How Much Does It Cost to Convert a Ford Transit Custom to a Campervan?
Converting your van into a dream camper is all fun and games until you have to address the elephant in the room… what’s this all going to cost me?
I’ve been converting vans for over 15 years now, and the Ford Transit Custom is one of my all-time favourites to work on. But, I’ll be honest with you, the cost of your conversion can vary a lot.
It really depends on how fully-loaded you want your camper. Over the years, we’ve done everything from simple weekend-warrior vans to luxury homes on wheels (we’ve converted over 1000 campervans here at our Derby workshop).
To make it simple, I like to think of budgets in three rough tiers: entry-level, mid-range, and high-end conversions. I’ll walk you through each, give you ballpark figures and share what’s typically included (or left out) at each level.
I’ll also give you a few insider tips on what upgrades are really worth it.
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Entry-Level Conversions (£5,000–£10,000): Getting the Basics Done
If you’re on a tight budget or just want the basics sorted, an entry-level build might be all you need. In this price range (around five to ten grand), you can expect a functional yet simple campervan – nothing too fancy, but enough to get you out there camping.
Essentially, it covers the foundational work to make your van habitable. Here’s what I recommend for a conversion in this price range:
- Insulation & lining: Insulating the van and carpet-lining the interior panels to keep you warm and make the space cosy.
- CC Price: £1,995
- Flooring: Installing a practical floor (usually hard-wearing vinyl or laminate) so you’re not walking on bare metal.
- Basic Bed: Often a rock-and-roll style bench seat that folds into a bed. In a budget build, this might be a simpler/cheaper bed system or even just a DIY foam mattress on a platform.
- Minimal Cabinetry: Perhaps a small cabinet or shelf for storage, but nothing elaborate or custom made. You’ll likely be using a portable stove and water jug rather than a built-in kitchen at this level.
- 12V Electrics: A basic leisure battery system (with a split-charge relay) to power some interior LED lights and maybe a tiny water pump or coolbox. No solar in this tier – you’d charge the battery by running the engine or plugging in occasionally.
- Windows: Many Transit Customs start as panel vans, so an entry conversion often includes fitting a couple of windows for light and ventilation.
What you won’t get at this level is a pop-top roof, fancy appliances (fridge, built-in cooker), or high-end finishings.
The van will be perfectly usable for camping, but you might be doing things a bit more “camping style” – e.g. using a portable cooler instead of a built-in fridge, and cooking on a camping stove rather than a fitted kitchen.
This tier is great if you just want a no-frills camper for occasional trips, and in my experience it’s a common starting point for folks who plan to add features over time.
As a professional converter, I’d say around £5k is about the minimum to have us convert a van to a basic campervan with the essentials covered.
Mid-Range Conversions (£10,000–£20,000): Comfort and Value
Stepping up your budget opens up a lot more possibilities. In the mid-range (roughly ten to twenty thousand pounds), you’re looking at a much more comfortable and fully featured campervan.
In my opinion, this is the sweet spot for many of our customers – you get most of the important amenities and can choose which add ons you might want later.
So, what does a mid-range Transit Custom conversion include?
- Pop-Top Roof: Now you can afford an elevating roof. A pop-top gives you full standing room inside to cook and move around, plus an extra bed up top. It isn’t a cheap add-on, but it instantly transforms the van’s usability (and adds sleeping space for family or friends). If you’re on the fence about whether a pop top roof is worth it, check out this blog.
- CC Price: £5,454 (SWB)/£4,815 (LWB)
- Kitchen Unit: A built-in kitchenette with a sink and tap (with a water tank), a two-burner gas hob, and a compact 12V fridge. You’ll also have storage cabinets for food, cookware, and maybe a fold-away table for dining indoors.
- Upgraded Electrics: A comprehensive power setup with high-capacity leisure batteries and a mains hookup to power 12V gadgets like your phone charger and 240V appliances. All wiring and components are top-notch for safety and reliability.
- Furniture & Finish: More built-in furniture and a nicer finish. You can expect custom storage cabinetry. The bed might be upgraded too – some mid-range builds even include a crash-tested RIB bed for extra comfort and safety.
- Insulated blackout blinds: Van shades are the premium choice over curtains. They sit snug against the window so they can block out light a whole lot more effectively. They are also great for insulating the van to keep in warm air in winter.
Overall, the interior will look more polished and feel more like a proper camper.
In terms of cost, a mid-range conversion done professionally will usually land somewhere around the £10k–£20k mark. Most classic campervan amenities fall into this tier.
In fact, mid-range builds are our most popular – they strike a great balance of comfort and value for money.
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High-End Conversions (£20,000+): The All-Inclusive Build
If you’ll be using the van a lot and you want the absolute best, I recommend going for a high-end conversion which will give you a fully loaded campervan. A high-end Ford Transit Custom conversion typically starts around the £20k mark and goes up from there.
