How Much Does a Mudroom Remodel Cost?

Mudrooms are one of the most popular rooms in today’s homes. This is known as the transition room typically located between the garage and the home’s interior. And it’s a room that experiences lots of traffic and abuse.

Each mudroom project is completely custom because it’s based on the homeowner’s needs, but the average mudroom remodel cost is $10,000. This could include anything from a repurposed closet to framing a mudroom into an existing space or doing a completely new addition to your home.

When the mudroom was originally invented for the farmhouse in the mid-twentieth century, it was used as a place to take off muddy boots and clothes after a long day's work. Now the mudroom is used as a catchall home for shoes, coats and backpacks with a place to sit and put on your shoes before leaving the house.

Learn more about average mudroom remodel costs, design ideas, what to consider and more below.

• What Does the Average Mudroom Remodel Cost?
• What to Consider With a Mudroom Remodel
• Popular Mudroom Ideas: How to Start Your Design
• How to Save Money on a Mudroom Remodel

The options for a mudroom design are nearly limitless. Some homeowners choose to update an existing closet and add laundry, and others want a completely new addition to their home. With all these considerations, Angi says the average cost to remodel a mudroom is $10,000 with the overall average cost ranging from $6,000 - $15,000 including labor. 

A highly functional space like the mudroom needs to handle multiple tasks and types of storage at once. Let’s say the average mudroom remodel includes laundry. In this scenario, your space needs to have storage for shoes, coats, winter gear, a place to sit, and room for a washer/dryer with storage cabinets or floating shelves above. Most existing mudrooms in today’s homes need to be expanded to handle these modern needs.

Labor costs for the average mudroom remodel range from $3,500 - $6,000 total. If you’re handy and enjoy DIY projects, this is a great space to get your feet wet and have some fun. Aside from some framing, drywalling and plumbing rough-ins for laundry, most of the work for a mudroom will consist of woodwork, installing cabinets, flooring and painting.

By and large, the majority of costs will be determined by what kind of products you choose. If you find yourself drawn to high-end cabinets, designer tile and hardwood flooring, then your mudroom design will be more costly. Likewise, you can decide to invest more in certain areas like heavy-duty flooring and durable cabinets that will receive the most abuse, then save money in other areas to keep your remodel under budget.

Below is the average cost for common mudroom upgrades broken down by category. See what you can expect to invest in each category for a more accurate project estimate.

Average mudroom remodeling costs by category. Cabinet storage: $500 - $1,200 per linear foot. Lockers and bench: $1,250 - $4,000. Paint: $550. Faucet and sink $350 - $1,000. Flooring $250 - $3,000. Recessed lights and electrical: $1,400. Permits: $125 - $3,000.

Every remodel takes a different shape whether that’s in price, design or size. Start by making a budget based on the size remodel you are pursuing. Are you remodeling an existing room, using a small closet, or officially breaking ground for an addition? Do your research into costs and talk to contractors to get estimates.

BONUS TIP

Start researching pricing, materials and lead times 6 – 12 months ahead of time. This will prevent potential scheduling conflicts if materials arrive late, or issues arise.

Mudrooms are the dirtiest, high-traffic area of the home. Invest wisely by spending more money on high-quality materials that are used most like flooring and mudroom cabinets. You will have less headaches from knicks and scratches while saving money and time in the long run.

Deciding on how you will install your brand-new mudroom is a big deal. While hiring a contractor will be easier physically, it can be much more expensive at the beginning. Alternatively, DIY mudroom installation will be much less expensive, but requires a large variety of tools. If you’re confident in your DIY skills but need tools, ask friends and family if they are willing to borrow you their tools for some cash or a pizza. This is an easy way to save money on tool rental and contractor fees.

Every mudroom has its own unique needs. Maximizing storage is the best return on investment you can give yourself, so make sure this space is everything you want. By striking a balance between beauty and functionality, you will improve day-to-day life for your family along with a great return on investment. Here are 4 easy steps to start designing your space with popular mudroom ideas for inspiration.

Make a list of what you need your space to provide functionally and how you want it to look. Do you love cubbies and benches, or the latest wall paneling trends? How about a dog washing station, utility sink or laundry? Write it down as part of your project wish list but prioritize functional items first as you design your mudroom.

Regardless of your project size, building materials can get expensive. Do your due diligence while shopping for products and compare price and quality. Most stores and online retailers offer a Price Match Guarantee or something similar. To get the most bang for your buck, shop for remodeling products during major holidays for discounted rates.

Quality is something that changes based on the brand. Take quality cabinets for example. Some are stapled together while others are created with strong joinery like I-beam construction. That’s why it’s important to review cabinet construction to know what you’re getting. Make sure you know how the cabinets are made, where they are being finished and if the cabinet hardware will stand the test of time.

Experts make remodeling easier because they have years of experience backing them. Most professional designers have seen countless complications come up in projects over the years. They are experts in the cabinet lines they represent and have the knowledge base to recommend creative solutions.

In addition to resolving issues, designers are great at helping you stay within budget and providing a realistic view of what your budget will get you. If the cabinet company you’re looking at offers free design assistance, take advantage.

Apart from the kitchen, the mudroom is probably the next most abused room in the home. Every family member and friend comes through this area tracking in dirt, tossing their coats and wet umbrellas and dropping bags. Protect your new mudroom remodel with durable finishes.

Stained wood cabinets tend to fair better than paint in busy areas. Scratches and knicks are inevitable in high-traffic areas and stained finishes are easier to touch up. Painted finishes can be repaired, but paint will settle into a slightly different tone over time leaving your touched-up area lighter than the rest.

You might be surprised to know that sometimes slightly nicer options are only a few dollars more per square foot. This could be the difference between your new mudroom looking aged and tired after one year or staying in pristine condition.

• Mudroom lockers
• Bench seating
• Cabinets for storage
• Faucet and utility sink
• Dog washing station
• Washer and dryer units
• Feature wall
• Decorative crown molding

Any remodel can get expensive, but there are many other options to help you save money too. The most obvious is DIY mudroom installation. Contractor fees can add up to over 50% of your total remodeling costs, so doing your own work will potentially save you thousands of dollars.

Another area that can get expensive are feature walls or paneling. Try making your own decorative paneling instead of more expensive pre-made panels. You could also use leftover wood scraps from other projects. No one will ever know the difference.

Next, skip the designer brand names and search big-box stores for similar options. If it’s popular, most of the time there are similar options elsewhere for less. This can include things like cabinet hardware, sinks, faucets and more.

Other less expensive items that can be purchased at big-box stores include ‘oops paint’ and vinyl sheet flooring. Most stores end up with mis-tinted paint in neutral colors that they put back on the shelf at a discounted price. And although vinyl isn’t the most high-end option, there are many colors and patterns in today’s market that are a close second to nicely tiled floors. Vinyl sheets will save a considerable amount of money compared to LVT, tile and wood flooring.

Lastly, sometimes it’s easier to skip a full addition to the home and explore the possibilities of converting an existing space (like your laundry room) into a more functional, multi-use space. Any money you would have spent on pouring the foundation, building walls and insulation can now be used to maximize and expand what you already have. The result will be a beautiful newly remodeled mudroom with better function and storage than ever before.

Are you ready to start your own mudroom remodel? Explore CliqStudios cabinets now!