How Much Does It Cost To Remodel A Small Bathroom In 2023?

Remodeling a bathroom ranks as one of the top home improvement projects that homeowners are eager to invest in.

Typically, the cost to remodel a small bathroom is $7,500-10,000 depending on the quality of building and finishing materials, as well as complexity of labor.

The good news is that its usually fairly easy to recoup 93-98% of your investment, if you decide to sell your home. A remodeled bathroom boasts one of the highest ROI’s compared to all other interior or exterior projects.

To get stared on your bathroom remodel, get in touch with your local remodeling pros for a FREE Estimate.

How Much Does A Small Bathroom Remodel Cost?

Across the US, homeowners report spending $7,000-12,000 to remodel a 5×7 bathroom, using mid-range quality materials. A higher-end remodel that would make use of upscale fixtures, accessories, tile and paint costs $14,000-18,000.

With professional labor and materials included, fully renovating a small bath costs about $160 – 280 per square foot. A low-end bathroom, using budget building materials is $135-150 per square foot.

This estimate includes:

– all new fixtures ( toilet, sink, tub or shower enclosure)
– tile walls and flooring
– new paint on walls and ceiling
– storage cabinetry
– lighting fixtures

Its important to note that updates like plumbing, electric work, moving around the original placement of the toilet, sink and shower/tub are not included.

For a more accurate price quote you can use our Bathroom Cost Calculator

Popular Bathroom Updates And Prices

In recent years, the use of glass in various bathroom applications has exploded in popularity. This is particularly true for bathrooms that have a modern design aesthetic.

Here is what you can expect to pay for the most popular bathroom fixtures and materials made of glass:

Glass shower door: framed doors start as $450-600. Frameless glass doors are $1,000-4,000

Mosaic glass tile: average $4-8 each, premium $10-30 each

Glass subway tile: average $3-6 each. premium $8-15 each. Home Depot offers a decent selection of budget friendly glass tile that actually looks nice.

Tempered glass countertop: average price is $75-110 per square foot installed. Alternatively you can purchase a bathroom vanity with a tempered glass countertop. These can range in price form $600 to 900

Glass sink: this item can be as cheap as $60-100 or as expensive as $900-1,300

Faucet: simple glass design faucets cost around $120-250. However, there are also custom made, blown art glass faucets, from brands like Tapologie, that are $1,900-2,500

Floating glass shelves: this is one of the least expensive bathroom fixtures that can cost as low as $15-20 at Home Depot. Average price for each shelf is around $45-99

Labor Cost To Remodel A Small Bathroom

One of the biggest factors that will impact your total budget is the local cost of contractor labor. Pros charge markedly different rates, depending on the geographic location.

High income suburbs and cities will have labor rates that are significantly higher than the national average.

For example, renovating a small bathroom in Manhattan can cost $15,000-18,000, while a similar bathroom in Eagan, Minnesota will run $9,500-11,500.

Overall, professional labor will constitute the bulk of your spending. It usually comes out to be around 35-40% of the total. Cabinetry and counters are around 20%; bathroom fixtures are also 20%.

Installing new flooring makes up about 9-10% of the total cost.

Hiring a designer to help with your bathroom style and layout will cost 4-5% of your total budget. Most professional designers charge $70-130 per hour.

One way to save hundreds of dollars on your bathroom is to source the materials yourself. If you hire a General Contractor (GC), materials will already be included in the total price.

However, you may be able to find better deals, nicer looking accessories and building materials than what the GC would offer you.

Doing the demolition of the old fixtures, tile, flooring, etc yourself can also save you around $500-950+, depending on the amount of work involved.

At the end, it all comes down to how much of your own time you want to spend on this project vs. paying more and leaving everything to the pros.

Bathroom Remodeling Cost Breakdown

Here is a quick overview of prices for essential fixtures that you would replace in a standard bathroom remodel.

Item	Budget	Average	Upscale
Install bathtub	1,000 – 1,200	1,900 – 2,400	$3,000 – 4,000
Tub only	350 – 450	$500 – 900	$1,200 – 2,500
Install shower enclosure	$1,100 – 1,300	$1,500 – 3,500	$4,000 – 8,000
Prefabricated shower kit only	$450 – 600	$700 – 1,200	$1,800 – 2,600
Glass shower door (prefabricated)	$160 – 250	$430 – 600	$750 – 1,380
Shower head	$25 – 50	$75 – 155	$420 – 980
1 towel bar	$5 – 11	$20 – 30	$63 – 170
Single sink vanity	$120 – 185	$350 – 500	$1,200 – 2,250
Dual Sink vanity	$270 – 350	$680 – 999	$2,000 – 3,980
Faucet	$58 – 85	$115 – 250	$550 – 800
Toilet	$90 – 120	$160 – 375	$700 – 3,000
Stand alone sink	$60 – 120	$250 – 530	$650 – 1,200
storage cabinets (prefabricated)	$90 – 180	$250 – 400	$500 – 800
Custom vanity countertop	$450 – 600	$750 – 1,300	$1,900 – 3,000
Mirror	$40 – 85	$150 – 375	$650 – 1,300
Tile Floor (30 sq.ft)	$900 – 1,000	$1,200 -1,800	$2,500-4,5000
Accent shower wall ( 20 sq.ft.)	$520 – 680	$750 – 1,000	$1,500 – 2,300
Tile backsplash (15 sq.ft)	$375 – 420	$520 – 650	$700 – 900
2 light fixtures	$130 – 250	$400 – 675	$930 – 1,550
Paint (5×8 room, ceiling, trim)	$325 – 375	$450 – 550	$525 – 650
Hang wallpaper (5×8 room)	$500 – 575	$600 – 800	$900 – 1,000
Interior door	$50 – 100	$170 – 280	$500 – 950

