Rather than letting money flush down the drain, get the most out of your bathroom remodel
Home Value Rating: 3/5. Converting a half bath to a full bath yields moderate returns that you can maximize with the help of a pro.
Converting a half bath to a full bath adds around 5.7% to the value of your home.
This project sees the highest ROI in homes that don’t already have two full baths.
Full bathrooms need around 40 square feet to fit a sink, toilet, and bathtub or shower.
Most homeowners spend $1,800 to $25,000 on this type of bathroom conversion.
Converting a half bath to a full bath is the best of both worlds—you get the benefits of a bathroom addition at the price of a remodel. You can expect an average ROI of 60%, but you won’t see much return if you already have multiple full bathrooms. The average half-to-full-bath conversion costs $1,800 to $25,000. This guide can help you determine if it’s worth converting a half bath to a full bath and if you should take on this project.
A few factors can influence the value of converting your half bath into a full bath. Mainly, you should look at your existing bathrooms along with the age of your bathroom, quality of materials, and scale of the remodel.
If your home already has two full baths, an additional full bath won’t add much value. However, if you have one full bathroom, converting a secondary quarter bath or half bath into a full bath could add significant value—if only to keep up with modern construction.
According to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction, only 4.6% of newly constructed single-family homes have just one full bathroom. The majority (64.7%) had two full bathrooms.
Most bathroom remodels cost $6,700 to $17,700 on average. Larger bathroom conversions can add more value, but the remodel will cost more up front, and you’ll need at least 40 square feet for a standard full bathroom. If your bathroom is on the small side, a three-quarter bathroom may work better than a full bath. Consider skipping the tub and installing a small shower stall.
| Bathroom Size (Square Feet) | Cost to Remodel | Average Return |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | $2,800–$10,000 | $1,680–$6,000 |
| 50 | $3,500–$12,500 | $2,100–$7,500 |
| 75 | $5,300–$18,800 | $3,180–$11,280 |
| 100 | $7,000–$25,000 | $4,200–$15,000 |
Depending on space, you’ll choose from four different types of bathrooms:
Full bathroom: This includes all four major bathroom fixtures: a tub, shower, sink, and toilet.
Three-quarter bathroom: This includes three of four major bathroom fixtures: a sink, toilet, and shower or tub.
Half bathroom: This includes two of four major bathroom fixtures: a toilet and sink.
Quarter bathroom: This includes one major bathroom fixture: a toilet or shower.
According to the 2024 Cost vs. Value Report from the Journal of Light Construction, a bathroom remodel (like a half-to-full bathroom conversion) can have a 45% to 74% ROI depending on the quality of materials.
| Quality | ROI |
|---|---|
| Upscale remodel | 45% |
| Average remodel | 60% |
| Mid-range remodel | 74% |
Upscale: Upscale conversions include top-of-the-line fixtures, large ceramic tiles, frameless glass shower doors, and other luxury upgrades. They can also involve significant structural changes.
Mid-range: Mid-range conversions include functional, durable, and affordable finishes, like a standard porcelain toilet and chrome fixtures.
Average: Most half-to-full-bath conversions are somewhere in between an upscale and mid-range conversion, combining significant structural changes with affordable finishes. You can expect around a 60% ROI.
Converting a half bath into a full bath can be a large undertaking encompassing several jobs—from electrical and plumbing to flooring or tile installation. The longer your bathroom remodel takes, the more it will cost, but adding smaller cosmetic upgrades alongside your conversion can help maximize your ROI.
According to Zillow, minor cosmetic changes in your bathroom (like painting, swapping your mirrors, installing new hardware, or refinishing cabinets) can increase home value by $1.71 for every $1 you invest.
A tub-shower combo gets the biggest bang for its buck, though some homeowners forgo some ROI for a luxury, spa-like walk-in shower. This involves adding a separate walk-in shower alongside a stand-alone tub, which isn’t possible in a smaller space.
Meanwhile, a bathroom remodel for older adults includes accessibility upgrades, like converting a half bath into a wet room and adding shower seating and grab bars.
| Fixture Installation or Remodel | Installation Cost | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Prefab shower kit | $600–$1,800 | $270–$1,332 |
| Walk-in shower | $1,150–$8,000 | $520–$5,920 |
| Tub-shower combo | $600–$10,000 | $270–$7,400 |
| Bathtub | $2,000–$9,400 | $900–$6,960 |
| Wet room | $4,000–$15,000 | $1,800–$11,100 |
An outdated bathroom with leaky, damaged, or unappealing fixtures can turn off potential homebuyers. In this case, you’ll find more value in converting your half bath alongside making the necessary repairs.
