Attic conversion cost: what does an attic room cost?

How is attic conversion cost made up?

An attic conversion consists of separate parts that you can combine. That is why the costs vary so widely. List the items and you quickly see where the money goes and where you can choose for yourself.

• Roof insulation on the inside: roughly €50 to €100 per m²
• Roof window including fitting: often €1,500 to €3,500 each
• Fixed staircase instead of a loft ladder: roughly €2,500 to €6,000
• Dormer: roughly €8,000 to €18,000
• Walls, floor, electrics and heating: depends on the layout

What should you check before converting the attic?

Usable height is the first point. Under a pitched roof, often only the middle part has standing height. A roof window or dormer partly solves that. Also look at the floor: an attic floor made only for storage sometimes needs strengthening if a bedroom is added.

Insulation deserves priority, because a bedroom under a poorly insulated roof is hot in summer and cold in winter. Read insulating an attic for the options. Insulation work in a home more than two years old may qualify for the reduced VAT rate on labour, see renovation and VAT.

When does a dormer or roof extension make more sense?

If the attic is too low to really live in, finishing it alone achieves little. A dormer adds height on one roof slope, a roof extension turns it into a full storey. The latter is a much bigger intervention, with a different price and often a permit. Read dormer or roof extension for the trade-off and what a roof extension costs.

What does an attic conversion look like in practice?

In Heerhugowaard, the Sloots family's son wanted to sleep in the attic and his father was looking for a hobby room. We created a storage loft and two rooms, with metal stud walls and roof windows. You can see the project at storage loft Heerhugowaard.

On our page attic and loft you can read how we approach an attic conversion, with one project manager from the first conversation to completion.

Frequently asked questions