How Much Does A Bathroom Remodel Cost?

How Much Does It Cost To Remodel A Bathroom?

Homeowners spend $12,500-18,000 to remodel an average size bathroom. Making minor updates or renovating a small bathroom costs $5,500-8,000.

Building a new bathroom in the attic or home addition can cost as much as $25,000 or more.

However, this is a very popular remodel, because building an additional bathroom greatly improves the resale value of your home, and offers much more convenience for your family while you are living in this house.

Doing a full master bathroom remodel comes with a high price tag; average costs are $20,000-35,000. However, a luxury master bathroom with custom materials and fixtures can easily cost $50,000-75,000.

Pro Tip: its best to vet the bathroom pros who are giving you work estimates and hire someone who has a license, insurance and will pull all appropriate work permits from your town.

You can use our Bathroom Cost Calculator to accurately estimate the cost of remodeling the bathroom in your home.

Bathroom Remodel Cost Per Square Foot

A complete bathroom remodel costs $150-180 per square foot, including professional labor and good quality materials.

Low-end bathroom remodels that are more cosmetic and make use of lower-end materials and fixtures cost as little as $85-120 per square foot.

High-end luxury bathroom remodels cost as much as $225-275 per square foot.

A bathroom remodeling project usually includes the following:

– All new fixtures (sink, faucet, tub, shower head, toilet)

– New windows and doors

– Adding/updating lighting

– New flooring

– Shelving, cabinetry, counter top

– Tile on the walls, inside the shower stall

– Painting the walls and ceiling

– Removal of old tile and fixtures

Cost To Remodel A Bathroom Near Me

The table below provides average bathroom remodel costs reported across various large cities and states in the US.

Location	Average Bathroom Remodel Cost
New York City	$11,000 – 22,000
Boston	$10,000 – 21,500
Los Angeles	$12,000-$25,600
San Francisco/Bay Area	$11,000-$25,500
Seattle	$10,800-$21,700
Miami	$7,000 – 15,000
Washington D.C. Metro Area	$6,500-$16,000
New Jersey	$8,500-$18,450
Massachusetts	$7,800-$17,000
Florida	$5,450-$13,100
Atlanta	$7,000-$18,000
South Carolina	$5,600-$13,600
Chicago	$6,000-$15,000
Minnesota	$5,000-$12,600
Texas	$5,800-$12,200

How Much Does A Bathroom Remodeling Pro Cost?

If you are planning a complete bathroom remodel, there are many trades that will be involved. While a DIY savvy homeowner can do a lot of this work on her own, its recommended to leave plumbing and electric work to the pros, in order to avoid dangerous and costly accidents.

Contractors who specialize in bathroom remodels charge $65-95 per hour.

Hiring a licensed plumber costs $60-85 per hour.

Electricians charge $65-90 per hour.

Tile installers cost $35-70 per hour, depending on the type of work you want. Doing custom tile designs and mosaics can cost 3-4 times as much as laying regular wall or floor tile.

Window installers charge $150-400 per window for their work (excludes the cost of the window itself)

If you are doing an attic bathroom, you may need to hire a roofer to make sure that there are no leaks, and that there is proper insulation.

Moreover, a roofer can also install a skylight or a solar tube, which is a very popular remodel in an attic bathroom. Roofing work costs $65-90 per hour.

Building a new bathroom addition or doing a gut remodel will also require the assistance of a professional designer.

She can help you plan out the space and where the fixtures will go to achieve maximum functionality, comfort and beauty. Expect to spend $400-900+ on designer fees

Typically, if you are planning a major remodel, its best to hire a general contractor to manage and oversee all other types of labor that need to be done as part of the project.

It is much more difficult and often more expensive to look for each type of contractor on your own. GC’s have agreements with subcontractors in specific trades and can get you an overall better price.

Cost To Remodel A 5×7 Size Bathroom

Most houses and apartments have at least one small bathroom, that is 5×7 feet or less. Remodeling a small bathroom is at the top of the most popular home improvement projects with the best ROI’s.

A big reason for this is that a small bathroom costs less to remodel than a larger space or a master bathroom. Due to small size, you can easily save both on the price of professional labor and materials.

The national average cost to redo a small bathroom is $7,000-10,500. It includes a full remodel, using mid-range quality materials and accessories.

However, if you just want to make cosmetic updates, like new paint on the walls and ceiling, new vanities, faucet, toilet, and a few accessories, you can spend as little as $1,500-3,500

The table below provides small bathroom remodel costs per square foot:

Bathroom Size	Bathroom Remodel Cost
3×5 feet	$2,500-$3,800
6×4 feet	$3,000-$4,700
4×8 feet	$4,000-$5,500
6×6 feet	$4,750-$6,800
5×7 feet	$5,500-$7,600
5×9 feet	$6,000-$9,250

Shower Remodel Cost

Prices for a shower renovation start at $2,300 and can go up to as much as $15,000+, depending on what you have in mind.

