How much does a laundry room remodel cost?

Budget refresh: $500-$2,000 (paint, shelving, countertop over washer/dryer, accessories). Mid-range remodel: $2,000-$8,000 (new cabinets, countertop, utility sink, flooring, paint). Full renovation: $8,000-$20,000+ (custom cabinetry, premium countertop, sink, premium flooring, plumbing, electrical). New appliances: washer $500-$2,000, dryer $500-$1,200. The single most impactful upgrade is a folding countertop over side-by-side machines ($100-$600 depending on material). ROI: a functional laundry room is a top-10 buyer priority. What is the best flooring for a laundry room?

What is the best flooring for a laundry room?

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is the most popular choice: waterproof, durable, comfortable underfoot, easy to install. Cost: $5-$15/sq ft installed. Runner-up: porcelain or ceramic tile: waterproof, extremely durable, easy to clean. Cost: $8-$25/sq ft installed. Budget option: sheet vinyl ($3-$8/sq ft installed). Avoid: hardwood (water damage), laminate (swells when wet), carpet (moisture and stains). Tip: install a waterproof floor pan under the washer ($30-$60) to catch leaks regardless of flooring type. Should I get a utility sink in my laundry room?

Should I get a utility sink in my laundry room?

Yes, it's one of the most useful upgrades. Uses: hand-washing delicates, soaking stained clothes, cleaning mops and supplies, filling buckets, pet bathing. Sink types: fiberglass/acrylic ($50-$150), stainless steel ($100-$300), composite ($200-$500). Faucet: a pull-down sprayer is ideal ($100-$300). Total installed (with plumbing): $400-$1,500. If you already have plumbing nearby (washer hookups), adding a sink is straightforward. If plumbing needs to be extended, the cost increases ($500-$2,000 for new plumbing runs).

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Flooring

Laundry Room Remodel Guide: Layout, Cost & Design Ideas

Lumberama Editorial Team, Interior Design & Home Renovation Specialists Sep 20, 2025 10 min read

Layout Options

Galley (corridor): Appliances and storage on one or both sides of a narrow space. Works in hallways closets and narrow rooms. Minimum width: 5 feet (with appliances on one side) or 7-8 feet (with appliances on both sides).

L-shaped: Appliances and countertop along two walls. Provides more counter space and storage than a galley layout. Works well in corner locations and laundry-mudroom combos.

U-shaped: Appliances and storage on three walls. Maximum storage and counter space. Requires a room at least 8x8 feet.

Single wall: Everything along one wall. The most compact layout. Works for closet laundry rooms and apartments. Side-by-side washer and dryer (60 inches minimum width) or stacked (27-30 inches width).

Stacked vs side-by-side: Stacked: saves floor space (27-30 inches wide vs 54-60 inches for side-by-side). Ideal for closets small spaces and apartments. Limits capacity (typically smaller drums). No counter space between or above units. Side-by-side: standard full-size capacity. Allows a countertop over both units (a folding surface). Pedestals available for elevated height (easier loading and unloading plus storage drawers). Requires more floor space (54-60 inches minimum width).

Key Features

Countertop: A folding and sorting surface over the washer and dryer is the single most impactful upgrade. Depth: 27-28 inches (to match appliance depth). Height: 36-39 inches (countertop height over pedestals: 51-54 inches). Materials: laminate ($15-$40/sq ft installed) butcher block ($40-$80/sq ft installed) quartz ($50-$150/sq ft installed). A countertop over front-loading side-by-side machines is the most popular configuration.

Utility sink: Extremely useful for hand-washing delicates soaking stained clothes and cleaning supplies. Sink types: stainless steel ($100-$300) composite/granite ($200-$500) fiberglass/acrylic ($50-$150) or cast iron ($300-$700). Faucet: a pull-down sprayer faucet is ideal ($100-$300). Installation (including plumbing): $300-$1,000.

