The cost to build a sunroom is $47,000 on average. You could pay anywhere from $20,800 to $190,000 depending on the type of sunroom and materials, but a pro can give you an accurate quote for your project.
A sunroom costs $150 to $300 per square foot to build.
Factors affecting cost include location, size, materials, and quality.
Benefits include added living space and increased home value.
Professional installation ensures your sunroom’s safety and efficiency.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
If you're considering adding a sunroom to your home to enjoy the changing seasons or create a perfect relaxation area, expect to spend between $22,000 and $72,600, averaging around $47,000, or $150 to $300 per square foot. Factors like your location, the size of the sunroom, and the quality of materials will influence the total cost. Proper budgeting and hiring a professional are crucial to ensure your sunroom is built safely and efficiently.
The $150 to $300 price per square foot depends on the quality, size, and type of your addition. Each type of room comes with different variables.
Type | Material Prices | Labor Cost | Total Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Four Season Room | $15,000 - $60,000 | $10,000 - $20,000 | $25,000 - $80,000 |
Three-Season Room | $5,000 - $30,000 | $5,000 - $10,000 | $10,000 - $40,000 |
Glass Solarium | $20,000 - $50,000 | $10,000 - $25,000 | $30,000 - $75,000 |
Conservatories | $3,000 - $60,000 | $2,000 - $20,000 | $5,000 - $80,000 |
Atriums with Roofs | $4,000 - $20,000 | $6,000 - $15,000 | $10,000 - $35,000 |
Expect a total budget of $25,000 to $80,000 for a four-season room. That is largely due to materials, including insulation. Exterior walls, windows, doors, and roofing all need high insulation grades to retain heat and cool air during cold and warm seasons. For the high cost, you get a true extension of your living space, regardless of weather.
Building a patio enclosure costs between $10,000 and $40,000. Consider it a less insulated version of a four-season space. It works well for moderate temperatures but might get hot in the summer and cold during winter.
At a price between $30,000 and $75,000, a solarium is a glass room that is a true extension of your outside space. Even the roof is glass, making it perfect if you want to enjoy nature from the comfort of your home. The steel structure must be strong enough to support the glass throughout the walls and ceilings.
At a range of $5,000 to $80,000, you have many options for conservatories. At its simplest, it's a greenhouse to grow a garden without having to depend on the weather. Comprehensive systems to regulate temperature and humidity can drive up the cost.
The $10,000 to $35,000 range for an atrium considers only roof construction. In most cases, the walls already exist. An atrium is an interior room with a glass roof instead of a regular one. The influx of natural light for both plants and people can make this an intriguing option on a limited budget.
Most prefabricated kits range between $5,000 and $30,000 for the product alone. If you don't need a custom addition and want to save on your budget, this option might work best for you. Size and materials will influence costs, and the brand you choose also matters.
Most Champion additions are custom, but the brand also offers some kits for $7,000 to $15,000.
All rooms are vinyl.
The manufacturer installs the kits.
Products and installation include a limited lifetime warranty.
For $5,000 to $20,000, Patriot offers both custom installation and conversion kits for your porch.
Company acts as a contractor for the installation
Operates in the larger St. Louis area
Available in vinyl or aluminum
Comes with a lifetime transferable manufacturer's and labor warranty
Sunspace offers modular kits that you can customize to fit your home for $10,000 to $25,000.
The company installs the kit as part of the price.
Aluminum, vinyl, and wooden kits are available.
The limited lifetime warranty includes a 10-year manufacturer's warranty on windows and doors.
A kit from this brand ranges between $5,000 and $15,000. That budget does not include installation, which you must organize yourself.
Kits are aluminum or vinyl.
A limited lifetime warranty includes glass and windows.
After purchasing the materials or prefab kit, you can expect to pay between $5,000 and $25,000 for a pro to build your sunroom. Where you fall on that range depends on the exact addition you're planning.
Think about exactly where your new structure will be. This will guide your design decisions. If it's an area that gets direct sunlight, you might consider adding an enclosure with shading abilities.
Will you watch TV in your new addition? Be sure to install electrical wiring. Do you live in an area with a lot of snow, hail, or strong winds? You'll need additional insulation and possibly a different design to accommodate. Do you need a heating and cooling system so you can use the space year-round? These are important questions to consider when planning your project, as each affects the cost of your addition.
Every addition to your home requires a building permit which costs between $400 and $1,500. A sunroom falls on the lower end of that range. If you build without a permit, it could result in your insurance denying a claim if something happens. You might also have problems selling the home down the road. Getting a permit takes four to eight weeks from the time you submit the application.
A patio enclosure costs between $9,000 and $25,000 in most cases. You can build your sunroom onto an existing patio, which means you might not have to pay extra to stabilize the construction.
Do you have an existing deck or patio where you want to place the enclosure? If so, does that deck need repair? Your foundation might need repairs to accommodate not only the new construction but also the people who will be enjoying it. You may also need to consider the cost of constructing a concrete slab.
If you can't build on an existing foundation, paying to clear the land and prepare the construction site ranges between $500 and $5,600. Landscaping costs between $1,400 and $5,500, adding final cosmetic touches.
Don't forget about any major factors in your existing landscaping that might affect your sunroom. Is there a tree in the way that needs to be removed? Land excavation prices range from $1,300 to $4,600. Tree removal costs $700 per tree.
