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A small laundry room remodel can go a long way to improving a room that gets a lot of use, but is often an afterthought when it comes to home renovations. If you’ve reached the point where you’re ready to give your laundry room some love, but you’re not sure how much it will cost and whether it will add value to your home, we’ve got the answers to help put it in perspective for you.This guide breaks down the cost of laundry room remodel projects and will give you an idea of what to expect.
Typical Laundry Room Remodel Costs
While the cost to renovate a house can be substantial, the cost of a laundry room remodel is on the more affordable side. The national average cost to remodel a laundry room ranges from $4,000 to $12,000, with most homeowners spending about $7,000.Any home renovation costs can be pricey. Here’s a look what you’ll pay for the components of a laundry room remodel, depending on your budget and the appliances and materials you choose:
Project
Range
Sink
$350 to $3,000
Cabinets
$250 to $2,00
Countertops
$10 to $190 per square foot
Appliances
$300 to $2,500
Flooring Electrical
$35 to $1,400 (installed)
Electrical
$40 to $120 an hour
Plumbing
$45 to $150 an hour
Sink
The price to install or upgrade a sink will vary based on type, typically costing between $350 to $3,000. Drop-in, corner, and wall-mounted sinks are the least expensive to install. An undermount (in which the sink is mounted under a countertop), utility, or farmhouse sink is more expensive, based on style and installation.
Plumbing
If the floor plan of your laundry room isn’t changing, plumbing costs will be relatively low. For example, installing hook-ups for a washing machine can cost between $400 to $800, and installing a new faucet ranges from $100 to $300, on average. However, if your plans involve moving existing plumbing you’ll pay more for labor. A plumber costs between $45 to $150 an hour. Recommended: Guide to Plumbing Financing Options
Cabinets
Installing cabinets in a laundry room can create storage and better use of space. Depending on the finish and style, cabinets can cost between $250 to $2,000 with installation. You may opt to add even more storage, such as putting shelves in a closet, if the laundry room has one. In that case you’ll want to factor the cost to remodel a closet into your budget.
Countertops
The style of countertops you choose can change the cost to remodel a laundry room. Here’s the average price per square foot to install different styles of countertops:
Material
Cost Per Square Foot
Granite (Pre-fab)
$10 to $35
Soapstone
$20 to $70
Marble
$15 to $190
Slate
$30 to $90
Limestone
$10 to $70
Quartz
$15 to $70
Corian
$20 to $75
Acrylic
$13 to $30
Laminate
$8 to $27
Ceramic
$1 to $15
Concrete
$50 to $100
Wood
$18 to $38
Stainless Steel
$60 to $100
Electrical Projects
If the layout of the laundry room isn’t changing, the cost of electrical work will be less. But if the location of the washer and dryer changes, or additional outlets need to be installed, the laundry room remodel cost will go up. The average cost to hire an electrician is $398 and ranges from $40 to $120 an hour.
Flooring
The cost to add a new laundry room floor depends on the type of flooring you choose. The average price to install flooring is as follows:
Material
Average Cost to Install
Sealed Concrete
$35 to $140
Vinyl
$70 to $490
Tile
$315 to $1,400
Epoxy
$350 to $525
Appliances
The biggest factor impacting appliance cost is the configuration and style of the washer and dryer you choose. Here are the average prices, broken down by configuration:
Type of Washer/Dryer
Average Cost
Stackable
$300 to $1,500
Stacked
$550 to $3,00
Side by Side
$600 to $3,500
Washer and Dryer Combo
$1,000 to $2,500
These prices do not include the cost of installation. However, many stores offer free delivery and installation with a new washer or dryer. If the cost of appliances is an issue in your budget, an appliance loan may be able to help
Laundry Room Remodel Cost per Square Foot
The average laundry room is 35 square feet, making the average cost for a remodel about $230 per square foot. This includes everything from flooring and cabinetry to plumbing and appliances.
Does Remodeling Your Laundry Room Increase the Value of Your Home?
Laundry room remodels will increase your home’s value. Renovating your laundry room has a 50% to 75% average return on investment. In other words, for every $1 spent, you will recoup $.50 to $.75. While you won’t get back the full cost of a laundry room remodel, you will likely enjoy a fresh room and new appliances every time you do a load of wash. Recommended: Guide to Lowering Closet Remodeling Costs
Benefits of Remodeling a Laundry Room
A laundry room remodel has a number of benefits, including:
Ease of Use
If your existing laundry room is small and cramped, renovating the space will make it easier and more enjoyable to do laundry.
Affordability
Compared to a kitchen or bathroom remodel, renovating a laundry room is relatively inexpensive:
For price-conscious homeowners, choosing affordable finishes can bring down the cost of the project.
If you don’t have the money upfront, there are financing options that can help you complete your laundry room project, such as personal loans for home remodeling.
There are different kinds of personal loan types available, and you can use these loans for almost any purpose.
Because a laundry room is small, the space can be renovated fairly quickly, especially if you’re not changing the floor plan. In most cases, redoing a laundry room will be much faster than a kitchen or living room remodel.
A renovation can freshen up a laundry room, but it does have some drawbacks.
Smaller Return on Investment
The return on investment for a laundry room remodel is between 50% and 75%. Not all buyers prioritize a laundry room, so it may be difficult to recoup the project cost when you sell your house.
Limited Space for Improvements
Laundry rooms are generally small, so unless you expand the space, which will significantly drive up the cost, there’s not much you can do besides cosmetic changes and new appliances, cabinetry, and flooring.
The Takeaway
A laundry room remodel can improve your home and make doing the wash easier and more pleasant. Because the project is typically on the smaller side, it can be completed fairly quickly. When it comes to appliances, flooring, countertops, and cabinets, there are a range of options, so you can choose the ones that best fit your budget. If you’re looking for financing options for your laundry room remodel, Lantern by SoFi can help. Our online comparison tool lets you review multiple loan options from different lenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your options for financing a laundry room?
How can you budget for remodeling your laundry room?
What is the cost per square foot to remodel a laundry room?
Photo credit: iStock/gradyreese
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About the Author
Emma Diehl
Emma Diehl is a nationally-published journalist with expertise in finance, real estate, and technology. Her work has appeared on NPR, The Huffington Post, Technical.ly, and numerous local publications. When she's not covering the world of personal finance with SoFi, she's probably rollerblading or planning her next meal.
