How Much Does It Cost to Build a Porch?

Porch Building Cost Factors

Example of Costs for 200-Square-Foot Structure

Size

In general, larger porches cost more and smaller porches cost less. The size of your porch will impact both materials and labor costs, as larger porches require more materials and more hours to build.

Foundation

Foundation costs can range from $3 to $8 per square foot. Depending on the type of porch you choose, you may need to lay a concrete foundation to ensure it is stable and long-lasting once construction wraps up.

Flooring

The price of porch flooring ranges from $2 to $30 per square foot, not including labor and a substructure if needed. Concrete and pressure-treated wood tend to cost the least. High-end composites and woods like mahogany run more.

Roofing

Building a standard porch roof costs $16 to $30 per square foot, though things like gable roofs with steep slopes or an unusual porch layout can increase your costs. For a 200-square-foot structure, this ranges from $3,200 to $6,000. 

A significant portion of the total depends on the material, which usually matches whatever you have for the rest of the house.

Posts and Railings

Posts

Depending on the style of the porch you choose, you may need to install porch posts that are either load-bearing or not. Porch posts cost between $20 and $120, depending on the material you choose. 

In general, the larger your porch, the more posts you’ll need, so be sure to do the calculations with your pro as you consider your options. 

Railing

You can expect deck railing costs to fall between $15 and $600 per linear foot, depending on the material you choose. Porch railings come in a variety of materials. You’ll want to choose a durable, long-lasting material suitable for your climate, and one that matches your porch’s aesthetic.

Walls or Screens

Screening your porch can make it feel more usable during bug seasons, as well as help the area stay clean and free of leaves or other yard debris. You can expect screening in your porch to add $5 to $7 per square foot. Be sure to calculate screen costs when budgeting. 

Pemits 

Building a new porch requires a permit, which may run from $100 to $500. The cost to get a building permit often depends on the total estimate for the project, with larger jobs averaging more.

Stairs 

Porches that require more steps and wider steps will generally cost more than porches that need fewer or narrower steps. When your porch design includes steps, you’ll need to account for the costs associated with materials and labor, as well as the costs associated with building a more elevated structure. 

Wide steps, like those that run along the whole front of the porch, rather than just spanning a short portion of the front, will also increase total project costs. 

Outdoor Stair Prices

Your prices will vary, depending on the materials you choose.

Cost to Build Different Porches

Various factors affect the total price you can expect to pay when building a porch. While your local market impacts some factors, like labor costs, others will vary based on the exact porch design you settle on.

Covered Porch

The cost to build a covered porch ranges between $23 and $110 per square foot. That averages $4,600 to $22,000 for a 200-square-foot structure, including materials and installation.

Screened-In Porch

Screening in your porch can add value to your home and help you enjoy the space year-round. You can expect screening in your porch to cost an additional $5 to $7 per square foot.

Front Porch

The cost to build a small, 8-by-10-foot porch ranges from $1,900 to $8,800, based on the materials used and elements added, like steps and railings. You’ll pay more based on size and style.

Back Porch

Porch prices run $23 to $110 per square foot and tend to be similar for front or back. This comes on top of the patio installation costs. This is a common project to add with a porch that ranges from $1,900 to $5,300.

Wrap-Around Porch

The cost to build a wrap-around porch ranges from $9,350 to $39,900. Wrap-around porches can add both outdoor recreation space and major curb appeal to your home. 

Expect to pay more for larger wrap-around porches or wrap-around porches with intricate design details.

Farmer’s Porch 

The price to build a farmer’s porch with two steps ranges from $7,900 to $42,000. The same dimensions with three steps cost $9,400 to $52,000. This style usually features steps running completely along three sides.

Porch Add-On Costs

You’ll want to think through any extras you want to add to your project, like screens, lighting and fans, electricity, an outdoor kitchen, and any specialty painting or staining. 

Lighting and Ceiling Fans

Adding lighting and ceiling fans to your porch project will increase costs for both materials and labor. In addition to purchasing the fixtures you want, you’ll need to hire an electrician to ensure safe wiring. The cost to install a ceiling light or fan on your porch can range from $60 to $1,200 per fixture, with an average cost of $100. 

Electricity 

Adding electrical outlets to your porch makes it easy to use your porch as an outside office or add appliances or other electronics that make your space more fun. The average cost to install an outdoor electrical outlet is $215. Make sure you talk with your pro about how many outlets you’ll need and where the best placement is. 

Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen will allow you to spend even more time outdoors as you move meal prep, cooking, and eating to your new porch area. The typical cost to build an outdoor kitchen is $5,520 to $22,150. 

Adding an outdoor kitchen will also likely mean you need to expand the size of your porch, so be sure to account for the difference in cost that additional square footage will create. 

Painting and Staining 

While some pros include the cost of painting or staining in their original estimate, most don’t  include pricing for this part of the project. On average, the cost to paint or stain your porch falls between $600 and $1,500. 

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Build a Porch

Building a new covered porch requires significant knowledge and experience, making it unsuitable for DIY projects. Typically, you’ll need to hire at least two pros: a porch builder and a roofing contractor. Search for porch contractors near you to request an estimate.

FAQs

How long does it take to build a porch?

Building a covered porch can take a few days to several weeks. It often requires hiring more than one contractor, who may not be able to work at the same time.

Can you turn a deck into a porch?

Sometimes you can turn an attached deck into a porch. The most common method is to install a screen enclosure and add a roof to the structure. The most significant deciding factor in turning a deck into a porch is whether or not the deck’s existing foundation meets the building code for a porch in your location. If the foundation or footings meet code standards, the conversion cost is similar to new porch construction, with the addition of demolition and disposal of existing materials.  

Do all porches need a foundation?

All porches need a foundation of some sort. Climate area and local building codes determine what the construction of your porch foundation will consist of. Some areas of the country require only a cement slab, while some areas require frost-depth footings or a full, poured foundation.