Basement bedrooms, done to code
A basement bedroom is the cheapest square footage you will ever add to a Twin Cities house — as long as it is done properly. Done wrong, it is an unpermitted room that an appraiser will not count, an insurer can argue about, and a tenant should not be sleeping in.
What a finished basement bedroom needs
- A compliant egress window and well (see our egress window page)
- 7-foot ceiling height over the required area
- Moisture control first: fix the grading, gutters, or drain tile before framing
- Framed walls held off the foundation with a rigid or spray foam layer, per Minnesota's basement wall insulation rules
- Heat: a supply register plus a return, sized for the space
- Interconnected smoke alarm in the room and a CO alarm nearby
- Code-count receptacles, a switched light, and a permitted electrical rough-in
- Egress path from the room to the exterior that is not through a mechanical room
Typical scope and timeline
Framing and insulation, electrical and HVAC rough-in, inspection, insulation inspection, drywall, texture, paint, doors, trim, flooring, closet, final. Most single-bedroom projects run 3 to 6 weeks including inspection scheduling.
Rough cost
| Scope | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Bedroom only, egress already in place | $9,000 – $18,000 |
| Bedroom plus new egress window | $14,000 – $28,000 |
| Bedroom plus a 3/4 bath | $28,000 – $50,000 |
Estimates for planning, not a quote.
The cash-flow math
Price the rent for a comparable room in your city, subtract nothing for a room already inside your footprint, and divide your project cost by that monthly number. A basement bedroom that rents by the room in Minneapolis or St. Paul frequently pays for itself in well under five years, and it counts as a bedroom when you sell — provided the permit and the egress window are there.
What's included
- Free, no-pressure estimate
- Licensed & fully insured crew
- Cleanup included — we leave it spotless
- Same-day or scheduled service
- Written quote, fair pricing
- 24/7 emergency response
FAQ
Does a basement bedroom have to have an egress window?
Yes. Any room used for sleeping needs an emergency escape and rescue opening directly to the outside. Without one it is a rec room, not a bedroom.
What ceiling height do I need?
Seven feet over the required floor area. Beams and ducts can drop below that in spots, but the room itself has to hold the height.
Should I fix moisture problems first?
Always. We will not frame over an active water problem. Grading, gutters, downspout extensions, or drain tile come first — otherwise you are building a mold problem behind new drywall.
Will an appraiser count basement bedrooms?
Below-grade space is usually valued differently than above-grade, but a permitted, egress-compliant bedroom counts as a bedroom in the listing and in the rent.
Can you also add a bathroom down there?
Yes. If the rough-in exists it is straightforward; if not, we cut the slab and tie into the drain.
Related cost guide
Basement Finishing Cost in Minnesota
Real Twin Cities pricing — what you should expect to pay in 2026.
Read the guideBasement Bedroom Finishing near you
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