We offer creative, open-minded clients the Design-Build services they need to build an inspired home.
Planning a new home construction project? Budgeting can be complex. Our Cost Calculator is designed to help you get a preliminary estimate of your project costs, so you can make informed decisions right from the start.
How it Works:
1. Provide Your Project Details: Enter basic information about your project, such as the type of project, location, size, and desired features.
2. Get an Instant Estimate: Our calculator will generate a preliminary estimate based on your input and current market data.
3. Review and Submit: Once you're satisfied with your estimate, submit your information and a Letter Four representative will contact you to discuss your plans in more detail.
Benefits
Free and Easy to Use: Our Cost Calculator is completely free and requires no special knowledge or expertise.
Instant Results: Get a preliminary estimate in seconds, so you can start planning your budget now.
No Obligation: Submitting your estimate does not commit you to any services.
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• This calculator provides a preliminary estimate only. Actual costs may vary depending on a variety of factors, such as materials, labor, and site conditions. • For a more accurate estimate, we recommend hiring Letter Four to prepare an Action Plan detailing your project’s specific needs, goals, options, and all-in project budget.
Letter Four · Design-Build · Los Angeles
Build Cost Calculator.
Whether you're building a new custom home or rebuilding after the Palisades fire, Letter Four offers five resilient construction methods — each with distinct performance, timeline, and cost profiles. Work through the steps below to get a real all-in project budget estimate, including hard construction, design and engineering fees, permits, and contingency.
Step 01
Home size & rooms
3,500 sq ft
1,000 sq ft8,000 sq ft
4
beds
3
baths
Each bathroom above 2 adds ~$30K in rough-in, finish plumbing, and fixtures.
Flat / accessible
Gentle slope
Hillside / canyon
Flat lots with clean soils have the most predictable budgets.
Step 02
Quality & exterior features
Standard
Premium
Luxury
Premium — custom cabinetry, stone countertops, quality fixtures throughout. Adds ~12% to hard cost.
+ Pool & spa TBD
+ ADU / guest house TBD
+ Outdoor kitchen
+ Roof deck / view deck
+ 3-car garage
+ Covered patio / loggia
+ Solar + battery backup
+ Fire-hardened landscaping
+ EV charging station
Items marked TBD — pool/spa and ADU scopes vary too widely for a fixed estimate. If selected, they'll appear as a line item in your budget summary and our principals will discuss pricing on your consultation call.
Step 03
Construction method
Each method meets California's WUI wildfire code. The right choice depends on your lot, timeline, insurance position, and how long you plan to stay. Our principals will walk you through the trade-offs on your call.
Stick-Built Wood
Base value
~$573/sq ft · 12–18 mo
ICF Concrete
Resilience + efficiency
~$615/sq ft · 12–18 mo
Modular — Steel Chassis
Fastest path
~$510–570/sq ft all-in · 7–10 mo
Omniblock / Steel Deck
Premium resilience
~$767/sq ft · 12–18 mo est.
All-Steel Hardened
Maximum hardened
~$800/sq ft · 12–18 mo
Your estimated all-in budget
Stick-Built Wood Frame
Timeline
12–18 months to CO
TBD items selected: . These scopes vary widely and are not included in the range below. Our principals will walk through realistic pricing for your specific project on your consultation call.
Hard construction—
Design, eng & permits (18%)—
Bathroom premium—
Lot conditionIncluded
Finish level+12%
Exterior features$0
Contingency (15%)—
Estimated all-in range
—
Based on ~$573/sq ft for WUI-compliant stick-built construction in the Palisades/Malibu corridor.
+ Pool/spa and/or ADU pricing TBD — discuss on your call.
All methods at your inputs
CA Architect #C30146 · Lauren Adams
CA Contractor #B1028949 · Jeremy Baker
letterfour.com
(323) 275-1140
Pricing disclaimer: Construction costs in Los Angeles are changing rapidly due to post-fire demand, labor market conditions, steel tariff volatility, and evolving WUI code requirements. All figures are calibrated as of June 2026 against Letter Four completed and in-progress projects in the Palisades/Malibu corridor. This calculator provides a directional estimate only — actual budgets depend on lot conditions, design complexity, geotechnical findings, HOA requirements, insurance coverage, and final contractor bids. Design, engineering, and permit soft costs are estimated at 18% of hard construction; actual permit fees on high-valuation Palisades rebuilds often run $30–80K. Modular all-in costs include factory production plus foundation, site work, craning, and utility connections. Omniblock/Steel Deck rates are estimated — no completed Letter Four comps exist yet. Pool/spa and ADU costs are not included due to scope variability. For a project-specific budget, book a free consultation with our principals.
