Adding a Whole New Bathroom to Your House? Here’s What it’ll Cost

Bathroom addition cost overview

The cost of adding a bathroom to your home will vary based on your existing space, the location of the addition, the overall size of the room, and the quality of the features. Here’s how a few of the web’s most trafficked renovation sites price out the project:

Source: HomeGuide
Average bath in existing space cost: $5,000 to $25,000
Average bathroom in a new addition cost: $20,000 to $75,000
Low and high end bath addition range: $2,500 to $25,000
Methodology: With its network of professionals from across the country, HomeGuide uses vetted estimates from more than 500,000 pros to help price out common renovation projects.

Source: Angi
Average bath in existing space cost: $6,634 to $17,579
Average bathroom in a new addition cost: $5,000 to $75,000
Low and high end bath addition range: $3,000 to $160,000
Methodology: Angi ensures authentic reviews using proprietary technology and human checks. They prevent biased and anonymous reviews, verify feedback before posting, and flag any fraudulent activity, keeping companies accountable.

Source: Badeloft USA
Average bath in existing space cost: $3,000 to $5,000
Average bathroom in a new addition cost: $25,000 to $30,000
Low and high end bath addition range: $3,000 to $96,000
Methodology: Founded in 2013, Badeloft has more than a decade of experience selling bathroom fixtures online.

Major cost influencers to consider

Now that you have an idea of the bathroom addition cost spectrum, here’s how specific features of your home can dramatically affect the pricing of your project:

Proximity to existing plumbing

If your new bathroom is close to existing plumbing, whether it’s from the kitchen, laundry room, or above or below an existing bathroom, it’ll cost less overall to run the vents, plumbing, and waste into the new bathroom.

On average, hiring a plumber costs between $180 and $492 an hour. The cost to rough plumb with average priced fixtures (high-end varieties may cost more to install) will range between $3,000 and $20,000.

“If you want to add a bathroom to the furthest corner of your house, then you can expect to spend 30% of your budget on plumbing and electrical alone,” says Andrew Holmes, VP of Construction at Blockhouse Residential, an award-winning construction firm in Pittsburgh.

Nearby crawlspace

If your new bathroom space has a crawl space beneath it, the cost of plumbing and electrical work will likely go down. Alternatively, if you’re adding the bathroom above a concrete slab, you’ll have to pay extra for the labor to cut through it to run water and sewer lines.

Your foundation type

If you’re putting a new bathroom in the addition, you’ll have to include a line item for installing the foundation. Installation for the foundation can run between $4,200 and $13,200.

Installing dormers

You might be building up to add a new bathroom instead of out. In that case, you’ll need to consider the cost of adding a dormer to your home, which costs $15,000 on average.

Cost breakdown by component

Water, electricity, and sewage: Bathrooms projects have a trifecta of components that come with their installation. Let’s breakdown each moving part of this process to understand how it all adds up:

• Architect fees. If you plan to use an architect for your new bathroom, employing one can cost anywhere between $2,195 and $11,647. If you go at it on your own, you’ll need to apply for permits yourself, which cost between $150 and $2,000, depending on where you live.
• Pipe installation. Before installing plumbing, you’ll need to run plumbing pipes (water and sewage) to the location of your new bathroom, which can cost between $230 and $5,500 per fixture.
• Plumbing. Angi estimates plumbing can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $20,000, depending on the layout of the bathroom, and its distance from existing plumbing.
• Electrical. The average electrician charges between $50 and $130 an hour, and you’ll need their services to install outlets, lighting, and fans. Additionally, if the electrical outlets are within six feet of a water source, you’ll need to install ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets, as required by code. These usually cost between $15 and $50 each. Angi estimates electrical wiring to cost between $4 to $9 per square foot.
• Drywall. According to HomeGuide, most homeowners pay between $1.50 and $3.50 per square foot for drywall installation.
• Flooring. Installing waterproof flooring costs from $1,500 to $4,500, but pricing can change significantly based on the quality of flooring you choose. HomeAdvisor recommends one of these waterproof and durable choices:
  • Linoleum: $3 to $5 per square foot
  • Luxury vinyl plank: $5 to $10 per square foot
  • Marble: $16 to $18 per square foot
  • Ceramic or porcelain tile: $3 to $15 per square foot
• Bathtub/Shower install. Purchasing and professionally installing a bathtub or shower will cost between $2,840 and $8,290, but the cost can increase based on the quality and size of the tub or shower.
• Toilet install. A professional toilet installation will cost between $224 and $533, and toilets range widely between $100 and $3,000.
• Additional fixtures. Based on your bathroom design, you might want to add a vanity with cabinets, which can cost from $300 to $3,800 for purchase and installation.
• Lighting. The cost to install lighting is included in electrical costs, but you’ll need to purchase the actual fixture, which can cost between $30 and $900.
• Add-ons. Any specialty add-ons mean an additional line item in price. That includes:
  • Heated bathroom floors: $12 to $55 per square foot
  • Specialty tub or jacuzzi: $2,000 – $35,000
  • Smartroom automation: $207 to $1,674

