Search thousands of topics on CostHelper

BROWSE ALL TOPICS >> babies & children  cars  consumer electronics health & personal care home & garden personal finance  pets  schools small business sports weddings
CostHelper > Home and Garden  > Construction & Renovation > Bathroom Addition

Bathroom Addition Cost


How Much Does a Bathroom Addition Cost?

 
low costLow: DIY Materials Start $500-$1,500average costMedium: Simple Conversion Starts $3,000-$6,000high costHigh: Adding Floor space Can Run $25,000-$50,000+

A bathroom addition can range from a small half-bath (sink, toilet and mirror) to a spa-like master bath. Adding a bathroom is usually more expensive per square foot than other rooms because it requires specific types of plumbing, heating, electricity and ventilation.

Typical costs:

  • Converting existing floor space inside a garage, basement or attic into a simple bathroom starts around $3,000-$6,000. However, costs can be $7,000-$25,000 or more for a more luxurious bathroom, or if the new bathroom is far from existing water and sewer lines. Prices may vary significantly by region, depending on local labor rates.
  • Costs for do-it-yourself materials start around $500-$1,500, but can run $2,000-$5,000 or more depending on room size, the quality of fixtures and other amenities. A Pennsylvania homeowner[1] added a 4x8-foot powder room with granite and upgraded fixtures for about $5,000, doing all the work himself except the rough-in plumbing.
  • Adding new floor space to your home for a basic 6x8-foot bathroom addition starts around $25,000-$50,000 and goes up depending on complexity, quality of fixtures, number of amenities and local labor rates. Remodeling Magazine[2] pegs the price of a 6x8-foot bathroom addition at averages of $33,188-$41,195 in the Midwest, $34,876-$42,491 along the East Coast and $35,987-$47,052 in the Western states. For a spa-quality 100-square-foot master bath the survey says it averages $75,812 nationwide.
Related articles: Home Addition, Bedroom Addition, Family Room Addition, Second Floor Addition, Porch, Basement Remodeling

What should be included:
  • If you're adding new floor space, before you do anything else check with your local planning department. Better Homes and Gardens provides an overview of legal remodeling requirements.
  • As a general rule, a half-bath should be at least 3-4 feet wide and 6-8 feet long, or at least 18 square feet; a bathroom with shower should be 30 square feet or more; and a bath with both a shower and tub should be at least 35 square feet. ThisOldHouse.com explains how to plan a half-bath[3] (also called a bonus bath) while RemodeOrMove.com lists things to consider[4] for any size bathroom addition.
Additional costs:
  • Adding a tile floor, marble counter tops, or other upscale features can dramatically increase the weight load on your foundation. You might need to consult with a structural engineer (anywhere from $300-$800 or more, depending on what's needed and rates in your area) to see if the foundation needs to be reinforced.
  • Hiring an architect to create a set of plan drawings could cost you a flat fee of $700-$30,000 or more, depending on size and complexity, or the architect may charge 5-15 percent of the project's costs.
  • Usually a bathroom addition will trigger a reassessment of your property taxes and a resulting tax increase, but in most areas the reassessment will only be on the value of the addition, not the entire house.
  • Bathroom design books[5] cost $10-$40 or more, and can give you great ideas and tips; they may also be available at your local library.
Shopping for a bathroom addition:
  • Gather photos of bathroom styles and details that appeal to you. Better Homes and Gardens displays a slide show of contemporary styles and Kasmar Publications posts pictures of luxury bathrooms.
  • Even if you want to do some of the work yourself, most experts recommend hiring a licensed and certified plumber. Ask family or friends for recommendations, or search for referrals from the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association[6] and the National Electrical Contractors Association[7] .
  • If you want a remodeling contractor to handle all aspects of your bathroom addition, the National Association for the Remodeling Industry provides an online booklet with tips[8] for hiring a contractors.
  • Check whether a contractor is licensed in your state. A written contract should include a detailed outline of the work required and materials used, dates within which the project will be done, and a payment schedule.
post Post   Comments (6)  
CostHelper News


7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd
As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013


7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget
End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013

