Bathroom Remodel Cost Calculator

Bathroom remodel costs by size and finish level — where the money goes in a room where the plumbing costs more than the tile.

Your project

Finish level

Estimated total cost

$17,250 – $34,500

40 sq ft · Mid-range · National average

$431 – $863 per sq ft

Materials
$6,300 – $12,600
Labour
$7,800 – $15,600
Permits & fees
$900 – $1,800
Contingency (15%)
$2,250 – $4,500
Typical timeline
2–8 weeks of active work
Recouped at resaleAbout 60% of a mid-range spend
$15,525
  • National average pricing. Pick your region to adjust for local labour rates.
  • This is a planning range, not a quote. Get three itemised bids and compare the scope line by line — the cheapest bid is usually the one that left something out.

What the estimate includes

  • Vanity, sink, toilet and fixtures
  • Tub or shower surround and tile
  • Floor tile and waterproofing
  • Exhaust fan, lighting and paint
  • Plumbing within the existing footprint

What it does not include

  • Relocating the toilet or moving the waste stack
  • Subfloor or joist repair from an old leak
  • Bumping out walls to enlarge the room
  • Whole-house water heater upgrade

What actually moves the price

  • Bathrooms are the most labour-dense room per square foot in the house — plumbing, waterproofing and tile setting all happen in a space the size of a parking spot.
  • A tub-to-shower conversion is usually $3,000–$8,000 by itself. Moving the toilet is worse, because the waste stack rarely moves cheaply.
  • Waterproofing behind the tile is invisible and non-negotiable. A bid that is notably cheap is often cheap exactly there, and you find out in three years.

How these estimates are built

  • Base costs are typical 2025–2026 US pricing per square foot at each finish level, drawn from national remodelling cost surveys and contractor bid data.
  • Your region multiplies that base — coastal metros run 30–40% above the national average and rural markets 15–20% below, almost entirely on labour rates.
  • The contingency is added on top of the base range rather than taken out of it, because that is how the money actually behaves on a job site.
  • The materials, labour and permit split shows how the mid-point of the range typically divides. It is a way to read a bid, not a second estimate.
  • Resale recoup figures follow national cost-versus-value patterns. No renovation returns more than it costs — treat the figure as a partial rebate on something you are buying for yourself.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a bathroom remodel cost?

A standard 40 sq ft full bath runs about $6,000–$12,000 budget, $15,000–$30,000 mid-range, and $35,000–$75,000 upscale before regional adjustment. Half baths are roughly half that; primary suites can run well past the top of the range.

Why are bathrooms so expensive per square foot?

Because almost every trade works in that room. Plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tile, ventilation, cabinetry and glass all appear in 40 square feet, and none of them get cheaper for being in a small space.

Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom?

Cosmetic work — paint, vanity swap, retiling in place — usually does not. Moving plumbing or electrical almost always does. Permit fees are minor; the reason to pull one is that unpermitted bathroom work surfaces during a sale and costs far more to fix then.

Before you commit the budget, see it finished

Upload a photo and generate photorealistic versions of the finished space in any style. It is far cheaper to change your mind here than after the cabinets arrive.

Visualise the finished space

Material calculators for this project

Tile CalculatorGet tile count, boxes, grout and thinset for a floor, backsplash or shower wall — with the waste factor set by your layout, not a guess.Paint CalculatorEnter your room size and get the exact number of gallons to buy — walls, ceiling, and trim, adjusted for coats and openings.Flooring CalculatorSquare footage, boxes to buy and an installed cost range for vinyl, laminate, hardwood, tile or carpet.

Related projects

Kitchen RemodelWhat a kitchen actually costs by size, finish level and region — with the cabinet, labour and permit split that the headline number hides.Flooring InstallationInstalled flooring costs by area, material and region — LVP through hardwood, including subfloor prep and old-floor removal.Basement FinishingWhat it costs to turn an unfinished basement into living space — including the egress, moisture and ceiling-height issues that decide the budget.