On This Page:
- Average Cost of a Bathroom Remodel
- Bathroom Remodeling Cost Estimates & Breakdown
- Small Bathroom Costs
- Bathroom Remodeling Ideas
- Custom or Store Accessories?
- Price & Schedule Agreement
- Contractor's Work
What is the Average Cost of a Bathroom Remodel?
Homeowners have many options when they remodel a bathroom and the total cost depends on style and budget. The average bathroom remodel costs $9,374, but you can spend less - between $3,500 and $7,000 - to fix up the essentials in a small- to medium-sized bathroom. On the other end of the spectrum, you could spend $13,000 to more than $20,000 on a master bathroom remodel to make it an oasis. Most homeowners spend between $5,561 and $13,195.
Bathroom remodels provide some of the highest resale returns as a home improvement project. However, it is not by any means cheap, and it can take a long time to complete. Therefore it is essential to gather and plan your bathroom remodeling ideas ahead of time for the room and then find the right remodeling contractor for the job. Asking questions, setting realistic expectations, cost estimates and budgeting from the start can mean the difference between finding a contractor you trust and enjoy working with versus a long and trying few weeks.
Find more information below on the costs of common accessories included in a bathroom remodel, along with design ideas and considerations concerning hiring a remodeling bathroom contractor. You want to get the best bathroom possible for your dime, so make sure you are armed with plenty of knowledge before you start calling.
Estimating Bathroom Remodel Costs
Determining your budget could be tricky when planning your renovation. A large factor in determining cost will be the size of your bathroom, ranging from small to medium or master bathroom size. The fixtures you will need to fit in your bathroom will range in price depending on their size. The list of fixtures involved in remodeling a bathroom can include elements like faucets and fixtures, floor plan changes (like converting a half bath to full bath), new showers or baths, new flooring, countertops, cabinets and lighting. This long list of comes with a lot of different prices and options to compare before choosing what to buy for your bath remodel.
Here is a chart with some of the many options involved in a bathroom remodel, including the least expensive (small) to most expensive (master) costs for each:
| Option | Low Range | Mid Range | High Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install bathtub | $400 - $1,500 | $2,600 - $4,100 | $6,000 - $8,000 |
| Install cabinets | $1,200 - $3,500 | $4,700 - $7,000 | $8,000 - $13,000 |
| Install countertops | $900 - $2,000 | $2,800 - $4,100 | $5,000 - $6,500 |
| Install flooring | $800 - $2,000 | $2,500 - $3,600 | $5,000 - $7,000 |
| Install lighting fixture | $120 - $900 | $1,100 - $1,700 | $2,500 - $4,000 |
| Install shower | $450 - $2,000 | $3,000 - $4,800 | $6,000 - $10,000 |
| Install sink | $190 - $900 | $1,400 - $2,300 | $3,500 - $6,500 |
| Install toilet | $130 - $250 | $340 - $480 | $550 - $780 |
Remember: you don't have to include all of these items in your bathroom remodel, unless you're building a whole new bathroom from scratch. You always have the option to add some pieces–sink, toilet and lighting fixtures–after you've done the bigger projects to spread out costs. Also consider that some of these projects–bathtub installation/remodel, shower installation or cabinet installation–have smaller, cheaper alternatives. For example, you can refinish cabinets to make them look brand new and flow with the new bathroom for less money. There is also the option of replacing faucets and other plumbing fixtures, which costs less than replacing bathtubs and showers.
Small Bathroom Remodeling Costs
Small bathrooms are often less expensive to remodel than larger bathrooms because they have less square footage. This means fewer materials involved to make them look brand new, and their cost will be on the low range of the chart above since you need less of them or their smaller sizes to fit in the bathroom. The cost of labor will also be lower because the time spent to remodel a small bathroom won't be as long as a large bathroom, unless the professionals run into snags with the electricity or plumbing. However, there is still a lot of heavy lifting, planning and general time involved in the process. Here are some cost factors you might deal with in the midst of a small bathroom remodel:
- Changing the layout: If you decide to increase the square footage of the small bathroom, it will increase the total cost of the remodel. This means changing the electrical wiring in the walls, adding more flooring, and possibly more plumbing. All of this will increase materials and labor cost.
