Introduction
If you want to upgrade your bathroom, it’s always a good idea to prepare a budget. This is true if you’re planning a bathroom remodel for a guest bathroom or primary bathroom. Knowing your costs is one of the most important first steps to determining a realistic bathroom remodel cost breakdown.
This is Steve Gehrmann, a remodel professional with 20 years experience remodelling bathrooms, with another actionable remodel post. In this guide, you’ll find out the average costs of a bathroom remodel, the actual cost of materials and labor for a bath remodel I completed recently, and other useful tips and strategies.
Key Highlights
- Gain insights into the average bathroom remodel cost across the US, factoring in price variations by region.
- Understand how aspects like bathroom size, scope of work, and material choices influence cost.
- An actual bathroom remodel cost breakdown from a remodel professional.
- Budgeting Tips and cost-saving strategies.
What is the average cost range for a small bathroom remodel?
Remodel cost for a complete small, 3-piece bathroom remodel (managed by a contractor) typically falls between $10,000 and $20,000 (including materials & labor). Costs can vary widely depending on materials/ fixtures grade, choice of freestanding tub or walk in shower installations, or hiring a designer.
Average Cost of a Bathroom Remodel in the United States
This section tells you about the average prices across the country, including bathroom remodel cost breakdown and price ranges.
National Averages and Typical Price Ranges
As I mentioned, remodel cost ranges across the country vary significantly, but generally speaking, a “basic” remodel starts at about $10,000. The NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) says the range is between $—-, and $—-. If you search online you may see numbers as low as $6,000, but I can tell you from experience that you will never get this kind of a price from any legitimate, high-quality contractor, no matter the region or grade of materials. Note: The “3 pieces” represent a full renovation, including Toilet, Lav Sink, and tub/ shower.
| Remodel Type | Price Range (USD) | Features Included |
|---|---|---|
| Partial Remodel – one piece | $5,000 – $10,000 | Choice of: Tub or shower updates, or vanity replacement, or new flooring, or fixture replacement. Using above average grade of materials. |
| Partial Remodel – Small bathroom, two piece | $7,000 – $12,000 | Combination of: cabinets, bath/shower replacement, plumbing, lighting, flooring. Using above average grade of materials. |
| Full Remodel – Small, three piece | $10,000 – $20,000 | Fixtures, cabinets, bath/shower replacement, plumbing, lighting, flooring. Using above average grade of materials. |
| Full Remodel – Master Bath | $18,000 – $50,000+ | Bigger space, large vanity, and extra features. Using above average grade of materials. |
This table above shows a bathroom remodel cost breakdown for 4 general bath remodel categories. Your needs, and the upgrades you choose, will change your final price, but this is a good place to start before you begin the actual planning stage of your remodel.
Regional Variations in Remodeling Costs
Where you live has a big impact on the cost of your remodel. Prices in big cities such as New York or San Francisco are always higher than smaller cities and rural areas simply because labor costs and building materials costs are higher in urban areas. In addition, remodeling costs in the Midwest tend to be lower than East Coast centers with the same population density and degree of urbanization.
That means that you’ll need to ask some local contractors for project quotes to get a more accurate range of costs for your area. Don’t be afraid to ask these guys for a complete quote… for free. They may grumble a bit about providing it, but don’t let this phase you; this is a part of their job. In fact, if they don’t provide it with a smile, I would suggest that you move on to the next contractor.
Key Factors Influencing Bathroom Remodel Costs
Many things can add to your bathroom remodel cost breakdown including size (square footage), materials & features. The more extensive the features (walk-in shower, freestanding tub) the more cash you’ll be dropping on your dream bath makeover.
Size and Layout
Although bathroom size is obviously a big factor affecting your costs, you should also try not to make generalizations. For example, floor tiling labor costs are always based on square footage completed, but a shower of bathtub job might not vary between a large or small bath, especially if the tub/shower size is similar. The type of bathroom you are planning to remodel also does not really matter (master bathroom, or guest bathroom). It’s only about the number of “pieces” in the space, the size of the room, and how fancy you want to make it.
You’ll also have to keep in mind that your costs could go up significantly if you want to change the layout of your bathroom or move the location of fixtures. Changing the location of water lines can sometimes be a relatively inexpensive extra cost, but this only works if the lines are easy to move and accessible. If there’s a structural obstruction, or your water lines are more than 15 years old, or you need to move any drainage lines, plumbing costs can skyrocket.
