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What 15 common jobs cost
| Job | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete drivewayper sq ft | $6 | $9 | $15 |
| Asphalt shingle roofper square (100 sq ft) | $300 | $450 | $600 |
| Central AC replacementinstalled | $4,000 | $7,000 | $10,500 |
| Small plumbing repair (toilet, faucet or sink)per repair | $125 | $280 | $350 |
| Licensed electrician laborper hour | $50 | $90 | $130 |
| Kitchen remodelper sq ft | $150 | $200 | $250 |
| Bathroom remodelper sq ft | $100 | $250 | $500 |
| Wood privacy fenceper linear ft | $22 | $35 | $58 |
| Epoxy garage floorper sq ft | $4 | $7 | $12 |
| Asphalt drivewayper sq ft | $5 | $8 | $12 |
| Basement finishingper sq ft | $30 | $40 | $50 |
| Window replacement (per window, installed)per window | $450 | $900 | $1,500 |
| Flooring, installedper sq ft | $4 | $9 | $15 |
| Foundation pieringper pier | $1,000 | $1,800 | $3,000 |
| Tank water heater (replaced)per unit | $600 | $1,800 | $3,100 |
Full table with all 51 services and a CSV download: the price index.
Cost guides by trade
Each trade has its own pillar page with the prices for every common job, what moves the number and the guides that go deeper.
Which price are you looking at?
| Price you were given | What it includes | What it leaves out |
|---|---|---|
| Material or "pour only" | Ready-mix or materials delivered | Forming, labour, finishing and base |
| Finished | Material, placement and a basic finish | Base prep, demolition and special finishes |
| Installed | Preparation, forming, pour, finish, cleanup | Permits, unusual access and structural repair |
The ranges on this page are installed prices. A material-only figure will look far cheaper and is not the same job.
How these ranges are built
Every table starts with published national cost guides. We compare at least two, then check the material share against supplier list prices. If a published range implies material costs below the supplier list, the range is wrong and we do not publish it.
Each table carries the month it was compared. A price without a date is a guess with a number attached, which is why the checked month appears on every page and in the price index.
The third pass is arithmetic: if the low end of a range is lower than the sum of the materials alone, the range is widened or replaced. The same rule runs inside every calculator, and each calculator prints its formula.
What moves a price more than the trade
What a quote should include
| Line | What it should say | Red flag if missing |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | Hours or crew days and what they do | A single lump sum |
| Materials | Brand, grade, quantity and unit price | "Materials included" with no specification |
| Removal | What comes out and the dump fee | Disposal "to be determined" |
| Permits | Who pulls it and the fee | Homeowner told to pull it |
| Payment | Milestones and the final payment | Large deposit before materials are ordered |
| Exclusions | What is not included, written down | No exclusions section at all |
State rules and permits
| State | Board to check | Rule in plain terms |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | TDLR for electrical and HVAC; TSBPE for plumbing | No statewide general contractor licence |
| Tennessee | Board for Licensing Contractors | Contractor licence at $25,000 and up; county home improvement licences exist |
| California | Contractors State License Board | Statewide licensing, licence class matters |
| Florida | DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board | Jobs under $2,500 exempt, except electrical and alarm |
| North Carolina | Licensing Board for General Contractors | General contractor licence from $40,000 |
| Oklahoma | Construction Industries Board | Roofers must register with $500,000 liability |
For every state, the licence checker names the body for each trade. Rules change; confirm on the board's own site before you sign.
Where should you start?
Open the trade pillar, find the job in its table, then run the matching calculator. Concrete · Fencing · Foundation
Compare it line by line with the trade guide, then run the quote checker.
The price index gives low, typical and high for 51 jobs, with a CSV.
The directory lists local businesses by state and city, or send one quote request.
Every cluster guide on LocalServiceHQ
Each guide answers one question in depth, with worked examples, its own FAQ and the month its numbers were checked.
Questions about cost guides
Are these prices national or local?
National. Every table shows the month it was checked, and local prices move around it. The calculators let you adjust dimensions, materials and waste to your own job.
Why do two quotes for the same job differ by thousands?
Usually they are not the same job. Scope, removal, access, finish and schedule change the labour and material quantities. Compare line by line, not totals.
Is the lowest quote the cheapest?
Not necessarily. The lowest quote is the one most likely to be missing a line item. Check exclusions, permits, disposal and the payment schedule first.
How often are these prices updated?
Price ranges are re-checked twice a year, or sooner when a supplier list moves sharply. Calculators are re-run when those prices change.
Do the ranges include materials and labour?
Yes, they are installed prices: labour, typical materials and normal site preparation. Unusual structural repair, upgrades and local permit fees are extra.
Where do the numbers come from?
Published national cost guides, supplier list prices and state licensing boards. The full method is in the methodology page.
Published national cost guides (HomeGuide, Angi, HomeAdvisor) compared in October 2026, supplier list prices for concrete, shingles, pavers and fixtures, and state licensing boards named in the table. Full method: methodology. Editorial rules: editorial policy.
Estimates, not quotes. General information, not legal advice.