- Fixtures and appliances: If you replace any of your current fixtures and appliances in the bathroom--countertops, bathtub, toilet, sink, etc.--this will increase the cost because the professionals will need to remove the originals and install the new ones. You can save on this cost by refinishing some of the appliances or buying the materials yourself.
- Plumbing and electrical: Any issues with your plumbing or electricity during the renovation will add onto the cost of the remodel. You might have them checked by separate professionals ahead of time just in case. However, there could be issues that occur during the renovation that can't be planned for.
Bathroom Remodeling Ideas and Inspiration
Why do you want to remodel the bathroom? Is it to modernize the functionality of your current bathroom? To update the style and color? Who is this bathroom for: female, male, adult or kid? Ask yourself if the bathroom design style should be classic or contemporary, mid-century modern or Bohemian chic. How will it flow with the rest of the house based on the style you choose?
Does your bathroom fit your lifestyle? Maybe you live a fast-paced lifestyle where you never have time for more than a quick shower in the morning. Perhaps you like a long, leisurely, relaxing soak in a jacuzzi tub at night. Either way, how you plan to design the bathroom reflects both your aesthetic taste and lifestyle, and all of this impacts your costs and price range for accessories.
Approach your contractor with many examples of your remodel ideas, including pictures from home decor magazines, links to bathroom design ideas on the web and paint chips from the hardware store. The more information a contractor has ahead of time, the more your bath remodel ideas will turn out exactly how you want it.
Here are some remodeled bathroom examples that might help you define how to remodel your bathroom:
Modern Bathrooms
by Planet Home Remodeling Corp., a Bathroom Remodeler in Berkeley, CA. The average cost of a bathroom remodel in Berkeley is approximately $14,000 to $18,000. 
by Luxury for the Home, a Bathroom Remodeler in Dallas, TX. The average cost to remodel a bathroom in Dallas is approximately $7,300 to $10,000.
Small Bathroom Remodel
by Beyond Designs and Remodeling, Inc., a Bathroom Remodeling Contractor in Brooklyn, NY. For most homeowners in Brooklyn, the average cost for a bathroom remodel is approximately $9,800 to $13,000.
Traditional Bathroom Remodel
by Luxury for the Home, a Bathroom Remodeling Contractor in Milwaukee, WI. The average reported cost of a bathroom remodel in Milwaukee is $9,000 to $12,000.
Eclectic Bathroom Remodel
by Luxe Interiors, a Bathroom Remodeling Contractor in Denver, CO. The average cost of a remodeled bathroom in Denver ranges from $5,500 to $8,000.
Contemporary Bathroom Remodel
by Ideas and Solutions, a New York Bathroom Remodeling Contractor. And the average cost of a bathroom remodel in New York City is roughly $9,500 to $13,000.
Custom-Built or Store-Bought Accessories?
Once you have ideas for your renovation planned out, the next step is to find accessories for your remodeled bathroom in your price range. If your idea for the bathroom doesn't fit exactly within a type of style like modern or contemporary, you may need to hire a professional craftsman to custom build accessories like the vanity, countertop or mirror frame. These specialized contractors will have different prices for their work depending on the material you want the accessories made from and how they calculate their prices: by the hour, job or otherwise.
However, if you want to stay close within your budget, there is the option to buy accessories like sinks, toilets, countertop materials, cabinets and different lighting options at home improvement stores. They have a variety of options when it comes to items like bath lighting, toilets, sinks, vanities and cabinetry because they come straight from different manufacturers. Of course, you might leave the selection to your general contractor if you're uncertain about buying what fits best within your budget and design. Contractors often also have wider access to bath remodel accessories because of their personal relationships with manufacturers. This also means they could buy them for better prices than at a home improvement store.
Remodeling Project Price & Schedule Agreement
An experienced contractor should be able to give you a written schedule and list of the construction tasks they are going to perform and what their deadlines are for the completion of each task. This helps prevent disagreements along the way and gives you clear expectations about how long the project should take to complete when remodeling a bathroom.