‣ All CostHelper Blog Posts


What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Add a bathroom with floor already there
Amount: $50,000.00 total
Posted by: Nan2095 in Millville, NJ.Posted: September 16th, 2016 10:09AM
It is for an attic it's already bedroom upstairs but would like to add a basic bathroom
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Add Shower to 1/2 bathroom in Basement
Amount: $2,000.00 total
Posted by: CFM in Wilmington, DE.Posted: February 24th, 2016 10:02AM
Square Feet: Approx. 36Contractor: Self
Added a shower to existing 1/2 bathroom in basement. Used ceramic wall tiles for shower and added tiles to toilet section as well. Materials cost approx. 1500 including shower door. Gave a friend $500 as thank you for general assistance during the 4 weekends it took to complete project.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Adding a full bath to basement
Amount: $9,000.00 total
Posted by: a user in Timonium, MD.Posted: January 27th, 2015 07:01PM
Square Feet: 36Contractor: Self
Required adding all plumbing and electrical work. Also adding an exhaust fan that required drilling a 6-in hole through exterior brick wall of house. Used high-end building materials: cast iron shower pan, glass frameless shower door, ceramic wall tile with custom niche for soap, marble counter top, slate flooring, and high-end fixtures/faucets.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Bathroom Addition Costs
Amount: $4,300.00 total
Posted by: Frick in Madeira Beach, FL.Posted: December 28th, 2013 07:12AM
Square Feet: 52Contractor: Self
Built a full bath in the "Florida basement" space from the garage area of my three story home. Building out masonry walls, tapping into the sewer and water, running electrical, fitting out a two head shower, tiled walls and floor, and AC ducts.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Would like to add upstairs bath - What is the cost???
Amount: $5,000.00 total
Posted by: JT in Minneapolis, MN.Posted: April 26th, 2012 09:04AM
Square Feet: Approx. 40Contractor: Self and outside
I would like to get and estimate of how much it would cost to add a master bath to the upstairs of my 1.5 story house. Using existing floorspace, framining myself and installing pre-fab vanities, sinks and showers. Hiring for outside plumbing. Bathroom would be about 10-15 feet from existing plumbing a floor below. Any thoughts on how much this will run me???
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Add (1) full bath and remodel (1) 1/2-bath
Amount: $6,000.00 total
Posted by: C. T. in Indianapolis, IN.Posted: August 1st, 2009 07:08PM
Square Feet: 120Contractor: self
To break concrete floor and install drainage and vents I hired a plumbing company, which was $4500. I did the remainder of work including electrical and other.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam


 

Comment On Your Experience With a Bathroom Addition
 
Subject:  *
Amount Spent:  * total
Square Feet: Contractor: 
Comments: 
Purchased:  Year: 
City:  * State:  *
 
Information about you:
Email:  * Email addresses are not displayed.
Name:  This is the name we'll display with your post.
me on this computer
*=required field.
 



External Resources:
  1.  www.city-data.com/forum/raleigh-durham-chapel-hill-cary/259914-adding-bathroom.html
  2.  www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/national.aspx
  3.  www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20202296,00.html
  4.  www.remodelormove.com/
  5.  www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=adding+...
  6.  www.phccweb.org/applications/ContractorReferral/search.cfm?navItemNumber=532
  7.  www.necanet.org/find-a-contractor
  8.  www.nari.org/pdf/selectremodpro.pdf
More Home and Garden Topics
Check Out All Costs for Home and Garden How Much Does Garden Service Cost? How Much Does a Kitchen Remodeling Cost? How Much Does a Propane Tank Cost?

Search Thousands of Topics on CostHelper.com

 
Today's Featured Cost Articles

About CostHelper
CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community
UTI urgent care visit
Paid: 147.00
Visit was $135. Antibiotics was $12. Waiting for four hours in the waiting room and the visit was quick... [more]
-nervouschomper
Urinary Tract Infection Treatment Cost
Spanish Medical Interpreter
Paid: 150.00
I worked with SynShyne Services out of Monroe, NC. They were so worth the price! Professional, friendly, accurate, great attitude and always on time. I recieved an itemized report after every contact and a user friendly invoice weekly... [more]
-Gregory Richardson
Interpreter Cost
Dat
Paid: 495.00
This is how much I am paying... [more]
-Calista Christian
Dental Admission Test Cost
Shingrix
Paid: 48.00
... [more]
-Not that BB
Shingles Vaccine Cost
Skin prick allergy test
Paid: 573.00
Took my 9 yr. old in after an allergic reaction to eggs. Several panels for nuts, fish & top 8 allergens. Sure enough, egg came up. Got a script for epinephrine and left... [more]
-D’s mom
Allergy Testing Cost
Estimate for Teeth Cleaning Cat
Paid: 0.00
13 year old cat …teeth extractions, X-rays, blood work, anesthetic, cleaning estimate 2 to 3 thousand... [more]
-Terrimarie
Cat Teeth Cleaning Cost