On average, adding a bathroom to an existing space costs $15,000 or between $5,000 and $35,000. Using existing space costs 40% to 60% less on average than adding space on. Adding onto your home with a finished bathroom costs $20,000 to $50,000 on average. High end additions, like a master bath or with more space for a spa like feel, can run $75,000 to $90,000.
Updated December 23, 2020
Reviewed by Robert Tschudi, Expert Home Building and Remodeling Contributor.Adding a bathroom can cost from $5,000 for a simple conversion of existing space to $50,000 and up for a new addition to your house. The national average for a 100-square-foot, spa-like bathroom is over $75,000, so watch your budget carefully. You’ll likely recover 60% to 70% of your investment when you sell.
| Existing Space | New Addition | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Cost | $15,000 | $35,000 |
| High Cost | $35,000 | $90,000 |
| Low Cost | $5,000 | $20,000 |
Bathroom (and kitchens) soak up most of a home renovation budget. When done properly, you’ll upgrade your home, add value and improve your resale potential. But they can get expensive fast. Know when to splurge and when you can add value with little investment with the following cost guides.
| Average Addition | $200 - $300 |
| Luxury Addition | $450 - $600 |
On average, it costs $200 to $300 per square foot to add a bathroom onto your home. Luxury installations might run up to $600 per square foot for a new bathroom addition.
Vanity installation costs $300-$3,800. Finishes tend to be the main budget busters.
Bathroom floor tile costs $3,000-$13,000. Not including the shower.
Adding a master bathroom costs $35,000 to $100,000, depending on how luxurious you go. Strategic placement counts, you can save a few thousand if you can tap into existing plumbing lines. Also, consider saving more by converting a small bathroom into a master suite. You’ll already have most of the plumbing in place and you’ll only need to pour a foundation for a partial addition.
Double vanity installation costs $1,000-$10,000.
Steam showers cost $2,700-$6,100.
Sauna installation costs $3,000-$6,000.
Whirlpool tub installs run $2,000-$20,000.
Building an addition costs $21,000 to $73,000 but includes extra living space. Expect a bathroom to count for most of that. Additions include anything extending outward or upward. If you extend over a new area of your property, you’ll also need to include foundation costs. It’s usually cheaper to move vertically than it is to use yard space. Consider adding a dormer.
Foundation installation costs $4-$7 per square foot.
Dormer installation costs $2,500-$20,000.
Adding a bathroom in a basement costs $8,000 to $15,000 on average. You’ll save $500 to $1,000 if you have a rough-in drain already in place – typical in newer homes and usually near the main drain line. It’s usually cheaper in an unfinished basement since you won’t need any demo work and can pull from existing plumbing running to the main floors.
Complete basement remodels cost $12,000-$30,000.
Expect your bathroom to run about 30%-50% of your total basement finishing costs.
Bathroom plumbing rough in costs $1,500 to $4,000 depending mostly on the number of fixtures you want. Sometimes that price includes final hookups as well as the rough in but will require a second trip. Once a plumber completes a rough in, they must wait until the floors, walls and cabinets get installed to come back out and install the fixtures and make connections.
Some other costs you might want to consider include:
Plumber hourly rates: $45-$200. Depending on location, experience and licensing level.
Faucet installation costs: $175-$350. Pros often figure costs based on the number of fixtures.
Drain line replacement costs $225-$1,200. You’ll need to replace a section to cut into it for a new line if one doesn’t already exist.
| Upstairs Bathroom | $8,000 - $35,000 |
| Laundry Conversion | $5,000 - $12,000 |
| Attic Conversion | $8,000 - $35,000 |
| Garage Conversion | $8,000 - $25,000+ |
| Bedroom Conversion | $15,000 - $50,000 |
| Closet Conversion | $5,000 - $20,000 |
| Splitting One into Two | $10,000 - $30,000 |
Adding a bathroom to an existing space costs $5,000 to $35,000 but most homeowners pay $15,000. Expect that to turn into $125 to $250 per square foot. And remember, you’re not expanding your square footage, so you lose that usable space for something else.
Installing a second-floor bathroom upstairs costs anywhere from $8,000 to $35,000. One major cost consideration is fi the upstairs has any plumbing to it. If you’re installing a bathroom where no drains exist, you’ll need to run new lines
Turning a bedroom into a bathroom costs anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000 on average. However, if you’re creating a master suite, you might pay $90,000 or more depending on a few factors, including:
Size of the space. More space means more flooring, tile, amenities and remodeling expenses.
