How Much Do Sunroom Additions Cost?

Adding a sunroom to your home is a great way to increase the amount of sheltered space you have to roam, especially for those in colder climates, when snowy weather forces you to spend more time indoors. The average cost to install a sunroom addition is just above $30,000, depending on a variety of factors, including the geographic location, size of the addition, type of sunroom, and more.

The typical cost range runs from $20,800 to $72,600, though a very small converted sunroom could cost as little as $5,000 to create, while an expansive luxury sunroom may cost as much as $140,000. This means that you will likely end up paying between $150 to $300 per square foot for a sunroom addition. Check out this guide to learn more about the various cost considerations of a sunroom addition installation and what factors to keep in mind when you are planning the budget for this project.

Sunroom Addition Types

When you think of sunroom, you likely think of a small, enclosed space with mostly glass walls, that is primarily used for growing plants indoors or relaxing with a good book under the heat of the sun. However, there are actually several sunroom addition types, including a four-season room, three-season room, glass solarium, garden room, and atrium.

Four-Season Room

A typical four-season room is essentially a heated, insulated space that can be used all year long, including during the winter months. Investing in a four-season room can be costly, but the benefit is having another full room that is useable at any time. Just keep in mind that the average cost for a four-season room installation ranges from $25,000 to $80,000.

Three-Season Room

As the name indicates, a three-season room is only designed for use during the spring, summer, and fall. When winter hits, this less-insulated version of a four-season room isn’t very comfortable unless you are dressed for the cold. Despite this drawback, installing a three-season room addition does save a substantial amount on the cost of construction. You can expect to pay about $10,000 to $40,000 for a three-season room installation.

Glass Solarium

Most sunrooms have a large number of windows to allow the sun to stream into the room, but a glass solarium takes it a step further with walls and a roof made of glass. However, due to the cost of the construction materials, this type of sunroom is more expensive than a three-season room or an atrium, ranging from $30,000 to $75,000.

Garden Room

A garden room, also known as a conservatory, is essentially a fully enclosed greenhouse space. This type of sunroom has a wide variety of design variations that can significantly increase or decrease the cost of the project. With this in mind, the expected cost for a conservatory installation ranges from just $5,000 to $80,000.

Atrium

Instead of adding a completely new room to the outside of the home, an atrium sunroom is made by replacing the roof on an interior room with a glass roof. This can be a good option for converting a small garage or shed, and it typically costs less than other types of sunrooms, ranging from about $10,000 to $35,000.

Questions to Ask a Sunroom Contractor

How long have you been building sunrooms?
What kind of warranties or guarantees are included?
Can I review the labor and material costs?
Do you work with any prefab kits that you recommend?
What kind of preparation is required?
Will you obtain any necessary permits?
Do you need access to the interior of my house?
Is there a location you suggest for the addition installation?
What’s the cost difference if I choose to build this size of a three-season room versus a four-season room?
What common issues do homeowners have with sunroom additions?
What’s the least expensive sunroom solution?
What is the expected duration of the project?
Will you need to subcontract any of the work?
Will there be a supervisor on-site at all times?
How will you protect the rest of my house and property during construction?
Will you clean up all the construction debris?
Are cleanup costs included with the cost of the installation?

Sunroom Addition Cost Considerations

The average cost of a new sunroom installation ranges from $20,800 to $72,600, though some converted sunrooms may cost as little as $5,000 to build, while larger, more luxurious sunroom additions could cost as much as $140,000. Consider these factors that affect the overall cost of the installation before hiring a contractor to complete the project.

Location

While it may seem odd at first, the local economy plays a part in determining how much you will spend for a sunroom addition installation, due to the cost of shipping materials, local labor rates, and general supply and demand. Take a look at this list of locations around the country and the associated average sunroom addition costs.

Location	Average Sunroom Addition Cost
Portland, ME	$2,500 to $70,000
Albuquerque, NM	$6,000 to $75,000
Dallas, TX	$2,500 to $80,000
Charlotte, NC	$2,500 to $80,000
Cleveland, OH	$2,500 to $90,000
Rochester, NY	$2,500 to $90,000
Altanta, GA	$2,500 to $90,210
Los Angeles, CA	$6,000 to $100,000
Sioux Falls, SD	$2,500 to $110,000
Philadelphia, PA	$2,500 to $120,000
Aurora, IL	$2,500 to $150,000

Size

The typical cost per square foot for a sunroom addition falls between $150 to $300. As the size of the project increases, the cost of the materials, the time it takes to construct, and the labor costs also increase exponentially. Take a look at this brief summary of sunroom addition cost estimates by room size.