Bathroom Remodel Cost Breakdown – Material vs Labor
Cost of Materials (Tiles, Fixtures, Cabinets)
Knowing about material costs is very important when you plan a bathroom remodel. Tiles can go from lower-priced ceramic to very high-end natural stone. The type you pick will change both the look of your bathroom and the total cost. Things like sinks, faucets, and shower heads add to your budget as well. If you go for luxury choices, the price can go up fast. Custom cabinets for example, can cost a few thousand dollars on their own.
Labor and Contractor Fees
Professional contractor fees can range between $50 to $150 an hour but I would suggest that you not dwell too much on any hourly fees, simply because it will be impossible to compare “apples to apples” when you’re trying to decide on a contractor for your project.
Most contractors simply don’t charge their clients based on an hourly rate. General contractors (GC’s) are charged an hourly fee by their subcontractors (plumbers, tilers, electricians, etc), but they must determine a price for the whole job based on all of their business costs, plus a profit margin for themselves and their company. This margin is never really calculated based on the hours that the GC puts into the project. It will instead be based on a percentage that they feel they can achieve, based on their reputation, and how much their services are in-demand in the marketplace.
Another significant fee will be from your interior designer, if you decide to hire one. I always suggest to my clients that they seriously consider the services of an experienced interior designer to look over the space and make some general recommendations.
This does not have to be exceedingly expensive because most designers offer several tiers of services. This means that you don’t have to go for their full-service package if you have some ideas of your own.
Major Bathroom Remodel Components and Their Costs
The biggest material costs in a bath remodel are tubs, showers and often (but not always) flooring.
Bathtub and Shower Upgrades
When you’re doing a bathroom remodel cost breakdown, the tub and shower need to be your biggest focus. These parts of the remodel are almost always the most expensive, so they need to be pondered carefully. If you want to replace an old tub, the price is usually between $5,000 and $15,000. The cost will depend on the whether it’s an alcove tub or freestanding.
When you put in a new shower, the starting price is also about $5,000 but can be much more costly depending on the type of shower. Body spray jets, frameless glass panels, or a walk in shower are luxury extras that will cost you. Same goes for the shower walls. If you choose tile, or a solid stone surface, you get a more high-end look, but you’ll have to pay more.
Acrylic panels for the shower walls are the least expensive option. I’ve installed many tub “inserts” and shower panel kits for showers and tub/ showers that are quite attractive if they’re finished carefully around the seams and edges.
Flooring and Wall Treatments
A floor tile installation can cost from $3 to $15 for per square foot to lay the tiles. Floor tile costs are even crazier to calculate.
A decent ceramic tile can start around $2 per square foot but can easily reach upwards of $30 per square foot if you choose a high-end ceramic. Porcelain tile or marble tile start at a higher price point, but the high-end porcelain and marble tiles are similar in price to the premium ceramic tiles.
Heated flooring like Schluter Ditra heat, can add another $4 per square foot to the price (materials and labor).
For walls, the price can change a lot depending on your finishing choices. A simple coat of paint is of course the least expensive but even paint is expensive these days. Paint and painting materials will cost you over $200 even for a small bathroom with a few hours of labor cost added to that, if you aren’t planning to diy.
If you want to install tile or stone panels to the bathroom walls, this will be similar to the cost of installing the flooring (maybe slightly cheaper if you’re lucky), so make sure you add that into your bathroom remodel cost breakdown.
Plumbing, Electrical, and Ventilation Costs
Updating the plumbing, lighting, and ventilation in your remodeled bathroom is very important for safety and comfort. However, relocating plumbing supply or drainage lines, adding light fixtures, or adding/improving the ventilation, can dramatically increase your costs.
Updating Plumbing Systems
Replacing old plumbing is a reality in almost every remodel that I do, so it needs to be included in any reasonable bathroom remodel cost breakdown. This might involve as little as moving the water lines a bit to accommodate a slightly different shower valve location, or moving the vanity drain to the right a few inches. But more often than not, the plumbing upgrades are far more extensive… and often expensive.
If your home is even 10-15 years old, I will usually recommend that all the bathroom water lines be replaced, even if there are currently no problems with the water supply. This is simply because older water lines are prone to pin hole leaks and fractures. If your home is older than this, water line replacement is a must.
If you decide not to do this upgrade, you’re courting disaster. Discovering a breached water line a few months after your new bath remodel is complete, can definitely ruin your whole day… probably your whole month, and perhaps your whole year. I always tell my clients that the best time to replace water lines is just after the old bathroom demo, when they’re easily accessible and relatively inexpensive to replace.