Tearing out a bathtub and putting in a new shower enclosure costs about $2,000-16,500, depending on the size of the space, and how much custom building will be involved.

If you want to stay on a low budget, you can buy and install a prefabricated shower enclosure from Home Depot for as low as $800-900

To step it up in terms of luxury, the price to install a steam shower starts at $2,650 but can go as high as $5,000 – 8,000 if you want to add fancy frills, like aromatherapy pump, custom glass door, mood lighting, etc.

Frameless glass shower doors stat at $900-1,000 but can cost as much as $3,000+. The cost of the glass door depends on the size, thickness and quality of the glass, door design (sliding vs pivot vs hinge), as well as the hardware you want to use.

Framed shower doors are a lot cheaper. Prices start as low as $200-500. Installation will add another $350-400 to the total cost.

Installing new tile inside the shower stall is another very popular update. This typically includes the entire space (walls and floor).

Average costs for putting tile in the shower are $500-2,500 depending the size of the space and the type of tile you select. Ceramic and porcelain tile are the cheapest, while natural stone (marble, granite) are 2-3 times more expensive.

Cost To Remodel A Master Bathroom

People spend the most money to remodel a master bathroom. Average reported prices start at $15,500 – 22,000.

However, you may end up spending as much as $40,000-80,000, depending on the size of the space, moving walls, piping, quality of materials, desired level of luxury, and overall complexity of labor.

Master bathrooms cost so much money because homeowners are looking to create their “dream bathroom”. For this, many are willing to spare no costs to achieve the look and feel they want.

As a result, luxury master bathrooms boast brand name fixtures, unique tiles and accessories, as well as a lot of custom labor.

You should keep in mind that of all bathroom remodeling projects, investing into an expensive master bathroom remodel has the lowest ROI (less than 50%).

This is because the initial cost is so high that its hard to recoup it when you sell your house.

Bathroom Remodel Materials Prices

When it comes to bathroom fixtures, tiles, lighting and other accessories there is a wide rage of materials to choose from.

You can get away with spending as little as $800-1,500 on all new materials and fixtures for your bathroom, to as much as your wallet can handle.

In most bathroom remodels, the contractor will obtain the materials as well. This makes it easier for him to get everything prepared and ready before the work begins, and is often easier for the homeowner.

Usually, your contractor will roll in a 10-15% mark up into the materials prices, as this is how he makes profit. Sometimes the mark up can be as high as 20%.

Its important to note that even if you plan to get all or some of the materials yourself in order to save money, your contractor will still roll in up to 10% up charge on his labor.

Without this, most contractors don’t make enough money to make it profitable for them to take on the project.

Another thing to consider when sourcing your own materials is that it may delay the timing of the whole remodel.

You will have no control over when materials arrive, delays in shipment, as well as any damages that may warrant replacement.

This may frustrate your contractor who is working under a certain time line to finish your bathroom.

Cost Of Luxury Bathroom Updates

More expensive updates that can significantly drive up your total bathroom cost include the following:

Item	Cost
Build custom cabinetry and shelving	$1,500-8,000 depending on size and complexity
Custom shower enclosure instead of a prefab shower insert	$3,000 – 10,000 depending on the size, design and materials used
Install radiant floor heat	$8-12 per square foot
Move around fixtures such as sink and toilet	at least $2,500-3,000 because this requires plumbing work
Demolish/move walls to increase square footage	$1,800-4,500+
Build a steam shower or sauna	$2,900-11,000+
Make the bathroom handicap accessible	$2,000-9,000+ This can include: expanding the entry way, building rails around the toilet and the shower stall, building a bench in the shower, making the shower entry accessible, removing the tub.

How Long Does It Take To Remodel A Bathroom?

Doing a major bathroom remodel or putting in an entirely new bathroom can take a long time. On average homeowners report waiting 3-5 weeks for the project to be finished.

In addition to the overall scope of work, the time frame will depend on how busy your contractor is and how he schedules his jobs. Ask this question before you hire a company and get disappointed when they show up to do your bathroom only 2 times a week, or leave your project unattended for 1 or 2 weeks.

If you expect the contractor to come in and work every day, you need to look for a company that is able to provide this kind of service.

Usually, smaller remodeling companies, or ones that are just starting out and don’t have too many clients will be able to give a lot more attention to your project and will finish it faster.

