For homeowners · Free to use
Plan your project.Price it right.
Locally calibrated cost estimates for fifty trades across all fifty states. Decide whether to DIY or hire before you commit a dollar.
How it works
Plan any project in five steps
Everything you need to make the call before you spend money, in one place. Start with the cost, end with a plan or a pro.
- 01
Price it
Run the free calculator for a hire vs. DIY cost range, calibrated to your zip. No sign-up.
Open the calculator → - 02
Plan the project
Open the project guide: local cost, what to DIY, the materials and tools worth buying, and a pro if you want one.
Browse project guides → - 03
See the blueprints
Ready to build? A Project Blueprint gives you the full step-by-step plan, exact materials and specs, permit steps, and a hiring guide.
See blueprints → - 04
Gear up
See the tools and materials actually worth buying for the job, with our take and real price context.
Tools and materials → - 05
Hire it out
Can't DIY it, or would rather not? Find a vetted local pro near you. We never sell your info and never take kickbacks.
Find local pros →
Locally calibrated
Your zip. Not a national average.
State-by-state cost data calibrated to your zip using Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity index and BLS metro labor data. A deck in Austin costs differently than one in Detroit.
Cited, not invented
Every number has a source.
Three or more independent benchmarks per cost claim: RSMeans, HomeAdvisor, Fixr, HomeGuide, plus our Submitted Quotes dataset. Click any figure to see the math behind it.
Why we built this
We couldn't find home improvement cost data we could trust.
When we started planning our own projects, every site we tried was a lead-gen funnel built to sell your contact info to contractors. So we built the tool we wanted to exist: real cost ranges calibrated to your zip, methodology in the open, and local pros we never sell you to. No kickbacks. No lead forms. No spam.
Free cost calculator
What will your project actually cost?
Enter your zip code and project type. We return a locally calibrated cost range (hire vs. DIY) sourced from RSMeans, Angi, Fixr, HomeGuide, and real submitted quotes.
Enter your zip or select your state
Choose your project category and type
Get your local cost range instantly, free
Sources: RSMeans · Angi · Fixr · HomeGuide · Submitted Quotes
Open full calculator →EVERYTHING WE OFFER
Three ways we help you plan a home project.
FREE TOOL
DIY Calculator
Locally-calibrated cost ranges for 55 home improvement projects. Hire vs. DIY, side-by-side.
Open the calculator →PREMIUM · $19.99–$49.99
Project Blueprints
When a cost range isn't enough. Owner-reviewed PDFs with materials, permits, timeline, and AI visualization.
See all 3 tiers →FREE DIRECTORY
Local Pros
Editorially-picked contractors. No lead-gen forms. Direct contact info, so you reach out when you're ready.
Browse Local Pros →PROJECT BLUEPRINTS
From estimate to action plan.
When the calculator isn't enough, get a complete, locally-calibrated Project Blueprint for your specific project. Three tiers from the Project Blueprint to the Project Playbook. Every Blueprint is human-reviewed before delivery.
TIER 1
$19.99
DIYorBuy Project Blueprint
14-page PDF · Delivered in 4–12 hours
The full plan: both cost ranges, our verdict, and a complete DIY walkthrough.
- Hire-it-out cost range, zip-calibrated, with our verdict
- Skill self-check: can you actually DIY this?
- Step-by-step build sequence and day-by-day timeline
- Itemized shopping list with current price ranges
- Tool rent-vs-buy with local rental costs
- + 2 more on the full Blueprint page
TIER 2
$29.99
Contractor Comparison
22-page PDF · Delivered in 12–24 hours
Everything in the Blueprint plus a render of your space and vetted local pros.
- Everything in the Project Blueprint
- AI rendering of your space in your chosen style
- Brand-specific product picks with models and prices
- Bid-comparison worksheet and negotiation guide
- 3 to 5 vetted local contractors with credentials
- + 1 more on the full Blueprint page
TIER 3
$49.99
DIYorBuy Project Playbook
30-page PDF · Delivered in 24–48 hours
The done-for-you package with priced scopes, permit filing, and a quote review.
- Everything in Contractor Comparison
- 3 priced scope options + risk and contingency analysis
- ROI and resale analysis, plus a phased week-by-week timeline
- County permit filing guide and contractor vetting dossier
- Rebates and incentives check for your state
- + 2 more on the full Blueprint page
Real example
See a real example
A different real project for each tier. Flip the pages with the arrows, or click to read the whole report at full size.
DIYorBuy Project Blueprint · $19.99
Contractor Comparison · $29.99
DIYorBuy Project Playbook · $49.99
Every Blueprint is human-reviewed before delivery. No contractor kickbacks. No lead-gen forms. Refund if cost data is materially off.
See full Blueprint details + sample preview →LOCALLY CALIBRATED
A roof in Austin costs differently than one in Detroit.
Cost data calibrated to your state using Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity and BLS metro labor data. We currently cover all 50 states. Depth grows with our editorial team.
Don't see your state? Cost data is live for all 50. Hit the calculator above with your zip and we'll calibrate to your state automatically.
For local pros
Homeowners here have already priced the job. Be who they call.
Most contractor sites are lead brokers that sell your number to everyone who pays. We are the opposite. DIYorBuyLocal is a flat directory where homeowners who have already priced their project find you and reach out directly. List free as a founding member, add your license and insurance for a Verified badge, and sit at the top while we grow. We never sell your contact info, and we never take a kickback.
Free founding membership · No card · No kickbacks · About two minutes
OUR 7 COMMITMENTS
What our brand stands on.
Most home improvement sites monetize by selling your contact info to contractors. We don't. Here are the seven commitments we publish, and the ones we hold ourselves to.
We never sell homeowner contacts.
No lead-gen forms. Your email is used to deliver what you bought. That's it.
We never take contractor payments to influence rankings.
Editorial Local Pros stay editorial. Future subscription tiers (Phase 2) buy visibility only, never placement.
We never invent sources.
Every cost figure cites at least 3 independent benchmarks (RSMeans, HomeAdvisor, Fixr, plus our Submitted Quotes dataset).
We never inflate estimates.
Cost ranges reflect actual local market conditions. If your project comes in materially over our range, we refund the Blueprint in full.
We never hide AI authorship.
AI drafts content at scale. The owner reviews every Blueprint before delivery. Every page shows when it was last updated.
We never hide methodology.
How we calculate costs, where data comes from, what assumptions we make. All documented at /how-we-calculate-costs.
We never silently edit historical figures.
Quarterly refreshes are timestamped. Old versions are archived. No silent rewrites of past cost data.
Free to use · No email required
Know the cost before you commit. Every time.
Locally calibrated estimates for fifty trades across all fifty states. Cited sources. No spam. No lead forms. Just the number you need to make a smart decision.