The cost to convert a vaulted ceiling to a second floor ranges from $13,000 to $26,500, with an average of $20,500 depending on the complexity of the remodel.
The cost to convert a vaulted ceiling to a second floor ranges from $13,000 for a budget-conscience bedroom installation to $26,500 to add a large bedroom suite with a bathroom. Most homeowners spend an average of $20,500. Making the project happen means fitting it into both the house and your budget. Fortunately, there are several ways to do each.
The size of your vaulted ceiling conversion to a second story is limited to the portion of the house that contains the higher ceiling. A vaulted ceiling can include one or more angled surfaces and, sometimes, horizontal overhead surfaces. The vault's shape can also influence how large a second floor in the space can be.
In most cases, the second story you can fit under a vaulted ceiling location will be between 100 and 400 square feet. However, some large homes could offer more available space than that. If you need more space, you can consider adding a dormer to the roof to add square feet and volume. The cost to install a dormer averages roughly $12,000.
Where a second story fits into the existing vaulted location without requiring structural changes to the house, the size of the conversion will be a primary factor in the project cost. However, because of the small overall size of the project, the cost increase as the size grows isn't always linear.
| Second Floor Size (Square Feet) | Average Price Range |
|---|---|
| 100 | $9,000–$15,000 |
| 200 | $13,000–$30,500 |
| 400 | $20,500–$50,000 |
The cost to hire an architect for this type of project will be between $45 and $250 per hour. Because you're changing the basic structure of the home, your municipality will require you to obtain a building permit for the project.
To get the permit, you or your contractor will need to submit a set of plans and drawings with the application. If your contractor doesn't have a designer on staff, your best bet for these plans is to hire an architect. Hiring one not only gets you a set of necessary drawings, but architects can often provide additional ideas for the space.
Adding a second floor in a living space will almost always require the signature of a structural engineer on the building plans in order for your municipality to consider your permit application. The cost to hire a structural engineer is between $70 and $250 per hour. Their job is to provide details about how the construction methods will ensure the strength and integrity of the new structure.
Barring the inclusion of a demolition crew to open up the walls to reach the studs before construction begins, your carpenter or carpenters will likely be the first to begin building the conversion. They'll also likely play a significant role toward the end of the job performing the trim work. The cost to hire carpentry services ranges from $75 to $100 per hour.
For your conversion, you may need to hire a plumber, an electrician, and a general contractor. The cost to hire a contractor can add between 10% and 40% to the project's price tag. Below is a breakdown of the potential jobs electricians and plumbers may need to do, along with common costs.
Rough-in plumbing for a bathroom and kitchen costs: $1,600–$2,900 each
Installing a sink costs: $220–$645
Shower installation costs: $500–$3,000
Toilet installation costs: $225–$530
Faucet installation costs: $160–$365 each
Plumbing vent rerouting costs: $900–$3,000
Outlet installation costs: $130–$300 each
Installing a light fixture costs: $155–$955 each
Installing a dedicated circuit costs: $570–$1,000
Upgrade electrical panel costs: $1,200–$2,000
Adding a subpanel costs: $400–$2,000
Converting a vaulted ceiling to a second floor involves many moving parts. In addition to the costs of hiring labor and purchasing materials, there are some other costs to consider.
If you hire a general contractor for your conversion project, the company will handle all of the permitting needs for you. However, if you choose to obtain them yourself, you'll need to add in the cost of permits at, between $500 and $3,000 for the construction one and between $10 and $500 for each mechanical one.
While the demolition and prep work will be minimal for most vaulted ceiling conversion projects, there will be some. A carpenter or demo crew will need to open up at least part of each wall in the existing space to accept the new second-floor structure. Expect costs of between $50 and $100 per hour for these services.
After construction and before filling your new space, it may make sense to hire a construction cleanup service to get rid of the last bits of dust and debris. The cost of construction cleanup is between $140 to $710, depending on the work details.
Adding living space to any home can increase its property value. This fact will likely affect your property tax rates and insurance premium prices.
