Most sunroom additions cost between $8,000 and $80,000. The average is just above $30,000. Expect to pay around $25 per square foot for uninsulated spaces and up to $300 per square foot for four-season structures. Prefabricated kits range between $5,000 and $30,000. Professional labor typically totals between $4,000 and $20,000. It may include carpenters, electricians, and painters.
Published January 19, 2022
Reviewed by Cati O'Keefe, Expert Home Building & Sustainability Contributor.You can choose between various types of sunrooms. A four-season room ranges between $25,000 and $80,000 and offers enough insulation for efficient heating in winter. A solarium is an all-glass enclosure, totaling between $30,000 and $75,000.
This project can include any interior area where the light comes in through many windows. Solariums are more like greenhouses, featuring full walls of windows. Other four-season rooms are more like enclosed porches. Still others are just light-filled spaces facing the back yard. Either way, adding a sunroom to your home is a wonderful way to upgrade its look and maximize your living area.
No matter the addition you choose, it can be used in many ways. You can enjoy feeling like you are eating outside while still remaining indoors. Many people consider it part of the home. They may even decorate the space with furniture and electronics, equipping it for lounging and entertaining guests. A number of cost factors play into adding a sunroom to your home.
The $150 to $300 price per square foot depends on the quality, size, and type of your addition. Each type of room comes with different variables.
| Type | Material Prices | Labor Cost | Total Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four Season Room | $15,000 - $60,000 | $10,000 - $20,000 | $25,000 - $80,000 |
| Three-Season Room | $5,000 - $30,000 | $5,000 - $10,000 | $10,000 - $40,000 |
| Glass Solarium | $20,000 - $50,000 | $10,000 - $25,000 | $30,000 - $75,000 |
| Conservatories | $3,000 - $60,000 | $2,000 - $20,000 | $5,000 - $80,000 |
| Atriums with Roofs | $4,000 - $20,000 | $6,000 - $15,000 | $10,000 - $35,000 |
Expect a total budget of $25,000 to $80,000 for a four-season room. That is largely due to materials, including insulation. Exterior walls, windows, doors, and roofing all need high insulation grades to retain heat and cool air during cold and warm seasons. For the high cost, you get a true extension of your living space, regardless of weather.
Building a patio enclosure costs between $10,000 and $40,000. Consider it a less insulated version of a four-season space. It works well for moderate temperatures but might get hot in the summer and cold during winter.
At a price between $30,000 and $75,000, a solarium is a glass room that is true extension of your outside space. Even the roof is glass, making it perfect if you want to enjoy nature from the comfort of your home. The steel structure must be strong enough to support the glass throughout the walls and ceilings.
At a range of $5,000 to $80,000, you have many options for conservatories. At its simplest, it's a greenhouse to grow a garden without having to depend on the weather. Comprehensive systems to regulate temperature and humidity can drive up the cost.
The $10,000 to $35,000 range for an atrium considers only roof construction. In most cases, the walls already exist. An atrium is an interior room with a glass roof instead of a regular one. The influx of natural light for both plants and people can make this an intriguing option on a limited budget.
Building the structure yourself only costs between $500 and $1,500 when assembling a DIY kit. That compares favorably to the $5,000 to $25,000 for professional labor.
However, any DIY project has to include consideration of potential drawbacks:
Mistakes can threaten structural integrity, posing danger to anyone in the room.
The build might take longer because of your lack of experience.
Lower quality construction might require investing in the cost of sunroom repairs in the future.
Your warranty may be void if you don't use a professional installer.
When hiring a contractor, make sure to get a detailed bid. All expectations should be in writing, and you should completely understand the terms and conditions of the necessary work. Talk to your contractor about what happens if you aren't satisfied with the work, or if unforeseen circumstances cause changes in the bid.
Research warranties and understand what the estimate includes. Most bids will include removal of debris and site cleanup. Make sure you will not be responsible for this step. If you are, renting a dumpster ranges between $300 and $525. Cleaning the construction site costs $280 to $670 more.
Most prefabricated kits range between $5,000 and $30,000 for the product alone. This option works best if you don't need a custom addition and want to save some budget. Size and materials will influence costs. The brand you choose also matters.
Most Champion additions are custom, but the brand also offers some kits for $7,000 to $15,000.
All rooms are vinyl.
The manufacturer installs the kits.
Products and installation include a limited lifetime warranty.
For $5,000 to $20,000, Patriot offers both custom installation and conversion kits for your porch.
Company acts as a contractor for the installation
Operates in the larger St. Louis area
Available in vinyl or aluminum
Comes with lifetime transferable manufacturer's and labor warranty
Sunspace offers modular kits that you can customize to fit your home for $10,000 to $25,000.
The company installs the kit as part of the price.
Aluminum and vinyl and wooden kits available.
Limited lifetime warranty includes a 10-year manufacturer's warranty on windows and doors
A kit from this brand ranges between $5,000 and 15,000. That budget does not include installation, which you must organize yourself.