Converting a half bath into a full bath is a serious remodel that requires plumbing work as well as fixture installation. You might need to move around existing fixtures, which is a job best left to a professional. A sloppy remodel can decrease the value of your home—especially if potential buyers need to spend to fix it. Instead, hire a bathroom remodeler near you who can make the project go smoothly.
There isn’t a straightforward ROI for converting a half bath to a full bath. Some conversions are going to add less value than others, but you can get an idea by following these steps:
Consider existing bathrooms: If you already have two full bathrooms, you won’t see an increase in value from adding a third or fourth full bathroom. That said, if your primary bathroom is only a half bath, you can see more value with a conversion. According to the National Association of Home Builders, 72% of first-time homebuyers want a shower stall and tub in a primary bathroom.
Talk to your realtor: Some home markets value full bathrooms more than others. Your realtor can shed light on which upgrades add the most value in your area. For example, if most new single-family homes in your area have two full bathrooms, you could see more value from a conversion.
Check comparable listings: Look at real estate listings in your area to understand the average number of full bathrooms in similar homes. If most comparable properties have more than one full bathroom, you’ll get more value from this project. As a rule of thumb, most homes should have at least one bathtub.
Look at the scope of the remodel: Since converting a half bath into a full bathroom involves several installations, consider which bathroom upgrades are best for resale. Adding accessible features or swapping out your old vanity can help maximize your budget.
Consider materials: Mid-range materials have the highest ROI, but consider them in the context of your overall home. If the rest of your home has high-quality finishes, luxury ceramic tiling can appeal more to potential buyers than vinyl flooring.
Weigh the price against the ROI: You can weigh your estimated ROI against the price of your bathroom remodel to determine the overall value. For example, you can expect a 60% ROI for a bathroom conversion with affordable finishes. That means if you spend $10,000 on the conversion, it will add an estimated $6,000 to the value of your home.
On average, adding a new bathroom costs around $22,000, and converting a half bath into a full bath costs considerably less. Expect to spend around $600 to $10,000 to install a tub-shower combo in your half bath. You can keep things wallet-friendly by choosing a prefab model, but costs will rise if you install a separate shower and tub.
If you want a separate shower and bathtub, shower installation costs an average of $8,300, while bathtub installation will run an average of $5,700. This doesn’t include additional jobs that come with a conversion, like installing new flooring, adding and removing walls, fitting new light fixtures, or updating the surround.
If you live in a single-family home with only one full bathroom, converting a half bath to a full bath could be worth it. However, if you already have two full baths, you won’t see much additional value.
Keep in mind that your bathroom needs enough space to comfortably accommodate the added fixtures for the conversion. If not, consider installing a three-quarter bathroom (with an accessible shower stall) rather than a full bathroom (with a shower and bathtub).
Overall, converting an existing bathroom tends to be more cost-effective than adding an extra bathroom. To maximize the value, you can choose mid-range fixtures and make other cosmetic upgrades along with the conversion.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners maximize the value of their investments, we gather ROI data from reputable sources, including industry reports, real estate studies, and interviews with market experts. We calculate the average resale value for projects by multiplying the ROI against the project’s average cost according to our cost data, which is sourced from thousands of real Angi customers.
Want to help us improve our data? Send us a recent project quote or home appraisal value to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
A half bath is a selling point, adding about $8,000 to $10,000 to the overall value of your home. Removing it can decrease your home’s value—particularly if you have too few bathrooms for the number of bedrooms. That said, it may not make much difference if the number of bathrooms isn’t a problem. You could add value by utilizing that space differently, like a laundry room or workspace.
Adding a shower to a half bath transforms it into a three-quarter bath. Compared to converting a half bath into a full bath, this type of conversion is a more affordable way to add functionality and accessibility. This project can add around 5% to 6% to the value of your home, especially if you only have one full bathroom or your only shower is on an upper level. This is a common upgrade for a ground floor when homeowners are hoping to age in place.
