Home / Costs / Bathroom Remodel Cost
How much does a bathroom remodel cost?
Cost insights
$6,600 to $17,600- Most US bathroom remodels cost $6,600 to $17,600, with a typical standard bathroom in the middle of that range.
- A small 5 by 8 bathroom that keeps its layout can finish near the low end, around $5,000 to $12,000.
- Tile and the shower are the budget center. A walk-in tile shower alone can take a quarter of the total.
- Moving the toilet or shower drain is the fastest way to leave the range. Plumbing relocation is priced per fixture.
Bathroom pricing looks wild from the outside because a powder room touch-up and a primary suite gut share the same name. This guide prices full remodels: fixtures out, surfaces replaced, plumbing reconnected in the same places. Pick your finish tier in the calculator, check your size in the table, and you will be close enough to judge any quote.
Bathroom remodel calculator
Floor area times a per square foot rate for your finish tier. Most full bathrooms are 40 to 100 sq ft.
Bathroom remodel cost by size
Standard finishes, layout unchanged. Premium tile, a soaking tub or a curbless shower moves any row up fast.
| Bathroom | Floor area | Standard cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small 5 by 8 | 40 sq ft | $5,000 to $12,000 |
| Standard | About 60 sq ft | $7,000 to $18,000 |
| Primary | About 100 sq ft | $12,000 to $30,000 |
| Large primary | 150 sq ft and up | $18,000 to $45,000 |
Cost by finish tier
| Tier | Cost per sq ft | Typical choices |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $165 to $440 | Acrylic or fiberglass surround, ceramic tile, stock vanity |
| Premium | $350 to $700 | Full tile shower, stone counters, custom vanity, heated floor |
What determines the price?
Shower and tile
The shower is the most skilled work in the room: waterproofing, pan slope and tile. Cheap waterproofing is the most expensive mistake in bathrooms, because failures hide until the subfloor rots.
Fixtures and vanity
A stock vanity with a cultured marble top costs a fraction of custom cabinetry with stone. Toilets, tubs and faucets follow the same pattern, with wide mid-range choice.
Plumbing location
Fixtures that stay put reuse supply and drain lines. Moving a toilet means moving a 3-inch drain, which can mean opening the floor and the ceiling below.
Ventilation and electrical
A quiet, correctly sized exhaust fan and GFCI protection are code items, not upgrades. Budget for both in any full remodel.
Cost breakdown
| Item | Share of a typical job |
|---|---|
| Labor | About 40 to 50% |
| Shower, tub and tile | About 20 to 25% |
| Vanity, counters and fixtures | About 15 to 20% |
| Flooring, paint and ventilation | About 10 to 15% |
DIY vs hiring a pro
DIY
Paint, hardware, mirror, lighting fixtures and even the toilet swap are fair DIY for a careful beginner. Demolition is satisfying and genuinely saves money if you protect the plumbing stubs.
Hiring a pro
Shower waterproofing, tile in wet areas, drain work and anything inside the wall belongs with licensed pros. Ask who does the waterproofing and what system they use, by name.
For older homeowners, the same budget buys safety that pays daily: a curbless shower entry, grab bars anchored into blocking, and a comfort-height toilet. Those lines add little at remodel time and a great deal later.
Ways to reduce the cost
- Keep every fixture in place and put the money into the shower and tile.
- Choose the tile before demolition so waterproofing and layout suit it.
- Buy fixtures yourself only if your contractor agrees in writing first.
- Add grab bar blocking while walls are open. It costs almost nothing then.
How we get this cost data
Our ranges are built from published US material pricing, labor rate data including US Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, and homeowner project reports. We update this page when prices move, and we show the updated date at the top. Ranges are national planning numbers. Your city and project condition will move your quote inside, or occasionally outside, the range.
Questions homeowners ask
How long does a bathroom remodel take?
Two to three weeks for a standard bathroom, three to five for a primary with a tile shower, once materials are on site.
What does a 5 by 8 bathroom remodel cost?
About $5,000 to $12,000 at standard finishes with the layout unchanged. That is the most common rental and starter-home bathroom in the US.
Is a tub to shower conversion worth it?
For a primary bathroom, usually yes for daily use and aging in place. Keep at least one tub in the house if you can, for young kids and resale breadth.