Was this guide helpful to you?
Home Addition Design Cost
How much does it cost to have a home addition designed?
Adding extra space to your home is an undertaking, and it starts with a solid design done by a draftsperson. For this example, we'll look at the cost of designing an addition that is a one-story 12 foot x 16 foot room, which averages $2300-$4000.
Cost breakdown
- As a general rule of thumb, design services should take up 10%-17% of your total addition budget. Adding a 12'x16' room typically costs $23,000, so the design portion should cost $2300-$3900.
- A designer typically charges between $100-$130 per hour. A 192 square foot addition will take one to two days (8-16 labor hours, or $800-$2100) to design, plus the time of consultations and meetings. Other steps to the process may include:
- A consultation and walk-through of your current home so the designer can get an idea of the layout and where you want to put the addition (2-4 hours, or $200-$500).
- Schematic design of the floorplans with sketches of the elevation and interior and exterior space. Edits can typically be made by the homeowners during this process (6-12 hours, or $600-$1500).
- Permit and zoning applications depending on your local regulations (2-3 hours, or $200-$400).
Enhancement and improvement costs
- Many architects can also provide interior design services for your addition. Bundling the services together can often lead to discounts, oftentimes 20% or more.
Additional considerations and costs
- Additions in historical homes or those with unique architectural features tend to be more difficult to design, which can result in the process taking longer and costing more. Specific details depend on the characteristics of your house.
How much does it cost to have a home addition designed in my city?
Cost to have a home addition designed varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.
Labor cost by city and zip code
Compared to national average-6%
-3%
-9%
+24%
+10%
+13%
+12%
+32%
+16%
-1%
+24%
+6%
-6%
+40%
+6%
+7%
-10%
+5%
+9%
+21%
+7%
+10%
-7%
+1%
+16%
-28%
+13%
+6%
+2%
+6%
-9%
+2%
+31%
0%
+24%
-1%
+23%
+4%
-20%
+7%
+11%
+11%
+1%
+12%
+25%
+21%
+77%
+27%
+36%
+2%
Labor cost in your zip code
Last modified:
Methodology and sources
