How Much Does A Bus Conversion Cost?

The biggest questions we get since starting our build is: “how much does a bus conversion actually cost?” The real answer depends on what making a home into a home means for you. You can do a simple conversion for a couple thousand, or you can budget what you would into a small house.

For me personally, I want a home that meets all my needs and is comfortable. If I’m going to live in a tiny home, (and reduce my belongings to only things that matter) I want really nice, meaningful belongings in that home. So our estimated starting budget is $35,000, with a huge chunk of that being the solar system that we’re going to invest in.

This blog post is a rolling update of our expenses. As we finish a project I will update this post as we go along.

Total Prediction based on research: $35,000
Last Updated: November 18th, 2020

It’s important to note we live in New Hampshire where there is no sales tax so the cost of items is the cost we paid.

Notes:

• If there is a corresponding blog post for the topic the titles are clickable for additional information on what worked and what didn’t work. 
• Some tools and blades were the wrong choice so please read the additional blog posts to avoid making the same mistakes we did. 
• Some tools were used on multiple projects but I listed them at the stage we bought them at. Blog posts have exact breakdowns.
•  I have also listed everything we used that was borrowed, given to us, or already owned so you have a general idea of what may cost you money if you don’t already own it. 
• If you click on the product name you can buy direct from Amazon. Full disclosure these are affiliate links that will give me a percentage back when you purchase anything after clicking on the link. This helps support my time creating these blog posts for you to use and enjoy. 

 

Buying the Bus: $3,998.40

• $4,000 minus the $1.60 we found on the bus 😉

Taking out the Seats: $226.70

• Dremel: Already owned
• Small Angle Grinder: Borrowed from Dad
• Large Angle Grinder: Borrowed from Friend
• Oscillating Tool: $79.00
• Scraper blade for oscillating tool: $7.18
• Triangle sander $12.59
• Cutting blades for oscillating tool: 34.98
• 4 angle grinder blades: $7.92
• 2 Angle Grinder Blades:$ 16.94
• 2 Dremel grinding wheels: $21.96 
• Tool Tote: $24.98
• 7 inch wonder pry bar: $7.18
• Blaster Penetrant $4.99
• Wd 40, 2 pack $8.98

 

Removing the Heater:

• 2, 5 gallon buckets with lids: $10.96

Removing the Ceiling:

• Impact Drill – already owned

Prepping the Bus for Paint:

• Wire Brush Attachment for Drill: $5.38
• Gallon of Acetone $19.99
• Dewalt Palm Sander – already owned

Removing Bus Decals:

• We didn’t buy: Whizzy Wheel but it’s highly recommended by other people.
• Butane Torch: already owned
• paint scraper: already owned

FULL TRAILER OF TRASH up to this point: $200

Window Removal and Replacement:

• 6 piece Irwin pin punch set $13.98
• Heavy Duty box cutter: $8.18  
• Box Cutters: Already owned
• Skillsaw: Already owned
• Metal sheets: $0, we repurposed the ceiling metal
• 2 XL Bubble Windows for the cats: $59.16
• Workpro scraper: $1.98
• 8oz Brasso Metal Polish $3.28
• Jigsaw to cut metal: Already owned
• Jigsaw blade: $2.39
• Dasco Pro Trim Kit: $12.99
• Impact Driver Kit: $99.99
• Screws $12.99
• Grabit to remove stripped screws $7.98
• 12 inch Magnet $16.48
• Skill saw blades $4.98
• Skill saw blades $3.98
• 3 boxes of screws (35 a box) for outside bus $15.84
• jigsaw blade $11.98
• weather stripping $3.78 each, $7.56
• Heavy Duty Gorilla glue $9.99
• 3 pack stainless steel sponges: $2.48

PAINTING BUS – Not finished yet

• 2 3M respirators $83.94 (41.97 each)

• 2 1 inch Blue Painters tape rolls, 4.99 each $9.98
• 1 ⅕ inch blue painters tape roll $7.99
• Paint Stripper drill bit $16.99
• Light duty stripping pads, 2 pack $3.59
• 2 gallons tractor white paint: $57.98
• 2 spray cans, white gloss: $11.98
• Spray gun handle for spray cans: $4.99
• Majik Catalyst Hardener: $15.99
• ½ foot paint rollers $5.49
• Metal Tray Paint pans: $12.57

 

FLOOR Removal

• 1 gallon rust removal $27.48

Subfloor Installation

• Layer 1: Ice and Water Shield
• Layer 2: 1/8th