bathroom remodel cost per square foot

Average Cost to Remodel a Bathroom by Size

The average cost to hire a contractor to remodel your bathroom depends quite a bit on the size and type of bathroom being remodeled as well as the depth of the remodel. The average costs below are for new fixtures, tile, paint and wall covering.

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Overview of Bathroom Remodeling

What is the difference between a $6,500 bath remodel and one costing $40,000 or more?

The first main factor is the size and type of the bathroom. A half-bath or powder room with a sink and toilet costs less to remodel than a full bathroom that also has a shower/tub combination or separate tub and shower stall.

The second key bathroom remodeling cost factor is the components you choose for the project. What do you get for your money? Here’s an approximate idea of bathroom remodel price tiers with the kinds of components homeowners choose for each.

$6,500 – $18,000 | Basic-quality fixtures and lighting. Vinyl tub/shower unit, laminate countertop, laminate flooring or sheet vinyl flooring, few frills if any.

$16,000 – $30,000 | Midgrade fixtures and lighting. Standard tub and shower with tiled shower walls. Laminate or solid surface countertop. Tile floors, luxury vinyl or engineered hardwood flooring. Perhaps one luxury component like a heated towel warmer or jetted tub.

$26,000 – $40,000 | Premium-quality fixtures and lighting. Separate tub and tiled shower or combination with sliding glass door. Tile or engineered hardwood floors. Better countertops like soapstone or granite. A couple luxury items like a steam shower, radiant heated floor, jetted tub and a tankless water heater to supply it.

$36,000 – $55,000+ | Most or all luxury-level components. Upscale, tiled shower with built-in bench, steam function and/or double shower heads, separate tub – possibly jetted, walk-in tub, or stand-alone. Stone-tiled walls. Premium countertop, such as a marble countertop, with two sinks. Porcelain tile or stone-tiled floor with radiant heat, towel warmer, bathroom heater, etc. Costs rise further if the bathroom size is expanded or if a skylight or window is added.

Homeowners often determine their budget and then work with a contractor to mix and match the type and quality of the components they want to use. Bathroom renovation cost factors with full details are discussed next.

Product and Supplies Cost Details

Perhaps itemized cost ranges for the components in a bathroom remodeling project will help you narrow your estimates. Keep in mind that the range covers options from basic/budget to midgrade to premium/luxury.

As a rule, “better” grade costs about 50% more than “basic” grade. And “best” grade costs about 1x-5x more than “better” grade. These are retail costs.

Installation costs range from about 60% of the total when affordable components are chosen and 40% for installing premium items.

• $500 – $4,200 | Bathtub or tub/shower enclosure.
• $575 – $6,000 | Standard shower stall.
• $350 – $4,000 | Vanity or Cabinet.
• $280 – $3,500 | Countertop.
• $75 – $3,000 | Sink.
• $40 – $1,600 | Faucet.
• $125 – $900 | Toilet.
• $8.00 – $60.00 per Square Foot | Flooring.
• $12.00 – $80.00 per Square Foot | Wall Tiling.
• $75 – $2,500 | Lighting

Those prices cover components found in most bathrooms. You can always spend more. For example, a TOTO Neorest toilet retails for about $5,000.

See Related Projects below for luxury items and costs from plumbing and electrical changes.

Bathroom Remodel Cost Factors

As you can see, there’s a huge cost range for bathroom remodeling. Looking at cost per square foot, the bathroom is easily the most expensive room in the house.

The good news for cost-conscious homeowners is that bathroom remodeling can be done on a budget. For those who have an unlimited budget, the bathroom can be turned into a personal spa, a luxurious “get-away” of sorts. Most budgets are somewhere in between.

These cost factors will assist you in narrowing your estimate.

