How Much Does a Laundry Room Addition or Remodel Cost?
Normal range: $1,300 - $15,000
The cost of a laundry room addition is $8,100 on average, but it can cost between $1,300 and $15,000 or more depending on the extent of the addition and its location.
Doing laundry is made so much easier when you actually have a dedicated space to fold, hang, and treat your clothes. Adding or remodeling a laundry room is a perfect way to get you some extra working space. You’ll pay as low as $1,300 for simple upgrades like flooring or appliances and as high as $18,750 if you’re looking to expand the room.
- Average
- $8,100
- Low end
- $1,300
- high end
- $18,750
How Much Does a Laundry Room Addition Cost by Square Foot?
Most laundry rooms are only about 35 square feet, so that brings the cost on average to around $230 per square foot. But this cost does include new cabinets, flooring, countertops, outlets, and even new appliances. By skipping out on certain upgrades like flooring or cabinets, you can help bring down this price.
Because the main focus of a laundry room is the laundry machines, adding square footage won’t drastically increase the price. Even if you need to double the square footage of the room to 70 square feet, you’ll likely only be paying for more flooring and paint rather than more outlets and appliances.
Laundry Room Addition or Remodel Cost Breakdown
The cost of a laundry room remodel versus the cost of a laundry room addition will vary greatly based on your individual needs. Remodels already have an existing space to work with, which means you’re not paying for new walls, outlets, or foundations. So you might need some inspiration for your laundry room to figure out what you want to change.
Additions, however, mean you’re getting a totally new space, including intensive construction projects that may require installing new electrical wiring, plumbing, and ventilation. You’ll want to hire a home remodeling contractor to help walk you through the addition process.
| Addition | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Flooring | $280 – $840 |
| Subflooring | $155 – $495 |
| Cabinets | $250 – $2,000 |
| Countertops | $300 – $1,400 |
| Electrical | $160 – $500 |
| Dryer ventilation | $400 |
| Painting | $35 – $150 |
Flooring
Whether you’re remodeling or adding on to your house, the cost of flooring will be a factor. Optimally, you’ll want to save this for last to avoid other construction ruining your beautiful new floor.
On average, you’ll be looking to spend around $280 to $840 on flooring and $155 to $495 on the subflooring. Actual prices will vary depending on the type of material you choose. For a laundry room, you’ll want to aim for flooring that doesn’t hold onto water and doesn’t stain easily in case of any detergent spills.
Cabinets
Cabinets are a great way to hide all of your laundry supplies, making your space look extremely organized (even if it’s just hiding organized chaos). The cost of installing cabinets in your laundry room can vary from $250 to $2,000.
This range comes from the material used for the cabinets and the type of hinges you want. Soft-close cabinets are on-trend, so those are a top consideration for many people.
Countertops
You’ll want an area to fold clothes and sort laundry, which is where countertops come into play. Countertops cost around $300 to $1,400 on average. The most common types of countertops used are slate, limestone, Corian, and granite, where the more high-end the material, the more you’ll pay.
Electrical Wiring
One thing you’ll need to include in the cost of adding a laundry room to your house is new electrical wiring. Washers and dryers don’t run on your normal outlet, so an electrician will need to get the right wiring set up.
Costs associated with electrical include:
Outlets: $500
Light fixtures: $500
Wiring for appliances: $160
Dryer Electric and Gas
Dryers use electric (220v) or gas (natural or liquified petroleum/LP). Gas is more efficient, but it will cost more to connect to the gas source.
Dryer Ventilation
You’ll need a new place for all that heat from your dryer to go. This cost will only apply if you’re adding a laundry room or changing the location of your appliances in the house. Otherwise, if the appliances are staying where they are, they don’t need an update.
Dryer vents, on average, cost $400 for installation. This cost may change depending on the difficulty of the project. Improper ventilation is one of the most common laundry room remodeling mistakes.
“Dryer vents clog quite easily, especially if the vents are not smooth,” says Bob Tschudi, Angi Expert Review Board member and general contractor in Raleigh, NC. “Some municipalities require not only smooth venting but that the thickness of the vents surpass what is available at most home improvement stores.”