Quality of finishes. Finishes destroy budgets. You can go for anything from builder grade basics to high end works of art.
Distance from drains and plumbing. The farther you are, the longer it will take to run lines.
Converting a laundry room to a bathroom costs $5,000 to $12,000 on average. You save a few thousand because most of the plumbing already exists in the space. You’ll have only minor modifications. A budget bath, especially a powder room or half bath, might only set you back $5,000.
Converting attic space into a bathroom costs $8,000 to $35,000. Costs really depend on the level of finishing that already exists.
Finished attics: $8,000 to $15,000. You’ll simply need to enclose the part you want as the bath and install plumbing and fixtures.
Unfinished attics & higher end installs: $15,000 to $35,000 or more. Your budget should include the bath plus insulation and at least modestly finishing the rest of the existing space (outside the bath area) with drywall and paint.
Garage installs cost $8,000 to $25,000. Garages provide more options for spacing, design and where the electric and plumbing flows from. In some cases, it opens into the garage, meaning you won’t need luxurious finishes, a builder grade room works fine.
But if you’re using the space to expand a bedroom or master suite, you might end up spending int eh range of $15,000 to $50,000. Walls that border a garage usually bear loads, meaning you’ll need to install a header beam to carry the load when putting a door in. You’re also looking at a wide range of finishing costs.
It’ll cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 to convert a closet to a bathroom depending on the size of the closet and how far it is from available plumbing and drains. Half baths come in on the lower end while a three quarter or full bath takes up the large amount. Most closet conversions offer the basics and don’t splurge on things like cabinetry, expensive vanities or tiled showers. There just isn’t the space for it.
Turning one bath into two costs $10,000 to $30,000 on average. It might cost quite a bit more if you intend to also upgrade the fixtures and finishes in both, rather than just reusing what you already have. There are a couple of instances where this is a good idea:
When you’re creating a new area for a master suite with its own bathroom.
When you’re looking to sell and increase the number of baths to match the number of bedrooms.
If you’re adding a half bath to an existing area, expect to spend $5,000 to $15,000. If you plan to add space to make this happen, it will cost you $10,000 to $30,000 on average.
A half bath has a sink and toilet and no shower or tub. It adds half the value to your home as a full bath but is an essential upgrade for homes with only one bath or none on the main floor.
Converting a half bath to a full bath costs $5,000 to $25,000, depending of if you’re using existing space, adding space and the difficulty of installing new drain lines. But it doubles the value of your half bath when you put your home on the market. A few things to remember:
When placing a half bath, you can keep costs down by putting it near existing plumbing.
For main floors near living areas, use extra sound insulation.
Install a three-quarters bath if you don’t have much space. It’s a bath without a tub but includes a shower. If you already have one bathroom with a tub in the home, a shower adds just as much value as another tub.
| Bath Install Task | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Plumbing Costs | $1,000 - $10,000 |
| Electrical Costs | $600 - $2,200 |
| Shower Install Costs | $2,300 - $8,600 |
| Shower or Bath Liner Costs | $2,000 - $6,600 |
| Glass Shower Door Installation Costs | $550 - $1,350 |
| Faucet Fees | $150 - $350 |
| Bathtub Install Costs | $1,400 - $7,000 |
| Toilet Installation Costs | $225 - $550 |
| Drywall Costs | $1,000 - $2,900 |
| Tile Floor | $900 - $2,900 |
| Vanity | $500 - $3,800 |
| Lighting Fixture Costs | $150 - $900 |
| Towel Racks | $20 - $100 |
| Permits Cost | $50 - $2,000 |
Plumbing a new bathroom can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on how close it is to existing plumbing and how complex the job will be. The farther away it is and the more complex it is, the more you’ll pay. It’s best to place your new bathroom near existing plumbing. Otherwise, the cost of running new lines to your bathroom can dominate your budget.
Cost factors include:
Layout and location of existing plumbing. The closer and simpler the configuration, the less it’ll cost. Also, sometimes the plumbing closest isn’t large enough to support added lines and a new one must be run from the main line. Adding a shower and/or a bathtub could affect water pressure or hot water capacity. Check the capacity of a traditional gas/electric water heater, or the hot water capacity range (gallons-per-minute) of a tankless/instant water heater.
Septic tank capacity. Some municipalities have set minimum tank sizes for residential homes, but most measure by number of bedrooms instead of number of bathrooms. Be sure to ask your plumbing professional.
Type of foundation. Crawlspaces and basements allow easier access to run new lines.
Adding electrical for a new bathroom costs anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. You’ll save most of your electrical costs if you use an existing space with existing circuits.