Cost Of Changing The Bathroom Layout

One of the biggest complaints in small and half-bathrooms is the inconvenient placement of the toilet, sink and tub.

When considering a full gut renovation, many homeowners want to change the layout of the bathroom, and move fixtures around. However, doing so comes at an exceedingly high cost.

If you are on a budget, its best to avoid moving around fixtures because it involves extensive and very expensive plumbing work.

Sometimes its possible to get away with moving the sink or toilet a few inches away from its original position, because the existing plumbing lines allow you to do this in a fairly simple way.

This can cost $1,200-2,500.

However, if you want to completely rearrange the layout of your bathroom, prepare to spend thousands of dollars on top of your original budget.

It may be very difficult and time consuming to build new connections to the existing vent, drain and water lines.

The further away you need to move the fixtures from these lines, the more expensive this job will be. If you need to remove the subfloor and work on plumbing that is under the floor joists, this will cost even more.

Its not unusual to pay $3,000-4,000 to move just the toilet from one corner of the bathroom to the other.

Furthermore, when you embark on this project, you risk running into unpleasant surprises, once the plumber starts to work.

One common issue that happens often in old houses is the discovery that your plumbing is not up to code, and needs to be replaced.

Overall, you should plan to at least double your original budget, if you are considering moving fixtures around.

Its very important to get at least 3-4 quotes from local licensed plumbers, to see who can offer you the best deal. More experienced pros may come up with innovative solutions and save you some money.

Pro Tip: you can make your bathroom a lot easier and more comfortable to use by changing the direction in which the door swings. You can either do this yourself, or hire a handy man for $50-75.

Cost Of A Shower Enclosure

Putting in a standard size shower enclosure costs from $1,500 to 3,500, including professional labor. Installing a larger shower with multiple sides and special hardware is $3,500-8,000.

If you DIY the installation and are looking to get a small prefabricated shower kit (31 x 31), you can pay as little as $500-650 for it. There are a few of these sold at Home Depot and Lowe’s.

Prefabricated shower kits are available in different shapes: half-round, rectangular or square. They can come with a shower base and door, or a combination of wall, shower base and door.

Basically, you can find the shower kit that fits the size and configuration of your bathroom. Make sure to measure all your bathroom dimensions carefully.

Bathroom Vanity, Cabinetry And Countertop Prices

In a small bath, your goal should be to maximize functionality, while saving space. If you don’t have a lot of square footage to spare, think of vertical and floating, wall mounted bathroom accessories.

A good quality single floating bathroom vanity is around $400. A basic single sink vanity that stands on the floor can be purchased for as low as $120-150.

A larger cabinet system and a floating dual sink vanity costs $600 – 2,000.

Tower storage cabinets range in price from $100 to 400.

Custom built cabinets and shelving start out at $100-250 per square foot.

Cost Of Bathroom Countertops

If you are doing a high-end remodel, installing custom countertops is an appropriate update. Marble, quartz, granite, tempered glass and soapstone are popular material choices for a bathroom counter.

On average you can expect to spend $40-60 per square foot installed on basic quality granite and quartz, $80-120 per square foot on high quality granite and quartz countertops.

Marble and soapstone cost $95-140 per square foot. Tempered glass is $75-100 per square foot.

Sink And Toilet Prices

There is a very wide range of in quality, design and style when it comes to bathroom sinks and toilets.

Pedestal sink:

budget: $50-60
average: $150-300
high-end: $500-1,100+

Console sink:

budget: $120-150
average: $300-600
high end: $1,000+

Wall mounted sink:

budget: $80
average: $150-300
high-end: starting at $550-600+

Toilet

budget: $90-130 (high-efficiency models available)
average: $160-370
high-end: $650-3,525 (many models have an integrated bidet system)

Bathroom Tile Installation Cost

One of the best ways to breath new life into an old bathroom is to add tile. You can re-tile the entire bath (floor, walls, shower/tub enclosure), or do only specific parts.

Homeowners who have a low budget and want to save money, often install new floor tile, paint the walls, and may do an accent tile backsplash around the vanity.

Depending on the materials you want to use, a professional tile installer will charge $550-1,300 to put up an accent wall.

The average cost of installing tile flooring alone in a 5×8 bathroom is $1,200-1,900 depending on materials used, and job complexity.

