How Much Does It Really Cost to Convert a Van in 2025? Our Detailed DIY Budget Breakdown
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Here’s exactly what we spent on our DIY van build—and what you can expect to budget.
If you're dreaming about van life and wondering “how much does it actually cost to convert a van?”, you're in the right place.
Hi! I'm Lauren Stone, and my husband Jason and I have been converting our Ram ProMaster van since July of 2024. As of today (May, 2025), we’re about 90% finished and the last bits of work we need to do are already paid for. So I’m sharing every cost with full transparency.
I also made our van build budget spreadsheet public so you can see every single item we bought, from solar panels to nuts and bolts.
👉 Download our full van budget spreadsheet here
What’s Included in Our Van Conversion Cost
This post covers the core structure of the van—things like:
Framing, windows, and ceiling fans
Our kitchen area
Upper cabinets
Electrical system, solar, and plumbing
Ceiling, walls, bed, and more
It doesn’t include: Decor like pillows, curtains, or bed sheets.
After everything we read online, we came to the conclusion that our overall budget would be around $10,000 for the van build. This didn’t include the cost of the van itself, any taxes or fees, DMV expenses, or monthly insurance and finance payments. The van itself was purchased through a private seller for $21,000 which we are currently financing. During the negotiation, the sellers also included 2 brand new Lion Energy Lithium Batteries which saved us over $2,000 on upfront costs.
So overall to finance our vehicle and the Lithium batters, we spend around $450 per month, which also includes vehicle insurance for both Jason and myself. The initial payment for property taxes, DMV expenses, etc. was $1,142.68.
🌞 Exterior Costs
Windows: $735.64
Side and rear bunk windows (self-installed)
Maxxair Fans: $454.24
Two fans + vent adapter and lap sealant
DIY Roof Rack: $41.76
We built our own to save on $1,000+ racks
Solar & Electrical Components: $638.95
Panels and all related electrical hardware
🪵 Interior Build Costs
Walls & Ceiling: $657.28
Cedar tongue & groove ceiling, plywood walls, framing, and paint
Insulation (Havelock Wool): $38.57
Purchased secondhand on Facebook Marketplace
Flooring (LVP): $358.92
We used the factory floor—no subfloor needed!
Bed + Garage Setup: $223.11
Simple 2x4 framing and deck connectors
Kitchen Area: $836.42
Includes fridge, sink, faucet, drawer slides, and countertop
Upper Cabinets: $358.47
Features slow-close hinges with rattan shaker style doors and 30 lb magnet locks
Living/Dining/Toilet Area: $711.48
Consists of our bench with storage, toilet/seating area, adjustable dining table, and cushions.
🚐 Additional Costs
Electrical: $1,008.97
Our main electrical system within the van aside from Solar
Plumbing: $999.98
Includes hot water to our sink & outdoor shower
Tools & Supplies: $485.59
Everything from a Brad Nail gun to nuts & bolts
Miscellaneous: $232.40
Nonessentials that would allow for the van to function great even without
Kitchen Area: $836.42
Includes fridge, sink, faucet, drawer slides, and countertop
Total Cost of Our DIY Van Conversion
All in all, the grand total of our DIY van conversion from start to finish was $8,504.20 which was $1,500 under budget. We didn’t have this money saved up when we first got the van. Instead, we worked on selling things in our house to help with the downsizing. We also cut back on a lot of extra activities, eating out, travel, and other nonessentials. That way, every extra dollar we saved went to the cost of the van.
📊 Full Transparency with Our Van Budget Spreadsheet
We’ve documented everything in our Van Build Budget Spreadsheet, which includes:
Total cost per category
Every item we purchased (with links)
Build timeline by month
Final Thoughts
Building out a van isn’t cheap—but it’s possible to do it affordably and intentionally. Our goal was to create a functional, beautiful, mobile home without overspending.
If you're planning your own conversion, we hope this breakdown helps you plan, budget, and build smarter. Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to follow the rest of our van life journey!
Thanks for being here 💛