Breaker panel upgrades cost $500-$1,950.
Electrical panel and wiring installs cost $600-$2,200.
Switches cost $100 to $200 each.
Outlets cost $150 to $300 each.
Lighting costs $150-$900.
A bathtub or shower costs anywhere from $500 to $10,000. Installing a jetted tub or whirlpool can add another $10,000. For a full, high end master suite with jetted tub and tiled shower with glass doors, you’ll spend $10,000 to $25,000 on the fixtures and installs.
You’ll pay a plumber or contractor $45 to $200 per hour for the labor. Finishes alone, like showerheads, can cost anywhere from $15 to $600.
The average cost to install a toilet ranges from $300.00 to $500.00, depending on who supplies the toilet. A bathroom sink or vanity averages from $600.00 to $1,200.00 including both materials and labor. You’ll pay varying prices depending on the quality of the fixtures and finishes you choose.
Toilet installs: $300-$500 total. Most toilets cost about $100-$200. You can choose your own or have your pro choose it for you.
Sink installation costs: $225-$600. One of a kind pieces can cost $500-$5,000, such as hand hammered copper or carved stone.
Faucet: $150-$350 with luxury options running $500 and more.
Light: $150-$900 each. Most baths have one or two – a vanity light and an exhaust fan light.
Exhaust fan installation costs: $250-$550. The higher the price, the quieter it is and the more air it moves.
Vanity: $500-$4,000. Most vanities run $500-$2,500.
Cabinets: $400-$3,000 . You won’t find many cabinets in a bath, usually just one for linen and storage.
Towel racks: $30-$100.
A tile backsplash install costs $600 to $1,400 on average. Master baths might end up paying $2,000 or more, depending on:
Material choice. Stone tiles cost far more than ceramic or porcelain.
Size & Coverage. Some bathrooms get floor to ceiling tiling, which costs thousands more than just one or two tiles up from the counter or floor.
Flooring installation costs $1,500 to $4,500. Tile flooring costs $900 to $2,900 on average. You’ll want to choose something resilient and waterproof. Tile, bamboo, waterproof engineered hardwood and vinyl make the best choices.
Linoleum: $3-$5 per square foot. Waterproof and cheap but not exceptionally durable.
Luxury Vinyl Plank: $5-$10 per square foot. Waterproof and mimics the look of hardwood.
Marble: $16-$18 per square foot. Hard to maintain and slippery when wet unless you’re using small tiles to create a textured surface.
Ceramic or Porcelain: $3-$15 per square foot depending on brand, style and size. It’s durable, easy to clean and naturally germ resistant.
Permits cost $50 to $2,000 depending on your location and what projects you’re doing. You’ll often need permits for electrical, framing, drywall, plumbing and some finishing’s. Permitting requirements vary from place to place, so check with your local code enforcement office. You need a permit if you are going to:
Alter the existing floor plan
Make structural changes such as adding doors or windows
Install new ductwork or reroute existing
Relocate or install new electrical or plumbing fixtures
Adding a bathroom to you home increases the value by 10% to 25% depending on the size of the bath, the finishing’s you choose and where you live. Evaluate your reasons for adding a bath before setting your budget as some upgrades have a better ROI than others. Discuss values in your area with a local realtor.
Some value estimates to consider when budgeting include:
Half bath adds about 10% to your home’s value.
A full bath adds 15% to 25% to your home’s value.
You’ll usually recover 60% to 70% of your bath install investment when you sell.
It’s tough to sell a home with a single bath. Adding one not only increases the overall value but makes it easier and quicker to sell.
Bathroom remodels cost $6,000 to $15,000. It’s less expensive because the walls, plumbing, HVAC and electrical is already in place, you’re just updating the fixtures and look.
Adding a small bathroom costs $5,000 to $35,000 depending on whether it goes into an existing space or you add on.
The cheapest way to add a bathroom is in an existing space that already has electrical, HVAC and plumbing installed. The two cheapest areas are a basement with the rough in work done or a laundry room conversion.
You can add a bathroom anywhere in your house you want. But it’s usually most cost effective to do it where water lines, drains and electrical circuits already exist.
Also, consider the distance from the hot water heater to the bathroom. An under-sink electric water heater ($750 to $1,250 installed) will save a lot of water over time. For houses that pay for municipal water and sewage, the under-sink heater will make up much if not all of its cost.
Master suite additions cost $21,500 to $65,000 on average.
You can add a bathroom to a house with a concrete slab foundation, but your contractor might need to get creative with running new water and sewer lines.