• Bathroom Type | Half-bathrooms and small guest bathrooms usually don’t get the luxury treatment, so costs are lower. And there are fewer components to spend money on. Children’s bathrooms are usually affordable to midgrade remodels, as parents think they’ll likely have to remodel it again to meet the changing needs of the family in years to come. Primary bathrooms, sometimes called owner’s bathrooms or master bathrooms, are where the most money is typically spent.
• Bathroom Components | Each piece of the remodel is available in basic, better and best options. You have a lot of decisions to make when planning a bathroom renovation including fixtures, lighting, flooring, countertops, wall spaces and amenities. Adding items that are purely for luxury rather than necessity is where costs really rise.
• Structural Changes | Moving walls, cutting in a window or skylight or framing a separate toilet closet add significantly to cost.
• Plumbing and Electrical Changes | Bathroom renovation and upgrading often requires moving or adding additional plumbing or wiring. Typically, the old bathroom is completely demolished for this work, and a higher cost estimate results. These changes also require permits that allow for inspections.
• Bathroom Design and Location | A rectangular bath on the first floor is the least expensive to remodel. Complex designs and those on upper floors cost 10-20% more.
• Who Does the Work | Anything you can DIY, even if it is removing fixtures, the vanity and counter from the old bath, saves money. When hiring, your options include acting as the general contractor choosing the individual subcontractors to do the work or hiring a general contractor or design agency to handle everything. Homewyse calculates that who you hire can affect total cost by about 15%.
• Where you Live | Cost of living affects everything. Homeowners in high cost-of-living areas along the Coasts pay 20% more than in other major metropolitan areas and more than 30% more than those in the most affordable small towns and rural areas.
• Time of Year | If you want a rush on that guest bathroom to have it ready for the holidays, expect to pay a premium. Post-holiday estimates can be more competitive, since there’s a lull for contractors because many homeowners are cash-strapped then.

Pro-tip: Speaking of scheduling your bath remodel, start planning as early as possible. With supply chain issues still plaguing the remodeling industry, you might have to wait months for some of your preferred materials and components. Or be ready to change your selections to work with what is available.

Permits, Inspection, Related Costs and Installation Time

Permits and Inspection Cost

• $0 – $450 | A permit is required if there are plumbing, electrical or structural changes. Each requires its own permit that includes inspections. Permit cost is determined by the extent of the work and the number of inspections required. For plumbing and electrical changes, rough and finished inspections are done.

Approximate Installation Time

The timeframe below shows how long things take once work begins.

But a successful bathroom remodeling project starts months in advance – learning about your options, browsing everything from flooring to fixtures, considering and interviewing contractors, ordering materials and waiting for them to come in, so the project can begin.

That part of the project usually takes a minimum of 4 months, and 12 months isn’t uncommon for many homeowners.

A skilled general contractor will keep the flow of work moving along, planning the subcontractors so that there are few days if any when work isn’t taking place.

• 1-3 Days | Demolish (demo) the old bathroom.
• 3-6 Days | Make structural changes (optional)
• 2-5 Days | Make plumbing and electrical changes (optional)
• 3-7 Days | Install shower/tub/toilet fixtures including tile
• 1-3 Days | Install vanity, countertop sink and faucet
• 2-4 Days | Complete ceiling and wall drywall
• Up to 1 Day | Install lighting and ventilation fan
• 1-4 Days | Install flooring

Costs of Related Projects

Here are links to full cost estimates, or Business Finance News, of projects associated with bathroom remodeling.

• Engineered Hardwood Flooring
• Luxury Vinyl Flooring
• Ceiling Drywall
• Bathroom Vanity or Cabinets
• Bathroom Sink Installation
• Bathroom Faucets
• Laminate Countertop
• Marble Countertop
• Quartz Countertop
• Tile Backsplash
• Shower & Tub Enclosure
• Shower Control Valve
• Shower Head and Tub Faucet
• Bathtub Re-glazing
• Gas Line Installation
• GFCI Electrical Outlet
• Electrical Breaker Installation
• Window Addition
• Ceramic Tile Removal
• Dumpster or Roll-off Container Rental

DIY or Hire a Pro?

Most homeowners can complete part or all of the project if they are so inclined.

It depends on your skill level, time to give to the project and your ability to do the hard work needed to complete a bathroom remodel.

Demo – Remove the old sink, countertop, vanity, mirror, toilet, light fixture and tub enclosure. Tear up flooring. If part of the job, remove drywall.

Plumbing/Electrical/Mechanical/Construction – These are the things you typically need a permit and inspection for. They include making electrical and plumbing changes, installing radiant floor heating, wiring a wall heater or similar and adjusting the framing for a window, skylight or expansion of the space into adjoining room.

Finish Projects – These come in a range of difficulties. The components of the job they cover include the tub, shower, toilet, drywall, flooring, lighting, vanity, sink and faucet, wall heater, fan or towel warmer, and painting.

Setting a toilet or installing a light fixture to a prepared electrical box are fairly easy. Installing a tub enclosure is a 2-person job, while tiling walls or flooring takes acquired skills.

Is bathroom remodeling a DIY project? There are so many tasks to consider, that no single answer applies.

Discuss the scope of the work with your bathroom contractor and find ways to provide labor on jobs you’re comfortable with. You might find cost savings and the satisfaction that comes with completing the tasks.