Home addition cost in Arkansas
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $31,800 – $64,500
- Per sq ft
- $105 – $209
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −16%
- US $57,500
- Metros covered
- 4
Across Arkansas, a home addition costs about $31,800 to $64,500 for 300 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 16% below the US figure of $57,500. Carpenters earn a median $22.96 an hour in Arkansas (US: $29.12).
Inside Arkansas, the metros we cover range from $45,900 (Fort Smith) to $49,100 (Fayetteville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Arkansas (statewide), standard level
$41,600 to $54,700
About $136 to $178 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $14,600 | $19,100 |
| Labor | $26,200 | $34,300 |
| Permits and fees | $830 | $1,350 |
| Total | $41,600 | $54,700 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Arkansas
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $11,200 | $16,800 | $22,500 | 35% |
| Labor | $20,200 | $30,200 | $40,300 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $430 | $1,100 | $1,750 | 2% |
| Total | $31,800 | $48,200 | $64,500 | 100% |
Basic, standard or premium: Arkansas prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from bump-out (100 sq ft) to large suite (600 sq ft).
Basic
$31,800 to $44,900
Bump-out or simple room without plumbing
Standard
$41,600 to $54,700
Standard room addition with HVAC and electrical
Premium
$51,400 to $64,500
Large addition with bath or kitchen and a new foundation
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bump-out (100 sq ft) | $10,900 – $15,600 | $14,400 – $19,100 | $18,000 – $22,700 |
| 20x20 room (400 sq ft) | $42,300 – $59,500 | $55,200 – $72,500 | $68,200 – $85,400 |
| large suite (600 sq ft) | $63,200 – $88,800 | $82,400 – $108,000 | $101,500 – $127,500 |
Arkansas metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 4 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $48,200, and the top-to-bottom gap is 7%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (300 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | $32,400 – $65,800 | $49,100 | +2% |
| Little Rock, AR | $31,900 – $64,600 | $48,300 | level |
| Jonesboro, AR | $30,600 – $62,100 | $46,400 | −4% |
| Fort Smith, AR | $30,300 – $61,500 | $45,900 | −5% |
If you are planning more than one job in Arkansas
Each project weights the trades differently, so Arkansas's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, kitchen remodel is −10% and bathroom remodel −16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,700 – $28,400 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $3,950 – $19,500 | −16% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $25,100 – $50,400 | −13% |
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,300 – $11,000 | −12% |
Why two Arkansas quotes can differ
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).
Plumbing and fixtures
Adding a bathroom or kitchen drives the price up the most.
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.
Weather windows across Arkansas
Weather decides when digging and ground work can happen, and Arkansas is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Little Rock has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Arkansas at 9 months (February through June and September through December); Jonesboro has the shortest at 8 (February through May and September through December). Rainfall runs from 47 inches a year in Fayetteville to 50 inches in Little Rock.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | 31 | 92 | 50 | 9: February through June and September through December |
| Fayetteville | 25 | 89 | 47 | 9: March through November |
| Fort Smith | 30 | 94 | 47 | 8: February through June and September through November |
| Jonesboro | 31 | 91 | 49 | 8: February through May and September through December |
How Arkansas compares with nearby states
Arkansas ranks 51 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for home addition, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $76,300 and the cheapest Arkansas at $48,200, both for 300 sq ft at the midpoint. Arkansas sits at $48,200. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 220 miles away | $32,400 – $65,700 | $49,000 | +2% |
| Missouri | 230 miles away | $37,800 – $76,500 | $57,200 | +19% |
| Kansas | 280 miles away | $35,200 – $71,300 | $53,300 | +11% |
| Mississippi | 330 miles away | $32,500 – $66,000 | $49,300 | +2% |
| Tennessee | 360 miles away | $33,800 – $68,600 | $51,200 | +6% |
Wages behind the Arkansas number
Arkansas's labor line is priced from 6 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.79 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.96 an hour, 21% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.93 and $27.65 an hour. About 4,030 work in the state. That is 30.9 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 $22.23 an hour, 19% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $18.19 and $23.86 an hour. About 1,900 work in the state. That is 14.6 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 $23.59 an hour, which is 22% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $18.54 and $29.99 an hour. BLS counts 7,500 of them working in the state, 57.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.39 an hour, 24% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $18.82 and $29.12 an hour. About 3,370 work in the state. That is 25.9 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 $21.42 an hour, which is 24% below the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $17.82 and $22.65 an hour. BLS counts 240 of them working in the state, 1.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Roofers (47-2181), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.82 an hour, 14% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $17.87 and $24.62 an hour. About 950 work in the state. That is 7.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($27.65 an hour) would add about $3,100 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.93) would take off about $2,000. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,303,630 jobs across Arkansas (May 2025), which is 0.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 50% | $19.93 | $22.96 | $27.65 | $29.12 | 0.79 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 10% | $18.19 | $22.23 | $23.86 | $27.41 | 0.81 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $18.54 | $23.59 | $29.99 | $30.38 | 0.78 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $18.82 | $23.39 | $29.12 | $30.67 | 0.76 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $17.82 | $21.42 | $22.65 | $28.33 | 0.76 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $17.87 | $22.82 | $24.62 | $26.65 | 0.86 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
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Home addition in Arkansas: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a home addition in Arkansas?
$31,800 to $64,500 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Arkansas can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Arkansas is cheapest for home addition?
Fort Smith at about $45,900 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Fayetteville at $49,100.
+Is home addition cheaper in Arkansas than the US average?
It is 16% cheaper: $48,200 against $57,500 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Arkansas?
About 63% ($30,200). Materials are 35%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.79x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Arkansas?
The BLS statewide median is $22.96 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.93 to $27.65.
+Where does Arkansas rank for home addition costs?
51st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $48,200 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium home addition work cost in Arkansas?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $31,800 to $44,900 and premium work $51,400 to $64,500. Basic means: bump-out or simple room without plumbing. Premium means: large addition with bath or kitchen and a new foundation.
+Does the season matter for home addition in Arkansas?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Arkansas metros we cover, Little Rock has the most comfortable months (9 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Home addition by city in Arkansas
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.