A laundry room remodel costs $6,000 to $17,000, with an average of $11,000. You’ll pay more if you choose high-end appliances or change your layout.
A laundry room remodel costs an average of $11,000 and while this may seem expensive, a remodel can turn a drab space into a functional and stylish area. A remodel isn’t just a facelift either—it can increase the functionality of the room as well.
A simple remodel may only include upgrading appliances and painting the walls, which can cost as little as $1,800. As you increase luxury options, rearrange plumbing and walls, and significantly alter the layout, you can be looking at spending $42,000. Learn the factors that make up the total cost of the project.
Although your remodeling decisions will determine the cost more than anything, the size of your laundry room plays a major role in determining the total price. To put it simply, the more material that's required, the more expensive the remodel will be.
There are other considerations with size as well. For example, larger remodels will rarely have small appliances and may even have multiple washers or dryers. Because of this, the price does not scale in a one-to-one ratio based on size like some other projects. The average laundry room is around 60 square feet.
| Laundry Room Size (Square Feet) | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 30 | $3,500–$6,000 |
| 50 | $5,000–$9,000 |
| 80 | $9,000–$12,000 |
| 120 | $10,000–$14,000 |
| 150 | $13,000–$19,000 |
Appliances can be one of the largest purchases when upgrading a laundry room, as washers and dryers can cost thousands. You can save some money in the long run by buying energy-efficient models, but remember that they can have a higher up front cost.
For simple remodels, budget 50% of the remodel cost toward new appliances. If you are completely gutting the room, the percentage drops to between 10% and 20%. If you’re looking to remodel on a budget, consider buying a used dryer. There are far fewer parts than a washer and used dryers can be a smart buy (but you may have to replace them more frequently).
| Appliance | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic washing machine | $350–$550 |
| Basic dryer | $250–$500 |
| Mid-range washing machine | $500–$900 |
| Mid-range dryer | $450–$850 |
| Large, high-end washing machine | $900–$3,000 |
| Large, high-end dryer | $900–$2,800 |
For a remodel involving more than just painting the walls or replacing the flooring, you should hire a general contractor. You'll get the best rate using one and they'll have access to any professionals you might need. Most general contractors charge project-based fees of around 20% of the total project cost. Using a general contractor is smart for another reason—you only have to communicate with one professional.
You may need to hire an electrician to rewire the room and install outlets for normal use and higher-voltage outlets for the washing machine and dryer. Electricians will also rearrange any ceiling lighting. Expect to pay an hourly rate between $60 and $130 for an electrician.
One of the main parts of the laundry room is the washing machine which requires both hot and cold water and a drain. You'll need to hire a plumber or you risk flooding or electrical safety hazards due to the presence of water. Expect to pay a plumbing expert between $50 and $120 per hour. Moving the location of the dryer can require moving plumbing in the walls, which quickly increases expenses.
For most remodels, you’ll need to break down a few walls and rip up some floors. The work oftentimes doesn’t start with construction, but destruction and prep work. Depending on your plans this can be a significant part of the budget—around 20%.
Demolition work, provided you don’t get close to any water or electrical lines is one of the parts of this project you can DIY (under supervision). But if you hire pros, budget $30 to $60 an hour for each worker doing demolition. Disposal fees are separate and usually calculated by weight.
Prep work will be at a similar rate and can include sanding floors, cutting wood, laying down concrete, removing paint or wallpaper, or any other work required to get the room ready for the remodel. You can DIY a good deal of this too if you have the spare time.
You will need a permit to remodel the laundry room. Your general contractor can file these for you, or you can file them yourself, but we don’t recommend it. Let a pro handle this as it’s extremely important to obtain building permits. Expect to pay $400 to $1,300 for a permit.
Laundry room appliances will have warranties, so check them before buying new ones. In addition to appliances, flooring, building materials, and sometimes the work of the contractors will be covered. Thoroughly discuss every warranty and keep these records close. Emailing photos to yourself is also a good idea.
While a laundry room is a utilitarian part of the home, you can jazz the room up with some custom work and items. Bronze sinks look great but cost over $300. Recessed lighting can add ambiance and a calm glow to the room but will set you back around $800. What finishings you decide to use can greatly impact the total cost of the project.
Some more expensive options (that will inflate your budget) are:
Brass or bronze handles for cabinetry
Skylights
Custom woodwork or molding
Quartz or marble countertops
Heated floors
While you can DIY some of the prep and demo work, and you can handle some of the finishing touches like painting, we don’t recommend DIYing any of the core work. This is because you likely don’t possess the expertise your pros do, and any mishaps can result in costly and sometimes dangerous structural and electrical issues. Talk to a local remodeling pro before doing any work.
So while we recommend you not doing much of the DIY work, talk to your contractor and see if you can get your hands dirty throughout the process. You may not save much money, but you’ll learn a great deal about your house and your knowledge may save you a repair bill in the future.
You can either remodel (a full structural and layout change) or renovate (more of a facelift) your laundry room. Which one you choose depends on your goals and budget. Those looking to expand the room and completely change its character will need to go for a full remodel.
However, you can renovate a laundry room, greatly upgrading its functionality, without going through a full remodel. Changing appliances, upgrading sinks, and adding screw-in storage units can all make the room feel quite different without changing its dimensions.
Everyone wants to save money during a remodel; luckily, there are some smart ways to do it. Firstly, try to negotiate labor costs down with a trusted pro. This does not mean fish for the lowest quote. It means finding a reputable contractor and considering anything above a 5% labor discount a win.
Then, you can start on:
Painting walls instead of using any treatments.
Use recycled flooring or repurpose existing flooring.
Shop for barely-used appliances.
Buy prefabricated cabinets.
Avoid any and all custom work.
Keep the existing layout (plumbing and electrical).
Choose engineered products for wood or marble finishings.
Remodeling will give homeowners a return on their investment (ROI) of around 40% to 60%. This means that if a remodel costs $10,000, you may see your home value rise by $4,000 to $6,000. A laundry remodel also increases a home’s curb appeal for buyers, so while the price may not rise substantially, you should see an increase in interest—especially for those with larger families who do laundry often.
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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Renovating a laundry room on a budget isn’t easy if you’re only changing the layout of the room but your ability to save increases when you downgrade your appliances, reuse existing materials, forego additional electrical, and keep the plumbing hookups in the same place. Laundry rooms need not be luxurious but they should be clean and functional—both of which can be done while minding the budget.
The answer depends on the level of renovation or remodel but it’s safe to assume at least a week or two for a full remodel. This is also assuming all professionals are able to work simultaneously whereas, in reality, you have to wait for demolition work, then plumbing, then electrical, then the finishing touches. Good communication with your contractors can shorten the timeline significantly.
Designing a laundry room layout is usually done by building the room around the water access. The washing machine will usually have a water hookup and drain in one specific area and there will usually be another water source in the form of a sink. Many laundry rooms are laid out so cabinets, closets, and tables are built around those two areas. Don’t overlook the space-savings of shelves and cabinets placed above the machines or sink as well.
