Project cost calculator
A preliminary planning range for Denver-metro and Colorado projects. Budgetary estimate only — not a quote. Every figure is subject to a site visit and a written scope.
Project details
A-frame or cabin build where access, snow load and utilities often matter more than size.
Current planning range: $404,000 – $1,100,000
300–3,000 sq ft
Mountain sites add travel, delivery, snow-load and seasonal constraints.
Selections such as cabinetry, tile, fixtures and exterior products.
Performed by independent architects, designers and licensed engineers — not in-house.
Fees and review scope are set by the jurisdiction for your address.
Preliminary planning range · A-Frame Homes & Mountain Cabins
$404,000 – $1,100,000
≈ $404–$1,100 per sq ft, all lines included
Broad calculator planning assumption (not a published figure). A site visit and written scope are required for a real number.
The lower end includes a preliminary planning allowance. Final price depends on the agreed scope and site visit; this is not a quoted discount.
| Construction (foundation, frame, envelope, finishes) | $395,000 – $810,000 |
|---|---|
| Site preparation, driveway & utility allowance | $15,500 – $65,000 |
| Design & snow-load structural engineering (independent) | $20,000 – $81,000 |
| Permit, plan review & use-tax allowanceSet by the reviewing jurisdiction; confirm for your address. | $4,000 – $24,000 |
| Contingency (10–15% of construction)For concealed conditions. Applied to construction lines only — not to design, permit or allowance lines. | $40,000 – $120,000 |
| Rounded planning subtotal | $475,000 – $1,100,000 |
| Lower-budget planning allowance (~15% of low end)The lower end includes a preliminary planning allowance. Final price depends on the agreed scope and site visit; this is not a quoted discount. | −$71,000 at low end · $0 at high end |
Mountain sites vary more than any other category. A site visit is essential before budgeting.
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Typically included
- General construction of the cabin
- Coordination of licensed trades and inspections
Not included in this range
- Land, surveys beyond allowance
- Wildfire-mitigation landscaping
- Furnishings
- Utility extensions beyond allowance
What moves the number
- Snow load and roof engineering
- Delivery and crane access
- Well, septic and power availability
- Short building season
How these ranges are built
Method last reviewed October 7, 2026. The only published dollar anchors on this site are in our 2026 Denver metro home addition cost guide: $250–$500 per sq ft of new conditioned space for construction, before design, permits and site work; $325–$550 per sq ft for second-story additions; $12,000–$30,000 for design and engineering; and 10–15% contingency on construction. Additions and second stories use those per-sq-ft figures directly, with design, permits and site allowances shown as separate lines. Sunroom results are broad assumptions cross-checked against the published $45,000–$150,000 sunroom band. Contingency is applied to construction lines only — never to design, permit or allowance lines — and optional extras are off until you select them.
The lower end of each result also includes an additional planning allowance of about 15%, shown as its own line after a rounded planning subtotal; the upper end is unchanged. The published guide assumptions above are preserved. The reduced lower end is a planning figure, not a confirmed bid.
Every other service uses deliberately broad calculator planning assumptions, not supplier prices or past customer quotes. Our whole-house renovation cost guide explains why renovation has no honest per-square-foot figure — so those results are wide on purpose. Deck and basement guides explain the cost drivers behind those categories without publishing prices.
Important limits of this estimate
- This is a budgetary planning estimate only. It is not a bid, not a binding quote and not an offer. Pricing is confirmed only after a site visit and a written scope.
- Design, architecture and structural engineering are performed by independent licensed professionals, not in-house. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and roofing work is performed by licensed trade contractors and coordinated by Abricos LLC.
- Permits, plan-review fees and use taxes are set by the jurisdiction reviewing your address. Sales tax treatment, hidden damage, site work, trade-capacity upgrades, demolition surprises and material selections can all move the final number.
- The calculator runs in your browser and does not collect or store any personal information on its own. Your contact details and the current calculation are sent to Abricos LLC only if you explicitly submit the request form on this page. The calculator is separate from any glass or shower-door pricing tool offered by other businesses.