Van life · budget
Van build cost calculator.
Enter your own prices line by line. The tool totals them, adds a contingency to the conversion work and shows each line's share and what is left of your budget.
Inputs
Total build cost
Enter your numbers.
How much does a van conversion cost?
This tool does not quote prices; you enter your own. Total = every line item + contingency, where contingency = conversion costs (everything except the van) x contingency percent. Build budgets often grow, which is what the contingency is for.
Worked example. The default lines (placeholders, not typical prices) are a $25,000 van and $11,600 of conversion work. Line items total $36,600. A 15% contingency on the conversion is $1,740, so the total is $38,340, which is $1,660 under a $40,000 budget.
Use it with the other tools. Get the electrical line from the battery bank, solar and inverter calculators, and check the weight of the materials in the payload tool before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DIY van conversion cost?
It depends entirely on the van, the electrical system and your materials, so this tool takes your own prices instead of quoting one. Enter your quotes line by line.
What contingency should I add to a van build?
15% on the conversion work is a common rule of thumb, not a published standard. Change it to suit how firm your quotes are.
Is the van purchase included in the contingency?
No. The contingency applies only to conversion line items, because the van price is usually known.
Are the default prices real?
No. They are placeholders to show how the totals work. Replace every one with your own quote.
Arithmetic on the figures you enter. Runs entirely in your browser; nothing you type is sent or stored.
Planning estimate, not professional advice
Results are planning estimates from the numbers you enter. They are not professional, engineering, electrical or safety advice and are not a substitute for the manufacturer's instructions or local code. This is arithmetic on figures you provide, not a price quote.