Seen strictly from the standpoint of resale, carving a bathroom out of existing space, especially in a home that has only one or one and a half baths, might be the most productive remodeling project you can undertake.
Real estate agent Ollie Bell, of Coldwell Banker in West Mifflin, Pa., says that when it comes to bathrooms, buyers of existing homes expect at least two and a half. Even first time buyers, whose expectations may not be as high, "want a master bath and at least one more," she says.
Most real estate agents and appraisers interviewed for this year's report would agree with that. The cost for our mid-range bathroom addition averages $15,058 nationally and would recoup $14,180, or 94% of cost. The upscale bathroom comes in at $37,639 and recoups 81% of cost, $30,626.
Project description
Mid-range: Add a full 6-by-8-foot bath to a house with one or one and a half baths. Locate within existing footprint near bedrooms. Include cultured-marble vanity top, molded sink, standard tub/shower with ceramic tile surround, low-profile toilet, general and spot lighting, mirrored medicine cabinet, linen storage, vinyl wallpaper, and ceramic tile floor.
| Mid-range |
| Market | Job Cost | Resale Value | Cost Recouped |
| National Average | $15,058 | $14,180 | 94% |
| Atlanta | 13,615 | 12,833 | 94 |
| Boston | 17,441 | 19,981 | 115 |
| Buffalo, N.Y. | 14,656 | 8,460 | 58 |
| Chicago | 18,129 | 20,607 | 114 |
| Cincinnati | 14,584 | 10,250 | 70 |
| Cleveland | 16,098 | 12,967 | 81 |
| Columbus, Ohio | 14,434 | 7,094 | 49 |
| Dallas | 12,953 | 10,238 | 79 |
| Denver | 13,809 | 8,489 | 61 |
| Detroit | 16,435 | 9,443 | 57 |
| Houston | 13,512 | 11,500 | 85 |
| Indianapolis | 14,574 | 8,800 | 60 |
| Kansas City | 14,844 | 10,614 | 72 |
| Los Angeles metro | 17,048 | 26,843 | 157 |
| Los Angeles | 17,280 | 35,460 | 205 |
| Orange Cty, Calif. | 16,815 | 18,225 | 108 |
| Miami | 12,471 | 11,250 | 90 |
| Milwaukee | 16,148 | 14,145 | 88 |
| Minneapolis | 18,096 | 18,800 | 104 |
| New Orleans | 12,374 | 11,058 | 89 |
| New York metro | 16,411 | 20,703 | 126 |
| Passaic, N.J. | 16,845 | 13,500 | 80 |
| Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. | 17,023 | 18,609 | 109 |
| Fairfield-New Haven, Conn. | 15,366 | 30,000 | 195 |
| Norfolk, Va. | 11,183 | 10,500 | 94 |
| Orlando, Fla. | 12,450 | 7,375 | 59 |
| Philadelphia | 16,178 | 16,686 | 103 |
| Phoenix | 13,872 | 9,583 | 69 |
| Pittsburgh | 15,064 | 8,750 | 58 |
| Portland, Ore. | 15,991 | 12,000 | 75 |
| Providence, R.I. | 15,094 | 11,375 | 75 |
| Sacramento, Calif. | 16,853 | 15,588 | 92 |
| Salt Lake City | 12,814 | 8,065 | 63 |
| St. Louis | 16,126 | 14,750 | 91 |
| San Antonio | 12,889 | 9,963 | 77 |
| San Diego | 16,216 | 16,250 | 100 |
| San Francisco metro | 18,930 | 26,154 | 138 |
| San Francisco | 18,930 | 28,900 | 153 |
| Oakland, Calif. | 18,930 | 23,408 | 124 |
| Seattle | 16,565 | 15,481 | 93 |
| Tampa, Fla. | 11,729 | 10,000 | 85 |
| Washington metro | 13,001 | 13,455 | 103 |
| Washington, D.C. | 14,039 | 23,333 | 166 |
| Baltimore | 13,100 | 7,199 | 55 |
| Richmond, Va. | 11,864 | 9,833 | 83 |
Upscale: Add a new 9-by-9-foot master bath to an existing master bedroom. The new bathroom includes a 4-by-4-foot neo-angle shower with ceramic tile walls, recessed shower caddy, body spray fixtures, and frameless enclosure as well as a personalized whirlpool tub; a solid-surface countertop with two integral sinks; two mirrored medicine cabinets lighted by individual sconces; a compartmentalized commode area with one-piece toilet; and a humidistat-controlled exhaust fixture. Other touches: heated floor and towel bars, custom drawer base, and wall cabinets.
| Upscale |
| Market | Job Cost | Resale Value | Cost Recouped |
| National Average | $37,639 | $30,626 | 81% |
| Atlanta | 36,329 | 34,813 | 96 |
| Boston | 39,676 | 44,855 | 113 |
| Buffalo, N.Y. | 37,210 | 22,300 | 60 |
| Chicago | 40,211 | 40,281 | 100 |
| Cincinnati | 37,338 | 25,333 | 68 |
| Cleveland | 38,562 | 28,391 | 74 |
| Columbus, Ohio | 37,358 | 18,311 | 49 |
| Dallas | 35,802 | 23,451 | 66 |
| Denver | 36,538 | 21,917 | 60 |
| Detroit | 38,933 | 21,050 | 54 |
| Houston | 36,332 | 25,000 | 69 |
| Indianapolis | 37,277 | 21,600 | 58 |
| Kansas City | 37,444 | 22,175 | 59 |
| Los Angeles metro | 39,070 | 50,517 | 129 |
| Los Angeles | 39,411 | 68,308 | 173 |
| Orange Cty, Calif. | 38,729 | 32,725 | 84 |
| Miami | 35,464 | 25,250 | 71 |
| Milwaukee | 38,567 | 32,899 | 85 |
| Minneapolis | 39,263 | 34,400 | 88 |
| New Orleans | 35,308 | 30,302 | 86 |
| New York metro | 38,789 | 42,865 | 111 |
| Passaic, N.J. | 39,234 | 28,750 | 73 |
| Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. | 39,192 | 38,177 | 97 |
| Fairfield-New Haven, Conn. | 37,940 | 61,667 | 163 |
| Norfolk, Va. | 34,321 | 25,600 | 75 |
| Orlando, Fla. | 35,411 | 18,372 | 52 |
| Philadelphia | 38,756 | 35,901 | 93 |
| Phoenix | 36,547 | 19,333 | 53 |
| Pittsburgh | 37,764 | 18,250 | 48 |
| Portland, Ore. | 38,395 | 22,000 | 57 |
| Providence, R.I. | 37,850 | 26,250 | 69 |
| Sacramento, Calif. | 39,382 | 30,625 | 78 |
| Salt Lake City | 35,669 | 21,940 | 62 |
| St. Louis | 38,603 | 28,708 | 74 |
| San Antonio | 35,775 | 29,053 | 81 |
| San Diego | 38,726 | 36,250 | 94 |
| San Francisco metro | 41,285 | 50,999 | 124 |
| San Francisco | 41,285 | 55,300 | 134 |
| Oakland, Calif. | 41,285 | 46,698 | 113 |
| Seattle | 38,147 | 30,722 | 81 |
| Tampa, Fla. | 34,786 | 21,500 | 62 |
| Washington metro | 36,133 | 29,063 | 80 |
| Washington, D.C. | 37,687 | 46,667 | 124 |
| Baltimore | 35,953 | 17,190 | 48 |
| Richmond, Va. | 34,759 | 23,333 | 67 |