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How Much Does It Cost To Add A Half Bath?

How Much Does It Cost To Add A Half Bath?

Adding a small bathroom is one of the most common home renovation projects.

Apart from the functionality, a small bathroom is also a great way to accommodate guests without compromising the privacy and hygiene of your master bathroom. 

Since it is smaller than the master bathroom, adding it is also cheaper.

However, the price breakdown of the different elements you choose to add to the half bath.

If you already have an existing area and no demolishing needs to be done, a half bathroom will cost around $5,000 to $15,000 to add in. If you do have an area where you have to add space, the cost goes up to anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000.

These bathrooms can be done on a budget as well, but it’s important to know where you can cut corners.

How Much Does It Cost?

Depending on how much space you have and what you want to add in, this price can greatly vary. However, the cost of adding a half bath also depends on other factors.

Size of the Half Bath

The first factor that impacts the cost is the size of the bathroom. Typically a half bath is around 3-4.5 feet wide and 6-8.5 feet long.

If you plan on getting a larger half bath, you will have to put in more material costs which will lead to a cost raise.

Amenities

Secondly, the amenities that you will be installing into the half bath also impact the cost. Half baths typically have a toilet, a sink, and a mirror.

It does not have a shower or a tub. However, if you want to add some additional storage or expensive amenities, the cost will rake up.

The faucets also add up to the costs. Typically faucets range between $350 and $550, however, the fancier ones can go as high as $1,000.

If you are getting a toilet system installed, it may cost around $900, and installing it will cost around $300 – $450.

Plumbing

Plumbing

Plumbing is generally the costliest part of adding a half bath. Plumbing costs for a half bath range from $10,000 to $25,000.

The cost is on the higher end if you have to cut through the walls and foundation to make way for the pipes.

You can save costs by keeping the half bath near existing plumbing, for example, a shared walk with another bathroom or a kitchen sink.

Flooring and Door

The flooring, drywall, and door add up to the cost of a half bath. If you are going for the expensive tiles to impress the guests, you will have to spare at least $2,000 for a mid-sized small bath.

Porcelain tiles cost around $6 – $9 per square foot, and linoleum flooring is also similar and costs between $5 and $7 for one square foot.

Ventilation

If you do not have a window for ventilation in the half bath, you will have a stuffy bathroom that will be impossible to use.

An operable window or an exhaust fan will allow ventilation. An exhaust fan costs around $300 – $500.

Electricals

At least one light source in the bathroom is necessary, so the half bath will require some electric work too.

Lighting fixtures cost $200, while electrical outlets cost between $700 and $3000.

Labor Costs

Lastly, the labor costs also need to be considered unless you are a licensed plumber or electrician and can deal with the work of adding a half bath yourself.

If there is a lot of work, the labor hours will increase and so will the labor costs.

Labor costs will go from $1,500 to $5,500 depending on the amount of work.

Transforming a Half Bath to a Full Bath

If you want to transform your existing half bath into a full bath, the costs can vary from $5,000 to $7,000.

The costs are lower than having a half bathroom constructed from scratch because the electric wires and the plumbing will already be nearby.

If you are scraping off the amenities from the old half bathroom and also installing new flooring, the costs may rise to $10,000-$15,000. 

If you are installing new amenities without discarding the old ones like a shower tray or a bathtub, the cost of the amenities will just be the cost of the shower or bathtub and little cost of adding plumbing pipes over to the newly added amenities. 

Can You Add a Half Bath Anywhere?

You can add a half bath anywhere, be it on the top floor, on the ground level, or in the basement.

You can also add a half bath in any of the rooms or even as an extension to your house.

However, the construction and demolishing required for adding the half bath to a location of your liking, add up to the costs. 

But if you are locating it near existing plumbing or the new bath does not require any additional construction or demolishing and re-engineering, you can save up on the costs.

However, make sure you at least have a 25 square feet space because anything less than this cannot accommodate the basics of the bathroom.

How Much Would it Cost to Add a Half Bath to My Basement?

Adding a half bath to the basement would cost around $20,000 – $80,000, including the labor costs and the amenities.

However, if you are thinking of constructing a bathroom in the basement just below a bathroom on the top floor, you will be saving up on plumbing costs and the costs can lower to even $15,000 with simple flooring and amenities.

A half bath in the basement can be expensive if you have to erect new walls or if you are locating the bathroom far from the plumbing.

Tearing down the walls for installing plumbing pipes to the newly located half bathroom can rack up the costs.

Half Bath

Does Adding a Half Bath Add Value to Your Home?

According to the National Association of Home Builders, adding a half-bath to the house increases the value of the house by an average of 10%.

However, if you are adding a second full bath, you can increase the value of the house by around 20%.  

It also adds value to your house in terms of functionality.

If you have only one bathroom in the house, adding a half bathroom for the guests can allow you to maintain your privacy when you are hosting parties over the holidays.

After all, who wants guests to peek at the medical prescriptions or look at the dirty laundry piled up?

Summing Up Adding in a Half Bath

Half baths are important in houses if you have a lot of members in the family. It is also useful if you host house parties and want to maintain your privacy.

It is also a great addition because it adds value to the house. So, if you are thinking of putting the house on the market, adding a half bath or a full bath can be a good idea to get a better value. 

It is better to consult an expert on the pricing levels.

The given pricing levels are average and vary greatly based on the level of work required, the quality of amenities you select, and the plumbing and electric work needed.

Lindsay Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of ProjectPerfectHome.com! I created this website to be a resource for everyone who wants to make the best home possible.