Know what your garage conversion should cost
A 400 sq ft garage conversion costs $25,800 to $42,200 in 2026, about $85 per sq ft installed. Across every option it runs from $13,200 (bonus room) to $128,800 (full adu).
Four questions gets you an itemised range, adjusted for construction wages where you live. The whole number, up front, before we ask for anything.
What garage conversion work costs in 2026
| Project | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Bonus room Gym, office or playroom, no plumbing, no permanent HVAC | $15,500 – $25,300 |
| Habitable room Bedroom or guest room: insulation to code, egress, mini-split | $25,800 – $42,200 |
| Suite with bathroom Adds a full bath and the drainage to serve it | $38,800 – $63,200 |
| Full ADU Independent unit: kitchen, bath, sub-panel, own entrance | $59,400 – $97,000 |
Where the money goes
Framing and insulation
$6,120 · 18% of the job
Drywall and ceiling
$4,760 · 14% of the job
Permits and inspections
$4,760 · 14% of the job
Electrical and lighting
$4,420 · 13% of the job
Heating and cooling
$4,080 · 12% of the job
Flooring
$3,740 · 11% of the job
Garage door infill
$3,400 · 10% of the job
Windows and doors
$2,720 · 8% of the job
Garage Conversion cost by state
Labour is the part of this job that moves with geography. These are the same 400 sq ft project, priced against construction wages in each state.
- California $27,100 – $44,100 +4.6% vs national
- Texas $26,100 – $42,700 +1.3% vs national
- Florida $24,300 – $39,700 -6.0% vs national
- New York $27,000 – $44,000 +4.4% vs national
- Arizona $25,600 – $41,800 -0.9% vs national
- Colorado $25,900 – $42,300 +0.2% vs national
- Connecticut $26,800 – $43,600 +3.6% vs national
- District of Columbia $27,700 – $45,100 +7.1% vs national
- Delaware $25,300 – $41,300 -1.9% vs national
- Georgia $25,800 – $42,000 -0.4% vs national
- Hawaii $27,500 – $44,900 +6.4% vs national
- Iowa $24,800 – $40,400 -4.2% vs national
Questions homeowners ask
How much should I pay for a garage conversion?
For a standard 400 square foot garage turned into a habitable room at mid-range finishes, expect roughly $25,800 to $42,200. A gym or office with no plumbing runs far less, about $12,200 for a single-car garage. A full ADU in a two-car garage is closer to $86,000.
Is it cheaper to convert a garage or to build an addition?
Converting is cheaper, usually by a wide margin. The garage already has a foundation, walls and a roof. A 400 square foot habitable conversion runs about $34,000 at mid-range, where a 400 square foot ground-floor addition is closer to $82,000. The trade-off is losing the parking, which some buyers care about.
What makes a garage conversion legal to sleep in?
An egress window or door, insulation to code, a permanent heat source and a ceiling height that meets local minimums. The egress window alone runs about $5,500. Skipping permits is what turns a conversion into a problem at resale.
Do I need to remove the garage door?
For a habitable room, yes, framing and sealing the opening is about 10% of a typical conversion budget, or roughly $4,200 as a standalone job. Some owners keep the door on a bonus room to preserve the option of converting back.
Reviewed and maintained by Anchorcost. Last checked September 3, 2026. Figures are verified against this page's own calculator on every build. How these figures are worked out.