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How Much to Add a Bathroom? – Cost Guide

by | Apr 10, 2020 | Home Improvement

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A bathroom is an essential part to any home and adding a new one can be a fantastic improvement for many reasons. Before you add a bathroom to your home, it’s important to understand the costs associated with this project.

The overall cost to add a bathroom ranges from $2,500 to $22,000+. The biggest factor to calculating the cost to add a bathroom to your home will be whether you are adding a bathroom to an existing space in your home or building a new bathroom on to your home. 

The average cost to add a 80 -100 square foot bathroom to an existing space is $7,600. The average cost to build a new bathroom on to your home can easily be $22,000+. 

What factors are included in the cost?

Factors included in the cost of adding a bathroom to a home vary, but an important aspect to consider will be fixtures. Your bathroom addition may differ slightly depending on your project so before you add a bathroom to your home, consider the below costs to the fixtures (including material costs and labor) you might need.

  • Shower/Tub: $400 – $3000. Whether you are upgrading to a full bathroom or a half bathroom, you might be installing a separate tub and a separate shower. A full bathroom has a tub, shower, toilet, and sink while a half bathroom has two of the four above mentioned fixtures. If you are upgrading to a half bathroom, you probably won’t even be adding in these fixtures, as a half bathroom typically has a sink and a toilet. 
  • Shower/Tub Tile: $4 – $9 per square foot. Again, this part of your project is dependent on if you are adding a full bathroom or a half bathroom because of the amount of fixtures needed for each size. Some people choose to opt out of tiling their shower or tub and instead go with panels. There are several benefits to putting panels up, such as: no grout to mess with, it’s quicker, and there’s a cost savings. However, on the flip side, tile is much more attractive, doesn’t look fake, it’s eco friendly, and may help with reselling your home more quickly.
  • Toilet: $90 – $400. You would think a toilet is just a toilet, but there are many options to choose from. Obviously the price of the toilet is something you will want to consider when adding a bathroom, but other things to factor in are drain location, size, shape, design, height, and if you want one flush or two. Also, be sure to check with your water company before purchasing a toilet. Many water companies offer a rebate program if a toilet meets certain water efficiency standards. This is worth checking out because it might save you a little money on your bathroom project.
  • Sink/Vanity: $200 – $4,700. There are many sinks and vanities to choose from and this will largely depend on if you are adding a full bathroom or a half bathroom to your home due to the size of each. Some sinks you might come across are: 
    • Undermount – good for busy family bathrooms
    • Top mounts – used for master bathrooms with minimalist styles
    • Pedestal – these are great for a more traditional look
    • Vessel – good for either a master bathroom or powder room
    • Integrated – perfect for those who simply want to buy off the shelf rather than purchasing an expensive custom vanity
    • Semi recessed – great for a child’s bathroom
  • Flooring: Ceramic tile: $1-$2 per square foot – Linoleum: $5-$7 per square foot – Porcelain: $6-$9 per square foot – Marble: $16-$18 per square foot. Typically, a full bathroom averages 36 – 48 square feet and a half bathroom is 18 – 20 square feet.
  • Electrical work: $350 – $700 While some people might be tempted to cut costs and try to do some electrical work themselves, we highly recommend you hire a professional to take on this part of the project. Water and electricity do not mix, so the risks outweigh the cost benefits of doing bathroom electrical work yourself.
  • Fan: $250 – $500 A good exhaust fan is important because of the amount of heat exerted from your body and hot water. If you leave your bathroom unventilated, there will be moisture and humidity that will accumulate inside your bathroom which can create danger to electrical wiring and problems with mold. Installing an exhaust fan that allows air to circulate inside your bathroom space will lessen the amount of steam and moisture that can build up inside.
  • Mirrors: $50 – $300 There are many mirrors to choose from for a bathroom and largely depend on your personal preference. We often overlook mirrors but a good mirror is essential when you add a bathroom to your home. When mirror shopping you may come across many styles including the ones listed below:
    • Wall to wall
    • Framed or frameless
    • Inset
    • Rounded
    • Medicine cabinets
    • Suspended
  • Pipe installs: $600-$1,600 per fixture. Plumbing totals will depend on the number of the new fixtures listed above you will need. Similarly to hiring an electrician, we highly recommend that you hire a professional plumber when adding a bathroom to your home. Plumbers do more than just fix faucets and toilets; their job is to ensure your home is protected from water and possible accidents that can occur. Ultimately, hiring a professional plumber to help add a new bathroom to your home will outweigh the benefits of attempting to do it yourself while ensuring it’s done efficiently and without wasted time or money.

Additional factors included in the cost of adding a bathroom.

  • Location of plumbing: Your new bathroom’s cost will largely depend on the location of plumbing. If the new bathroom is near existing plumbing, the cost to add a new bathroom to your home will be much less.
  • Size of bathroom: You may or may not need to knock down walls to make room for your new bathroom. This can add to the cost and contribute to unknown issues listed below that may arise.
  • How old your home is: Plumbing and electrical work may need to be updated depending on the age of the home.
  • Unknown issues: Every single home improvement project comes with it’s fair share of unknown issues. Adding a new bathroom to your home is no different. Once you start opening walls, you may find mold, water leaks, asbestos, or evidence of pests. It’s best to include extra money in your budget for unknown issues that may arise.

Is plumbing a big factor in adding a bathroom

Plumbing a new bathroom in your home is a big factor depending on the number of fixtures you need, location of the new bathroom to existing plumbing, how many pipe installs you’ll need and how old your home is. A plumber’s labor ranges from $85 – $120 per hour. 

How much does it cost to do the job yourself versus hiring a pro?

Adding a new bathroom can end up being slightly cheaper if you take on some of the labor yourself. However, it’s very important to note that you must hire an electrician and plumber to complete tasks related to electricity and water. We highly recommend hiring a professional that is:

  • Licensed, bonded and insured
  • Has excellent online reviews
  • Provides a start and end date

If you want to tackle some of the labor yourself, consider taking on more of the accessible work such as painting, tiling, caulking, adding towel racks, etc. More times than not, attempting to add a bathroom yourself can lead a homeowner into uncharted territory and end up costing more than simply hiring a professional.

Adding a half bath vs. full bath for the bathroom

Adding a half bath or a full bath will depend greatly on what you are trying to accomplish. A full bath has a sink, tub, shower and toilet. It’s called a full bath because each utility is considered one quarter. Full bathrooms are typically added to a master bedroom or are on another floor and not the main floor. Typically, a full bathroom averages 36 – 48 square feet.

A half bath is much smaller and only has two of the components instead of all four, normally a toilet and a sink. A half bath should be three to four feet wide, and six to eight feet long (18 to 30 square feet). It is sometimes referred to as a guest bathroom or a powder room and is normally found on the main level of a home, or near the entry or kitchen. The benefit of a half bath is that guests don’t have to trample through the more private areas of your home to access a half bath.  A half bathroom is around 18 – 20 square feet in size and adding one can add on average 10 percent to your home’s value.

Does adding a bathroom add value?

One important factor to consider when adding a bathroom to your home is how much value it will add. When building your bathroom budget, consider that adding a half bathroom can increase the value of your home by 10 percent while adding a full bathroom can increase the value of your home by 20 percent.

People that add bathrooms to their home typically recoup anywhere from about 48% to 68% of their costs, creating a valuable ROI when selling their home.

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The information contained in this blog is for general information purposes only, and while believed to be accurate, Trelora assumes no legal responsibility for accuracy. Information provided within should not relied upon as legal advice. Please consult with your local advisors for independent information regarding availability and applicability in your market.