Drainage lines are a different story. Old drain lines are surprisingly durable and may still be OK even after 50 years if they were installed correctly.
However, lots of problems can result from poor drainage installation, and these problems are extremely common, especially in newer remodels. As such, a very careful inspection of the drainage lines is ALWAYS necessary. If drainage upgrades are required, it could become one of the largest costs in your bathroom remodel cost breakdown.
I worked on a project recently that involved $8,000 in plumbing upgrades alone. The homeowner insisted on moving the shower and toilet locations, which involved extensive water line and drainage relocation. Then the water line relocation expanded into a water line upgrade because the existing lines were 15 year old copper lines, which had already been repaired several times over the years.
Electrical Work and Lighting Upgrades
Installing some cool new lighting is an essential part of every bath reno. It makes a huge difference to the functionality and the feel of the space. I always ask my clients to think carefully about the lighting deficiencies of their old bathroom space, and what they’d want to improve in terms of total light and lighting location.
Another important consideration is number and location of power outlets over the vanity, and installation of an exhaust fan. These days many people use multiple items in the bathroom that need to be charged or require power directly.
These are important considerations in your bathroom remodel cost breakdown because if they were not part of the existing bathroom, power feeds and switch runs will have to be wired in. Electrical work in a bathroom is usually quite elementary for a qualified electrician, but they also charge $150+ per hour to complete this work.
An Actual Bathroom Remodel Cost Breakdown
Below are the material and Labor costs associated with a recent small, three-piece bathroom remodel project I competed recently (see finished remodel pics above):
| Materials Used: | Cost: |
|---|---|
| Vanity Mirror | $52 |
| Kerdi Waterproofing membrane | $221 |
| Wall & floor tile, mortar, spacers, metal edging | $950 |
| Moen 90 degree shower trim/head | $531 |
| Moen 90 degree vanity light | $284 |
| Acritec vessel sink | $250 |
| Acritec white one-piece toilet | $522 |
| Acritec white Simplicity II bathtub | $687 |
| Mapeiguard 2 crack isolation membrane (floor) | $129 |
| PEX water lines & couplings/ fittings | $52 |
| Moen shower valve rough-in | $89 |
| Drainage & supply components for Lav sink | $58 |
| Plywood for wall furring / backing, screws, silicon sealant, bathtub overflow | $190 |
| Construction adhesive, framing, screws, paper towels, utility knife blades, dust masks, vacuum bags, floor stripping compound, painters tape | $392 |
| Hardibacker panels | $181 |
| ABS drainage pipe/ couplings & water pipe for shower | $246 |
| Tile mortar | $41 |
| Bathroom exhaust fan | $120 |
| Ducting supplies, tiling supplies, caulking | $127 |
| Toilet connection materials | $21 |
| Grout & sponge, caulking | $146 |
| Junk removal | $250 |
| Painters tape, hardboard, electrical supplies, vacuum bags, painting supplies, drywall supplies, hardware, adhesive, construction adhesive, tile caulking, paper towels, tile mortar, Drydex, tuck tape, insulation | $310 |
| Ikea Vanity | $236 |
| Redblock stainless steel shower niche | $429 |
| Stone vanity countertop | $670 |
| Paint | $160 |
| Spray Foam on outside walls (material & labour) | $830 |
| Total Materials Cost of Project | $8,174 |
| Contractor’s Fee (what I charged this client): | $8,760 |
|---|
Additional Costs to Consider
There are some things that can add to the overall cost of your bathroom renovation that people don’t always think about when determining their bathroom remodel cost breakdown. You will need permits and inspections for any legal remodel job. Hiring someone to demolish the old space and hauling away the demo debris can also bring extra charges.
Permits and Inspection Fees
Understanding permits and inspection fees is important when you start a bath remodel. The total cost for permits changes based on where you live and how big the project is. They are generally not super expensive but can add $500 to $1,000 to your remodel budget in a heartbeat, so they must be considered in your bathroom remodel cost breakdown.
Demolition and Disposal Charges
I always subcontract out the demolition job to a demo company that specializes in this. If you are managing the project yourself or planning a diy project, I suggest that you do the same.
Intuitively, demolition seems like the easiest part of the job, requiring the least skill, and least intimidating to the average DIYer. But in reality, it’s really very dangerous if you’re not experienced with demos, and not extremely careful. One stray nail head can tear a gash into your arm and send you to the hospital. Not fun at all. I can tell you that from experience.
Disposal costs also need to be considered in your remodel budget because they can amount to several thousand dollars if you’re not careful.
