That's our range for a full remodel of a typical 40 sq ft hall bathroom that keeps the plumbing where it is, with a typical cost of about $25,000. A partial update runs about $9,500 – $16,000; an upscale primary bath about $37,500 – $80,000.
Estimate Our range, based on sources [1][2][3]. Planning numbers, not quotes. Size, finishes and where you live move the price a lot.
Bathroom remodel cost by scope
How much you change matters more than anything else. We price three common bathroom projects. Each range is ours, built from what the sources publish for a comparable job.
| Scope | Our range Estimate | Typical Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Partial update About 40 sq ft. Keep the layout and replace some pieces: vanity, toilet, floor, fixtures, maybe the tub. | $9,500 – $16,000 | $11,000 |
| Full remodel, same layout About 40 sq ft. Strip to the studs and replace every fixture and surface without moving plumbing. | $17,500 – $41,000 | $25,000 |
| Upscale primary bath About 100 sq ft. Fixtures move, with a large tiled shower, freestanding tub, double vanity and premium finishes. | $37,500 – $80,000 | $50,000 |
Estimate Our range, based on sources [1][2][3]. For each tier we pooled the low, midpoint and high figure each source publishes for a comparable scope (a single benchmark figure counts once), then used the median as Typical and the middle half of the pooled figures as Low–High. Per-sq-ft figures were multiplied by the tier's room size; the Cost vs. Value midrange benchmark was scaled from its 35 sq ft room to 40 sq ft. See How we build our ranges.
What the sources say Sourced
HomeGuide puts most bathroom remodels at $3,500 to $25,000+ for a typical 35–50 sq ft room, depending on depth.[1] Angi's national average is $12,152, which includes many small updates.[2] The 2025 Cost vs. Value report prices complete, contractor-run jobs: $26,138 for a midrange remodel of a 5×7 bath and $81,612 for an upscale remodel that grows the room to about 100 sq ft.[3] The gap is mostly scope: a vanity swap and a gut remodel are both “bathroom remodels.”
Line-item breakdown: full remodel, 40 sq ft Estimate
Here's how we'd price a full, same-layout remodel of a 5×8 hall bath from its parts: tub and tile surround, new toilet and vanity, fan, light and paint. Use it to check that a bid covers everything, especially waterproofing, which you never see but always pay for if it's skipped.
| Line item | How we priced it | Amount Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition and haul-away Installed price | Average of the HomeGuide and Angi demolition midpoints[1][2] | $1,480 |
| Bathtub, steel or acrylic, installed Installed price | Midpoint of HomeGuide's installed tub range[1] | $2,700 |
| Cement board, waterproofing and tile, about 140 sq ft Materials | Tub surround plus floor at $10/sq ft, our midrange allowance | $1,400 |
| Tile setting and waterproofing Labor | 56 hrs × $26.77/hr median wage for tile and stone setters[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $2,550 |
| Framing repairs, blocking and backer board Labor | 12 hrs × $29.12/hr median wage for carpenters[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $590 |
| Plumbing: shower valve, drain, supply lines Labor | 22 hrs × $30.67/hr median wage for plumbers[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $1,150 |
| Plumbing valve, trim and parts Materials | Our allowance for a pressure-balanced valve and trim | $650 |
| Toilet, installed Installed price | Midpoint of HomeGuide's installed toilet range[1] | $580 |
| Vanity with top, installed Installed price | Midpoint of HomeGuide's installed vanity range[1] | $2,200 |
| Faucet, installed Installed price | Midpoint of Angi's faucet upgrade range[2] | $270 |
| Exhaust fan and light fixture, installed Installed price | Midpoints of HomeGuide's fan and light ranges[1] | $540 |
| Electrical: GFCI circuit and fan wiring Labor | 6 hrs × $30.38/hr median wage for electricians[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $310 |
| Painting Labor | 8 hrs × $23.75/hr median wage for painters[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $320 |
| Paint, electrical parts, mirror and accessories Materials | Our allowance | $500 |
| Glass shower door or screen Materials | Our allowance; skip it for a curtain rod | $900 |
| Site protection and cleanup Labor | 12 hrs × $22.66/hr median wage for construction laborers[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $460 |
| Dumpster and protection materials Materials | Our allowance | $500 |
| Permit Fee | Midpoint of Angi's bathroom permit range[2] | $550 |
| Overhead & profit Our assumption | 20% on the labor and materials lines above. Installed prices and fees already include the installer's margin, so we don't mark them up again. | $1,870 |
| Line-item total | Before contingency and regional adjustment | $19,500 |
Estimate Our line-item build comes to $19,500, about 22% below our blended typical of $25,000 for a full same-layout remodel. Our build is a lean job with no hidden damage, midrange fixtures and no design fees; published averages include all of those, which is why the blend runs higher. Method: How we build our ranges.
