A walk out basement is a type of basement that is on the ground level and allows a person to walk out of the room directly into a sun room or the outside. Also known as a direct access basement or an above ground basement, the walk out basement is most often featured on houses that are built into hill or sloped lot. With a walkout basement, the homeowner can leave the house directly without ever entering another floor.

They are called direct access basements because many of them feature a full-sized door to the outside. These kinds of doors are common on split-level houses without a full floor below ground. The walk out basement area is often much warmer than a normal basement, because it is at least partially above ground, and usually has access to direct sunlight. These walk out basements sometimes also feature full sized windows and can be treated very much like a lower full sized floor, although the ceiling is generally not as high as a normal floor.

Commonly known in slang terms as a mother-in-law basement, walk out basements can be used to house roommates without the need to share common areas or doors. With roommates in a walk out basement, they will be able to leave the house without ever going through a living room or entering the upper portion of the house. It can serve as a kind of attached, but separate living space.

Walk out basements can also frequently lead out to a deck or patio. In such cases, the door from the basement can be placed on the front, side, or back of the house. The decks can be similar to normal first floor decks and can feature wooden platforms or stone surroundings. The walk out basement also commonly walks out to a small garden or backyard. It is not uncommon to see these types of houses next door to other split-level houses and houses without this feature.

The nature of a walk out basement can add significant value to a house, as many buyers prefer this type of extra space, as opposed to a colder and darker basement. Houses are not the only structures that can feature this type of floor. Some garages also offer this feature, although these commonly forsake the ability to park a car in the structure or use much room for storage.