This price is for installing 1×1 foot tile. Smaller tile will cost more because its more labor intensive.

The average cost to install tile on a bathroom floor runs about $28-35 per square foot, including materials.

Budget materials cost around $6 per square foot (includes: cement board sub-floor, screws, thin set, grout, tile and waste)

Labor to install tile starts at $21-24 per square foot. Its so expensive because the installer will have to work for three days:

Day 1: come and install subfloor, install thin set, cut and install time. Let dry for 24 hours minimum
Day 2: grout the seams. Let dry for at least 24 hours
Day 3: wipe off access grout, seal the tile, finish the job

Additionally, the contractor may need to remove the toilet and vanity/bathroom cabinet in order to install the tile everywhere.

You don’t want to tile around these fixtures, because if you ever want to change the vanity, you will end up not having tile under it!!!

Another reason why this is such an expensive update is that if there is every a big water spill, the area that has no tile will cause a big leak, especially if its a second floor bathroom.

So a contractor will charge extra to remove the fixtures before tiling the floor. If he suggests not doing this and saving money, fire him immediately!!!

Stone tile:

Marble (18×18): $6.79-11.99/sq.ft
Granite (18×18): $5.99-20.81/sq.ft
Onyx (12×12): $6.99-16.80/sq.ft
Slate (24×24): $11.96-21.96/sq.ft
Travertine (24×24): $23.96/sq.ft.

Ceramic tile:

(12×24):$2.19-7.86/sq/ft
(16×16): $0.68-20.37/sq.ft,
(17×17):$0.97-1.90/sq.ft

Porcelain tile:

(12×24): $1.58-3.84/sq.ft
(16×16): $1.58-2.75
(17×17): $1.83-4.62

The cost for small glass tiles ranges from as low as $4.95/sq.ft to as high as $22.95/sq.ft depending on the quality of glass and design.

One of the best ways to save on tile installation is to install basic porcelain tile as the backdrop, and use more upscale tile as an accent in strategic areas around the bathroom.

Today, you can find very attractive porcelain tile at local tile discount stores for around $2-3 per square foot.

Cost Of Painting And Wallpaper In A Bathroom

Professional wallpaper installation costs $55-80 per double roll of wallpaper. Together with materials, hanging wall paper in an 5×8 bathroom costs $550 – 900.

On average, vinyl coated wallpaper is $15-30 per roll, and its recommend for use in a bathroom, as it provides extra resistance to moisture penetration. Higher quality, fancier patterns vinyl can run $40-60 per roll.

Premium wallpaper is $100-130 per roll, and can only be installed by a professional. Faux leather wallpaper is most expensive expensive, with prices ranging from $200 to 350 per roll.

Overall, hanging wallpaper is a rather high-end project, especially if you need to hire a contractor.

By comparison, painting a bathroom is significantly cheaper, around $350-500. This estimate includes ceilings and trim.

The final price depends on the amount of labor and the type of paint you want to use. High end paint, such as Farrow and Ball can cost as much as $90-110 per gallon.

However, it offers very rich hues and will last significantly longer than your average quality Home Depot paint.

For a small space, using expensive, better quality paint may be a smart investment, especially if you can save on the cost of labor by doing it yourself.

Cost Of Installing Lighting Fixtures

Ample lighting is essential in a bathroom, especially if it doesn’t have any windows or skylights.

On average, prices for bathroom vanity lighting are $150 to 450, depending on the the design and finish.

A bathroom chandelier can cost as little as $100, average $250-500 and go up to $2,000+, depending on the number of lights, and style.

If you are looking to install recessed lighting, you will need to hire a professional electrician. The cost is $120-200 per light.

How To Save On A Bathroom Remodel

If money is tight and you are pretty handy, you can try doing most or all of the work to update your bathroom on your own.

As we mentioned earlier, contractor labor is extremely expensive and constitutes around 40% if not more of the total cost.

Plumbing and electric work aside, you can get away with spending $2,500-4,000 on a bathroom remodel, if you DIY the rest of the labor and purchase materials yourself.

Some homeowners report spending as little as $1,500-1,900 to completely remodel a small bathroom: new paint, tile flooring, new toilet, sink, faucet, vanity, tile backsplash, acrylic tub, 2 new light fixtures. Of course, in this scenario budget quality materials were used.

ROI Of A Bathroom Remodel

Its very easy for your budget to balloon to unexpected proportions once you start looking at all the beautiful features and materials your bathroom can potentially have.

However, splurging on a $2,000 dollar toilet or a custom marble countertop may not necessarily be a wise move from a financial stand point.

As it turns out, a bathroom remodel that cost under $10,000, brings back the highest ROI at resale.

In hot markets, you can get as much as 99-102% of your investment back!

On the other hand, upscale projects that cost around $20,000 or more fair a lot worse when it comes to returns. At resale, these fancy bathrooms only make back 70-75% or less of the total spent.

To determine your budget if you are remodeling in order to put your house up for sale, its best to consult an experienced realtor.

Depending on your local market and the value of your house, he will recommend the optimal level of a remodel that prospective buyers would want to see.