Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that an uber-organized, well-lit laundry room with ample counter space and top-of-the-line appliances will magically appear (although one can dream). An actual laundry room addition or remodel is required to make it a reality. Before you take the plunge, find out how much you can expect to spend on a laundry room renovation.
Published January 25, 2022
Reviewed by Robert Tschudi, Expert Home Building and Remodeling Contributor.| Average Cost | $8,065 |
| High Cost | $14,825 |
| Low Cost | $1,300 |
| Remodeling Tasks | Price |
|---|---|
| Subfloors | $155 - $495 |
| Flooring | $280 - $840 |
| Cabinets | $250 - $2,000 |
| Countertops | $300 - $1,440 |
| Sink | $220 - $560 |
| Wall Tiling | $150 - $200 |
| Washer/dryer hookup install | $350 - $2,000 |
| Basic appliance installation | $50 - $175 |
| Outlet | $150 - $850 |
| Light fixture | $150 - $825 |
| Dryer vent | $80 - $1,000 |
| Drain line | $360 - $1,840 |
| New appliances | $550 - $2,600 |
| Refinish appliances | $380 - $1,420 |
| Permit | $410 - $1,980 |
Expect to pay $350 to $2,000 to move the hookups when installing a washer and dryer. Each line needs a washing machine cut-off valve, too. Dryers that have a steaming function will need a water supply line and valve as well. Those valves cost between $10 and $30 each, plus about $360 to $1,840 in plumbing costs to build a drain line for the washer.
For washing machines on a second floor or higher, consider installing a washing machine drain pan, which will prevent damage should the appliance leak. Lastly, budget roughly $100 on average for the price of a dryer vent install.
The extent of the hookups required, the location of the laundry room, and the customizations requested are all factors that affect your final cost.
Basic appliance installation costs $50 to $175 per machine. This service includes moving the washer and dryer as well as hooking up the water lines, drain lines, and dryer vent tube.
“Before moving your dryer, be sure to plan for venting,” says Bob Tschudi, Angi Expert Review Board member and general contractor in Raleigh, NC. “A straight-through-the-exterior-wall vent is low cost. Once you have to run dryer vent ducting in crawl spaces or attic spaces, the cost goes up rather quickly. And new building codes now prohibit the use of flexible dryer ducts.”
The price to install cabinets in a laundry room addition is between $250 and $2,000 for five linear feet of stock to semi-custom cabinets installed at $50 to $400 per linear foot. Custom cabinets are slightly more expensive, running about $750 per linear foot.
Cabinets prices vary depending on the model, too. Basic constructions run about $150 to $200 while larger, fancier constructions cost as much as $1,000 or more.
“We just built a washer dryer cabinet with a large granite top,” says Tschudi. “Laundry rooms can now cost as much as a small kitchen remodel.”
Typically, a utility sink costs between $220 and $560, including install. These sinks are thoughtful additions to laundry rooms because you can use them to pretreat clothing and wash specialty items like hats and sneakers.
Budget roughly $150 to $185 each for electrical outlets. If you are moving your dryer and washer to a new location, you need to check your existing dryer plug to determine what you’ll need. For an electric dryer, you'll need a dedicated 30 amp 4-wire circuit. Your dryer likely uses a 3- or 4-prong outlet. The heavy gauge wire needed for electric dryers will cost between $1.50 and $2.50 per foot.
The cost of wall tiling is about $15 to $20 per square foot. For example, to tile 10 square feet behind the washer and dryer, you might pay $150 to $200.
It costs between $155 to $830, or $480 on average to install a light fixture, though the price will vary by the light fixture. Traditional ceiling-mounted lights are $90 plus labor, and recessed lighting fixtures start at $175.
The cost of a bathroom exhaust fan installation is $240 to $540. Though not common, this additional expense can help reduce moisture. “We recommend a humidity-sensing exhaust fan, which automatically turns on and off,” says Tschudi. “The cost is not significantly more and the homeowner won’t have to keep turning the fan on and off.”
If you want to move your laundry room upstairs, expect to spend as much as $14,825 depending on the room size and materials. Your plumber will need to extend the supply and drain lines, install faucets, and add a longer drain line to hook up your appliances.
Your electrician will need to install a light fixture and outlets while the contractor handles flooring, cabinets, and countertops.
Converting a closet to a laundry room ranges from $2,380 to $6,600. In addition to new washer dryer hookups, you will also need to install outlets, which range from $150 to $185. If you want new appliances, you’ll need to budget $275 to $1,300 per machine, depending on their features and customer ratings.
Expect to pay between $2,000 to $14,825 to build a laundry room in your basement or garage. This cost will cover flooring, tiling, cabinets, and countertops in addition to the basic hookups.
Usually, flooring costs between $280 to $840 for a 35-square-foot laundry room. Flooring materials for laundry rooms range from $3 to $20 per square foot. If you need subfloors, add $155 to $495 to cover the cost of repairs or replacement.
Building permits cost $410 to $1,980, depending on the project’s scope and the size of the space. It’s easier—and cheaper—to source permits for simple remodels than full-scale additions.
Countertops cost $300 to $1,440 for a 12-square-foot surface, depending on your material of choice. Slate, granite, limestone, and Corian run about $25 to $250 per square foot, including labor. High-end materials like marble can reach $190 for each square foot.
Adding a new laundry room or remodeling one is a major task. It requires knowledge of general contracting, plumbing, electrical work, and HVAC systems, to name a few. For that reason, it’s wise to outsource your new laundry room to a capable contractor in your area who can confidently direct all aspects of a large-scale project.
Laundry room remodels typically see a 67% to 78% return on investment if you sell the house right away. As you use the space, wear and tear will reduce its ROI over time.
An average laundry room is 5 feet by 7 feet or 35 total square feet. Multi-purpose utility rooms can span up to 100 square feet to accommodate a utility sink, ironing board, and garment steamer.
An average side-by-side washer and dryer set needs a 4-foot by-5-foot space. In this space, you’ll have enough room to fit cabinets or wall shelves above the units. If you have a stackable washer and dryer unit, then you will need a 4-foot by 3-foot area to install them. These units are over 6 feet tall, so overhead shelves and cabinets will not fit.
For each 45-minute load, washers may use 2.8 kilowatt-hours of electricity, while dryers are closer to 3.3 kilowatt-hours. Decreasing the runtime of your appliances can lower their energy usage and decrease the cost of doing laundry at home.