New Appliances and Installation
If you’re going all out with your laundry room renovation, then you’ll probably opt for some top-of-the-line appliances. But, while the thought of running out and buying your dream washer and dryer may seem appealing, you’ll need to budget for a few other aspects like the cost of delivery and installation.
Common expenses that come with appliance installation include:
Adding new washer and dryer connection: $1,175 on average
Drain line: $1,100
Installation costs: $125
Emergency water shut off valve: $20
Permit (If Needed)
Whether or not you need permits depends on the extent of your remodel. Your laundry room addition cost may go up if you need to apply for permits. Things like adding drainage pipes, building an addition onto the house, or installing electricity would all require permits. Permits typically cost between $500 to $2,000, depending on your local government’s fees.
Smaller projects like adding cabinets and countertops will likely not require permits.
Paint
Painting your new laundry room will be one of the cheapest parts of your project. You’re only going to need one or two buckets of paint, which will cost around $35 to $150, depending on the color, the brand, the type of finish, and how many gallons you need to purchase.
Labor
Labor costs are going to vary greatly between a remodel and addition, with total overhauls costing a bit more than small upgrades. For simple remodels, where you make minimal changes, you’re looking at around $40 to $200 in labor per hour.
Complete additions and total makeovers will depend on the remodeling contract that your contractor gives you. The labor cost for a crew can vary anywhere from $200 to $350 per hour. Prices may fluctuate depending on how much of the work they do themselves versus contracting out others for specific jobs like electrical or plumbing.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Laundry Room by Type?
Different people have different preferences for where they want their laundry room. Although you might want yours upstairs next to the bedrooms for easy access to dressers and closets, others might want their washer and dryer out of sight down in the basement. Keep in mind, though that location can affect your laundry room addition cost.
| Room Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Upstairs | Up to $15,000 |
| Basement | Around $7,500 |
| Laundry closet | $4,500 – $8,000 |
| Garage | $1,100 – $4,500 |
| Standard laundry room | Around $20,000 |
Upstairs
The cost to move your laundry room upstairs can reach as high as $15,000. Installing new hookups and pipes contribute to this price tag. You’ll also need to create new light fixtures and ensure that the vibrations of the washer and dryer aren’t rattling the entire house.
“Most municipalities require that you put a pan under the washing machine, with a drain that goes to the outside of the house,” says Tschudi. “This is essential, as the water damage from a broken washing machine is substantial, especially if the machine is on an upper floor.”
Basement
The basement is a great place to move a laundry room—especially if you want to keep drying clothes out of guests’ line of sight. Basement laundry rooms will cost around $7,500. The price will depend on whether you want to put up walls to close off the space or not.
Laundry Room
Adding an entire addition to the house will cost the most money. You might end up spending upwards of $20,000 on this project.
Laundry Closet
A laundry closet means you’ll be working with only a small amount of space. But it comes with a smaller price tag as you won’t need to spend money on items like flooring, walls, and sinks. On average, you’re looking at paying between $4,500 to $8,000, depending on if you need new appliances and hookups.
Garage
Another great place to keep laundry away from guests is the garage. If you choose to only install the appliances, you’re looking at paying between $1,100 to $4,500. Cabinets, countertops, and sinks will increase the price, though.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Laundry Room Addition Yourself?
If you’re a jack-of-all-trades, you can install appliances yourself and even add cabinets and countertops. This will cut down significantly on labor costs. By doing these yourself, you’ll only need to spend around $3,000 to $5,000. Of course, this depends on the upgrades that you’re choosing to do.
For walls, electrical components, and plumbing, you should hire a contractor. Messing up any of these items may lead to cracks, short circuits, or water and drainage problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no real “best time” to start remodeling a laundry room. The real answer comes down to your personal preference and when you have the time and money.
Most laundry rooms are 30 to 35 square feet.
While remodeling or adding on laundry rooms will increase the home’s value, you may not get the full return on investment. On average, you’ll see an ROI of around 50% to 75%, depending on the wear and tear and the current housing market.