REMODELING
Home Addition Cost: Per Square Foot in 2026
Estimate room addition cost per square foot — with the free remodeling calculator.
Adding square footage is the most expensive way to improve a home — and the most rewarding when done right. Building out vs up changes everything. Here's the real 2026 cost.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The short answer
Room additions run $80–$200 per sq ft in 2026 (build-out); second-story additions run $300–$500. A 200 sq ft room runs $16,000–$40,000. Bathroom additions run $200–$550 per sq ft. Master suites run $250–$400.
What it costs
Build-out (ground floor) runs $80–$200 per sq ft. Second story runs $300–$500. A simple bedroom runs $100–$155 per sq ft; a kitchen bump-out $250–$400; a full bathroom addition $400–$550. Permits add $1,000–$3,000.
- Build-out: $80–$200 per sq ft
- Second story: $300–$500 per sq ft
- Bedroom: $100–$155 per sq ft
- Bathroom addition: $400–$550 per sq ft
Build out vs build up
Building out is cheaper per sq ft but eats yard. Building up preserves yard but needs structural reinforcement and costs 2-3× more. A bump-out (small 60-100 sq ft extension) runs $8,000–$20,000.
Try the remodeling calculator
Enter your labor, materials and fixtures to rough out the budget.