Highlights
The typical range to add a bathroom is $5,000–$35,000
Bathroom additions require a significant of materials and installation work
Square footage, features, and the new or existing space will impact price
They say good fences make good neighbors. But when it comes to a household, more bathrooms make a happier family. If it's time to build an additional bathroom onto your home, this guide will break down the costs. From square footage to bathroom upgrades and features, here’s a look at what you’ll pay to add a new addition to your home.
How Much Does It Cost to Add a Bathroom?
The average bathroom addition cost is $15,000, but this price can vary greatly depending on the square footage and the features you want to add. As a result, the typical range is $5,000 up to $35,000.
But that's only if you're using an existing space to construct the bathroom. If it’s a new build, the price range goes up significantly—$20,000 to $50,000 on average.
Of course, the upper limit can go even higher than that. If you want a premium bathroom addition with a whirlpool hot tub to soak in after a long day at the office, as well as other high-end features, the range could be more like $75,000 to $90,000.
Bathroom Additions: Which Fits My Budget?
Chances are, you know how much you want to spend on your bathroom. You’ve probably been dreaming of that oasis, right down to the tile backsplash. But what can you get on your budget?
Here’s a look at what bathroom features and additions you can get at various price points:
$5,000
If you bought the materials and installed them yourself in an existing space, you might be able to get a bathroom or half bath for this price. This figure generally only covers the materials, so it would be difficult to hire help and stay under this budget.
$10,000
At this price, you'll be able to do a thorough bathroom remodel and replace everything. Instead of spending money on installing new plumbing and building out a space, that money can go into the premium features you want. You could get that double vanity or walk-in shower you’ve always wanted.
$15,000
This is the average cost to install a standard full bath in an existing space. This includes a new shower, bathtub, toilet, vanity, tiling, and all of the electrical and plumbing work to make it functional. The cost may be lower if it's in a smaller space that is already hooked up to plumbing, and it may be higher if you want to install extras like a hot tub.
$35,000
This is the budget you'll need if you want to build an addition to your home. This will be much more expensive than a simple bathroom remodel because you will be building an entirely new structure attached to the house versus remodeling an existing bathroom.
$90,000
If you want a bathroom addition that stretches 200 square feet or more and includes premium features like a hot tub with jets, walk-in shower, double vanity, premium tiles, granite countertops, and other luxuries, this is what you could expect to pay.
How Much Does It Cost to Add a Bathroom Myself?
Adding plumbing to a bathroom and handling electrical are always best left to the pros to ensure they meet safety and code standards. Plus, it might end up costing you even more money in the long run if a contractor has to fix any DIY mistakes. But if you do have this experience, you can save a lot of money on hiring contractors—perhaps more than half of the total value of the project. Most of the remaining expenses will go toward vanities, drywall, and tile.
For example, if you're doing a bathroom installation that costs $45,000 including materials, home addition permits, and labor, you could choose to do all of the plumbing, electrical, and installation work. The cost just for materials for that project would be about $20,000, meaning you could save around $25,000 by doing it yourself.
Bathroom Addition Cost Breakdown
A bathroom addition involves a lot of materials and installation work. Labor typically makes up the majority of costs, but you will also have to pay for some high-end items like vanities.
Here’s where your money goes in a bathroom addition project:
Plumbing: $1,000–$10,000
Electrical: $500–$2,500
Shower install: $1,500–$6,800
Shower or bath liner: $1,800–$5,200
Glass shower door installation: $500–$1,400
Faucet fees: $150–$350
Bathtub install: $1,100–$5,900
Toilet installation: $200–$550
Drywall: $1,000–$2,500
Tile floor: $900–$2,900
Vanity: $500–$3,800
Lighting fixture costs: $150–$900
Towel racks: $20–$100
Permits: $50–$2,000
How Much Does It Cost to Add a Bathroom by Type?
There are lots of different types of bathrooms. You might install a full primary bathroom, or opt to convert a laundry room instead. You could also put a bathroom in the attic, or split an existing bathroom into two.
Here’s what you can expect to pay, depending on the bathroom you choose.
Primary bathroom: $35,000–$100,000
Bathroom extension: $20,000–$70,000
Basement bathroom: $8,000–$15,000
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
What Factors Influence the Cost to Add a Bathroom?
The cost to add a bathroom is highly variable and will depend on a number of widely ranging factors.
Square Footage
The size of the bathroom in square feet will have a major impact on the total cost of your project. The larger the space is, the more it will cost. The average cost per square foot for an average bathroom addition is $200 to $300, and for a luxury addition, it's $450 to $600.
Features
If you want your bathroom to have premium features, it will cost you extra. A jetted tub or whirlpool can cost around $10,000, for example. Vanities can cost anywhere from $500 to $4,000.
Addition or Existing Space
If you're building the new bathroom in a space that already exists, like a former bedroom or in the basement, it's a lot more affordable because you don't have to build an actual structure as you would with an addition.
FAQs About Adding a Bathroom
Should I build a bathroom myself?
Unless you’re a general contractor and have extensive electrical and plumbing experience, you should hire a contractor to do the actual work. Trying to do this kind of work with limited experience risks botching the project, making it even more expensive to complete.
What should I consider when adding a bathroom?
The main things to consider are what kind of features you want, how large the space is, if you can use an existing space, and what kind of budget you have. By answering these questions, you'll be able to figure out the correct balance—i.e., maybe you decide the budget is more important so you sacrifice a few premium features and remodel an existing space rather than do a luxury addition.
What other projects should I do at the same time?
If you have a basement, that might be the perfect place to put your bathroom and do a full basement remodel at the same time. A full basement remodel costs $12,000 to $30,000, but about 30% to 50% of that goes into the bathroom.
Find a Professional to Help You Add a Bathroom
It’s tempting to try to go it alone, but installing a bathroom is a lot of work that requires specialized expertise. If you want the job done right, it’s best to trust the professionals and spend a little extra.
Find a plumber near you who can take a look at the space, talk through your options, and provide you with estimates.
