How much it costs to renovate a laundry room

Although a laundry room may not be the renovation that nets the highest value, this space is one you’ll certainly get a lot of use out of. Choosing to make even minor changes can make a major difference in your daily life.

Best of all, it’s a low-cost renovation — even when you factor in the price of a new washing machine and dryer.

Average cost of a laundry room renovation

Expect to pay between $1,300 to $14,825 for a laundry room renovation, according to Home Advisor.

On the low end, this estimate encompasses small changes like paint and fixtures. On the high end, you’ll need to figure out the best layout and plumbing to get the most out of your space.

Much of the laundry room can be done by homeowners. Painting, installing shelving and other small jobs are easily conquered with DIY projects.

However, if you’re having a sink put in where there’s no plumbing or you need extra electricity run to the area for your dryer, you may have to consult a professional. In this case, expect to pay anywhere from $45 to $75 per hour for labor.

Compare financing options for renovating a laundry room

A credit card or personal loan can handle most of the cost of renovating or remodeling your laundry room. As long as you aren’t making major structural changes — like adding a new room to your house — you won’t need to dip into your home’s equity.

Small renovations: Consider a credit card

Credit cards are a great choice if you don’t need to update your appliances. If you’re just updating fixtures or buying pedestals, a credit card with rewards can help you make the most out of your spending.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

• Overview
• Pros & Cons
• More Details

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card offers 1.5% cash back on general purchases — and there's no limit to how much you can earn each month. It's our top pick for renovations because of this flexibility. And provided you know exactly what you'll be spending, it's a good way to recoup some of the costs of remodeling your laundry room.

Pros

• Earn 1.5% cash back on purchases
• $200 signup bonus
• Long 0% intro APR period of 15 months

Cons

• Not useful for balance transfers
• Must have good to excellent credit to qualify

Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

Large renovations: Consider a personal loan

For bigger changes to your space, a personal loan is in order. These are typically unsecured and have lower interest rates than credit cards. Overall, personal loans are the best option if you’re looking at spending $5,000 or more on big-ticket changes to your space.

LightStream personal loans

4.83 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site on Lightstream's secure site

• Overview
• Pros & Cons
• More Details

LightStream is our best pick for renovations because of its low APR. You'll need good to excellent credit to qualify, but it's one of the more flexible personal loans out there. Plus you'll have access to rate discounts that make it even better for home owners.

Pros

• Loans up to $100,000
• Competitive interest rates
• Autopay discount of 0.5% off APR

Cons

• Must have good to excellent credit to qualify
• No preapproval process
• Minimum loan amount of $5,000

Loan Amount	$5,000 - $100,000
APR	Competitive
Interest Rate Type	Fixed
Min. Credit Score	Good to excellent credit
Turnaround Time	Varies

APR	Competitive
Min. Credit Score	Good to excellent credit
Loan Amount	$5,000 - $100,000

Go to site on Lightstream's secure site

What factors do I need to consider when renovating my laundry room?

Basic elements like paint and fixtures should be budgeted for alongside big-ticket expenses like flooring, new appliances and overall layout.

Flooring

Many homeowners choose to tile their laundry room or continue the wood flooring found in the rest of the house into the space. If you need to redo the floors in your laundry room, you’ll have a few options.

• Wood. Wood will likely be your most expensive option. This is because installing it properly and treating it to be water resistant takes extra effort. You should expect to pay $3 to $15 per square for the materials and an additional $5 to $15 for installation.
• Tile. Ceramic tile is a durable choice for laundry rooms, and many people turn to it because of its reliability. Most manufacturers sell a wide variety of ceramic tiles for $3 to $10 per square foot. Installation will cost you another $10 per square foot.
• Laminate. Designed to mimic wood, you can buy laminate at a fraction of what the real thing might cost you. Oak, maple and walnut pieces are usually less than $1 per square foot, and other hardwoods cost between $1 to $2.
• Vinyl. Vinyl can look like either tile or wood, but for the most part, it’s significantly cheaper. Some options run as low as $0.50 and even the high-end vinyl options are comparatively inexpensive with prices sitting around $5 per square foot.
• Linoleum. Cheap and durable, a linoleum floor will cost you $2 to $5 per square foot. It’s not the most trendy or fashionable option, but if you’re looking to keep your space low-maintenance, linoleum may be the right choice.

Some floors, such as linoleum and laminate, can be installed by homeowners. At the very least, you can remove the old floor and prep the space for the installers, which will reduce the time they work and thus the overall cost of installation.

Sink and cabinets

What design are you going for? An old-fashioned utility sink will cost you around $100. On the other hand, if you have room for installing counters and cabinets, a farmhouse sink may be a more aesthetically pleasing but much more expensive option. Most models are stainless steel or cast iron. The sink itself will cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000. Labor is another factor entirely, and you’ll likely have to pay a plumber for a few hours of installation time.

Stock cabinets — think of what you can buy off the shelf at warehouse stores — will be your cheapest option for creating storage and folding space in your laundry. They cost $60 to $200 per foot, but won’t be fitted to your exact specifications. Semi-custom cabinets will cost $100 to $650 per foot, however, you will be able to have them shaped to fit your space.

The size of your budget should impact your final choice, but keep in mind resale value. Many buyers are looking for a finished space they can do everything in. If you can provide that, your home will be worth more. Just make sure it’s enough to recoup the costs of your renovation.

Washing machine and dryer

As the main component of every laundry space, the washer and dryer need to be picked out and installed with care.

Front loading washers cost anywhere from $500 to over $2,000. Dryers fall under a similar price range. As with most appliances, the more features you want, the more you’ll have to pay. Stackable units will cost more and may be more difficult to use for shorter household members. Steaming options are great for quick cleaning, but it may use extra electricity and water. If you want pedestals for more storage, you should budget an additional $200 for both units.

Since many machines cost about the same, you should consider the added bonuses. Does one store offer free delivery and installation? Does one brand have a good warranty? These small differences can help keep you grounded. Installation may be costly, and repairs for a new machine will be frustrating. Look for the things that make one washer/dryer combo stand out, and make your purchase after doing plenty of research.

Exhaust fan

As laundries tend to produce a lot of moisture, it’s a good idea to install a new exhaust fan to stimulate air circulation. Most midrange models cost $50 to $70 and can help prevent mold.

Room position

If you are relocating your laundry room, move it to a well-ventilated area that receives enough natural sunlight to minimize the risk of dampness. Many modern homes include a laundry room on the floor with the most bedrooms, and owners of older homes are following this trend by cutting out a small space on the second or third floor of their home and moving their machines from the basement. Think of your daily needs when deciding on if you should move your laundry. If you’re ready to commit a few thousand dollars to changing the plumbing of a space, moving your laundry room may make your washing that much easier.

If you don’t have the space to dedicate an entire room for the laundry, think about placing the washer and dryer behind folding doors. This hides them from sight when not in use and lowers the noise amount when they’re running. For truly small areas, you can buy stackable machines or a washer/dryer combo.

Bottom line

A laundry renovation is a quick way to increase your home’s efficiency. Its quick and relatively inexpensive. But if you’re looking for something that will improve your home’s resale value, read our complete list of home renovation costs.