The size of your project is one of its biggest budget factors. Contractors and other installation pros work by the hour, and larger sizes increase their workload.
Size (in feet) | Average Cost |
---|---|
5x10 | $7,500–$15,000 |
10x10 | $15,000–$30,000 |
10x12 | $18,000–$36,000 |
12x12 | $21,600–$43,200 |
14 x 14 | $29,400–$58,800 |
10x20 | $30,000–$60,000 |
12x20 | $36,000–$72,000 |
20x20 | $60,000–$120,000 |
Insulation costs between $500 and $1,500 for a single room, depending on the type of product you use. Estimate between $0.70 and $1.30 per square foot of wall space. Especially for a four-season project, you need effective insulation to maintain reasonable heating and cooling bills.
Depending on what type of structure you want, roofing costs $8,500 on average. Solariums require a glass-encased roof with a steel structure. Other options might only need asphalt shingles, which run on the lower end of your budget, about $3,600, compared to a glass roof.
Window installation costs between $3,500 and $15,000, including labor and the window unit. Expect to spend less for a non-insulated three-season option and up to $15,000 for a fully insulated solarium.
Installing doors (including added ventilation and patio door units) costs between $1,300 and $11,000. These doors make the transition between the indoors and outdoors more natural. Other, more expensive patio door installations include French, telescoping, or folding doors.
You will need to hire a licensed electrician, with rates ranging between $70 and $120 per hour. Whatever type of enclosure you choose, make sure that your contractor is certified to do wiring.
You may need electrical outlets in your new space. You should consider how many before construction starts. Some potential electrical additions include:
Installing a ceiling fan is priced between $150 to $350.
Installing a home automation system costs $400 to $1,800.
Choose where you want the outlets to be based on how you expect to use the room. You should also ensure that your current power supply will support this addition. Your cost will increase if you need to add the price of an electrical box or power source for the sunroom. That price may make you think twice about how you want to use the room.
The cost to add heating and air conditioning to your sunroom ranges between $2,300 and $20,500. The cheapest option is window AC units combined with space heaters, but it will make a significant difference on your utility bills.
"Ductless mini-splits are a great option for sunrooms and solariums because they don't require space for ductwork in the walls and ceiling. They can be floor mounted so they won't block views." Cati O'Keefe, Expert Home Building & Sustainability Contributor.
You can expand your existing ductwork to the new space for a price between $4,000 and $6,000 including install. A ductless mini-split system costs between $2,000 and $14,500, providing a good intermediary solution. It's quiet, doesn't require ductwork, and still heats and cools the area efficiently.
Interior design and decor cost anywhere between $200 and $9,000. Once the room is complete, you may spend extra finishing it. The prices for painting run $2 to $6 per square foot. The price of flooring will range from $1,500 to $4,300. Don't forget to factor in your furniture as well. Start thinking about the decor of the space early so that you can purchase items as you can afford them or as they go on sale.
If you're considering building the sunroom yourself, you'll likely use a prefabricated sunroom kit, which ranges from about $5,500 to $30,000. This can compare favorably to the $5,000 to $25,000 you'll pay for professional labor alone.
However, before you decide to take on a DIY project, consider the potential drawbacks:
Mistakes can threaten structural integrity, posing a danger to anyone using the room.
The build might take longer due to your lack of experience.
Lower-quality construction might require investing in sunroom repairs in the future.
Your warranty may be void if you don't use a professional installer.
When hiring a local remodeling contractor, be sure to get a detailed bid. All expectations should be in writing, and you should fully understand the terms and conditions of the work. Talk to your contractor about what happens if you're not satisfied with the work or if unforeseen circumstances cause changes in the bid.
Research warranties and know what the estimate includes. Most bids will include debris removal and site cleanup, but confirm that you won't be responsible for this step. If you are, renting a dumpster ranges between $300 and $525, and cleaning the construction site costs an additional $280 to $670.
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
A sunroom delivers exceptional benefits by enhancing your home’s value and quality of life. It offers a 49% return on investment by adding versatile living and entertainment space, while its design incorporates abundant natural light and climate-controlled comfort. This additional room not only provides a welcoming area for relaxation and social gatherings but also serves as an ideal setting for indoor gardening, thereby creating a harmonious blend of indoor and outdoor living.
Yes, you can build a sunroom in any climate when it’s engineered with good insulation and quality materials. A four-season sunroom retains warmth effectively in cold weather while offering an inviting, light-filled space throughout the year. Superior insulation and precise construction methods ensure that even in severe climates, the sunroom remains safe, comfortable, and energy-efficient, making it a sound addition to your home.
A standard sunroom project takes four to six days to complete, while more complex builds take two weeks to complete. The project duration is driven by the scope of work and the efficiency of the professional crew. Comprehensive planning, precise material preparation, and dedicated installation all contribute to a well-managed timeline that ensures your sunroom is completed without unnecessary delays.
When choosing between a sunroom and a room addition, the decision must be guided by how you want to transform your living space. A conventional room addition, such as a 12-by-12-foot extension, costs from $11,520 to $28,800, while a sunroom is priced from $22,000 to $43,000 and offers a dedicated area that harnesses natural light. The sunroom provides an elegant space for relaxation and entertainment, but a room addition increases usable interior space in a more traditional manner. Engaging a skilled contractor will ensure that either option meets your specific functional and aesthetic requirements.