Few things are worse than not having a bathroom when you need it most. For some homeowners, it may be possible to convert underused closet space into a bathroom. Doing so can have some obvious benefits—like having an extra bathroom—and could potentially increase your home’s value.
Here are a a few things to consider if converting a closet to a bathroom has ever crossed your mind.
Takeaways
- Think about how long you intend to live in your house before diving into this home improvement project.
- Consider your budget.
- Know how much space you have vs. how much you’d need to convert a closet to a bathroom.
Why convert a closet to a bathroom?
There are several reasons why you might consider a closet-to-bathroom conversion.
- You’re growing your household (e.g., having/adopting kids, having a parent or sibling move in).
- You want to increase your home’s value before selling it.
- Your closet space is underused or unused and you want it to have a function.
If you’re considering a conversion for the sake of increasing your home’s value, it’s important to know what kind of return you can expect.
The value of a bathroom
In general, a new bathroom could increase your home’s value by anywhere from 10% to 40%.
However, context matters. Here are a few things that determine how much value a new bathroom can add.
- Size of the new bathroom: Full bathrooms tend to add more value than half bathrooms.
- How many other bathrooms your house has: The fewer bathrooms you have, the more valuable additional bathrooms become.
- Amenities and fixtures: Stock fixtures and amenities likely won’t add as much value as luxury amenities and fixtures.
Before you start, know your budget
As you probably guessed, converting a closet to a bathroom can be expensive. Here are a few numbers to consider from a couple experts:
- The average 100 square foot bathroom costs $75,000 to install. (Badeloft)
- Converting a closet to a half bath (i.e., toilet and sink) or full bath (toilet, sink, bath/shower) could range between $3,000 and $20,000. (Beltway Builders)
That’s a pretty wide range! But there are a few things that you’ll also need to consider regarding your budget.
- How close is the potential closet that you’re converting to the home’s plumbing and electrical?
- If you have the space, what kinds of materials and finishes will you use?
If you have the budget, do you have the space?
In general, half baths only need about 15 to 30 square feet. On the other hand, full baths usually need a minimum of 36 to 40 feet.
If you own an older home, you simply may not have this kind of space. However, many newer homes tend to have larger, walk-in-style closets. These kinds of closets could be a good spot for a closet-to-bathroom conversion.
An important mistake to avoid is trying to cram a bathroom into a space just for the sake of having another bathroom. While it’s possible to have a half bath that’s 15 ft. x 15 ft., that doesn’t mean it will be comfortable.
A final note: Don’t DIY
It might be tempting to try to convert a closet to a bathroom yourself to save money. But unless you have professional experience with plumbing and electrical, it’s best to leave this to the professionals.
There’s too much that can go wrong that can cause long-term damage to your home when you do a major project like this yourself.
Instead, check your budget, consider your needs, and start the discussion with a professional.
Finally, consider the storage space you might lose with a closet-to-bathroom conversion. Check out our article about how to maximize storage space for more tips.
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