How Much Does It Cost To Remodel A Bathroom?

Before you start your bathroom remodel

Feel empowered about your bathroom remodel from the very beginning by knowing what to expect from your bathroom remodel and the first steps you need to take to ensure a successful result.

• Make a plan for the space: Begin by thinking about what's important to you with the bathroom remodel and making a list of must-have items. This is a great time to consider an overall look and design style for the space, as well.
• Get the appropriate permits: One of the first steps in any remodeling project is getting the appropriate permits to start the job legally. The permits can range from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars depending on your location and the scope of the remodeling project.
• Plan for a timeline: Once you are prepped for the project, hire the right contractor for the job, plan out the project, and determine an overall timeline for the completion of the remodel. The timeline will help you plan ahead for how much time you need to vacate the bathroom to allow for the work to be completed.
• Complete the demolition: No matter what level of remodel you're planning, there will be some demolition involved. The cost to remove a bathroom faucet can be very low. The cost of taking a bathroom down to the studs will be much more. Save on some of the demolition labor costs by doing what you can yourself and leaving the more difficult stuff to the professionals.

Bathroom remodeling breakdown

A bathroom is an extremely utilitarian room of the home and as such, there are many different elements that go into the cost to redo a bathroom. In order to properly plan out your project, it's important to break down the individual elements of a bathroom remodel.

Walls

Start with the framework of the bathroom. The walls set the stage for the footprint of the space. If you are knocking down, moving, or expanding the space, the walls will take up a decent amount of your overall budget. If you are keeping the same space you have now, the walls will need a fresh coat of paint at a minimum. You may also want to retile a portion of or all of your walls. Ship lap is another common wall treatment used in bathroom designs.

Doors

Every bathroom has at least one door leading into it. Many of them also feature doors to a closet or water closet. If you are keeping the same door, it will need a fresh coat of paint. If you are replacing the doors, you'll need to choose one design and keep it consistent. Choosing to use a pocket door in a small bathroom is a great way to save on space and maximize interior square footage.

Bathtubs

In some cases, you may not have to rip out your existing bathtub completely, although that is always an option. Often times, when you look into how much does a bath fitter cost, it will be a fraction of replacing the bathtub completely. A bath fitter is like an outer shell for your bathtub and can be installed right over your existing unit to give it a fresh look. If you are replacing the bathtub entirely, you can go with your standard built-in model or opt for something that makes a statement, such as a free-standing bathtub. A clawfoot bathtub helps provide a vintage elegance to the design and makes an ideal choice in historic homes.

Sinks

The sink is one of the most-used fixtures in the bathroom. Today, sinks are available in a wide variety of different materials and style options, making it easy to give your vanity a bold look. Keep things sleek with an undermount sink or elevate the look with a bowl-style sink that sits on top of the countertop.

Toilet

The toilet may seem like one of the least-exciting parts of the bathroom remodel but it's also an opportunity to add some special features to the space. If you're trying to keep your home as efficient as possible, opt for a low-flow toilet with two different flushing modes. Toilets with seat warmers, built in bidets, and a variety of other special features are also available. Make sure to consider the seat height and length of the toilet when making your selections, as well.

Shower

The key to transforming any bathroom into a spa oasis is to create a spacious and indulgent shower, complete with top-quality shower heads. Some showers are part of a bathroom design while others are free-standing. Free standing showers come in a wide range of sizes and styles, including compact versions designed to nestle into the corner of a bathroom to maximize available space. As you settle on a shower design, make sure to take into account integrated storage for soaps, shampoos, and other shower essentials.

Vanity

Every bathroom requires storage. The vanity acts as the primary storage solution for any bathroom design. This important piece of bathroom furniture comes in virtually every size and finish available. As you browse them all, consider color, design details, types of storage, and the number of sinks the vanity can support. In a master bath or a large guest bathroom, consider getting a bathroom vanity long enough to accommodate a double-sink design.

Countertops

Some vanities come with countertops already cut to the exact size. When you are doing more of a custom remodel, that is not the case. Your total bathroom renovation cost will be affected by what type of countertops you choose, as quartz or marble will be considerably more than a butcherblock or laminate countertop.

Tile

Tile is a must-have element in any bathroom design. Porcelain tile offers one of the most budget-friendly price points while a natural stone tile can increase the rebath cost. Tile is typically used inside the shower, as a vanity backsplash, as flooring, and sometimes as an accent wall, as well. You can keep one tile throughout the space for a minimal look or mix and match tiles of different sizes and colors to add layers of visual appeal. If you want to feature the pricier natural stone, try mixing and matching it with more economical tiles to get the best of both price points.

Hardware

With everything else selected, it's time to add a little bling to your bathroom design by selecting all the bathroom hardware. This category includes faucets, shower heads, towel bars, toilet paper holders, and all the other metal accents sprinkled around the bathroom. As you shop, choose a brand and collection with style lines that speak to your personal aesthetic. Once you choose a collection you like, look at the available finish options. Keep the same finish consistent throughout the space.

Lighting

You're going to want to shed a bright light on your new bathroom design. The shower, water closet, and vanity all require various lighting elements to make the space bright. Mix and match different light fixtures throughout the space to provide a varied look.

Factors that affect cost

On average, the average bathroom remodel cost ranges between $5,000 and $30,000. This wide range depends on a variety of factors, including:

Size of the bathroom

The bigger the bathroom, the larger the cost of the remodeling budget needs to be. Do a complete remodel of your powder room for between $5,000 and $10,000. A guest bathroom could be upwards of $20,000. If you are gutting and remodeling a huge master bath, the budget could be for anywhere from $10,000 to 30,000 or more depending on the labor costs in your area and the material costs.

Labor costs

The cost of labor can vary greatly based on your location. The cost to remodel a bathroom in San Francisco will be much higher than a rural area. When you are budgeting for a bathroom remodel, keep in mind that the labor costs will typically account for about 50% of the entire remodeling price.

Material costs

As with any remodeling project, there can be a great difference in price range for different types of materials. When it comes to remodeling a bathroom, a big part of the budget is determined by the cost of the individual materials used in the remodel. The more luxury the finishes, the more the total cost of the remodel will be.

Cost per square foot

A major factor in the total cost of remodeling a bathroom is the number of square feet being remodeled. On average, you can expect to pay roughly $125 per square foot you are remodeling. If you are doing an expansion on the home to accommodate the new bathroom size, expect the budget to increase by up to $15,000 just to do the add-on. That doesn't account for the finishes to complete the new square footage.