How Much Does a Home Addition Cost to Build in 2024?

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Your visions of extra living space, another bathroom, or a second-floor addition can come to life with a home addition project supervised by a general contractor. The cost of a home addition ranges from $21,000 to $100,000, with a national average price of $48,860.

Highlights

• The typical cost range to build a home addition is between $21,000 and $100,000, with a national average cost of $48,860.
• The exact cost of a home addition depends on the size of the addition, scope of the project, cost of labor and permits, materials used, geographic location, building direction, site prep, and cleanup.
• A home addition has numerous benefits, including additional space, more storage, and an increased home value. It can also be an alternative to moving.
• Adding onto a home is not a DIY project since it involves framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, and other tasks best left to a pro. However, homeowners can take on minor tasks such as painting to save money on labor costs.

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Ready to add some space to your house? Home additions are a popular way to maximize an existing property by adding new rooms to the floor plan. You could build another bathroom, bedroom, living space, garage, or even an entire apartment. Each kind of room comes with its own complexity, so home addition costs have a wide range of prices: $21,000 to $100,000, or an average of $48,860. The total price depends on the kind of space you’re adding, the size, complexity, materials, and labor. Home additions make a great investment in your home, and you can often expect a significant return on your investment. If you’re committed to adding on to your house, but you’re wondering about home addition costs, then read on for the cost of home additions—and how to save money.

Factors in Calculating Home Addition Cost

Home additions typically cost more than a single-room remodel or renovation since there are more factors to consider, particularly if you’re adding more than a single room’s worth of space. If you add space on the ground floor, contractors will need to add a new foundation plus all the standard building materials from wood to shingles. While some additions can be a simple add-on to the back of the house, others are much more complex and require an architect to ensure the existing home doesn’t lose structural integrity. Knowing the location and style of addition you want to add will help guide the first steps of the budgeting process.

Project Size and Scope

As is typical for any construction project, much of the cost is determined by the total size. The bigger the space, the higher the price. Home additions cost $80 to $200 per square foot. Adding a spare room is a common project, and the average cost ranges from $32,000 to $80,000 for a 20-foot by 20-foot room, with the higher end including more customization or luxury fixtures.

Labor and Permits

There’s no way around most labor costs on a large project like a home addition. They tend to make up 30 to 50 percent of the total price. You’ll be paying for skilled laborers like electricians, roofers, siding contractors, drywallers, and painters, depending on the type of space being built. Additionally, home additions are significant projects that require building permits from local authorities. Obtaining a permit will be the first step a general contractor takes to make sure the project can proceed as planned. Expect to pay between $400 and $1,850 for permits.

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Materials

The range of materials used for home construction is vast: concrete, wood framing, drywall, paint, electrical wiring, ductwork, roofing materials, plumbing, and more. Beyond these basic materials, include any customizations and accents like flooring, exposed beams, lighting, fixtures, windows, and doors into your budget. The cost to build a garage will also be different since you may need fewer common materials for an unfinished garage but then have to include a big-ticket item like an automatic garage door. Each material comes with an associated cost that is based on current market prices for the region.

Geographic Location

Home construction costs vary from state to state and city to city. Homes with the same square footage could have a valuation discrepancy of millions of dollars in some coastal urban areas compared to others cities farther inland. Home addition costs will be reflected by the home’s current valuation and the cost of labor and materials in the region. A booming construction market tends to push prices higher, too.

Building Direction

There are two directions you can build when adding onto a house: up or out. Building up tends to be less expensive and could be your only option on a smaller property. If you have an existing garage, building on top of it is more economical since the foundation is typically built to withstand more weight. Building out is often more expensive since a new foundation will need to be laid, and there may be structural issues to address to make sure the roofline and walls remain strong with the new addition. Talk with your contractor about which option works best for the property and budget.

Site Preparation, Excavation, Demolition, and Cleanup

No matter where you build the add-on, the contractor has to prepare the site for new construction. This could include demolishing part of the roof or house, landscaping, or concrete that’s already on the ground. It costs $1,276 to $5,024 to prepare a site for new construction.