At Cosmic Campervans, our flagship offering in this category is the Cosmic Orion Package – a premium build for the Transit Custom. To give you an idea, our Orion package runs about £20,995 for a SWB Transit Custom (short wheelbase) or £20,850 for a LWB model – all prices include VAT.
And that includes basically everything you’d want in a camper (except the base van itself).
What do you get in a top-tier build like the Orion? Well, you get everything that we mentioned in the mid-price tier, plus a few luxury extras:
- Crash-Tested Seating/Bed: A RIB 112 rear seat that folds flat into a bed (TUV certified). These are among the best (and safest) seat-beds on the market, with built-in seatbelts and headrests. They’re comfortable to sleep on and secure for passengers while driving, which will bump up the driving berth of the van to 4 or 5.
- 200W Solar Panel: A large solar panel on the roof. This setup keeps the leisure battery topped up off-grid, so you can run your electrics without plugging in.
- CC Price: £4,815 (3 year warranty)
- CC Price: £4,815 (3 year warranty)
- Diesel Heater: A thermostat-controlled diesel heater for cosy nights, even in winter. With this installed, you have proper central heating in your van for comfortable four-season camping.
- CC Price: £1,260
In short, a high-end conversion like our Orion package is a turnkey luxury camper.
In my experience, you can take it across Europe for months on end and want for nothing. It’s built with the best materials and equipment available, tailored exactly to your preferences.
I’ve taken fully-kitted vans like these on long road trips, and let me tell you: being able to cook a full meal inside while it’s raining, then sleeping like a baby with the heater keeping you snug feels so luxurious.
Some customers have special requests like swivel seats, an outdoor shower or installing the water tank underslung to have more storage in the kitchen. These are all doable upgrades in this tier too, just ask if you can add them on to the Orion package!
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Converting in Stages: A Smart Approach for Budget-Conscious Van Owners
Okay, so let’s say you can’t invest in the whole camper conversion all at once – that’s completely understandable. Here, what I recommend you do is opt for a conversion done stages.
I’m a big fan of this approach, especially for first-time van owners or those on a tighter budget.
In my opinion, it can even be better than a traditional all-in-one type conversion, because it allows you to spread out the cost over time and get the crucial stuff done early, so you can start using the van and then add more features as you go.
How does a staged conversion work? Think of it as Phase 1, Phase 2, etc. For example, a common Stage 1 that we do might include the fundamentals:
- Pop-Top & Windows: If you want an elevating roof, we often install the pop-top in Stage 1 (along with cutting in any side windows). It’s best to get the major structural mods done first – you instantly gain headroom, and it prevents undoing interior work later.
- Insulation & Lining: All the insulation and carpet lining is done at this stage, when the van is empty. This gives you a warm, quiet, and cozy blank canvas for the rest of the build.
- Flooring: Laying the insulated subfloor and your finished floor covering.
- Bed/Seating: We usually fit a bed in Stage 1 as well – whether a simple fixed bed or a more premium RIB bed/seat. This means you can take it away for quick trips from the get-go.
- Basic Electrics: Even if you’re not installing all gadgets yet, we’ll do the basic wiring – running cables for lights, placing the leisure battery, etc. You might get some ceiling lights and a 12V socket hooked up so the van is usable.
After Stage 1, your van is campable – it’s insulated, has windows, a bed to sleep on, and maybe some lights. You can throw in a camping stove and cooler box and head off on short trips while you plan the next steps.
Then comes Stage 2 (and Stage 3, if needed), which might add things like the full kitchen units, cabinets, a fridge, additional electrics (hookup, inverter), a solar panel, and so on.
And don’t forget – we offer individual services too. So, you can pick and choose. Maybe you plan to do most of the conversion DIY, but you want a professional to handle the tougher jobs like fitting a pop-top roof, wiring up the electrics, or installing a diesel heater.
We’re happy to help with those one-off installs. This mix-and-match, staged approach is totally fine – it’s all about helping you get on the road in a way that suits your budget and skills.
Final Thoughts
Converting a Ford Transit Custom into a campervan is an exciting journey, and there’s a solution for every budget. Whether you go for a simple, budget-friendly setup or a high-end luxury conversion, the goal is to get out there and enjoy the freedom of van life.
In my opinion, it is important that you focus on what matters to you and don’t worry about skipping the non-essentials. The best part of a custom build is that it’s made for you.
If you’re in the Derby area, feel free to drop by our workshop for a chat or some advice – no pressure.
And if you’re still undecided about your base van, make sure to have a read of these blogs: How to Choose the Best Ford Transit Model for Your Camper Conversion and Is Ford Transit Good for a Campervan Conversion?
At the end of the day, any campervan – big budget or small – can take you on some seriously awesome adventures. Happy travels, and maybe I’ll see you on the road!
