In Los Angeles a cosmetic whole-house renovation runs $60 to $120 per square foot, a full replacement renovation with new kitchens, baths and systems runs $150 to $300 per square foot, and a gut renovation with structural changes and high-end finishes runs $300 to $600 per square foot.
Which level do you actually need
Cosmetic is paint, floors, fixtures and lighting. Replacement is everything new in the existing floor plan, including the wiring, plumbing and heating if they are at the end of their life. Gut is walls moving, the plan opening up, and finishes specified by a designer. Most people describing a remodel mean replacement and budget for cosmetic.
How to set the budget honestly
Before you pick a number, get a camera down the sewer line, have someone look at the electrical panel and the wiring type, and get eyes in the crawlspace. Then hold 10 to 15 percent back as contingency on anything built before 1970. Then make your finish selections before demolition, because a budget built on unselected finishes is a guess, not a budget.
Los Angeles County figures, reviewed 2026-10-29 by America General Contractors, California contractor licence CSLB 1083262. Planning ranges, not a quote, and not legal advice. We confirm the current rules for your parcel before anything gets drawn.
Related questions
- What is the difference between a remodel and a renovation?
- What is a change order?
- What is a cost-plus contract versus a fixed-price contract?