Bathroom addition: A real-life example

We reached out to Holmes to get the scoop on a recent real-life bathroom addition. Holmes specializes in ground-up new construction and rehauling existing construction. He provided an example quote for a recent bathroom addition under an existing room. Here’s a breakdown of the major costs and labor, including time and materials:

In this project, and in Holmes’ experience working with clients adding bathrooms, many of them aren’t aware how much installing plumbing, electric, and HVAC will drive up their budget.

The value of adding a full bathroom

How much value an additional full bathroom will add to your home at resale depends on how many bathrooms you had to start with.

“If you’re talking about a one, one and half, going to a two bath, there’s going to be huge value in that. But, if you’re going from a two bed, two bathroom, to a three bathroom, there’s going to be less value,” says Steven Mueller, a top Charlotte, North Carolina, real estate agent who recently added a bathroom addition to his own home.

In Mueller’s opinion, adding an additional full bathroom to a one bathroom home can add between $20,000 and $25,000 in value. That’s partly because a home with two full bathrooms enters a new pool of buyers. He explains it like so: “I know the same people that will buy a one-bath home will buy a one-and-a-half bath, but buyers who want a two bath, they won’t look at a one-and-a-half bath.”

As for adding an additional full bath to homes that have two or more baths? “It depends on the quality,” Mueller says, “but the appraisal adjustment is between $7,500 to $10,000.”

In terms of return on investment (ROI), a full bathroom remodel — which can cost close to $27,000 — can net sellers a 73.7% ROI.

Tips to save on your bathroom addition

Now that we have a complete break down of dollars and cents, let’s review ways you can save on a bathroom addition and appeal to buyers with your selections to maximize your investment:

• Place the bathroom strategically. As previously mentioned, the closer a new bathroom is to existing plumbing, the less you’ll have to pay to extend water, sewage, and electrical lines. Building a new bathroom a floor above an existing one or close to the kitchen can reduce costs.
• Buy a “used” tub and other secondhand fixtures. You might not be able to save on electrical or plumbing labor, but you can purchase used fixtures and refurbish them to reduce costs. If you have the time to spare and don’t mind browsing a little for a gem, you can end up with some great deals. The Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Craigslist, and local surplus construction warehouses often have new or “like new” fixtures, including tubs, sinks and lighting.
• Opt for luxury wood vinyl. Moisture-friendly luxury vinyl plank can be more affordable than other flooring alternatives. These flooring options come in a variety of colors and finishes suited to any bathroom, and buyers are responding to them with more interest than ever.
• Go for a tile shower over a bathtub. If you’re torn between a tiled, open shower or a bathtub, go for the shower, Anderson says. “Bathtubs are not trending right now. Buyers like open little walk-in showers without doors,” she says.

Is it worth it to add a bathroom?

Adding a new bathroom won’t come cheap, but is the value added at resale enough to make the project worth it?

“I always ask my clients, if you’re going to do an improvement like that, how long are you going to stay in the property?” Anderson says. “If it’s five years or more, it could be worth the investment. But, if you don’t think you’re going to stay in the property one or two years, then really reconsider. You’re not going to receive that return back.”

Header Image (Source: (Christian Mackie / Unsplash)