What is included
- Bedrooms, offices, gyms, media rooms and studios
- Guest suites and garage ADUs with a kitchen and bathroom
- Framing in the garage door opening with a wall, window or door
- Raising and insulating the floor over the garage slab
- Insulation, drywall, HVAC or ductless mini splits
- Plumbing for a bathroom or kitchenette, cut into the slab
How much does a garage conversion cost in Austin?
A garage conversion in the Austin area typically costs $25,000–$60,000 for a room such as an office, bedroom or gym and $70,000–$140,000 for an ADU with a kitchenette and bathroom, installed and before sales tax.
| Project | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Garage to a room: office, bedroom or gym | $25,000–$60,000 |
| Garage to an ADU with kitchenette and bathroom | $70,000–$140,000 |
Ranges for full service work by Tier One Builds in the Austin metro: design help, permits, licensed trades and cleanup, installed, before sales tax. They are not quotes; your quote is free and based on your home.
What raises the price in the Austin area
- Rock excavation on Hill Country limestone for pools, footings and plumbing
- Engineered foundations on expansive clay east of I-35
- Moving plumbing in a slab, or upgrading an undersized electrical panel in an older home
- Impervious cover limits, protected trees and historic review that change the design
- Permit, utility and impact fees, which are largest for new units and new homes
Is a garage conversion allowed in Austin?
Generally yes, with a permit. The City of Austin removed parking minimums in 2023, so losing the covered parking spaces is no longer the obstacle it once was inside city limits. HOA rules, deed restrictions and suburban city codes can still require covered parking or limit how the old garage door wall may look, so we check those before you commit.
What makes a conversion feel like part of the house
Garage slabs usually sit a step lower than the house and slope toward the door. Leveling the floor, insulating it and matching the flooring is what keeps a conversion from feeling like a garage with carpet. The old door opening gets a properly framed wall with matching exterior finish, and the room gets its own heating and cooling: a ductless mini split is common because the existing system often cannot serve the extra space.
Garage to ADU
Adding a bathroom and kitchenette turns a garage into a separate dwelling unit. That means plumbing cut into the slab, a separate entrance and meeting the rules for a dwelling. On many Austin lots, the HOME code makes a garage ADU a realistic way to add a rental unit.
How your project runs
- Free consultationWe meet at your property, listen to what you want to change and look at the conditions that affect it: structure, soil, utilities, trees and the rules for your lot.
- Free quoteYou get a quote based on the scope we agreed, with the decisions that drive cost explained so you can adjust before anything is signed.
- Design and permitsDrawings, engineering and selections are finalized, and we submit the permits your city or county requires.
- BuildWe schedule every trade, order materials early, pass inspections and keep you updated at each phase.
- Final walkthroughWe walk the finished work with you, fix anything on the punch list and hand over the paperwork for your project.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a garage conversion cost in Austin?
A garage conversion in the Austin area typically costs $25,000–$60,000 for a room such as an office, bedroom or gym and $70,000–$140,000 for an ADU with a kitchenette and bathroom, installed and before sales tax. Your quote is free.
How long does a garage conversion take?
Plan on about 3 to 7 months for a garage converted to an ADU with a kitchenette and bathroom, from the start of design to the final inspection: 3 to 6 weeks for design and engineering; 3 to 8 weeks for permits; and 8 to 16 weeks of construction. A simple conversion to a bedroom, office or gym, without a kitchen or bathroom, takes less construction time, often four to eight weeks of work after the permit is issued. Permit comment rounds, rock or clay foundations, protected trees, floodplain, historic or HOA review, material lead times, utility work, weather and changes after construction starts can all add time. We give you a schedule with your quote.
Will a garage conversion add value?
Added finished living space usually adds value, especially a bedroom with a bathroom. In neighborhoods where buyers expect a garage, it can matter more. We can talk through the trade offs for your street.
What happens to my garage door?
It is removed and the opening is framed in with a wall, a window or an entry door. If you would rather keep a garage, our sister company Tier One Garage Door Service handles garage doors.
Permits
We pull the permits your project needs and schedule the inspections. To see what the city requires, read our garage conversion permit guide, with Austin review times, fees and the surrounding cities' portals.
Guides
- Building an ADU in Austin Under the HOME Rules
- Adding Units to Austin Investment Property Under the HOME Rules
Related services
Where we build
We offer garage conversions across the greater Austin metro, including Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Lakeway and Kyle. See all service areas.