Size (Ft)	Sunroom Addition Costs
8×10	$12,000 to $24,000
10×10	$15,000 to $30,000
12×10	$18,000 to $36,000
12×20	$36,000 to $72,000

Permits and Insurance

With any addition to the home, you will need to get a building permit, though many sunroom addition contractors will take care of this on your behalf. Just make sure to ask if the cost of the permits is included in the estimate provided by the contractor or if you will need to pay this cost separately. A permit for this type of work will generally cost about $400 to $1,500.

Site Preparation and Foundation Installation

The cost to prepare the site for the addition depends on the installation location and the size and number of obstructions that need to be removed. Site preparation typically costs between $500 to $5,600. Expect to pay about $700 per tree, if tree removal is required, and about $1,300 to $4,600 for land excavation costs. Also, consider if there is a pre-existing foundation or if a new foundation needs to be poured, which can range from about $1,000 to $6,000.

Insulation

If you are putting in a three-season or four-season sunroom, then you will need to consider the cost of insulation for the room. This will generally range from about $500 to $1,500, depending on the size of the space and the type of insulation used.

Roof, Doors, and Windows

Material costs should also be considered for the roof, doors, and windows. Depending on the size of the room and the roofing material, the installation of a sunroom roof typically costs about $3,600 to $8,500. Window installation makes up a large part of the total cost, ranging from $3,500 to $15,000, while one or more sunroom doors can add $1,300 to $11,000, depending on the number and type of doors.

Heating and Cooling

A bare sunroom with no insulation can get uncomfortable during the hot and cold months of the year, so many contractors will suggest insulating the room and possibly adding heating and cooling to the sunroom. This can be a great way to increase the comfort in the sunroom addition, but it comes at an additional cost of about $2,300 to $20,500. It may be better to invest in a window air conditioner or a simple space heater, if you are looking to save on the initial installation costs.

Electrical Service

Adding electrical service to a new sunroom is an excellent option for increasing the use of the room. Lights, fans, outlets, and any home automation systems can make the new addition more convenient and attractive for the residents of the home, though hiring an electrician will cost about $160 to $525 on average.

Electrical Upgrade	Installation Cost
Outlets	$130 to $270 per outlet
Ceiling Fan	$150 to $350
Lighting Fixture	$150 to $800 each
Home Automation System	$400 to $1,800

Interior Finish

After installing the sunroom addition, you will need to consider the cost to finish the interior, including any flooring, wall materials, and paint products. On average, finishing the sunroom addition will cost about $200 to $9,000, depending on size, materials, and overall quality. Typically, you will spend about $1,500 to $4,300 on flooring about about $2 to $6 per square foot on paint products.

Other Costs

Additional factors to consider when you are drawing up a budget for the installation of a sunroom include cleanup costs, dumpster rentals and haul-away costs, and landscaping costs. While many contractors will include cleanup costs in the cost of the installation, you should still verify this before hiring a contractor for the work. If you end up handling these costs, you can expect to pay about $280 to $670 to hire a cleanup crew, while the cost to rent a dumpster and have it hauled away ranges from $300 to $525. Final cosmetic landscaping touches can add another $1,400 to $5,500 to the total cost of the project.

DIY vs. Professional Installation

Some experienced DIYers may feel confident enough in their skills to take on this complex building project, but for the average DIYer, it is recommended to leave this job to professional contractors that are warrantied, bonded, and insured, so that you are covered if something goes wrong. If you choose to tackle this project on your own, keep in mind that even the price of installing a simple prefabricated sunroom addition can cost between $5,000 to $30,000.

Benefits of a Sunroom Addition

According to Home Advisor, adding a sunroom to the home has a range of benefits that can make it an appealing decision, including indoor gardening and planting, extra light, extra space, and an average 49 percent return on investment. If you live in a colder climate or you just like the appeal of gardening without worry about bugs, then a sunroom can be a great way to get in touch with your green thumb. The room provides more living space for the residents and most homeowners will see an increase of the home’s value by about half the cost of the addition.

FAQ

Are prefab sunrooms cheaper than custom-built sunrooms?

Prefab sunrooms are typically cheaper than custom-built sunrooms, though they are sold as materials only. When a prefab company quotes you a price, they are quoting the price of the sunroom kit only, not the labor involved in the installation.

Do sunrooms need foundations?

Your sunrooms might need a foundation. Foundation requirements are as varied as the localities where these codes apply. Generally, you will need a proper building foundation for your site-built sunroom, although some lightweight prefab sunroom kits can sometimes be assembled onto existing patio slabs or decks.

Can you grow plants in a sunroom?

A sunroom isn’t exactly the same as a greenhouse. A greenhouse is built specifically for growing plants, so it will have a hardscaped floor with built-in drainage to accommodate spills. It will also be positioned at just the right place in your yard for growing plants. A sunroom will have more sun than in any other part of the house, if only because of the increased fenestration. But it won’t necessarily be on the side of the house that gets the most sun (unless you specify so).