What Is A Half Bathroom? Everything To Know About Half Baths

If you’ve ever scanned through the details of an online listing, you may have noticed homes with varying numbers of bathrooms. From a one-bathroom house to a 1.5-bath, two-bathroom house and beyond, these numbers make a big difference in terms of a home’s price and functionality. But what is a half bathroom? And how does a one-bathroom house actually differ from a 1.5-bathroom house?

In this article, we’ll define what a half bathroom is and compare it to other types of bathrooms. We’ll also dive into the numbers related to building and remodeling a half bath.

What Is A Half Bathroom?

A half bathroom is a bathroom that contains a toilet and a sink, but it doesn’t have a shower or a bathtub like a full bathroom. Also known as a powder room, a half bath is often used as a guest bathroom for added convenience. Half baths can be located anywhere in a home and can vary in size, cost and design.

It’s important to know that two half baths can’t be added up to make one full bathroom. Listing sites, like Rocket Homes^SM, will separate how many full baths and how many half baths (or “partial baths”) are in a house. You can analyze the listing’s descriptions and photos to get a feel for a half bathroom’s size and location.

Half Bathroom Vs. Other Bathroom Types

It’s easier to recognize a half bathroom once you understand the characteristics of other bathroom types: the full bathroom, three-quarter bath and quarter bath. Let’s take a look at how half bathrooms compare to other types.

Half Bathroom Vs. Full Bathroom

A half bath has only two of the four main components that make up a full bathroom. A full bathroom has a toilet, sink, bathtub and shower – and sometimes even a bidet, double sinks or a bathroom vanity. Meanwhile, a half bath only contains a sink and a toilet. Remember, two half baths don’t equal a full bathroom.

According to the National Association of REALTORS^®, the typical home purchased in 2022 had two full bathrooms.

Half Bathroom Vs. Three-Quarter BathroomBathroom

A three-quarter bathroom has three out of the four elements of a full bath – typically a toilet, sink and a standing shower without a bathtub. Rarely, a three-quarter bathroom will have a bathtub instead of a standing shower to compose three out of its four elements.

Half Bathroom Vs. Quarter BathroomBathroom

Finally, a quarter bath contains only one of the four previously mentioned components. Sometimes, it’s a small room with a toilet, also known as a water closet. Other times, it’s a standing shower near a pool or a sink where guests can wash their hands. These are the rarest of the four bathroom types.

What Are The Benefits Of A Half Bathroom?

So why is a half bath appealing? A 1.5-bathroom house versus a two-bathroom house can make a big difference for homeowners and home buyers alike. Here’s a list of benefits of a half bathroom:

• Improves functionality: If you’re a homeowner who hosts often, you might want a half bathroom on the main level of your house that’s accessible for guests. Or you may want one in a finished basement where your kids or guests spend a lot of time.
• Adds privacy: A half bath on the main level of a home provides a bathroom guests can use instead of your primary bathroom. This can help you maintain the privacy of your full bath.
• Boosts home value: Both a half bathroom and a full bath can increase home value, whether you’re building from scratch or remodeling. You can even play with popular interior design trends, like black-and-white tile floors or shiplap ceilings, in your more public-facing half bath.
• Helps a house sell: Some home buyers may not even consider a home if it doesn’t have a certain number of bathrooms. Or if it doesn’t have a half bathroom at all, buyers may skip over the listing altogether. A half bath might help you sell your home faster or appeal to more buyers.

How Much Does A Half Bath Cost?

According to HomeAdvisor, building a half bathroom from scratch can cost anywhere from $5,000 – $15,000. Renovating an existing half bathroom can be a cheaper alternative, costing homeowners $3,000 – $10,000 on average. Of course, DIY home improvement will cost less if you do it right.

It’s common for homeowners to convert a smaller space in their home, like a closet, into a half bath. HomeAdvisor states that converting a closet space into a half bath will cost anywhere from $5,000 – $20,000. Total bathroom remodel costs will depend on your current plumbing’s location, the overall size of the space, amenities and more.

How Much Home Value Does A Half Bath Add?

On average, adding a half bathroom can add about 10% to your home’s value, according to HomeAdvisor. You can add between 15% and 25% to your home’s value with a full bathroom addition. However, it’ll likely cost more money out of pocket, and return on investment will vary by project.

Planning on renovating instead of building a new half bath? You can expect to recoup about 71% of your investment, according to the NAR’s most recent Remodeling Impact Report.

Creative Half Bathroom Ideas

Half baths can vary in square feet, design, layout and location. Because of this, it can be hard to know where to start. But with so many options also comes endless possibilities. Here are some half bathroom ideas to inspire your renovation.

Experiment With Wallpaper

Since half bathrooms are usually comparable in size to a closet, you may not have a lot of space to work with. You can make a design statement with a patterned, bold wallpaper. If installing wallpaper is new territory, you can just do an accent wall behind the toilet. Or you can add wallpaper to the upper half of the walls around the room instead of the full walls.

Play With Fancy Fixtures

Fancier fixtures can make a cost-efficient bathroom renovation look more expensive than it actually is. This includes the handles on cabinets, a faucet, wall sconces, towel racks and mirrors. Like wallpaper, fixtures can make a design statement that a simple powder room needs.

Take Advantage Of Tiles

Another unique way to design a half bath is to incorporate bathroom tile. Whether you’re tiling the floor or the walls, tile can be a cost-efficient way to improve your half bath’s overall aesthetic. Different types of tile include terracotta, glazed ceramic or porcelain. These are all a good choice because they’re durable and low-maintenance.

Find Ways To Maximize Space

You’ll need to maximize space in a half bath with little square footage. Instead of a bulky vanity, consider a pedestal sink. Instead of a medicine cabinet, hang a mirror. And to provide storage space, open shelves stacked vertically and higher up can prevent a small bathroom from feeling cramped or cluttered.

The Bottom Line

A half bathroom can improve the resale value and functionality of a home. Homeowners can renovate an existing space or build an addition to create a half bathroom. Either method will impact how much you spend on the project and how much value it’ll add to the house. Looking to incorporate a functional half bath to your home? A cash-out refinance can be a useful financing option.

Apply for a cash-out refinance today with Rocket Mortgage^® to tap into your home’s equity and fund your half bathroom project.