Allowance Reality Check
Allowances are often one of the biggest sources of budget overruns on custom homes — not because of bad intentions, but because they are typically set months before selections are made.
Select a finish grade for each category, then optionally enter what your contract actually sets. The ranges here reflect what selections at each grade realistically cost in this market — including the high end, because that is often where projects land.
Project dimensions
Select a finish grade for each category — then optionally enter your contract allowance
Kitchen Cabinets & Millwork
Includes upper/lower cabinets, island, pantry, and trim details
Kitchen Appliances
Range/cooktop, refrigeration, dishwasher, oven — package pricing
Countertops
Kitchen, island, wet bar, and secondary surfaces
Plumbing Fixtures
Per bathroom — faucets, shower systems, tub, toilet, accessories
Range shown per bath × 3 baths
Tile & Stone
All wet areas — showers, floors, backsplash. Per square foot installed
Range shown per sq ft × 600 sq ft
Hardwood Flooring
Material and installation per square foot
Range shown per sq ft × 3,500 sq ft
Lighting & Electrical Fixtures
Decorative fixtures throughout — excludes recessed/structural lighting
Interior Doors & Hardware
All interior doors, hinges, passage sets, and specialty hardware
Primary Bath Finishes
Full finish package — vanity, fixtures, tile, hardware, mirrors, accessories
Select a grade for any category above to see the range.
Allowances are estimates
Every allowance in a contract is a placeholder. The real number does not exist until selections are made — sometimes a year into the project.
Grade is set by taste, not budget
Owners at the same price point often make very different selections. Grade reflects your design direction, not the contractor's default.
Gaps compound
A $30k shortfall across four categories is $120k in change orders. Early review prevents late surprises.