Home repair cost planner: DIY vs. hiring a pro
Pick the repairs you're planning. The planner shows what the parts cost if you do it yourself, roughly how many hours it takes, what a professional typically charges, and the difference — with a contingency built in. Free, no sign-up, and the link is your saved estimate.
Loading the interactive planner… The typical ranges it uses are below.
Plumbing
| Project | DIY materials | Pro installed | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace kitchen faucet | $80–$300 | $250–$600 | Easy |
| Replace toilet | $150–$500 | $400–$900 | Moderate |
| Replace garbage disposal | $100–$250 | $250–$500 | Moderate |
| Replace water heater (tank) | $500–$1,200 | $1,200–$2,500 | Hard |
| Replace sump pump | $150–$400 | $600–$1,200 | Moderate |
Electrical
| Project | DIY materials | Pro installed | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace electrical outlet | $5–$25 | $150–$300 | Easy |
| Install GFCI outlet | $20–$40 | $150–$300 | Easy |
| Install ceiling fan | $100–$350 | $250–$600 | Moderate |
| Upgrade to 200A electrical panel | pro only | $1,500–$4,000 | Pro only |
| Install Level 2 EV charger | pro only | $600–$1,800 | Pro only |
HVAC
| Project | DIY materials | Pro installed | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace AC capacitor | $15–$40 | $150–$350 | Moderate |
| Furnace tune-up | $0–$25 | $100–$200 | Easy |
| Replace central AC (3-ton) | pro only | $4,500–$9,000 | Pro only |
| Replace gas furnace | pro only | $3,500–$7,500 | Pro only |
Roofing
| Project | DIY materials | Pro installed | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace a few damaged shingles | $30–$80 | $200–$600 | Hard |
| Replace asphalt roof (2,000 sq ft) | pro only | $9,000–$18,000 | Pro only |
| Clean gutters (single-story) | $0–$40 | $150–$350 | Easy |
| Install gutter guards | $300–$800 | $1,200–$3,000 | Moderate |
Exterior
| Project | DIY materials | Pro installed | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stain / seal a deck (300 sq ft) | $80–$200 | $600–$1,500 | Moderate |
Walls
| Project | DIY materials | Pro installed | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patch drywall hole (fist-sized) | $15–$40 | $150–$350 | Easy |
| Paint a 12×12 room | $60–$200 | $400–$900 | Easy |
Bath
| Project | DIY materials | Pro installed | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Re-caulk tub / shower | $10–$25 | $150–$300 | Easy |
Doors
| Project | DIY materials | Pro installed | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace exterior door lockset | $40–$150 | $150–$300 | Easy |
Appliances
| Project | DIY materials | Pro installed | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace dryer heating element | $30–$80 | $150–$300 | Moderate |
| Replace dishwasher | $450–$900 | $650–$1,200 | Moderate |
How the planner works
- Select projects. 25 common repairs across plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing, interior, and appliances.
- See two numbers for each. A DIY materials range and a professional installed range. Projects that shouldn't be DIY are priced at pro rates only and say why.
- Make it yours. Override the materials cost with the price you actually found, adjust the hours, put a dollar value on your time, pick a broad area cost level, and set a contingency percentage.
- Open the checklist. Each selected project expands into typical materials, tools, prep steps, sequence, permit note, and DIY suitability — all included when you print the plan.
- Compare and decide. DIY cash, DIY time, and the pro range sit side by side. Print it, share the link, or request contractor quotes to check the range against your market.
Why budget before you call a contractor
A contractor's quote is the first number most homeowners see, which makes it the anchor for every decision after it. Walking in with a realistic range changes that: you know when a bid is high, you know which parts of the job you could do yourself, and you know what a "while we're in there" add-on should cost. The planner is built for that conversation — it is not a substitute for a written quote from a licensed professional.
What the estimates include and exclude
- DIY ranges cover parts and materials of mid-grade quality. They assume you already own basic hand tools and exclude specialty tool rental, permits, and disposal fees.
- Pro ranges cover labor and materials for a standard, accessible installation. They exclude permit fees, structural surprises, code upgrades triggered by the work, and premium fixtures.
- Not included anywhere: emergency or after-hours rates, multi-story access, historic-home conditions, and regional extremes. Expect quotes in high-cost metros to sit above the range.
Common cost-planning questions
Where do the cost ranges come from?
Each range is a typical 2026 U.S. figure compiled from published contractor cost guides and retailer pricing for mid-grade materials, rounded into bands. DIY ranges are parts and materials only. Pro ranges include labor and materials for a standard job. They are planning estimates, not quotes, and we review them periodically (last review: November 2026).
Why is there a contingency, and can I change it?
Almost every repair uncovers something — a corroded valve, a rotted board, a fitting that doesn't match. The planner adds 10% by default so your budget isn't the best case. You can set it anywhere from 0% to 50%; older homes and anything behind a wall deserve the higher end.
What does "value of my time" do?
If you enter an hourly figure, the planner multiplies it by the estimated DIY hours and shows that separately from cash. Cash is what leaves your bank account; time value is what the weekend is worth to you. Keeping them apart is the honest way to compare against a pro quote.
Why are some projects "pro only"?
Panel upgrades, EV chargers, full HVAC replacements, and roof replacements involve licensing, permits, refrigerant handling, or fall risks that make them unsuitable for DIY regardless of skill. The planner prices them at professional rates only and flags the reason.
Does the planner save my estimate or need an account?
No account and nothing stored on our servers. Your selections live in the page URL — copy the link to save or share it, or print the summary to PDF.
How accurate is this for my area?
Labor rates, permit fees, and material prices vary by region, so expect real quotes 20–40% either side of the national range. The "area cost level" selector applies a broad multiplier (lower-cost area to highest-cost metro) that you choose — we don't have a reliable, licensed city-level cost index and won't pretend to. The fastest real calibration is one or two local quotes, with the material figure plugged back into the planner.