# Garage Conversions & ADUs in Austin, TX Turn a garage into a suite, or build a detached accessory dwelling unit — for guests, a parent, rental income or a home office. Permitted, insulated, plumbed and finished as a real home. From $80,000 · typical build 2–4 months · Free in-home estimate; 5-year workmanship warranty. ## What we do, and how The cheapest square footage you will ever add is the square footage you already own. A garage has a slab, walls and a roof; converting it into a bedroom suite, a studio apartment or an office costs a fraction of building the same rooms from scratch. A detached ADU goes further — its own entrance, kitchen and bath — and in most Austin neighbourhoods it is the most valuable thing you can build on a lot you already have. The difference between a converted garage that feels like a garage and one that feels like a home is in the details you cannot see: insulation and air sealing, a proper floor over the slab, ductless HVAC sized for the space, egress windows and a fire-rated wall to the house. We do all of it, permitted, and finish it to the standard of the rest of the house. ## What is in the contract - Plans, engineering and the conversion or ADU permit - Zoning, parking and occupancy rules checked with the City of Austin - Slab insulation and a finished floor - Wall and ceiling insulation, air sealing and drywall - Ductless mini-split HVAC sized for the space - A kitchenette or full kitchen, and a bathroom - Egress windows, an exterior door and fire separation from the house - A new electrical sub-panel and plumbing tie-ins - The garage door removed and framed in, exterior matched to the house ## What a garage conversion or ADU costs in Austin - **Practical — $80k–$130k: Garage to living space.** A bedroom, an office or a studio in the existing garage — insulated, conditioned, finished, with the door framed in. - **Mid-to-high — $130k–$200k: Garage to a suite with a bath.** Add a bathroom and a kitchenette so the space works for a parent, a guest or a tenant. - **High-end — $200k+: A detached ADU.** A new, freestanding one-bedroom home in the yard with its own entrance, kitchen, bath and utilities. Typical build: 2–4 months. Every published range: https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/cost-calculator ## Garage Conversion & ADU questions ### How much does a garage conversion or ADU cost in Austin? Our published Austin ranges are $80k–$130k for a garage converted to living space, $130k–$200k for a garage converted to a suite with a bath and a kitchenette, and $200k+ for a new detached ADU. Your number is fixed in writing before demolition, and it only moves if you ask for a change or we find something genuinely hidden behind a wall. ### How long does a garage conversion or ADU take? Construction runs 2–4 months — a conversion at the short end, a detached unit at the long end — after plans and permitting, which for an ADU can take a couple of months on their own. ### Is an ADU allowed on my lot in Austin? Most lots can take one, but the rules on size, height, setbacks, parking and whether it can be rented are the City of Austin's and change by zoning district. We check yours during the free consult and tell you what the lot allows before you spend anything on plans. ### Can I rent out a garage conversion or an ADU? Often, and a permitted unit with its own entrance, kitchen and bath is what makes it rentable and insurable. Short-term rental rules are separate and local; we will point you at the current ones for your address rather than guess. ### Will I lose my parking? You lose the garage, and some jurisdictions require replacement parking on the lot — usually a driveway pad. It is one of the first things we check, because it decides whether a conversion is worth doing at all. ### Does the fixed price actually stay fixed? Yes. Once selections are final and the contract is signed, the price only changes if you request a change or we uncover something genuinely hidden, like rot or failed wiring behind a wall. Any change is priced and approved in writing by you before we proceed. ### Do you offer financing? Yes. We work with established home-improvement lending partners so you can spread the cost of a remodel into predictable monthly payments instead of paying everything up front. Your project consultant will walk you through current terms during your free estimate — asking costs nothing and does not affect your credit. ### Are you licensed and insured? Yes. We carry general liability and workers compensation coverage, and all trade work is performed by licensed electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians. We will send current certificates of insurance on request. ## Sources - [City of Austin — residential plan review](https://www.austintexas.gov/development-services/residential-plan-review) ## Where we build garage conversions and ADUs - [Westlake](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/westlake) - [Round Rock](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/round-rock) - [Cedar Park](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/cedar-park) - [Georgetown](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/georgetown) - [Lakeway](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/lakeway) - [Pflugerville](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/pflugerville) - [Leander](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/leander) - [Buda](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/buda) - [Kyle](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/kyle) - [Dripping Springs](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/dripping-springs) - [Bee Cave](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/bee-cave) - [Manor](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/manor) - [Hutto](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/hutto) - [Spicewood](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/areas/spicewood) ## Garage Conversion & ADU guides for Austin - [ADUs & Garage Conversions in Austin: The 2026 Owner’s Guide](https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/blog/adu-garage-conversion-guide-austin): How Austin homeowners turn garages and backyards into rentable ADUs — permits, realistic budgets, and what the city allows in 2026. ## Get a free estimate - Call (512) 601-5666 (Monday to Friday 8am–6pm and Saturday 9am–2pm); a project consultant calls back within one business hour. - Request an estimate online: https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin#quote - 5-year workmanship warranty · one fixed price in writing · in-house carpenters · permits and inspections included --- Source: https://www.homeremodelpro.com/austin/garage-conversion-adu · Home Remodel Pro Austin, TX