Estimate a refresh, gut remodel, or upscale bathroom renovation
| Project | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powder room refresh (20 sq ft) | $2,400 | $3,200 | $4,400 |
| Small bath refresh, 40 sq ft | $4,800 | $6,400 | $8,800 |
| Midrange gut, 35–50 sq ft | $19,250 | $24,500 – $35,000 | $44,000 |
| Primary bath gut, 60–100 sq ft | $33,000 | $42,000 – $70,000 | $88,000 |
| Upscale primary, ~100 sq ft | $75,000 | $90,000 | $115,000 |
| Tub-to-shower conversion | $2,500 | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Add a new bathroom (existing space) | $25,000 | $40,000 | $60,000 |
National 2025-26 installed ranges. Remodeling magazine's Cost vs. Value Report benchmarks a 35 sq ft midrange bathroom remodel near $25,000 and a 100 sq ft upscale remodel near $80,000, consistent with the bands above.
| Add-On | Typical Cost Impact |
|---|---|
| Move plumbing fixtures (layout change) | +8% of project |
| Tub-to-shower conversion | +$2,500 – $6,000 |
| Custom tile shower (over standard insert) | +$3,000 – $8,000 |
| Double vanity | +$1,200 – $3,500 |
| Heated floors | +$800 – $2,000 |
| Skylight or new window in wet area | +$1,000 – $2,500 |
| Grab bars & accessibility package | +$500 – $2,000 |
Labor claims about half of a bathroom budget, more than any other room, because so much of the work is licensed trades working in sequence in a small footprint.
Bathrooms are the most expensive room per square foot in the house. Water, drainage, ventilation, and tile all stack into a small space, and every trade works in sequence. This calculator prices the three published project tiers and layers on the upgrades that move real bids.
Total = size × rate for your level ($160/sq ft cosmetic, $700/sq ft midrange gut, $900/sq ft upscale), plus 8% if fixtures move, plus flat national allowances for a tub-to-shower conversion, custom tile shower, double vanity, or heated floors. Low and high bounds come from the published range for each tier, so the spread reflects real market variation.
Measure wall to wall, including the tub or shower. Pick "cosmetic refresh" if the tub, tile, and layout stay and you're swapping fixtures and finishes. Pick "midrange gut" for a full tear-out with new everything in the same footprint. "Upscale" means custom showers, slab stone, and usually a bigger footprint. Only tick "move plumbing" if the toilet, tub, or vanity actually relocates.
A standard 5×8 bathroom (40 sq ft), midrange gut, layout kept: $550–$880 per sq ft gives a range of $22,000 to $35,200, with $28,000 typical. About half of that is labor and trades.
Now an 80 sq ft primary bathroom, upscale, converting the tub to a walk-in shower and adding heated floors: 80 × $900 = $72,000, plus $4,000 for the conversion and $1,200 for the heat, so about $77,200 typical with a range of $63,300 to $100,000. Dropping to midrange finishes on the same scope brings the typical figure to about $60,000, which is the single biggest saving available.
Figures are national planning ranges. Get itemized quotes; bathroom bids vary 25% or more between contractors in the same market.
A 5x8 bathroom is 40 square feet. A midrange gut remodel (all new tub or shower, tile, vanity, toilet, and flooring) runs about $28,000, with a national range of $22,000 to $35,200. A cosmetic refresh of the same room runs about $6,400.
The wet area. A custom tile shower alone adds $3,000 to $8,000 over a standard tub or shower insert, and it's the most labor-intensive part of the room. Overall, labor and trades typically claim about half of a bathroom budget, more than in any other room.
About $2,500 to $6,000, with most landing near $4,000 for a tiled walk-in shower where the tub used to be. The price covers demo, pan or linear drain, tile or panels, glass door, and reworking the valve and shower head.
A cosmetic refresh takes about a week. A midrange gut remodel typically runs 3 to 6 weeks because every trade (plumber, electrician, tile setter, painter) works in sequence in a small room. Upscale remodels run 6 to 12 weeks, longer with custom glass and slabs.
Usually yes, if you're moving or replacing plumbing, electrical, or ventilation. Permit costs typically run $100 to $1,000 depending on jurisdiction. Cosmetic work like paint, fixtures, and vanity swaps generally doesn't need one, but check with your building department; unpermitted plumbing bites at resale.
A midrange bathroom remodel recoups roughly 60% to 70% of cost at resale per Remodeling's Cost vs. Value Report, better than kitchens at the major tiers. Bathrooms also help a home sell: an updated bath is one of the features buyers check first.