Bathroom Remodel Estimate Worksheet
Price a bath remodel from tile to fixtures: a tile and waterproofing quantity helper, a fixture allowance tracker and a labor vs. materials split, for Excel and Google Sheets.
See what's plannedWhat drives the cost up or down
Moving plumbing
Keeping the toilet, sink and tub or shower where they are is one of the simplest ways to save, because relocating drains and supply lines adds labor and usually a permit. It's the main reason our upscale tier costs so much more.
Tub, shower and tile
Prefab tub and shower units sit at the low end; custom tiled enclosures at the high end. In our breakdown, tile labor and waterproofing are the biggest single labor line. The membrane behind the tile matters more than the tile you see.
Room size
Fixtures cost the same in a small room or a big one, but tile, waterproofing and labor scale with square footage. That's why a 100 sq ft primary bath can cost several times a hall bath at the same finish level.
Accessibility
The 2025 Cost vs. Value universal design bath, in the same 5×7 footprint as its midrange project, averaged $42,183 nationally,[3] mostly for the curbless shower, wider door and heated floor. Sourced
What's behind the walls
Rot under an old tub, outdated wiring or a panel that can't handle new circuits can add cost once walls are open. Our line items assume none of that.
Contingency Estimate
We suggest holding back 10% to 20% for surprises, leaning high in older homes. That's our planning guidance.
Regional cost differences
We don't republish regional price tables. Our cost index for each Census division shows how local prices move the same job, applied here to our typical full remodel.
| Region (Census division) | Our cost index Estimate | Typical full remodel Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| New England CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | 1.04 4% above U.S. | $26,000 |
| Middle Atlantic NJ, NY, PA | 1.13 13% above U.S. | $28,000 |
| South Atlantic DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV | 0.98 2% below U.S. | $24,500 |
| U.S. average | 1.00 | $25,000 |
| East North Central IL, IN, MI, OH, WI | 0.96 4% below U.S. | $24,000 |
| East South Central AL, KY, MS, TN | 0.90 10% below U.S. | $22,500 |
| West North Central IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD | 1.02 2% above U.S. | $25,500 |
| West South Central AR, LA, OK, TX | 0.89 11% below U.S. | $22,500 |
| Mountain AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY | 0.96 4% below U.S. | $24,000 |
| Pacific AK, CA, HI, OR, WA | 1.07 7% above U.S. | $27,000 |
Estimate Derived, not published. Our interior index divides each division's 2025 Cost vs. Value average for four interior projects (three bathroom remodels and a basement remodel) by the national average and averages the four ratios.[3] The typical column multiplies our national typical by the index. See How we build our ranges.
Bathroom remodel cost FAQ
How much does a small bathroom remodel cost?
For a 35–50 sq ft hall bath, our ranges run about $9,500 – $16,000 for a partial update and $17,500 – $41,000 for a full remodel that keeps the layout.[1][2][3]
Does a bathroom remodel add value to a home?
Some, but rarely all of it. Nationally, the 2025 Cost vs. Value midrange bathroom remodel recouped about 80% of its cost at resale.[3]
How long does a bathroom remodel take?
HomeGuide estimates 3 to 8 weeks for a typical remodel, and longer for bigger jobs with layout changes, custom work or several inspections.[1]
Is it cheaper to swap the tub for a shower?
Not always. A prefab shower base and walls can cost about the same as a new tub, while a custom tiled, curbless shower costs much more. Our tub-to-shower conversion guide is coming soon.
Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom?
Usually yes if you move plumbing, change wiring, move walls or add a window, and usually not for paint or same-spot fixture swaps. Rules vary, so check with your local building department before work starts.
Related cost guides
Sources
- HomeGuide, “How much does a bathroom remodel cost?” (updated June 20, 2025). homeguide.com/costs/bathroom-remodel-cost (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Angi, “How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost? [2026 Data]” (updated July 9, 2026). angi.com/articles/how-much-does-bathroom-remodel-cost.htm (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report: national averages, project descriptions for the midrange, universal design and upscale bath remodels and regional pages (New England, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, East North Central, East South Central, West North Central, West South Central, Mountain, Pacific) (accessed Oct 8, 2026). © 2025 Zonda Media. We quote a few national figures and use the regional figures only to derive our own cost index. States per division from the U.S. Census Bureau, Census Regions and Divisions.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national median hourly wages by occupation, retrieved through the BLS Public Data API. bls.gov/oes (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
Quoted figures are labeled Sourced. Everything labeled Estimate is our own arithmetic on these sources, explained in How we build our ranges. Planning numbers only, not quotes. Get itemized local bids before you commit.