In my experience, bathroom remodelers, both professional and diy’ers tend to ignore these costs. More than a few times I’ve heard of licensed contractors requiring their clients to pay the “dump fees” even though these weren’t included in the contract. A slippery strategy, but all too common.
Budgeting Tips and Cost-Saving Strategies
Finding ways to cut costs can really change the final cost of your bathroom renovation. Try to focus on jobs that you can do on your own, like painting or putting in new light fixtures. This can help you save money that you would otherwise pay to a contractor or tradesman.
Finding less expensive shower alternatives like in-grout corner shower shelves and installing them yourself, can save you the expense of installing a shower niche, and can hack a good chunk off your shower remodel budget.
It also helps to look more closely at your material choices. Choosing products that look great but do not cost as much—like a laminate vanity counter-top can also be a great idea for some people.
I have sourced and installed some very nice laminate vanity tops that look remarkably close to natural stone; definitely good enough to fool most of your guests.
Vanities cabinets are another example. I always recommend Ikea bath vanities because they really know how to make decent quality cabinets, that are also inexpensive. I’ve installed dozens of these over the years, especially the “floating” style (see the images in the bath remodel budget section).
How to Prioritize Remodel Elements
Knowing what bathroom remodeling elements to focus on can help make your project less expensive while still achieving that “updated” look, especially if you’re only doing a one-piece, or two-piece remodel. Even a small upgrade can actually add to the resale value of your home, so it’s worth giving this some careful thought, especially if your bathroom hasn’t been updated in more than 10 years.
Handling a few of the remodelling tasks yourself (diy) or managing the entire project can accomplish this. Good examples would be installing a new toilet to replace the old, installing new towel bars, toilet paper holder or a new sink.
With the help of a plumber to do the drain and water supply connections, these upgrades can be handled by a motivated diy’rs with only basic skills.
Other simple upgrades like installing an in-grout corner shower shelf yourself, instead of getting your contractor to install a shower niche, can also hack a good chunk off your shower remodel budget.
These and other budget remodel tips can make it look like you have a new bathroom even without a full renovation.
DIY Tasks vs. Hiring Professionals
Deciding if you should do a bathroom remodel yourself or bring in experts can really change the overall cost of a bathroom remodel. But you really need to be confident that you have the motivation and basic skills required to get this done to your satisfaction.
I’ve talked to many enthusiastic DIYers that “ran out of gas” after getting intimidated by everything that was involved.
Feel free to read this section in my bathroom remodel planning post to find out more about this topic.
Wrap Up
Coming up with remodel budget is an important first step before starting any bath remodel – That means a complete bathroom remodel cost breakdown of all your expected material, labor and miscellaneous extra costs. I hope that my post helped you accomplish this. Good luck with your own remodel project!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most expensive part of a bathroom remodel?
The most expensive part of a bathroom remodel is often the “finishing” materials like vanity, tile, and fixtures, but another huge factor is the “grade” of your installation. For example, a walk in shower or a free-standing tub installation (instead of an alcove tub/shower), can costs thousands more. If plumbing or electrical work is involved in your new design, these extra costs can also make a big difference to your bathroom remodel cost breakdown.
Can I remodel a bathroom on a tight budget?
Yes, you can redo your bathroom even if you do not want to spend a lot. Start by choosing the most important things that need to be fixed. Do as many of the jobs yourself as you can. Pick inexpensive materials that still look good and last. Small changes can make a big difference. Do not give up on style or good looks. Check online and at local bathroom showrooms near you for inexpensive but stylish options.
Do bathroom remodels increase home value?
Yes, bathroom remodels can really help raise the value of a home. When you upgrade things like sinks, showers, and the way the bathroom looks, you often get back “more than you put in”, if you decide to sell your house. But how much the value goes up will depend on making prudent material choices, quality workmanship, and often saving a few dollars with small diy projects.
How long does a typical bathroom remodel take?
It’s really difficult to estimate but I can say that a “typical” bathroom remodel usually takes about four to eight weeks to finish. How long it takes will depend on the quality of the work, the size of the bathroom, if a walk-in shower is installed, and if plumbing or electrical changes need to be made. There can also be delays. These might happen with obtaining permits and/or arranging inspections, unexpected problems cropping up, or supply chain issues.
What permits are required for a bathroom remodel in the US?
Permits for a bath remodel in the US are different in each state, but most of the time, you’ll need permits for almost every aspect of your remodel. The most important permits are for plumbing and electrical work. With permits also come inspections, so you’ll have to be prepared for this. It’s important to talk to your local officials to avoid fines and work shutdowns.