Cabinets: Upper cabinets for detergent cleaning supplies and laundry accessories. Lower cabinets (if space allows) for bulk items and less-used supplies. Open shelving: a more affordable alternative ($50-$200 per shelf). Cabinet cost: stock cabinets $100-$400 per linear foot (installed) semi-custom $200-$600 per linear foot custom $500-$1,200+ per linear foot.

Hanging rod or drying rack: A wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted rod for hanging clothes to dry or for hanging items straight from the dryer. Retractable clothesline: $20-$50. Wall-mounted drying rack (folds flat when not in use): $30-$100. Hanging rod: $20-$60.

Ironing: Wall-mounted fold-down ironing board: $50-$200 (saves floor space). Built-in ironing board cabinet: $200-$500. Countertop ironing mat: $15-$30 (use the folding countertop as an ironing surface).

Flooring

Best options: Luxury vinyl plank (LVP): waterproof durable comfortable underfoot. The most popular choice. $5-$15/sq ft installed. Porcelain or ceramic tile: waterproof extremely durable and easy to clean. $8-$25/sq ft installed. Sheet vinyl: waterproof and very affordable. $3-$8/sq ft installed.

Avoid: Hardwood (water damage from leaks and spills). Laminate (swells when wet). Carpet (absorbs moisture and stains).

Tip: Install a waterproof floor pan or tray under the washer ($30-$60) to catch leaks and prevent water damage regardless of flooring type.

Cost

Budget refresh ($500-$2,000): Paint walls and cabinets (if existing): $100-$300. Open shelving: $50-$200. Countertop over washer/dryer: $100-$400. Hanging rod or drying rack: $20-$100. Organizational accessories (baskets bins labels): $50-$150. Improved lighting: $50-$200.

Mid-range remodel ($2,000-$8,000): New cabinets (upper): $500-$2,000. Countertop (laminate or butcher block): $200-$600. Utility sink (with plumbing): $400-$1,000. New flooring (LVP or tile): $500-$2,000. Paint: $100-$300. Lighting upgrade: $100-$400. Hardware and accessories: $100-$300.

Full renovation ($8,000-$20,000+): Custom or semi-custom cabinetry: $2,000-$6,000. Quartz or solid surface countertop: $500-$2,000. Utility sink with premium faucet: $500-$1,500. Premium flooring (large format tile or natural stone): $1,000-$3,000. Plumbing relocation (if moving washer/dryer): $500-$2,000. Electrical (new circuits outlets lighting): $500-$1,500. Backsplash: $200-$800. Paint trim and molding: $300-$800.

New appliances (not included above): Washer: $500-$1,500 (top load) or $700-$2,000 (front load). Dryer: $500-$1,200. Washer-dryer combo (ventless): $1,000-$2,500. Pedestals: $200-$400 (per pedestal).

Design Tips

Color and finish: Light colors make small laundry rooms feel larger (white light gray soft blue). Semi-gloss or satin paint for easy cleaning and moisture resistance. White shaker cabinets: a classic timeless choice. Subway tile backsplash: affordable and easy to clean ($3-$8/sq ft installed).

Lighting: Overhead LED flush mount: $50-$200. Under-cabinet LED strip lighting: $20-$80 (provides task lighting over the folding area). Natural light (if available) makes the space more pleasant.

Ventilation: Proper dryer venting is critical. The dryer vent duct should be as short and straight as possible (maximum recommended length: 25 feet with deductions for each elbow). Use rigid metal duct (not flexible vinyl which is a fire hazard). Clean the dryer vent annually (lint buildup is a leading cause of house fires). If the laundry room has no window consider a ventilation fan to manage humidity.

Smart features: Smart washer and dryer (Wi-Fi connected with app notifications): $800-$2,000 each. USB charging station: $20-$50. Motion-sensor light: $20-$50.

Laundry-mudroom combo: A popular layout that combines laundry and mudroom functions in one space. Include: washer dryer folding counter sink hooks bench shoe storage. Minimum room size: 8x10 feet for a functional combo.