The cost of converting a vaulted ceiling into a second story can increase your utility cost on an ongoing basis. Your electricity bill will likely go up as you make use of the new space. If your second story also has a bathroom or laundry room, you’ll likely see a higher water bill if you have one.
Vaulted ceilings can also increase your home's heating and cooling bills compared to a similar house without the feature. However, modern vaulted ceiling structures are well-insulated, meaning the price difference for temperature control can be quite low. The reason for the increased cost is that more airspace exists in the living area of the house, and that space requires extra energy to control the temperature.
Because of the complexity of the job, converting a vaulted ceiling to a second floor isn't a great candidate for a DIY project. There are just far too many aspects to calculate, manage, and perform for one person to handle.
It is possible to manage the project yourself by hiring each tradesperson as you need them. However, this method is also immensely time-consuming and challenging, as you'll be taxed with scheduling, handling delays, inspections, and making adjustments as unforeseen occurrences happen.
In some cases, you could choose a mix of the two methods. Hiring a contractor for the structural elements and performing some of the finishing work on your own.
We recommend hiring a local home addition contractor for all or most of the work. Addition, remodeling, and building contractors are experts in their field and will perform the following tasks:
Get and manage all permits and inspections
Hire and manage all tradespeople and subcontractors
Schedule subcontractor work while adjusting to changes
Ensure the new and old spaces meet building code standards
Provide a warranty after the project
Clean up your new space to move-in-ready condition
Not every home with a vaulted ceiling is a candidate for inserting a second floor in the open space. Vaulted ceilings come in many configurations and can be almost any height. To turn overhead space into a second floor requires enough height to accommodate two stories.
In cases where the house structure lacks enough height, an alternative option is to add a second story to the home. Due to the larger project scope, the cost of adding a second story is much greater, at an average of around $175,000. This project may also need to meet beefed-up foundation requirements to add a story. However, it may be a better option than trying to raise the roof to retrofit a room inside a room.
Yet another option, if your home doesn't have enough height to add a second floor in the vaulted space, is to add a room above the garage. Starting at around $60,000, doing so could cost significantly less than adding a second story to the house, provided no roof alterations are necessary.
Converting your vaulted ceiling to a second story involves many pricing factors. While this fact can be intimidating, your contractor will help explain the process and costs. However, since the job is large, there are several opportunities to save money during the process that can help fit it into a budget.
Identify discounted, upcycled, or recycled materials for your conversion where possible. Reuse stores often have standard home products, such as doors and other interior elements, for low prices. You may also find cans of paint-mixing mistakes for sale at steep discounts at your home center that just happen to be the perfect color for your home.
If you hire a contractor for most of your conversion project work, you may be able to negotiate some cost savings if you perform some of the tasks yourself. Some options for DIY involvement include drywall or drywall repair, painting, demo, cleanup, or trim work.
Aim to get at least three quotes from local contractors so you can compare prices and get the best deal. Just remember—lower doesn’t always mean better. Be sure to vet your pro and look at customer reviews.
While adding living space to any home will often increase its value, speaking with a realtor in your area could help to answer how much you could expect it to go up after the conversion.
Typically, vaulted ceilings are selling points for homes. However, another bedroom is also appealing. Converting a vaulted ceiling to a second story could see returns of up to 40%. However, the new layout could turn off some buyers, and in some locations, the ROI could be insignificant enough to consider a different remodeling plan.
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 with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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To convert your vaulted ceiling into a second-story space, the lowest point must be at least 12 feet. That's the minimum amount of space needed to accommodate the ceiling height for a functional second-floor space, otherwise, the room’s ceiling will be too low. Some designs require even more height, depending on the size and layout of the room.
Converting a vaulted ceiling to a second story is a time-consuming project that usually takes several months. The exact timeframe depends on the space's size and design. Local permitting can also add time to the project, as can the season or local weather. Most conversions take three to six months for an average-sized project.
If your home doesn't have vaulted ceilings but has an attic space, you may be able to vault the second-floor ceiling for costs as low as $4,800. However, if significant structural changes are necessary to accomplish the task, you could be looking at prices over $38,000 on average and peaking at around $47,500.
