How much does a cost segregation study cost?

What moves the price

Four things explain almost the entire range, and only one of them is really about the property itself.

1. 01

   Property size and type

   A single short-term rental prices differently from a small multifamily or a larger building. More units and more square footage mean more components to identify and quantify.

2. 02

   Engineered versus desktop

   A desktop study applies template percentages with no site work and costs less. An engineering-based study inspects the property, photographs components, and takes off quantities, and it is the standard the IRS prefers.

3. 03

   Complexity and evidence

   A finish-heavy property, a remodel, or a lookback with prior-year catch-up takes more analysis than a plain rental. Better source evidence, like receipts and plans, makes the study tighter, not more expensive.

4. 04

   What is actually at stake

   The fee should be weighed against the first-year deduction, not in isolation. On most properties where a study makes sense, the deduction is many multiples of the fee.

How Unlevered prices it

No quote request, no surprise invoice. One flat fee, shown before you commit.

• Shown upfront. You see the exact fee before you decide, so there is no "contact us for pricing." The current figures are on the pricing card.
• One study, three tiers. A filing-ready PDF for a single unit, a higher tier that adds interactive access and dedicated audit-defense support, and multi-unit pricing for larger properties. Every tier is the same engineering-reviewed study.
• Small next to the deduction. The fee is typically a small fraction of the first-year deduction, which is the number it should be weighed against. Whether it pencils for you is a question your CPA confirms.

Figures here describe the market and are not tax advice. Your own result depends on your property and tax situation, and your advisor confirms before you rely on any number.

Common questions

How much does a cost segregation study cost?

For a residential property, an engineered cost segregation study generally runs from about $2,000 to $8,000, depending on the property's size, type, and complexity, with most single rentals landing in the low-to-mid thousands. Cheap desktop and AI 'studies' advertise far less, sometimes a few hundred dollars, but they skip the physical inspection and cannot produce the evidence an examiner asks for. Unlevered publishes one flat fee upfront before you commit, and it is typically a small fraction of the first-year deduction the study produces.

Why is the price range so wide?

Because two very different things are sold under the same name. A desktop or AI study applies template percentages to a purchase price with no inspection and can be cheap. An engineering-based study inspects the property, documents components, and reconciles to cost records, which is the standard the IRS prefers and the reason it costs more. The right comparison is not price against price; it is price against the deduction the study produces and whether it can be defended.

Is a cheap cost segregation study worth it?

A low price is only a bargain if the work holds up. A desktop study typically allocates less to shorter-life property and, more importantly, cannot produce the inspection evidence and engineer of record an examiner asks for. On a property where the deduction is meaningful, the small difference in fee between a template PDF and a real engineered study is trivial next to what is at risk if the study cannot be defended.

How does Unlevered price a study?

One flat fee, shown upfront before you commit, so there is no 'contact us for a quote.' There is a filing-ready study PDF for a single unit, a higher tier that adds interactive access and dedicated audit-defense support, and multi-unit pricing for larger properties. The current figures are on the pricing card; the fee is typically a small fraction of the first-year deduction.

Does the study fee pay for itself?

On most properties where a study is appropriate, the first-year deduction is many multiples of the fee, which is why the fee is best judged against the deduction rather than on its own. Whether it pencils for you depends on your property and your tax situation, which your CPA confirms before you rely on any figure.