Home additions generate quite a mess despite efforts to minimize the dirt and debris. As part of the construction process, the contractor should include time and effort for cleaning up the project. This should consist of hauling away any debris or extra materials and cleaning up dirt, dust, and debris from the floors, walls, counters, and windows. It usually costs $550 for a post-construction cleanup.

Architectural and Contractor Services

If you’re wondering, “How much does it cost to build a garage?” then be sure to also factor in an architect’s services. Adding a significant structure to your house should look intentional and match the current style and design to maximize ROI (return on investment) and curb appeal. For $2,020 to $8,400, an architect can draft an updated blueprint that includes all structural considerations and the aesthetics of the home addition. Permit approval will also require these blueprints.

Hiring a general contractor may seem daunting and expensive, but the peace of mind knowing they are capable of handling a complex project is worth it. General contractors usually cost $150 per hour, and their total cost can add up to approximately 10 to 30 percent of the final bill. General contractors will obtain permits, hire and coordinate subcontractors, purchase materials, and ensure the job proceeds on schedule.

Additional Costs and Considerations

Most of the additional costs for home additions are made up of essential materials. The difference in total price will be based on how much of each material is required for the size of the addition, as well as the quality of the material.

Foundation Materials and Installation

Adding a foundation for a home addition is a critical first step that can’t be skipped if building out. On average, the materials will cost $400 to $700 for 100 square feet, but the installation will cost $4,000 to $12,000. Much of these costs will be based on the size of the foundation. To find out how much it is to build a garage, talk with a garage contractor to find out if you’ll need to reinforce the concrete or build it thicker for your vehicles.

Roof Framing and Materials

A waterproof roof makes for a livable space that protects from the weather, so don’t skimp on these materials. Roof framing costs $700 to $900, and roof materials cost $500 to $5,000 for 100 square feet. You’ll want to use the same material as your existing roof, with the closest color match possible. Adding shingles will cost between $80 to $100 per square foot, but steel roofing costs between $75 and $350 per square (10 feet by 10 feet).

Siding and Trim

Many homes use vinyl siding to complete their exterior with a uniform look, so if your house has siding, you’ll need to budget for adding siding to the new construction. Vinyl siding averages $4 per square foot, and the trim costs $2 to $5 per square foot.

Drywall Ceiling and Walls

While in some climates you could install an unfinished garage without drywall, every other home addition will require drywall to cover up the insulation and electrical wiring and create the dividing walls between other rooms. To drywall 100 square feet, expect to pay $400 to $600. It costs about $1 to $3 per square foot to install drywall on the ceiling and walls.

Insulation

Any structure considered a habitable space (not a garage) is required to have insulation. The type and thickness requirements are based on local building codes that a contractor will know. It costs $2 per square foot to install insulation. Adding more or thicker insulation will cost more, and using blow-in insulation typically costs at least $2.88 per square foot.

Doors and Windows

Adding natural light is a common preference when adding to a house—but it comes at a cost. Windows are a fast way to increase the cost of an addition, whether by their size or number. At a minimum, it costs $235 to install a window, but you could spend up to $2,500 for a customized window. Doors typically cost $1,000 to install, but hollow interior doors are less expensive than heavy exterior doors or glass doors. In both cases, adding a heavy frame or molding will add cost as well.

Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC

Electrical wiring is essential for all home additions to make sure you have light and power for all those electronics. An electrician can wire the room to spec for a rate of $40 to $100 per hour. They’ll make sure the house is built to code to pass inspection when the construction is complete.

You might not need to install plumbing if you’re only adding on a bedroom or office; however, bathrooms, kitchens, and in-law apartments will need some plumbing installed to be fully functional. Plumbers typically charge $45 to $200 per hour to install plumbing and fixtures for a bathroom or kitchen.

Adding an HVAC system (or extension from an existing system) is necessary for habitable spaces. A garage may not need heating and air conditioning, but a bedroom will. Expect to pay around $1,150 to install new ductwork and vents for an add-on, but that price will increase if you need to add a new zone to the system to accommodate a significant addition.

