How Much Does a Half-Bath Installation Cost?

Reviewed by Joe Roberts remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

The average price of half-bath installation

On average, it costs roughly $4,995 to install a new half-bathroom in your home. U.S. homeowners commonly spend anywhere between $3,457 and $6,289 on this home improvement project, though, and the overall costs can exceed $7,000 in some cases.

The prices for new bathroom additions vary so widely because there are many factors influencing costs. Among them are bathroom size, bathroom functionality, and bathroom location. Additionally, converting an existing space, like an unused closet, is usually more cost-effective than adding an entirely new room to use as a half-bath. 

Despite the costs, there are several reasons to add a half-bath — also known as a powder room — to your home. Even a small bathroom addition can provide your family and guests with added luxury and convenience. And on top of that, installing a half-bathroom can also increase your home’s resale value by an average of 2.9%.

Still, the material and labor costs of installing a new bathroom can be fairly high. And the variability means you can’t know exactly how much you’ll pay for your new half-bath until you meet with a contractor. You can get a rough idea of the installation costs ahead of time by learning about the various factors, though. We can help with that. 

Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through all the elements influencing half-bathroom installation prices. We’ll also explain how you can make the project more affordable and even help you find a contractor once you’re ready to get an estimate. 

Factors that affect half-bath installation costs

Bathroom size

Size is the first factor to account for when you’re trying to determine how much you’ll spend to install a half-bath. Half-baths typically only measure around 18 square feet, so they are much cheaper to install than larger bathrooms like full baths and three-quarter baths. 

There is some variety in half-bath sizes, so you can get one with a little more elbow room than average if your home has the space. Expect it to impact your total costs for components like framing, drywall, and flooring. 

Here’s a breakdown of the average price ranges for installing half-baths of different sizes.  

Half-bathroom installation costs by square footage

These prices include everything needed to install a typical half-bathroom, such as framing, plumbing lines, electrical work, drywall installation, flooring, and paint. These prices also include the installation of one sink, one toilet, one mirror, and one vanity with a countertop.

Remodeling vs. new bathroom addition

Building a new space for a half-bath is more expensive than remodeling an existing half-bath. This is primarily because you usually don’t need to install entirely new plumbing, framing, or drywall when you remodel an existing bathroom.

Similarly, converting an unused laundry room into a half-bath can be cheaper since a plumber won’t have to install supply and waste lines from scratch. 

Still, when you convert a laundry room or do a full bathroom renovation, you often tear out all the old flooring, cabinetry, and fixtures to make way for more up-to-date and stylish amenities, so remodeling jobs aren’t as cheap as you might think.

Here’s a breakdown of the costs to remodel an existing half-bath. These prices include all demolition and disposal fees. 

Half-bathroom remodel costs by square footage

Amenities

Half-bathrooms are very minimalistic compared to full bathrooms and master bathrooms. All that a space needs to qualify as a half-bath is a sink and a toilet. Some half-baths don’t even have mirrors or cabinets. This compact layout is a selling point for many people since it allows them to install half-baths in small nooks beneath their stairs or crannies in their hallways.

However, this doesn’t mean a half-bath can’t be a luxury bathroom. If you want, you can trick out your half-bath with more deluxe features like marble countertops, lighted mirrors, and extensive cabinetry. You can even add a shower or bathtub, though any bathroom with one of these features will actually be a three-quarter bath.

Just be aware that any add-ons will increase your costs for this project, sometimes substantially. To illustrate, here’s a list of the average price ranges for common bathroom amenities. 

Average costs for common bathroom fixtures

Material quality

As with any home improvement project, opting for high-end materials means paying high-end prices. For example, vinyl flooring is usually much cheaper than flooring made with ceramic tile. Similarly, installing chrome or plastic faucets is usually far more affordable than getting fixtures crafted from copper, nickel, or brass.

That said, there are good reasons to opt for luxury materials if you can afford them. More expensive fixtures tend to last longer, so you usually don’t have to replace them as often. This means paying more now can save you money in the long run. Additionally, fancier materials will elevate the aesthetic of your half-bath, making it more than just a functional space. 

Location in your home

The final major cost factor is where you install your half-bath in your home. Basement bathrooms tend to cost less than upstairs bathrooms since the plumbing and electrical lines in basements are usually more built out than those of upper floors. And installing a half-bath directly under an existing bathroom can save you a lot of money on plumbing costs since your plumber can connect the new bathroom’s lines to those of the existing bathroom.

