Home addition cost in Kenosha, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $40,100 – $81,100
- Per sq ft
- $132 – $264
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $57,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #69
- 1 = most expensive
A home addition in Kenosha, WI usually costs $40,100 to $81,100 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $132 to $264 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $3,100 more. Carpenters earn a median of $28.90 an hour in the Kenosha area, 1% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Kenosha, WI, standard level
$52,400 to $68,800
About $171 to $224 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 66% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,600 | $21,700 |
| Labor | $34,900 | $45,600 |
| Permits and fees | $960 | $1,550 |
| Total | $52,400 | $68,800 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Kenosha, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $12,700 | $19,100 | $25,500 | 32% |
| Labor | $26,800 | $40,200 | $53,600 | 66% |
| Permits and fees | $510 | $1,250 | $2,000 | 2% |
| Total | $40,100 | $60,600 | $81,100 | 100% |
Where the Kenosha price comes from
Labor is 66% 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 Kenosha the blended ratio comes out at 1.05.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Kenosha is at 106.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $18,000 nationally becomes $19,100 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.1: $510 to $2,000.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Kenosha. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Kenosha?
Jobs that often go together with home addition are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Kenosha wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+8%) and detached garage lowest (+5%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,700 – $33,400 | +6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,200 | +8% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $30,500 – $61,200 | +5% |
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,500 – $13,300 | +6% |
Kenosha weather and the home addition calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Kenosha Rgnl Ap (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 Kenosha are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 135 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Kenosha gets about 32 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are April, June and August (3.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, July and October are the driest, at 3.4 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 11 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 | 31 | 16 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 19 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 45 | 28 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 37 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 47 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 62 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 61 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 53 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 43 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 32 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 37 | 22 | 1.5 | Cold |
Kenosha: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Kenosha. 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
$40,100 to $56,500
Bump-out or simple room without plumbing
Standard
$52,400 to $68,800
Standard room addition with HVAC and electrical
Premium
$64,700 to $81,100
Large addition with bath or kitchen and a new foundation
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bump-out (100 sq ft) | $13,700 – $19,600 | $18,100 – $24,000 | $22,500 – $28,400 |
| 20x20 room (400 sq ft) | $53,200 – $74,900 | $69,500 – $91,200 | $85,800 – $107,500 |
| large suite (600 sq ft) | $79,600 – $112,000 | $104,000 – $136,000 | $128,000 – $160,000 |
Is Kenosha cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Kenosha. Racine is the lowest at about $59,300 (midpoint, 300 sq ft), 15 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WIthis page | $40,100 – $81,100 | $60,600 | |
| Racine, WI15 miles | $39,200 – $79,300 | $59,300 | −2% |
| Milwaukee, WI20 miles | $40,500 – $81,900 | $61,200 | +1% |
| Chicago, IL55 miles | $49,000 – $99,000 | $74,000 | +22% |
| Janesville, WI60 miles | $43,100 – $87,100 | $65,100 | +7% |
| Rockford, IL60 miles | $43,600 – $88,200 | $65,900 | +9% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $39,300 – $79,500 | $59,400 | −2% |
| United States | $38,000 – $77,000 | $57,500 | −5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Kenosha ranks #69 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Kenosha is 2% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $40,500 – $81,900 | $61,200 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $40,200 – $81,300 | $60,700 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $39,400 – $79,600 | $59,500 | −2% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $39,800 – $80,400 | $60,100 | −1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $44,700 – $90,300 | $67,500 | +11% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $38,600 – $78,000 | $58,300 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Kenosha against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warner Robins, GA | 76,050 jobs | $33,500 – $67,900 | $50,700 | −16% |
| Abilene, TX | 75,070 jobs | $31,000 – $62,900 | $47,000 | −23% |
| Racine, WI | 76,280 jobs | $39,200 – $79,300 | $59,300 | −2% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $34,700 – $70,300 | $52,500 | −13% |
Why two Kenosha quotes can differ
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.
What local crews earn in Kenosha
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 Kenosha the blend is 1.05.
Carpenters (47-2031), 50% of the weighting: a median of $28.90 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.15 and $35.62 an hour. About 310 work in the metro. That is 41.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.15 an hour, 6% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $26.94 and $36.05 an hour. About 70 work in the metro. That is 9.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $36.04 an hour, which is 19% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.67 and $42.33 an hour. BLS counts 120 of them working in the area, 15.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $37.18 an hour, 21% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.43 and $48.11 an hour. About 150 work in the metro. That is 19.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Kenosha metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $28.83 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $33.42 an hour.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Kenosha metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $28.54 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.01 and $31.41 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $4,400 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $3,100. That is a swing of roughly 5.1% to 7.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Kenosha has 75,450 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 245th 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% | $24.15 | $28.90 | $35.62 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 10% | $26.94 | $29.15 | $36.05 | $27.41 | 1.06 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.67 | $36.04 | $42.33 | $30.38 | 1.19 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $28.43 | $37.18 | $48.11 | $30.67 | 1.21 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.05 | $28.83 | $33.42 | $28.33 | 1.02 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $23.01 | $28.54 | $31.41 | $26.65 | 1.07 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
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Detailed home addition report for Kenosha, WI, $9
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Home addition in Kenosha: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a home addition in Kenosha?
For 300 sq ft, expect $40,100 to $81,100 in the Kenosha area. A standard-spec job lands at $52,400 to $68,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for home addition in Kenosha?
About $132 to $264 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $510 to $2,000 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $125 to $250.
+Is home addition cheaper in Kenosha or Racine?
Racine is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $59,300, which is 2% less than Kenosha ($60,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Kenosha?
About 66% at the midpoint, or $40,200 out of $60,600. Materials are 32% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 67%.
+What would 20x20 room (400 sq ft) cost in Kenosha?
$53,200 to $107,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does home addition need a permit in Kenosha?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $510 to $2,000 for fees in the Kenosha area (our national range of $500 to $2,000 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Kenosha expensive for home addition compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Kenosha is 2% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($59,400 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Kenosha?
The BLS median is $28.90 an hour in the Kenosha area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.15 to $35.62.
+What do basic and premium home addition work cost in Kenosha?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $40,100 to $56,500 and premium work $64,700 to $81,100. 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 Kenosha?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. July 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 Kenosha
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.