A bathroom remodel is often a lengthy project, and thus a contractor may ask for money in advance of the work being started and after completion of specific milestones along the way. Make sure that the payment schedule and total amount is agreed upon and put in writing before the start of the project. Then at the end of the project, the contractor will be able to give you an itemized list of everything included in the remodel and how much it costs in total.
Remodeling Contractor's Work
A bathroom remodel involves various areas of expertise: construction, plumbing, electrical and lighting. Talk to your bathroom remodel contractor at the start of the project about how they deal with mistakes, damage and repairs that may arise. Make sure the work will be backed up by an expressed warranty or guarantee. You want to get the value of a new bathroom for the amount of money you are paying the remodeling contractor. What you don't want is the additional cost of repairs and maintenance for mistakes made in the initial remodel.
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I understand this an old post but ifsomeone is using places like Home Depot or Lowes as their contractor source,then a 3+ month completion time (and very heavy emphasis on the "+")is no surprise. Now If the project actually did get completed, that would be asurprise.
Aside from that, if what you say istrue and your licensed and insured contractor (who first made certain all thenecessary permits had been pulled before starting using a set of plans thatwere drawn up by a licensed architect or engineer based on the scope of work),worked exclusively on your projects and no others using only materials youpurchased, which were delivered on time and carefully examined to confirm theitems were as ordered without defects, shipping damages, etc., used skilled,licensed and insured subcontractors that all worked in perfect unison with theother trades never deviating from the schedule or changes in the plan.
He of course made sure all therequired rough-in, close-in and final electrical, plumbing, mechanical andstructural inspections were done before receiving his final payment after whichyou were given a release of liens and a written guarantee for only his labor unrelatedin any way to any materials purchased directly by you because, you, are nowentirely responsible for any costs should there be problems in the futureregardless of who was the installer. If all that is true I truly wonder how inhell this guy makes a living?
As a General Contractor for over 20years I have "zero patience" for customers who think idiotic DIY TVshows have any basis in reality, don't understand the differences in thequality of materials or what goes into being a skilled tradesman as opposed toa "I do it all" hack, hire "contractors" that lowball usout of business since they don't adhere to stifling EPA, OSHA and othergovernment regulations, pay soaring liability insurance costs, don't pay state,federal or business taxes, don't pay for unemployment insurance, ignoreor are clueless about code requirements (that were designed for your protectionI might add) or pay yearly licensing fees that we who do must factor into our"outrageous" bids or face heavy fines or even jail.
(unless one lives in the magic landof Malibu where apparantly, none of that applies.)
Sorry THIS was so long but I justhad to say it.
as on my last complete gut and high end rebuild a soft estimate
was given of $15K . The client then said "if you see something a little nicer, go ahead." Granite counters, custom 90" vanity, hand pickled and polyed, full mirror with three inset sconces, soffit with lights, radiant heated floor,crown molding and wood ceiling,new soaking tub with hand held Hans Grohe, toilet with touchless flush,all painting, new hardware on door and all handles and pulls on vanity,
$5k in tiles alone.
I went over and beyond in quality and products informing the client of $$$changes.
She gagged on the final price of $23K. We both made the mistake of a soft estimate , which she got stuck in her mind despite the high end upgrades and extras.
In the end she got the equity , I got stung for $1k because "I made too much".
Advice, always take notes( I do) with written list of who is providing what materials.
Change orders on any variation are a pain in the butt, but provide legal proof
in the event...
Then have them give you a list of suggested materials.
You can find out the materials cost in a few hours at the computer.
Could save you thousands!
Most people are happy to let me go do the shopping!
Delays in materials arriving to sight , shortages and damaged materials
can cause headaches, downtime and finger pointing. A contractor more times than not counts on making 10-15% markup on materials. This covers his/her
time consulting with client, measuring, shopping reliable products.
It is only fair to award at least 10% profit on materials even if the owner purchases.
Would you bring your own food to a restaurant ?
Delays can be an inconvenience for an owner(kitchen) but cost $$$$ for the contractor due to time lost.
This page has been very helpful. Thanks to the people sharing their experience I can make better choices. My thanks to everyone.