How much does it REALLY cost to remodel a bathroom?
If you watch much HGTV, you may be under the impression that you can completely remodel a bathroom for 5 or 6K. And maybe you can IF you have free labor starring in your project and some free product donated by companies for the exposure.
Someone asked me today what they should plan on for a bathroom remodel. I first wrote this post in 2019 and I’m updating it here with more current numbers since both demand and costs have soared in the last 3 years driving prices higher.
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the current “national average” for renovating a guest bath is $18000. What they DON’T immediately tell you is that number includes “renovations” where the only changes involved a quick trip to the local big box store for some cheap lights and faucets, some new paint, and MAYBE a new countertop all to be installed by the handy (or at least intrepid) homeowners.
I would call that redecorating. And it skews the average in a very misleading direction. Typically, you should expect to spend between 5% and 10% of your homes value on a bath renovation if you are really renovating.
That means it will probably cost quite a bit more than that 18k average, especially here in New England.
There are many variables, of course so there’s no quick answer, but remodeling is definitely not inexpensive!
Unless you are a black belt in DIY, bathrooms and kitchens require pretty much every specialty subcontractor – electricians, painters/wallcovering installers, plumbers, tile installers, finish carpenters, and countertop fabricators to name a few, and here in the real world, outside of the TV studio, they expect to be paid.
This makes kitchens and baths the two most expensive rooms to remodel in your home – BUT they are also among the best places to invest in your property for the greatest ROI as an updated bath and kitchen are high on home buyers priority lists, not to mention these are spaces you will use every. single. day. multiple times.
Any renovation should be designed with intention - to meet the specific needs of your household and lifestyle, and reflect your personality, all while integrating seamlessly into the architecture and design of the house. There are hundreds of details in a bathroom renovation that need to work together to serve the whole.
In addition to all the labor costs, which will vary depending on the region where you are located, there are the costs for the design and coordination of the project, and the costs of the materials, fixtures, and finishes that go into the project.
So, here’s a breakdown to help you get a picture of what sort of budget you might want to have in mind.
On the lower end of the spectrum we have a simple “pull and replace” of a standard family bath (combo tub/shower, toilet, vanity) where you aren’t moving any fixtures and so don’t need to reroute any plumbing. The typical labor cost for this in our area is a minimum of 20K plus all your materials and fixtures. Moving partitions or wall openings or plumbing lines can jack up those costs significantly, but may be well worth it if the result is better functionality.
In the guest bath project shown in the images above, we saved by upcycling the existing oak vanity box with new paint and hardware.
Let’s look at some typical product costs for a basic family bathroom:
Basic bathtub @ $450
Basic toilet @ $400
Vanity @ $1500 - $2500+ (or retrofit a piece of furniture!)
Stone or quartz countertop w/sink @ $1500+ (including templating and installation)
Faucets/Plumbing fixtures @ $600 - $1200+
Mirror and Light Fixtures @ $600 - $1200+
Tile for tub surround and floor @ $1200+
Accessories (hooks, towel bars, TP holder, shower rod, grab bars) @ $500 - $1000+
Paint or Wallcovering @ $100 - $800+
Total Product: $6500+
Design fee: $3500+
Contractor/Subcontractor Labor: $20000+
So for a “simple” bathroom remodel, you are looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of $30,000 and up for a renovation with good solid quality materials and skilled labor. If you are rearranging any partitions or plumbing, add several thousand more. And always, always, always plan 15%-20% in contingency funds ANY time you are remodeling for the unexpected that crops up whenever you start opening up walls…the drain pipe size or insulation or electrical that no longer meets current codes, the venting that mysteriously disappears somewhere in the attic instead of through the roof, or even the “while you’re here could you also just________” scope creep that is irresistible whenever skilled labor is on site!
A master bathroom is typically larger and higher cost and may need to be expanded, or at least rearranged, to create better function and flow for use by two people. This ups the plumbing and construction costs right at the outset.
Of course higher end luxury bathrooms can involve $10,000 or more for the shower system alone if you want steam and multiple body sprays and shower heads with thermostatic valves in a beautiful spa-like enclosure.
Then you might have a separate soaking or whirlpool tub and fill for $4000 to $7000, and a state of the art toilet…hey there are even ones with programmable lights and bidet features and Bluetooth capabilities...I’m reasonably certain I, personally, don’t want a toilet that talks to me, but if you have 7 or 8 grand to spend on a toilet check out the Ferrari of toilets in THIS post! Alas, that pricing is from 2019 and that toilet is not even currently available, but I did find a website with “preorder” pricing of $11,000 or $15,000 if you want it in Darth Vader black?!
Master baths, because they are usually designed for two people, often have two sinks and sometimes two whole separate vanities and more specialty storage for linens, toiletries, hampers etc., so more cabinetry in general, and more lighting fixtures, mirrors, and electrical outlets.
And, usually, master baths warrant a bit beyond basic, so more luxury level finishes might be used than in the family/guest bath.
In the bath shown above we rearranged a bit for much better functionality. You can read about the design process and the choices we made to fulfill our clients wish list HERE.
Here is a cost breakdown of products you might specify for a moderately priced master bath:
Tile for shower and floors @ $2000
Glass shower enclosure @ $2500
Soaking tub @ $4000+
Toilet @ $400+
Faucets/Plumbing fixtures @ $4500+
Cabinetry @ $7000+
Stone/quartz countertop w/ sinks @ $2500+
Lighting/ventilation $1200+
Mirrors $600+
Accessories $1000+
Paint or wallcovering $100 - $1600
Even a moderately priced master bath might cost around $26,000+ for product - plus all the labor and design costs, for a total starting at $50,000 and up. Again, there are infinite variables that would adjust this up or down, but this gives you a framework to work from.
I do this exercise with every remodeling client to help them see where their money will be going, and so we can value-engineer the design to fit a realistic budget. With unlimited resources, of COURSE you can have anything you want, but for most of us, we need to make smart choices, and partnering with an experienced design professional who is working for your best outcome can be the most cost effective and stress-free approach. They can advise you where it makes sense to splurge and where you can cut costs and still get a beautiful product that will serve you well for years to come!
If you are considering a bath remodel, I’ve linked to some other helpful posts below:
THIS post contains a list of things to consider when creating your perfect bathroom
A room by room renovation checklist (including bathrooms!)
Pros and Cons of bathroom vanity light options