diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/internal/SQLConf.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/internal/SQLConf.scala
index 59a310d1e4f5..0f4d1ae98220 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/internal/SQLConf.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/internal/SQLConf.scala
@@ -678,6 +678,14 @@ object SQLConf {
       .booleanConf
       .createWithDefault(true)
 
+  val ADAPTIVE_CUSTOM_COST_EVALUATOR_CLASS =
+    buildConf("spark.sql.adaptive.customCostEvaluatorClass")
+      .doc("The custom cost evaluator class to be used for adaptive execution. If not being set," +
+        " Spark will use its own SimpleCostEvaluator by default.")
+      .version("3.2.0")
+      .stringConf
+      .createOptional
+
   val SUBEXPRESSION_ELIMINATION_ENABLED =
     buildConf("spark.sql.subexpressionElimination.enabled")
       .internal()
diff --git a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/AdaptiveSparkPlanExec.scala b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/AdaptiveSparkPlanExec.scala
index cbf70e37ce96..18aaf5b669ca 100644
--- a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/AdaptiveSparkPlanExec.scala
+++ b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/AdaptiveSparkPlanExec.scala
@@ -130,7 +130,11 @@ case class AdaptiveSparkPlanExec(
     }
   }
 
-  @transient private val costEvaluator = SimpleCostEvaluator
+  @transient private val costEvaluator =
+    conf.getConf(SQLConf.ADAPTIVE_CUSTOM_COST_EVALUATOR_CLASS) match {
+      case Some(className) => CostEvaluator.instantiate(className, session.sparkContext.getConf)
+      case _ => SimpleCostEvaluator
+    }
 
   @transient val initialPlan = context.session.withActive {
     applyPhysicalRules(
diff --git a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/costing.scala b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/costing.scala
index 293e619fffb9..56f29b966d96 100644
--- a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/costing.scala
+++ b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/costing.scala
@@ -17,16 +17,42 @@
 
 package org.apache.spark.sql.execution.adaptive
 
+import org.apache.spark.SparkConf
+import org.apache.spark.annotation.Unstable
+import org.apache.spark.internal.Logging
 import org.apache.spark.sql.execution.SparkPlan
+import org.apache.spark.sql.internal.SQLConf
+import org.apache.spark.util.Utils
 
 /**
- * Represents the cost of a plan.
+ * An interface to represent the cost of a plan.
+ *
+ * @note This class is subject to be changed and/or moved in the near future.
  */
+@Unstable
 trait Cost extends Ordered[Cost]
 
 /**
- * Evaluates the cost of a physical plan.
+ * An interface to evaluate the cost of a physical plan.
+ *
+ * @note This class is subject to be changed and/or moved in the near future.
  */
+@Unstable
 trait CostEvaluator {
   def evaluateCost(plan: SparkPlan): Cost
 }
+
+object CostEvaluator extends Logging {
+
+  /**
+   * Instantiates a [[CostEvaluator]] using the given className.
+   */
+  def instantiate(className: String, conf: SparkConf): CostEvaluator = {
+    logDebug(s"Creating CostEvaluator $className")
+    val evaluators = Utils.loadExtensions(classOf[CostEvaluator], Seq(className), conf)
+    require(evaluators.nonEmpty, "A valid AQE cost evaluator must be specified by config " +
+      s"${SQLConf.ADAPTIVE_CUSTOM_COST_EVALUATOR_CLASS.key}, but $className resulted in zero " +
+      "valid evaluator.")
+    evaluators.head
+  }
+}
diff --git a/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/AdaptiveQueryExecSuite.scala b/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/AdaptiveQueryExecSuite.scala
index dac718e7d602..b46cc9f42746 100644
--- a/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/AdaptiveQueryExecSuite.scala
+++ b/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/adaptive/AdaptiveQueryExecSuite.scala
@@ -1898,4 +1898,54 @@ class AdaptiveQueryExecSuite
       assert(coalesceReader.head.partitionSpecs.length == 1)
     }
   }
+
+  test("SPARK-35794: Allow custom plugin for cost evaluator") {
+    CostEvaluator.instantiate(
+      classOf[SimpleShuffleSortCostEvaluator].getCanonicalName, spark.sparkContext.getConf)
+    intercept[IllegalArgumentException] {
+      CostEvaluator.instantiate(
+        classOf[InvalidCostEvaluator].getCanonicalName, spark.sparkContext.getConf)
+    }
+
+    withSQLConf(
+      SQLConf.ADAPTIVE_EXECUTION_ENABLED.key -> "true",
+      SQLConf.AUTO_BROADCASTJOIN_THRESHOLD.key -> "80") {
+      val query = "SELECT * FROM testData join testData2 ON key = a where value = '1'"
+
+      withSQLConf(SQLConf.ADAPTIVE_CUSTOM_COST_EVALUATOR_CLASS.key ->
+        "org.apache.spark.sql.execution.adaptive.SimpleShuffleSortCostEvaluator") {
+        val (plan, adaptivePlan) = runAdaptiveAndVerifyResult(query)
+        val smj = findTopLevelSortMergeJoin(plan)
+        assert(smj.size == 1)
+        val bhj = findTopLevelBroadcastHashJoin(adaptivePlan)
+        assert(bhj.size == 1)
+        checkNumLocalShuffleReaders(adaptivePlan)
+      }
+
+      withSQLConf(SQLConf.ADAPTIVE_CUSTOM_COST_EVALUATOR_CLASS.key ->
+        "org.apache.spark.sql.execution.adaptive.InvalidCostEvaluator") {
+        intercept[IllegalArgumentException] {
+          runAdaptiveAndVerifyResult(query)
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Invalid implementation class for [[CostEvaluator]].
+ */
+private class InvalidCostEvaluator() {}
+
+/**
+ * A simple [[CostEvaluator]] to count number of [[ShuffleExchangeLike]] and [[SortExec]].
+ */
+private case class SimpleShuffleSortCostEvaluator() extends CostEvaluator {
+  override def evaluateCost(plan: SparkPlan): Cost = {
+    val cost = plan.collect {
+      case s: ShuffleExchangeLike => s
+      case s: SortExec => s
+    }.size
+    SimpleCost(cost)
+  }
 }