, a new home, a fire rebuild, apartments, or a business build-out.
Can the rent pay the loan? ADU loan calculator
See your monthly loan payment next to the rent your ADU could earn, and what is left over each month. A typical $300,000 ADU on a 30-year loan at 7.5% costs about $2,098 a month.
Will this space work? Free space check for restaurants, cafes, shops and offices
Send us the listing before you sign a lease. We check zoning, change of use, kitchen needs, disability access and a rough build-out cost.
Fire rebuild help center for Altadena, Pacific Palisades and Malibu
Steps, fee relief, and key dates for rebuilding after the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires, for LA County, the City of Los Angeles and the City of Malibu.
Project stories
Real ADU, junior ADU and fire rebuild projects by Hemisphere A&E in Long Beach, Oceanside, San Diego and Malibu.
ADU cost guides by city
- What an ADU costs in Alhambra
- What an ADU costs in Altadena
- What an ADU costs in Arcadia
- What an ADU costs in Beverly Hills
- What an ADU costs in Burbank
- What an ADU costs in Culver City
- What an ADU costs in Downey
- What an ADU costs in Eagle Rock
- What an ADU costs in El Segundo
- What an ADU costs in Glendale
- What an ADU costs in Hawthorne
- What an ADU costs in Highland Park
- What an ADU costs in Inglewood
- What an ADU costs in Lancaster
- What an ADU costs in Long Beach
- What an ADU costs in Malibu
- What an ADU costs in Manhattan Beach
- What an ADU costs in Mar Vista
- What an ADU costs in Pacific Palisades
- What an ADU costs in Pasadena
- What an ADU costs in Redondo Beach
- What an ADU costs in Santa Clarita
- What an ADU costs in Santa Monica
- What an ADU costs in Sherman Oaks
- What an ADU costs in South Pasadena
- What an ADU costs in Torrance
- What an ADU costs in Venice
- What an ADU costs in West Hollywood
- What an ADU costs in Westchester
- What an ADU costs in Whittier
New home cost guides by city
- What a new home costs in Alhambra
- What a new home costs in Altadena
- What a new home costs in Arcadia
- What a new home costs in Beverly Hills
- What a new home costs in Burbank
- What a new home costs in Culver City
- What a new home costs in Downey
- What a new home costs in Eagle Rock
- What a new home costs in El Segundo
- What a new home costs in Glendale
- What a new home costs in Hawthorne
- What a new home costs in Highland Park
- What a new home costs in Inglewood
- What a new home costs in Lancaster
- What a new home costs in Long Beach
- What a new home costs in Malibu
- What a new home costs in Manhattan Beach
- What a new home costs in Mar Vista
- What a new home costs in Pacific Palisades
- What a new home costs in Pasadena
- What a new home costs in Redondo Beach
- What a new home costs in Santa Clarita
- What a new home costs in Santa Monica
- What a new home costs in Sherman Oaks
- What a new home costs in South Pasadena
- What a new home costs in Torrance
- What a new home costs in Venice
- What a new home costs in West Hollywood
- What a new home costs in Westchester
- What a new home costs in Whittier
Apartment building cost guides by city
- What an apartment building costs in Alhambra
- What an apartment building costs in Altadena
- What an apartment building costs in Arcadia
- What an apartment building costs in Beverly Hills
- What an apartment building costs in Burbank
- What an apartment building costs in Culver City
- What an apartment building costs in Downey
- What an apartment building costs in Eagle Rock
- What an apartment building costs in El Segundo
- What an apartment building costs in Glendale
- What an apartment building costs in Hawthorne
- What an apartment building costs in Highland Park
- What an apartment building costs in Inglewood
- What an apartment building costs in Lancaster
- What an apartment building costs in Long Beach
- What an apartment building costs in Malibu
- What an apartment building costs in Manhattan Beach
- What an apartment building costs in Mar Vista
- What an apartment building costs in Pacific Palisades
- What an apartment building costs in Pasadena
- What an apartment building costs in Redondo Beach
- What an apartment building costs in Santa Clarita
- What an apartment building costs in Santa Monica
- What an apartment building costs in Sherman Oaks
- What an apartment building costs in South Pasadena
- What an apartment building costs in Torrance
- What an apartment building costs in Venice
- What an apartment building costs in West Hollywood
- What an apartment building costs in Westchester
- What an apartment building costs in Whittier
Restaurant, shop and office build-out cost guides by city
- Build-out costs in Alhambra
- Build-out costs in Altadena
- Build-out costs in Arcadia
- Build-out costs in Beverly Hills
- Build-out costs in Burbank
- Build-out costs in Culver City
- Build-out costs in Downey
- Build-out costs in Eagle Rock
- Build-out costs in El Segundo
- Build-out costs in Glendale
- Build-out costs in Hawthorne
- Build-out costs in Highland Park
- Build-out costs in Inglewood
- Build-out costs in Lancaster
- Build-out costs in Long Beach
- Build-out costs in Malibu
- Build-out costs in Manhattan Beach
- Build-out costs in Mar Vista
- Build-out costs in Pacific Palisades
- Build-out costs in Pasadena
- Build-out costs in Redondo Beach
- Build-out costs in Santa Clarita
- Build-out costs in Santa Monica
- Build-out costs in Sherman Oaks
- Build-out costs in South Pasadena
- Build-out costs in Torrance
- Build-out costs in Venice
- Build-out costs in West Hollywood
- Build-out costs in Westchester
- Build-out costs in Whittier