How Much Does an Entryway Addition Cost?

Size of Your Entryway

The cost of all home additions is directly related to the size of the new space you build. An entryway costs between $225 and $250 per square foot if you need to lay down a new foundation and construct a space for the entryway. You’ll pay between $50 and $100 per square foot if you’re just walling off an area of your existing home to create an entryway. In either case, the size of your entryway will play an important role in the cost.

General Contractor Costs

Hiring a general contractor who builds home additions will add 10% to 20% to your total, but this professional will hire and coordinate with other pros and specialists to make your job significantly easier. General contractors may handle foundation pouring, framing, and finishing with in-house teams, but they often subcontract electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work to specialists.

• Cost to pour a foundation: $5–$18 per sq. ft.

• Cost to frame your home addition: $4–$16 per sq. ft.

• Cost to install drywall: $1.50–$3 per sq. ft.

• Cost to install flooring: $2–$25 per sq. ft.  

Electrician Costs

You'll need to hire an electrician to run electricity to your new entryway for lighting, outlets, and switches. Electricians charge between $70 and $120 per hour for their labor, plus materials. Here's a breakdown of common entryway electrical costs.

• Installing an outlet: $100–$450

• Adding a light fixture: $150–$1,000

• Installing a light switch: $60–$300

Architect Costs

Architects charge $125 to $250 per hour, and that work can include drawing up blueprints, creating as-built drawings for your general contractor to follow, and even partnering with a structural engineer to ensure your new entryway addition is structurally sound and up to code.

• Cost to draw up blueprints: $250–$5,000

• Cost for as-built drawings: $700–$1,300

• Structural engineer drawings and approval: $350–$800

Additional Pros to Hire

You may need to hire some additional professionals to get the job done, especially if you don’t have a general contractor overseeing the construction process. Below is a list of other experts you might need to consider, along with their pricing.

• Electrician: $50 to $130 per hour

• HVAC specialist: $100 to $250 per hour

• Plumber: $45 to $200 per hour

• Flooring installer: $2 to $25 per sq. ft.

• Insulation Installer: $40 to $80 per hour

• Drywall installer: $1,000 to $3,200

• Interior painter: $2 to $6 per sq. ft.

• Window installer: $300 to $2,500 per window

Cost by Location

Entryway addition costs vary by location because the cost of labor differs based on the area. You can expect above-average totals in areas with a high cost of living to account for the cost of labor.

The location on your property can also play an important role in the cost. If you have a stoop and a concrete walkway leading to your existing front door, for example, you’ll pay an additional $500 to $1,500 to demolish them and haul away the debris before construction can begin. Other things to consider include removing trees and making structural changes to your existing home to account for the home addition.

Additional Cost Factors

There are many other cost factors to consider if you want to get the most accurate estimate possible.

Site Prep

Prep work is more involved if you’re building a new structure to house your entryway rather than converting existing space. You may need to grade the land, remove landscaping features, reroute sprinkler lines, and excavate for the foundation, depending on the type. These line items can add thousands to your total before construction even begins.

Permits

Building a home addition for an entryway requires a permit, which costs between $200 and $900. Failing to secure a permit can lead to fines, work stoppages, or even an order to tear down any unpermitted work. If you need clarification on a permit, check with both your contractor and city hall, as they have all the necessary information.

Accessories or Special Features 

An entryway is a simple room, but you can spruce it up with special features. Anything beyond a barebones design will increase cost, but some features are worth it. 

While underfloor heating is a luxury, other additions, like seating areas or built-in storage units, serve a much more functional purpose. Organizing your entryway goes a long way toward enhancing first impressions upon entering your home.

DIY Adding an Entryway vs. Hiring a Pro

Entryways require certain expertise—but not for the entire project, so it’s possible to DIY some of the work. You’ll need a pro to pour your foundation, frame the new bump-out, install roofing, and tackle any electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work, but you may be able to handle some of the other tasks yourself, like hanging drywall, painting, and installing entryway flooring. You could also build your own mudroom lockers and install organization in your entryway to save.

You should always hire a home addition expert near you to tackle the major portions of the construction, and you may need to, as most municipalities won’t issue permits unless it’s to a licensed professional. Consider DIYing the finishing work if you have some experience and need to keep your budget a bit tighter.

Tips to Reduce Cost While Adding an Entryway

You can reduce the cost of adding an entryway in a few ways.

• Install energy-efficient windows, insulation, and doors. These will cost more up front, but can save you money on utility bills over time.

• Build your own furnishing materials. You could hire a carpenter to build organizational furniture, but consider getting your tools out and flexing those DIY muscles to save.

• DIY the finishing work: Speaking of DIYing, consider tackling some of the finishing work, too, like installing flooring and hanging drywall.

• Try to recycle or reuse any existing materials. Materials account for 40% to 60% of your total, so every bit saved on materials helps.

Does Adding an Entryway Increase Home Value? 

Entryways boost your home’s value not only because they add living space but also because they help make a good first impression on buyers who are looking at your house. You could see an ROI upward of 75% on an entryway addition as a result.

Entryways also significantly increase a home's comfort and convenience, which has immeasurable value for many homeowners who aren’t considering selling in the near future.