Garage Conversion cost breakdown
At a mid-range, national-average baseline, a typical garage conversion project is estimated at $10,000 to $25,000. The table below breaks the cost down so you can see where your project is likely to land.
| Conversion | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Living room / office | $8,000 to $20,000 | No plumbing |
| Bedroom | $10,000 to $25,000 | Egress, closet |
| With bathroom | $15,000 to $35,000 | Adds plumbing |
| Full ADU | $25,000 to $60,000 | Kitchen + bath |
What drives garage conversion cost
- What the space becomes: room, bedroom, or ADU.
- Insulation, drywall, flooring, and HVAC extension.
- Plumbing for a bathroom or kitchen.
- Replacing the garage door with a wall and windows.
- Permits and regional labor rates.
Key cost factors
Room vs ADU
Turning a garage into a simple room is the cheapest. Adding a bathroom, kitchen, or making it a separate ADU apartment requires plumbing and more, raising the cost sharply.
Resale tradeoff
Converting the only garage can hurt resale with buyers who want parking. Keeping a garage elsewhere or building an ADU that adds rentable space is the safer value play.