Kits are aluminum or vinyl.
A limited lifetime warranty includes glass and windows.
After materials or the prefab kit, expect to pay between $5,000 and $25,000 for a pro to build your sunroom. Where you fall on that range depends on the exact addition you're planning to make.
Think about exactly where your new structure will be. This will dictate the direction you take with design. If it's an area that gets direct sunlight, consider adding an enclosure with shading abilities.
Are you going to watch TV in your new addition? Be sure to install electrical wiring. Do you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, hail, or strong winds? Your project will need additional insulation and possibly a different design to accommodate. Do you need a heating and/or cooling system so that you can use the space year-round? These questions need consideration when planning your project. Each affects the cost of your addition.
Every addition to your home requires a building permit which costs between $400 and $1,800. A sunroom falls on the lower end of that range. If you build without a permit, it could result in your insurance denying a claim if something happens. You might also have problems selling the home down the road. Permission typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from the application.
A patio enclosure costs between $9,000 and $25,000 in most cases. You can build your sunroom onto an existing patio, which means you potentially won't have to pay extra to stabilize the construction.
Do you have an existing deck or patio that you are thinking of placing the enclosure on? If so, does that deck need repair? Your foundation might need repairs to accommodate not only the new construction but also the people that will be enjoying it. You may also need to consider the cost of constructing a concrete slab at an additional cost.
If you cannot build on an existing foundation, paying to clear the land and prepare the construction site ranges between $500 and $5,600. Landscaping costs between $1,400 and $5,500 and adds final cosmetic touches.
Don't forget about any major factors in your existing landscaping that might affect your sunroom. Is there a tree in the way that needs to be removed? Land excavation prices range from $1,300 to $4,600. Tree removal costs about $700 per tree.
The size of your project is one of its biggest budget factors. Contractors and other installation pros work by the hour, and larger sizes increase their workload.
| Size (in feet) | Price |
|---|---|
| 8x10 | $4,000 - $6,000 |
| 10x10 | $5,000 - $8,000 |
| 12x10 | $10,000 |
| 12x20 | $20,000 |
Insulation costs between $500 and $1,500 for a single room, depending on the type of product you use. Estimate between $0.70 and $1.30 per square foot of wall space. Especially for a four-season project, you need effective insulation to maintain reasonable heating and cooling bills.
Depending on what type of structure you want, roofing costs $8,500 on average. Solariums require a glass-encased roof with a steel structure. Other options might only need asphalt shingles, which typically run on the lower end of your budget, about $3,600, compared to a glass roof.
Window installation costs between $3,500 and $15,000, including labor and the window unit. Expect to spend less for a non-insulated three-season option, and up to $15,000 for a fully insulated solarium.
Installing a sliding glass door ranges from $1,000 to $3,000. the patio door units can run anywhere from $300 to $8,000. These doors make the transition between the indoors and outdoors more natural. Other, more expensive patio door installations include French, telescoping, or folding doors.
If your contractor isn't certified to do wiring, you will need to hire a licensed electrician for an average cost of $350. Calculate your costs using a rate between $50 and $100 per hour. Whatever type of enclosure you choose, make sure that your contractor is certified to do wiring.
You may need electrical outlets in your new space. You should consider how many before construction starts. Some potential electrical additions include:
Installing an outlet costs $130 - $270
Installing a ceiling fan is priced between $150 - $350
Installing a lighting fixture will run you $150 - $800
Installing a home automation system costs $400 - $1,800
Choose where you want the outlets to be based on how you expect to use the room. You should also ensure that your current power supply will support this addition. Your cost will increase if you need to add the price of an electrical box or power source for the sunroom. That price may make you think twice about how you want to use the room.
The rate to add heating and air conditioning to your sunroom ranges between $300 and $6,000. The cheapest option is window A/C units combined with space heaters, but it will make a significant difference on your utility bills.
"Ductless mini-splits are a great option for sunrooms and solariums because they don't require space for ductwork in the walls and ceiling. They can be floor mounted so they won't block views."Cati O'Keefe, Expert Home Building & Sustainability Contributor.
You can expand your existing ductwork to the new space for a price between $4,000 and $6,000 including install. A good intermediary solution is a ductless mini-split system that costs $2,000 to $14,500 including install. It's typically quiet, doesn't require ductwork, and still heats and cools the area efficiently.
Interior design and decor costs anywhere between $200 and $9,000. Once the room is complete, you may spend extra finishing it. The prices for painting run $2 to $6 per square foot. The price of flooring will range from $1,500 to $4,300. Don't forget to factor in your furniture as well. Start thinking about the decor of the space early so that you can purchase items as you can afford them or as they go on sale.
A 49% return on investment (ROI) for sunrooms, meaning it will increase your home's value by about half of the cost of the addition.
Additional interior living and entertainment space for your home.
Potential to enjoy the outside throughout the year even in bad or cold climates.
Ability to grow herbs, flowers and container gardens.