Is A Home Depot Bathroom Remodel Good?

In general, home improvement stores, such as Lowe’s and Home Depot hire subcontractors to do remodeling projects. Usually, its not possible to bargain with them on the price and but they offer decent quality of labor.

Keep in mind that places like Lowe’s and Home Depot have very long wait times to complete a big project, such a bathroom remodel. Many homeowners report waiting as long as 3 months to have their bathroom finished!

These places also have a much higher mark up on labor and materials compared to most private contractors. Overall, its best to avoid working with them.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly, yet stylish bathroom remodeling solution, consider doing an IKEA bathroom.

Estimating A Budget For Your Bathroom Remodel

If you have an old home, with only 1 bathroom, its best to invest money into building a second bathroom, instead of updating the one you have.

Consider your overall house value and sale price. If your house is worth $300,000, it does not make sense to drop $50,000 on a new bathroom.

However, if your home is worth a couple of million, than you should spend $50,000-60,000 on your bathroom, to make it look on par with the rest of the house.

Research the value of homes in your neighborhood, especially those located right next to you. If you have an expensive home with very high-end updates, but your neighbors’ houses are much more modest, it is wiser to invest less money and avoid having an over the top bathroom.

Most likely you will not recoup the cost of a top of the line bathroom remodel. Conversely, if you live in a high-end neighborhood, prospective buyers may be disappointed if they don’t see luxury bathrooms in your home.

The rule of thumb is: your total remodeling budget should not exceed the ceiling of your neighborhood home values, otherwise you will not get your money back.

What Are The Most Essential Bathroom Updates?

Here are the top bathroom remodels that realtors and builders recommend including in your renovation plan:

1. Replace old, dated fixtures (sink, toilet, faucet, countertops): this is an easy, relatively inexpensive fix that goes a long way.

2. Invest into cosmetics rather than big changes: visuals impress the most, so spend money on new paint, wall and floor tile and other elements that have an instant positive impression.

3. Add good lighting: having different types of quality lighting in the bathroom can be a valuable bonus.

4. Replace the old tub with a large walk-in shower: this update remains extremely popular. More and more homeowners appreciate high-end walk in showers, with steam and other bells and whistles rather than traditional tubs (even expensive ones). However, if your home only has one bathroom, you should just replace the old tub.

5. Install a quality double sink in a master bathroom: this is a highly desirable feature, especially in high-end homes.

It is best to do some research and consult with your realtor about what is most relevant to buyers in your market. These particulars may not be the same across all regions in US.

How To Save Money On Your Bathroom Remodel

Seasoned pros recommend that if you want to keep your costs down, as well as stick to the original time line for completing your bathroom, make sure you don’t change your mind about certain parts of the remodel once the work begins.

Many homeowners are notorious for doing this, and then they are taken aback by extremely high change order fees that the contractor slams them with.

However, they fail to understand how difficult, time consuming and unprofitable it is for the pro to make these changes in the middle of the project.

Another great way to save money is to go easy on high-end fixtures and accessories. Be frugal and buy nice quality products that are not from a luxury brand. For example you can have a toilet from American Standard for $150 vs a Toto toilet for $1,500.

Tile is another item that can get very expensive but does not have to be. Consider using ceramic or porcelain tile in all major spaces, and spending more on accent tile for visual impact.

There are many tile outlets that sell designer tile for a lot less that specialty tile stores. Also consider replacing natural stone tile with beautiful porcelain replicas.

Last but not least, if you are pressed for cash, consider doing small updates that make a big visual impact.

These include things like:

– skip on installing tile and instead repaint the walls, door, windows, and ceiling.

– reface existing cabinets instead of installing new ones

– replace the old faucet and shower head

– install new towel bars, cabinet handles

– install beautiful light fixtures

– put up a pretty, eye-catchy curtain

– hang up a large mirror

You can save even more money if you can do these yourself, without paying a contractor.

Bathroom Remodel ROI

Remodeling an old bathroom is one of the most desirable projects around the house. It helps attract buyers and significantly boosts house value.

Did You Know? In a hot housing market, a new bathroom can recoup over 100% of your investment! On average, a typical bathroom remodel offers about 75-80% return on investment.

Mid-range upgrades ($12,000-18,000) get top ROI in most middle class towns around USA.

When you spend $55,000+ on a lavish new bathroom, you may not get more than 30-40% back.

However, spending this same amount of money in an upscale neighborhood will yield a much higher ROI of 60-70%

While a bathroom addition typically doesn’t recoup more than 50% of its value, this may be a necessary requirement for selling your home at a desirable price.