This Is How Much It Costs to Add a Bathroom to Your Home

Has your home outgrown your bathroom? Your tiny sink-toilet-tub-shower combo may not be cutting it anymore, especially if you're not the only one using it. One obvious solution to this problem is to add another bathroom to your home, but the cost of a bathroom addition—like so many renos—can seem to be shrouded in a cloud of mystery.

So, it's time to find out how much a bathroom addition could cost you. Adding a bathroom to your home may be a pricey investment, but you'll be rewarded with a more functional living space and a higher resale value down the road. Plus, adding a bathroom might not be the money pit you think it will be.

Keep reading to learn about a few tricks that could save you some cash.

How Much Will It Cost to Add a Bathroom?

The cost of a bathroom addition can start as low as $5,000 and run as high as $50,000 or more, according to HomeAdvisor. That price can get even steeper if you're looking to create a high-end, spa-like space.

What Do These Costs Include?

The cost of adding a bathroom may seem steep, but the high price includes quite a few things: your bathroom necessities, flooring, hardware, plumbing, permits, and installation. This applies if you're adding a bathroom to an existing space—if you're building out a new addition, you'll have to pay for those additional expenses, like framing, insulation, and drywall, too. With all these costs, it's no surprise that the price tag for a bathroom addition starts in the thousands.

However, one of the easiest ways to cut costs—without cutting corners—is by sourcing less expensive materials. That can mean going for the pre-fabricated bathtub or shower instead of the expensive tile surround, finding a vanity from IKEA, or refurbishing an old one rather than having one custom-built. You can also try to DIY a few things yourself, like installing hardware, painting, or—if you're feeling adventurous—tiling.

Adding a Bathroom to an Existing Space

A bathroom addition in the existing space will be a lot cheaper than building out a brand new space for a bathroom. HomeAdvisor says that adding a bathroom to the existing space will cost the average homeowner about $15,000. When broken down even further, bathroom additions to an existing space can cost $125 to $250 per square foot.

Want to save even more money with your bathroom addition? Renovate the smarter way: If you convert a space that already has the plumbing you'll need—like your laundry room—you can save money on plumbing and draining costs. Additionally, placing new bathrooms directly above or below existing ones can be cheaper for those same reasons, too.

Upstairs Bathroom Additions Versus Downstairs

Upstairs bathrooms offer privacy and convenience, especially when they're en suite. But that luxury could cost a pretty penny. If you don't already have plumbing or drain lines on your upper floors, expect to pay more for that bathroom addition. HomeAdvisor estimates that second-floor bathrooms can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $35,000.

However, downstairs bathrooms can give you a chance to save some money, as you'll probably be closer to plumbing lines. If you only need the bathroom for the occasional guest or dinner party, you should consider adding on a half bath—which only includes a sink and a toilet—rather than a full one. Half baths are a good way to minimize cost and space usage while still providing much-needed functionality.

Converting a Half Bath to a Full Bath

What if you want to convert that downstairs half bath to a full-sized one? According to HomeAdvisor, this can cost you anywhere between $5,000–$25,000. This range of costs depends on if you're using existing space, if there are difficult installations, and if you use high-end materials.

The Cost of Building a New Space for Your Bathroom Addition

Here's the bad news about building an addition for your bathroom: It's expensive. HomeAdvisor estimates that the average cost of a new bathroom addition is $35,000, but that it can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $90,000. But before you give up on your addition entirely, there's good news, too: You won't have to figure out how to awkwardly reconfigure your home around your new bathroom, plus the added square footage gives a major boost to your home's resale value.

The Cost of a Bathroom Addition by Location

Another important variable in the cost of your bathroom addition is your home's location. With the average cost of $67,378, a bathroom addition in San Francisco will cost more—surprise, surprise—than one in Atlanta, which has an average cost of $46,937. Similarly, a bathroom addition in the mid-Atlantic region has an average cost of $51,653, while that same bathroom in Oklahoma costs an average of $44,443.

As a rule of thumb for renovations and additions, where the cost of living is higher, so will the cost of renovations be, too. If you're in a HCOL area, don't fret. One way to keep prices low is to do your research and check with local friends and family to find contractors and installers who have a reputation for doing great work at a great value.

The Added Value a Bathroom Addition Can Bring to Your Home

Aside from the added functionality and livability a new bathroom brings to your home, a bathroom addition can also increase your home's resale value. Angie's List estimates that a full bath addition can boost your home's resale value by up to 20%, while a half bath can boost it by 10.5%.

While the cost of that bathroom addition is no doubt a steep one, it's reassuring to know that you'll have a good chance at getting some of your money back.