How Much Does It Cost to Add a Laundry Room?

If your home doesn’t already feature a dedicated place to wash your clothes and other items, it’s possible to add a laundry room. This room is more than just a place to put your washer and dryer. A well-designed laundry room with ample accessories and a layout that fits your home makes washing clothes an easier, more efficient process. When determining how expensive it is to add a laundry room, it’s helpful to think about it in terms of three cost tiers: low, medium, and high.

Cost projections vary by room size, cabinets, flooring, countertop and counter, and any extras like a laundry room sink. Estimates assume that you already own the washer and dryer; that connections are already in the laundry area; and that walls will be painted. The cost of a laundry room will also vary based on the room’s placement in your home. For example, adding a laundry room upstairs may cost more than adding one in your garage or basement depending on the finishes you need to make it work with the rest of your space.

Low Cost ($2,000 on average)

A small laundry room addition typically costs about $2,000, and with lower costs, upgrades should start with the necessities. Work in this small space is largely centered around adding basic storage and maybe even a short span of countertops. Flooring will either remain in place or will be replaced by simple, functional flooring.

Layout

Either you already have a dedicated laundry room or a small side room such as an enclosed porch. Usually, this means that the layout is straight and corridor style or perhaps L-shaped.

Flooring

For a budget laundry room design, you can purchase durable, functional flooring such as economy-grade luxury vinyl flooring in tiles, planks, or sheets.

Cabinets

Unless you are careful, laundry room cabinet costs can push your budget out of the low-cost zone. Consider buying mobile storage cabinets. If you want permanent cabinets, choose a basic base cabinet and matching wall cabinet, each in a lower cost finish such as thermoplastic or melamine.

Countertop

Laminate countertops will give you the working room you need while staying well within budget.

Extras

Low-cost laundry room additions usually rule out professionally installed floor drains or utility sinks. If connections are already available for the utility sink, you can install it by yourself relatively easily.

Value

According to Home Advisor’s return on investment figures, the lower the cost of the laundry room, the less value it will add to your home. A very low-cost laundry room will serve mostly to satisfy your immediate needs.

Medium Cost ($7,000 on average)

Most homeowners who are serious about adding a laundry room will remain within a medium-level budget: high enough to properly outfit the room with ample storage and features, but low enough to keep construction costs within reason. Including functional upgrades like a utility sink, built-in cabinets, and countertops can make it worth it to add a laundry room that suits both your budget and your household’s needs.

Layout

Your laundry room addition will be able to accommodate an L-shaped or U-shaped layout.

Flooring

Both luxury vinyl flooring and ceramic tile typically fit well within a mid-range laundry addition budget. Installing the luxury vinyl flooring by yourself saves more money for cabinets and countertops.

Cabinets

Permanent cabinets are necessary for any mid-range laundry room in the form of base cabinets, wall cabinets, or even a mobile unit or two. Cabinet boxes may be faced with hardwood veneers, such as maple or oak, with matching solid-wood doors.

Countertop

Any medium-cost laundry room addition will have one or two countertops installed on top of the base cabinets. Solid surface—or at least good quality laminate—is the favored countertop material for a mid-cost laundry room.

Extras

You should have enough money in a mid-level laundry room budget to add a laundry room sink or a floor drain. If you wish, you can install a fold-down ironing board or clothes racks by yourself.

Value

A medium-cost laundry room addition should bring the room in line with the quality of the rest of the house.

High Cost ($15,000 on average)

If you have a higher-end home, you might want to push your budget towards $10,000 or more—often up to $15,000. No expense is spared to make sure that your laundry room is outfitted with everything you need, and that most materials used are of the highest quality.

Layout

Whether an open plan, L-shaped, or U-shaped layout, a laundry room addition in this range can accommodate any arrangement you wish. You may even have room in the middle for an extra table for folding clothing.

Flooring

You may wish to use ceramic or porcelain tile, natural stone, or premium rigid-core luxury vinyl plank flooring for a laundry room in this cost range.

Cabinets

With any high-cost laundry room addition, cabinets are equally high-grade. All finishes are hardwood, and frameless cabinets are often used to maximize interior space.

Countertop

For a premium-grade addition, laundry room countertops will nearly always be quartz (engineered stone), natural stone, or solid surface.

Extras

Extras practically define the high-cost laundry room; no extras are left out. The room has a floor drain, utility sink, ironing board, dedicated folding area, and more.

Value

High-cost laundry room additions not only satisfy the homeowner’s current needs but their long-term needs when it comes time to sell the home, increasing lasting value overall.