Flooring

Whether you’re considering the cost to add a bathroom or a bedroom, you’ll need to decide on the type of flooring you want to install. Linoleum and vinyl are the least expensive options, but you could also choose tile, carpet, or hardwood floors. The price ranges widely from $3 to $20 per square foot, so choose the option that fits your budget.

Landscaping

After the construction is done, you’ll need to turn your attention to the landscaping around the addition. Heavy equipment may have damaged more of the grass than expected, so consider replacing it with new sod to freshen up the space. Otherwise, factor in the cost to update the new area to match the existing landscaping with bushes, trees, or other features. Landscaping a new area could cost between $500 and $2,500.

Types of Home Additions

Choosing to add on to a house doesn’t have to be limited to a garage or bathroom. If your budget allows, you could expand the home’s footprint with functional and emotionally satisfying spaces ranging from bedrooms to sunrooms to family rooms. These less common options are completely doable and often solve the problem some homeowners have when they cannot find a new, larger house in their desired neighborhood. If you have the space, talk with a contractor about the associated costs of adding on any of the following types of additions.

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Room Addition

Most homeowners are looking to add an extra one or two rooms to their house. This can be done on the ground level or the second floor. Room addition costs mainly depend on the kind of room being installed.

• Bedroom: A 10-foot by 12-foot bedroom costs $9,600 to $24,000 to build or an average of $80 to $200 per square foot. It costs less than a room that requires plumbing, but you’ll still need to add HVAC ductwork and finish work.
• Bathroom: Bathrooms can quickly surpass a budget if you have visions of a spacious, spa-like interior. High-end fixtures are the fastest way to increase the cost of a bathroom. You’ll pay between $20,000 and $90,000 to build a new bathroom, but consult with a contractor to determine how much does it cost to add a bathroom for your specific space.
• Sunroom: In sunny regions, adding a sunroom is a popular option that adds style and helps blend indoors and outdoors. You could build an all-glass or partial-glass sunroom, so the costs range from $25,000 to $80,000. Sunrooms typically don’t include any heating, so you’ll save on HVAC costs. Alternatively, you could purchase a prefabricated sunroom for $11,000.
• Four-season room: If having a sunroom all year makes you excited, then plan to budget for a sunroom that includes heat during the colder months. This feature will push the price to the higher end of the $25,000 to $80,000 spectrum, with an average of $300 per square foot in some cases.
• Family room: Creating a larger space for friends and family to gather is increasingly popular. When an outdoor deck isn’t an option due to frequent bad weather, opt to build a new or expanded family room. An 18-foot by 12-foot expansion will cost $17,300 to $43,200, with the higher end including custom built-in cabinets or high-end flooring.
• Kitchen: If your kitchen is too cramped, then adding more space can be helpful. Due to the complexity of the plumbing and electrical requirements, kitchen additions are more costly: $48,000 to $95,000 for 200 square feet.
• Laundry room: Design inspirations have made adding a laundry room a top option for home additions in recent years. You could add a new, stylish, functional laundry room for $5,000 to $7,000 for a space that helps you enjoy this chore.
• Home theater: For cinephiles, adding a home theater might top the wish list. This type of room typically goes in a basement, but extra soundproofing measures will be taken for an additional cost if it needs to be added on the ground level. Obtain a quote to know where your project would fall within the $20,000 to $70,000 range.

Second Story Addition

When a homeowner decides to add a second story, it’s usually to add more than a single room—adding just a single room on top of a house would look odd. Adding a second story costs $100 to $300 per square foot but could run up to $500 for complex jobs that require more shoring up of the original house. It’s common for second-floor additions to cost $150,000 to $200,000 for an additional 1,000 square feet of space.

Home Extension

In some cases, you may only need to do a home extension to get the extra space you need. These jobs range from garages and balconies to in-law suites and mudrooms.

• Garage: If it’s time to protect your cars or add more storage for outdoor equipment, you can expect to pay $23,900 or $49 per square foot for a 2-car garage. An enclosed garage will significantly increase your home value. Adding a detached garage without heating or air costs around $9,000 to $12,000.
• In-law suite: An in-law suite could range from a simple bedroom to a fully functioning studio apartment–style suite, depending on local building codes. The simp