However, converting an upstairs room that already has water lines—such as a laundry room—into a half-bath can be cheaper than a new basement bathroom addition costs in some cases. It all depends on the layout of your home. 

Half-bath installation pricing tiers

The budget option

If you just need a simple half-bath for convenience and want to keep it as affordable as possible, we recommend converting an existing room instead of building a new one. This will save you a substantial amount of money on framing and drywall installation.

This room could be a large closet or a space under your basement stairs, but converting an old washroom with power and water lines could save even more money than you’d otherwise have to spend on a plumber and an electrician.

Additionally, when you meet with your contractor, we recommend asking their opinion on where in your home you should install your half-bath to keep costs low. After inspecting your house’s layout, they might determine that a ground-floor half-bathroom might be more affordable than one in your basement.

Lastly, you should opt for minimal amenities. Forgoing a mirror, a vanity, and any cabinets could knock hundreds of dollars off your project costs. Additionally, be sure that any amenities and fixtures you do get are made from low-cost materials like chrome, plywood, vinyl, and bronze.

If you’re tempted to undertake this project yourself to skip the labor costs of hiring a contractor, we highly advise against DIY installation. Installing a functional half-bath requires various specialized skills like carpentry and plumbing. When a project involves many different specialties, it’s best to leave it to the pros. 

The mid-range option

If you’ve got money to invest in a more luxurious half-bathroom, you have more freedom to put it anywhere you want in your home. Installing a half-bath on your top floor or beside the guest bedroom will cost a bit extra, especially if there isn’t already a space built out to accommodate one or you need to install new plumbing lines. Still, it will be more convenient once the bathroom is finished.

You may still want to keep the bathroom’s floor plan small. Otherwise, you could pay several hundred dollars on space that would be nice to have but not entirely necessary.

Similarly, you should probably skip deluxe features and materials like extensive cabinetry, high-end bathroom tiles, or concrete countertops, as these optional components can dramatically raise project costs. 

The high-end option

For the most luxurious half-bath you can get, opt for deluxe materials, a large floor plan, and whatever placement in your home you want. This could result in thousands of dollars in extra costs, but if you’ve got the money in your home improvement budget to go big, the benefits may outweigh the costs. 

Additionally, this might be a good opportunity to consider getting a larger type of bathroom with a bathtub or a shower. Three-quarter bathrooms and full bathrooms cost much more to install than half-baths, but they’re also much more homey and accommodating. 

How to pay for your new half-bathroom

While half-bath installation is relatively affordable compared to larger remodeling and home improvement projects, it can still cost more money than many homeowners have on hand. Luckily, there are multiple financing options.

Your first option is to finance through your installer. Many, but not all, installers offer in-house financing plans, meaning you can often make a payment plan with the company that installs your bathroom instead of searching for third-party financing. Be sure to check the fine print, though, as your installer’s financing may not be best for your situation.

Your next option is to take out a loan. This could be a personal loan or a home equity loan. With either type of loan, you get a lump sum of money that you have to pay back with interest. Personal loans typically have steeper interest rates, so they can take longer to pay back. Home equity loans can be a little more risky, though, because they’re secured by your home. This means that if you default on your home equity loan, your lender could take your home from you.

Your last option is to open a home equity line of credit. With a HELOC, you get access to a revolving credit line that you can use repeatedly to fund home improvement projects. HELOCs are also secured by your home, though, so only open and use one if you’re certain you can stay on top of the payments. 

Other factors to consider

Permits and building codes

Part of the reason it’s so beneficial to hire professional contractors to install your half-bath is that the construction requires permits. You must also ensure everything in the bathroom meets local building codes. Contractors know how to navigate all this red tape and keep the installation to code, so you don’t have to worry about the research and heavy lifting.

You will have to pay the permit fees, though. Pulling bathroom construction permits typically costs around $500, though it can cost more or less depending on where you live and how large the project is. Your contractor will usually just add these fees to your project costs. 

More bathrooms, more plumbing

With another bathroom in your house, you’ll have a few more pipes and water fixtures to routinely check for leaks, clogs, and water damage. If you notice anything concerning that you can’t fix yourself, we recommend hiring a plumber as soon as possible. Professional plumbing services usually cost at least $100, but stalling on repairs can result in even higher costs since small plumbing problems can easily snowball into much bigger issues. 

Installation costs for a half-bathroom

Whether your home needs another bathroom for your growing family or to accommodate houseguests, a half-bath is a cost-effective option. They don’t come with all the bells and whistles that full or three-quarters baths do, but they feature all the bare necessities, and – best of all – they’re far more affordable.