Home addition cost in Tuscaloosa, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $33,100 – $67,100
- Per sq ft
- $109 – $218
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $57,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #236
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a home addition in the Tuscaloosa area: $33,100 to $67,100 for 300 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 13% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $23.49 an hour in the Tuscaloosa area, 19% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Tuscaloosa, AL, standard level
$43,300 to $56,900
About $142 to $185 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $15,000 | $19,700 |
| Labor | $27,500 | $35,900 |
| Permits and fees | $830 | $1,350 |
| Total | $43,300 | $56,900 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $11,600 | $17,400 | $23,100 | 35% |
| Labor | $21,100 | $31,700 | $42,300 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $440 | $1,100 | $1,750 | 2% |
| Total | $33,100 | $50,100 | $67,100 | 100% |
Where the Tuscaloosa price comes from
Labor is 63% of the midpoint bill here, against 67% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (50%), cement masons and concrete finishers (10%), electricians (10%), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (10%), drywall and ceiling tile installers (10%), roofers (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Tuscaloosa the blended ratio comes out at 0.83.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Tuscaloosa is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $18,000 nationally becomes $17,400 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 87.7: $440 to $1,750.
Data note: 10% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Tuscaloosa. The wage table below marks each row.
Tuscaloosa: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Tuscaloosa. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from bump-out (100 sq ft) to large suite (600 sq ft).
Basic
$33,100 to $46,700
Bump-out or simple room without plumbing
Standard
$43,300 to $56,900
Standard room addition with HVAC and electrical
Premium
$53,500 to $67,100
Large addition with bath or kitchen and a new foundation
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bump-out (100 sq ft) | $11,300 – $16,200 | $15,000 – $19,900 | $18,700 – $23,500 |
| 20x20 room (400 sq ft) | $44,000 – $62,000 | $57,500 – $75,500 | $71,000 – $88,900 |
| large suite (600 sq ft) | $65,800 – $92,500 | $85,800 – $112,500 | $106,000 – $132,500 |
The best months for home addition in Tuscaloosa
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Northport 2 S (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Tuscaloosa are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Tuscaloosa gets about 57 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are February, March and April (5.6 inches in February). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 89 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 35 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 61 | 38 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 45 | 5.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 76 | 52 | 5.4 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 5.3 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 4.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 4.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 65 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 78 | 53 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 42 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 58 | 37 | 5.2 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Tuscaloosa?
Jobs that often go together with home addition are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Tuscaloosa wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and roof replacement lowest (−13%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,500 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,100 | −9% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $25,700 – $51,600 | −11% |
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,200 – $11,000 | −13% |
Who does the work: Tuscaloosa trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 6 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Tuscaloosa the blend is 0.83.
Carpenters (47-2031), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.49 an hour, 19% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.52 and $27.84 an hour. About 260 work in the metro. That is 24.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 10% of the weighting: a median of $21.30 an hour, 22% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $17.67 and $26.36 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 12.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.90 an hour, which is 5% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.58 and $34.50 an hour. BLS counts 560 of them working in the area, 51.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is about average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.62 an hour, 7% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.91 and $34.36 an hour. About 370 work in the metro. That is 34.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $21.69 an hour, which is 23% below the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $19.50 and $21.69 an hour. BLS counts 40 of them working in the area, 3.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Tuscaloosa metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median: $21.96 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.36 and $25.64 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $2,850 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,950. That is a swing of roughly 3.9% to 5.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Tuscaloosa has 108,460 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 192nd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 50% | $20.52 | $23.49 | $27.84 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 10% | $17.67 | $21.30 | $26.36 | $27.41 | 0.78 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.58 | $28.90 | $34.50 | $30.38 | 0.95 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $22.91 | $28.62 | $34.36 | $30.67 | 0.93 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $19.50 | $21.69 | $21.69 | $28.33 | 0.77 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $20.36 | $21.96 | $25.64 | $26.65 | 0.82 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
How Tuscaloosa compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Tuscaloosa. Auburn is the lowest at about $49,100 (midpoint, 300 sq ft), 140 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa, ALthis page | $33,100 – $67,100 | $50,100 | |
| Birmingham, AL60 miles | $33,700 – $68,200 | $50,900 | +2% |
| Montgomery, AL95 miles | $32,500 – $65,800 | $49,200 | −2% |
| Decatur, AL105 miles | $34,000 – $68,800 | $51,400 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL130 miles | $33,200 – $67,300 | $50,200 | level |
| Auburn, AL140 miles | $32,400 – $65,800 | $49,100 | −2% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $32,900 – $66,800 | $49,800 | −1% |
| United States | $38,000 – $77,000 | $57,500 | +15% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Tuscaloosa ranks #236 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Tuscaloosa is 1% above the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $33,700 – $68,200 | $50,900 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $33,200 – $67,300 | $50,200 | level |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $33,300 – $67,500 | $50,400 | level |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $32,500 – $65,800 | $49,200 | −2% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $32,400 – $65,800 | $49,100 | −2% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $32,400 – $65,800 | $49,100 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tuscaloosa against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo, TX | 109,370 jobs | $30,400 – $61,800 | $46,100 | −8% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $42,300 – $85,600 | $64,000 | +28% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $35,700 – $72,300 | $54,000 | +8% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $35,900 – $72,600 | $54,200 | +8% |
Home addition: what moves the price in Tuscaloosa
Permits
Construction permits run $500-$2,000, or $5-$21 per $1,000 of project cost (HomeGuide).
Foundation
A foundation, framing, roofing and matching exterior finishes all have to be built before the interior work starts.
Type of addition
A new room is $125-$250 per sq ft; a bump-out $85-$200; an attic conversion $50-$150; a garage conversion $50-$200 (HomeGuide).
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed home addition report for Tuscaloosa, AL, $9
The report lays out the home addition numbers for Tuscaloosa, AL line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Home addition in Tuscaloosa: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a home addition in Tuscaloosa?
For 300 sq ft, expect $33,100 to $67,100 in the Tuscaloosa area. A standard-spec job lands at $43,300 to $56,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for home addition in Tuscaloosa?
About $109 to $218 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $440 to $1,750 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $125 to $250.
+Is home addition cheaper in Tuscaloosa or Birmingham?
Birmingham is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $50,900, which is 2% more than Tuscaloosa ($50,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tuscaloosa?
About 63% at the midpoint, or $31,700 out of $50,100. Materials are 35% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 67%.
+What would 20x20 room (400 sq ft) cost in Tuscaloosa?
$44,000 to $88,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does home addition need a permit in Tuscaloosa?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $440 to $1,750 for fees in the Tuscaloosa area (our national range of $500 to $2,000 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tuscaloosa expensive for home addition compared with the rest of Alabama?
Tuscaloosa is 1% above the Alabama statewide estimate ($49,800 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Tuscaloosa?
The BLS median is $23.49 an hour in the Tuscaloosa area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.52 to $27.84.
+What do basic and premium home addition work cost in Tuscaloosa?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $33,100 to $46,700 and premium work $53,500 to $67,100. Basic means: bump-out or simple room without plumbing. Premium means: large addition with bath or kitchen and a new foundation.
+When is the best time to build a home addition in Tuscaloosa?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. September and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Home addition near Tuscaloosa
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Home Addition Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 32% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Structural' category split (56% labor, 32% materials, 11% permits and design). It is a category average rather than an addition-specific figure.