How Much Does a Walkout Basement Cost? [2025 Data]
The cost for a walkout basement ranges from $5,000 to $35,000, with an average of $20,000. Costs vary based on the extent of excavation needed, materials, basement finishing, and more.
The cost of a walkout basement depends on how much excavation is needed, your foundation’s structural integrity, materials, and more.
A walkout basement can provide an ROI from 30% for an unfinished basement to 75% for a finished basement.
You can save on a walkout basement by choosing a standard exterior door and doing some of the finish work yourself.
Your basement holds endless possibilities, especially if you've been dreaming of transforming it into a cozy TV room, a basement bar, or even renting it out as a separate apartment. In these cases, adding a basement entrance to the outdoors is your first step and top priority—and often required by local building codes. From start to finish, expect the project to cost between $5,000 and $35,000.
Excavation Costs
Excavation costs will account for a significant part of your total project cost, ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 or more, depending on how extensive the necessary excavation is. If part of your basement is already above grade, excavation costs will be significantly less than digging out a basement wall that’s fully below grade.
Size
The size of the opening for the entrance to a walkout basement will affect the cost, as will the size of the outdoor space the door will lead to, and the size of the door itself. Creating an opening for a sliding door or double patio doors will cost more than a standard exterior door, and creating a larger exterior patio or outdoor area will also add to your total price.
Structural Engineer Costs
You’ll need to hire a structural engineer before converting your basement to a walkout, since the construction involves cutting into your foundation to install the entrance and excavating around your home. Both of these things can lead to problems with your home’s structural integrity, so it’s best to ensure the project is completed safely and without risk to your home. A structural engineer costs an average of $100 to $250 per hour.
Basement Finishing Pro Costs
If you’re converting your basement to a walkout in order to create an apartment or other living space, you’ll want to hire a local basement finishing pro to turn your unfinished basement into a finished basement. Finishing a basement can cost between $7 and $23 per square foot in addition to the cost of installing the walkout.
Additional Cost Factors
The price of a walkout basement varies widely depending on the details of your home, the surrounding property, and the scope of the project. Here are a few of the factors that can affect how much you’ll pay.
Materials
Materials will make up a smaller portion of your total cost than labor, but the basics for the project will still count toward the project cost. Here are some of the material costs you can expect.
| Material | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Exterior door | $500–$2,500 |
| Retaining wall blocks | $100 per linear foot (6 ft tall) |
| Full-size windows | $1,000–$2,500 each |
| Patio materials | $400–$7,000 |
Door Framing and Installation
Once the entrance opening to the walkout basement has been created, the door will need to be framed in and installed. Installing an exterior door costs range from as low as $230 for a single door to $5,000 or more for a sliding glass door.
Retaining Wall
With extensive excavation, you may need to install a retaining wall for stability. Installing a retaining wall costs an average of $3,200 to $9,200, depending on the length, height, and materials used.
Foundation Reinforcement
Your foundation may need to be reinforced if creating the opening for the entrance will compromise the foundation’s structural integrity. If you need foundation reinforcement to prevent bowing, cracking, or other foundation issues, it can cost anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000, depending on the type and extent of reinforcement needed.
| Type of Reinforcement | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Reinforcement straps | $6,500–$10,000 |
| Steel or carbon fiber reinforcement strips | $350–$1,000 each |
| Underpinning | $1,000–$3,000 per pier |
Patio Installation
Many homeowners choose to install a patio when excavating for a walkout basement, since the newly installed entrance allows for direct access outdoors. The cost to install a patio ranges between $5 and $50 per square foot, depending on the materials used, labor costs, and add-ons.
Permits
Adding a walkout basement involves structural work and excavation, so you’ll need a permit before work begins. Permit fees vary by location, but expect to pay between $500 and $2,000 for a permit. Confirm with your contractor who’s responsible for pulling the permit—failing to obtain one can lead to hefty fines.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
You may be tempted to save money by attempting this project as a DIY, but you should leave anything involving excavation and foundation work to the pros. Work not performed by licensed professionals may not meet building codes, can cause problems with your homeowners insurance, and may cause serious structural damage to your home. Let the pros handle this one—anything you save by doing the work yourself can cost you down the line when problems arise.
Ways to Save on a Walkout Basement
While you can’t save on a walkout basement by doing the bulk of the work yourself, there are still some ways to keep your costs down.
Choose a standard exterior door. Installing a sliding door, French doors, or other premium patio doors can cost significantly more than a standard single exterior door, and the costs for creating the door opening increase with the width of the door.
Use budget-friendly patio materials. If you’re installing a patio, use less expensive materials like gravel or concrete, rather than pricier options like pavers or stone.
DIY some of the finish work. If you’re handy, you can save on labor costs by taking on finish work like installing trim, spreading gravel for the patio, and installing lighting fixtures.
Does a Walkout Basement Increase Home Value?
Installing a walkout basement can increase your home’s value, offering a return on investment of around 30% for an unfinished basement to 75% for a finished basement. Finishing the basement may allow you to include it in your home’s square footage, which can pay off when it comes time to sell.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Walkout basements cost more than other kinds of basements, and can also increase your risk of leaks as well as a loss of insulation, leading to higher heating and cooling costs. Improperly installed walkout basements may lead to structural issues with your foundation, so ensure you’re working with a contractor who has extensive experience with this kind of basement.
Walkout basements are not generally included in a home’s square footage, although they may be if they meet certain conditions that depend on local regulations. A finished walkout basement used as a living space may be counted toward square footage in some locations as long as all codes for livable space are met.
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