What’s the Average Cost for an Attic Conversion?

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Asked By CraftyNinja97 On

Hey everyone! I'm in a bit of a bind with growing family needs. We're looking to convert our attic into another bedroom since we have a lot of kids and one more on the way. I'm considering this option over others like an ADU or a garage conversion. We really need a ballpark figure to save toward this project, but all the estimates I've gotten are all over the place. ChatGPT suggests a range from $30k to $100k, while my contractor quoted me somewhere around $150k to $200k, which seems excessive. My real estate neighbor seemed to land somewhere in the middle, so overall, it appears to be between $30k and $200k—which is not super helpful!

I need to know what you all think would be the estimated cost for this project. For some added context:

- **Location**: Pacific Northwest
- **What I need**:
- Stairs
- A bedroom
- A bathroom
- Preferably a dormer
- **Size**: Approximately 200 sq ft for a master bedroom along with a bathroom

Also notable, my roof has trusses instead of rafters, and my house was built in 1981, which seems to have resulted in 24" spacing between the studs. Would love to hear about your experiences or any other alternatives!

2 Answers

Answered By BudgetBuilder21 On

I don’t know, you didn’t really give us square footage or details about the space! But I’d guess you’re looking at the higher end of quotes for what you want—definitely make sure to include space for the bathroom when you calculate! A rough estimate for an average bedroom plus bath might be in the range of what you’re hearing, depending on local rates and construction details.

CraftyNinja97 -

Good point! I should probably clarify that I’m imagining around 200 sq ft for just the bedroom, plus room for a bathroom. But yeah, I’ll edit my post to be more specific. Thanks!

Answered By HomeFixer2023 On

You're right in thinking your realtor's estimate is more accurate. Adding a dormer—especially a large one—can really jack up costs. The figures from ChatGPT might apply only if you've got a space that's mostly ready to go. You’ll need HVAC, insulation, structural framing, and all the fancy stuff to meet code if you're adding that full bath. Expect to shell out about $10k to $15k just for planning, permits, and engineering, before you even start building. Honestly, for a full bathroom up there, you could be looking at $200k easily in total for quality work.

GrowingFamily123 -

Thanks for the insight! This really helps me frame my budget moving forward.

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