Attic conversions in Dublin have become one of the most practical ways for growing families to add space without taking on the cost and upheaval of moving house. The capital’s property market is competitive enough that trading up to a bigger home usually means a higher mortgage, a longer search, and no guarantee of landing in the same area.

For homeowners who are happy where they live but just short on room, converting their attic could be a permanent solution that increases property value, daily convenience and adds more livable space.

Let’s explore how the costs compare!

 

The realities of moving house in Dublin

Dublin’s median house price stood at €500,000 in 2026, making the jump to a bigger home a potentially unaffordable financial step for most families.

Beyond the price tag, moving means competing for a limited supply of larger homes, managing a sale-and-purchase chain, and often leaving behind a school catchment area, a commute, or a neighbourhood the family has spent years settling into. None of that shows up on a mortgage calculator, but it’s part of the real cost of moving.

 

What moving house actually costs in Dublin

Before comparing costs, it helps to see what moving actually involves financially. On a typical €500,000 Dublin home, a buyer and seller together could expect to pay:

• Stamp duty: 1% of the property price, so €5,000 on a €500,000 home
• Solicitor fees: €1,500-€2,500 plus VAT to buy, €1,200-€2,000 to sell
• Estate agent fees: 1-2.5% plus VAT, plus a marketing package from around €300-€900
• Land Registry and search fees: roughly €400-€800 and €150-€300
• A refundable booking deposit of €5,000-€10,000 to secure a new home

Add removals, new furniture, and the cost of borrowing more, and the fees alone can run to €15,000-€20,000 or more, before the new mortgage itself is even factored in.

 

 

Attic conversions in Dublin: what they actually cost

A professional attic conversion sidesteps the fees that come with moving. Stamp duty, estate agent commission and a new solicitor process simply don’t apply; the only spend is on the build itself.

Before we explore exactly how much that spend will be, it’s worth noting that the prices below are correct as of July 2026 and are a general guide only. Every quote depends on a site visit, the existing roof structure and the finish chosen!

 

Standard attic conversions

Velux-style rooflight conversions are the most affordable option and don’t usually require planning permission, since the roofline itself isn’t altered. Standard attic conversions start from €23,000, with an en suite adding €9,360, and can be completed in as little as 15 working days.

 

Rear dormer attic conversions

Rear dormer conversions are the most popular choice, adding significant headroom and floor space to the back of the house. These start from €41,000, with an en suite adding €9,360, and typically take 3-4 weeks to complete.

 

Side dormer attic conversions

Side dormer conversions suit hipped roofs, creating the extra headroom needed for a staircase and a larger, more usable room. Pricing starts from €41,000, plus €9,360 for an en suite, with a build time of around 3-4 weeks.

 

Hip-to-gable attic conversions

Hip-to-gable conversions replace a sloped hip roof with a full vertical gable wall, delivering the biggest space gain of the four options. These start from €41,000, with an en suite adding €9,360, and generally take around 4 weeks.

 

 

Why the numbers favour staying and converting

Even at the upper end, a fully finished dormer conversion with an en suite sits close to what moving fees alone cost on a typical Dublin sale, and that’s before a bigger mortgage or a higher interest bill is added in!

Set side by side, the practical case for staying and converting becomes clear:

• No transaction costs: there’s no stamp duty, no estate agent commission and no new solicitor fees to pay, so the full budget goes towards the space itself.
• No chain risk: a conversion doesn’t depend on someone else’s sale going through, so there’s no risk of a purchase falling apart weeks before completion.
• No bidding wars: attic conversion pricing is set by the build, not by competing against other buyers for the same house in a tight market.
• Staying in a known area: the school run, the commute, the neighbours and the local shops all stay exactly as they are.
• A faster timeline: a standard conversion can be finished in as little as 15 working days, and even a full dormer project is normally done within a month, far quicker than the months (or even years!) a house sale can take from offer to completion.
• Added property value: a well-planned attic conversion can increase a home’s value, so the money spent builds equity in a home the family already owns.
• More control over the outcome: the layout is designed around how the family actually plans to use the space, rather than adapting to whatever layout happens to come with the next house.

Together, these add up to a lower-risk, lower-cost route to more space, without the disruption of putting your home on the market and leaving it behind.

 

 

Stay in the home you love with professional attic conversions in Dublin

At The Attic Company, we’ve been converting Dublin attics for over 16 years, completing thousands of standard, rear dormer, side dormer and hip-to-gable projects across the city.

Every project is managed in-house, from architects and engineers through to staircases, insulation, electrics and finishing touches. Where planning permission is needed, our sister company AtticPlanning.ie handles it, run by RIAI-registered architects. Every conversion is completed with a 5-year guarantee and full Engineer’s Certification.

If your family has outgrown your home but you’d rather stay than move, contact us today for a quote and let’s make your special place even better.

 

Attic conversions in Dublin FAQs

Q: Are attic conversions cheaper than moving house in Dublin?
A: In many cases, yes. Attic conversions avoid stamp duty, solicitor fees and estate agent commission entirely, so even a full dormer conversion can cost less than the combined fees of buying and selling a home in Dublin.

Q: How much does an attic conversion cost in Dublin?
A: Prices vary by conversion type. Standard attic conversions start from €23,000, while rear dormer, side dormer and hip-to-gable conversions start from €41,000, with an en suite adding €9,360 to any option. Prices are correct as of March 2026 and are confirmed on a site visit.

Q: Do attic conversions need planning permission?
A: It depends. Standard rooflight conversions are usually exempt, but dormer and hip-to-gable conversions that alter the roofline often require planning permission, which we manage through a partnership with AtticPlanning.ie.

Q: Does VAT apply to attic conversion costs?
A: Yes, VAT at 13.5% applies to both labour and materials, so it’s worth confirming whether a quote is VAT-inclusive before comparing prices.

Q: How long does an attic conversion take compared to a house move?
A: A standard conversion can be finished in as little as 15 working days, while dormer and hip-to-gable conversions typically take 3-4 weeks. A house move, by comparison, can take months from sale agreed to completion.

Q: Can The Attic Company help with the full process, including planning permission?
A: Yes, we manage every stage from design to final certification, and where planning permission is required, it’s handled through our sister company, AtticPlanning.ie.