How Much Does an Entryway Addition Cost? [2025 Data]

Size of Your Entryway

The cost of all home additions is directly related to the size of the new space you build. Most home additions range from $225 to $250 per square foot based on whether you need a foundation.

A standard entryway size is 7 feet by 11 feet, or 77 square feet. However, entryways can range from 40 square feet to 180 square feet. 

Entryway Professional Costs

You can hire a general contractor to build an entryway, and they’ll handle all the details for you. Another option is to DIY some of the simpler work and hire pros for more complicated tasks, like the entryway’s electrical work and design. Here’s what you can expect to pay for various pros to build an entryway addition. 

Electrician Costs

You'll need to hire an electrician to run electricity to your new entryway. Electricians charge between $70 and $120 per hour for their labor, plus materials. Here's a breakdown of common entryway electrical costs.

• Installing an outlet: $300

• Adding a light fixture: $500

• Rewiring: $6,000

• Installing a light switch: $150

Painter Costs

Hiring painters can be a great way to save time on the project. Interior painters charge by either the hour or by square feet. Expect to pay $40 to $90 per hour for painting pros, or around $3 per square foot. 

Architect Costs

Architects charge in one of two ways as well: a percentage of the project cost or an hourly fee. You can trust a junior architect to lay out an entryway and can expect to pay an hourly rate of around $100 per hour or, if they charge a percentage, around 10% to 15% of the project cost. 

General Contractor Cost

We recommend you hire a general contractor for this type of work. It ensures you only have to deal with one professional, and they usually have tight teams that do good work fast. Another benefit is that they have more wiggle room in the budget than if you were to break each task down, hiring individuals for each task. Depending on team size, general contractors cost $300 to $700 per day or a percentage of the project cost, around 15% to 20%. 

Additional Cost Factors

Understanding your total workload and expenses will go a long way toward making you comfortable undertaking this rather large project. It will also help you negotiate or lower the overall cost. 

Demolition and Prep

If you have to demolish an existing structure, you'll pay an hourly rate of around $70 per hour plus any disposal fees. Prep work is often more involved—you may need a foundation poured or built, the ground leveled, and anything else your contractor recommends or requires. Demotion and prep will be much easier and less expensive if you are simply adding the entryway inside the existing house. It mainly involves taping and cleaning the area and perhaps stripping the walls and flooring. 

Permits

Building an entryway requires a permit, which costs between $200 and $900 each. Failing to secure a permit can lead to fines, work stoppages, or even tearing down any unpermitted work. If you need clarification on a permit, check with both your contractor and city hall, as they have all the necessary information. 

Accessories or Special Features 

An entryway is a simple room, but you can spruce it up. Anything beyond a barebones design will increase cost, but some features are worth it. 

While underfloor heating is a luxury, other additions, like seating areas or built-in storage units, serve a much more functional purpose. Organizing your entryway goes a long way toward enhancing first impressions upon entering your home. Some popular features include:

DIY Adding an Entryway vs. Hiring a Pro

Entryways require certain expertise—but not for the entire project. While you want to hire an electrician to do your electrical, you may be able to handle some of the tasks yourself, like hanging drywall or painting.

However, you may only save around 15% of the project cost in labor. For this reason, we strongly recommend you talk to a home addition expert near you to get an accurate quote and decide your next steps. 

Tips to Reduce Cost While Adding an Entryway

You can reduce the cost of adding an entryway in a few ways. While you may be able to save more money on a larger project, there are still ways to whittle down the bottom line—even if the entryway is simple. Some ways to lower costs are:

• Install energy-efficient windows, insulation, and doors. 

• If the entryway requires a foundation, you can consider constructing it yourself. 

• Source your own furnishing materials. 

• Try to recycle or reuse any existing materials.

• Paint the room yourself or hang the drywall. 

• Build DIY mudroom lockers or install hooks and a bench on your own.

Does Adding an Entryway Increase Home Value? 

Entryways commonly increase a home's total value by 5% to 8%, and depending on the cost of your entryway, you could see a return on investment (ROI) upwards of 75%. So, if you spend $20,000, you should see $15,000 of that or more applied to your home's value. 

Entryways also significantly increase a home's comfort and convenience, which has immeasurable value for many homeowners.