Bathroom Remodel Cost Estimator

Built and maintained byKapil LodhiReviewed and updated June 2026 - Based on RSMeans 2026 construction cost data and regional contractor rate surveys across all 50 US states

How much does a bathroom remodel cost in 2026?

The average bathroom remodel cost in 2026 ranges from $6000 to $200000+ depending on bathroom size, finish level and location. A mid-range remodel of a typical medium-sized bathroom costs between $18000 and $35000 in most US markets. Our free bathroom remodel cost estimator uses real 2026 contractor rates adjusted by state to give you the most accurate budget starting point available.

Cost to remodel bathroom calculator - by scope

Use our cost to remodel bathroom calculator to estimate your project by selecting remodel scope, layout changes, fixtures and tile work. The calculator adjusts your estimate in real time as you make selections, with state-specific labor cost adjustments for all 50 US states.

Small bathroom remodel cost calculator

A small bathroom remodel - typically under 40 square feet such as a half bath or powder room - costs between $6000 and $48000 depending on scope. Even in a small bathroom, plumbing and waterproofing costs remain significant because the work involves the same trades as a larger space. Select Small in our bathroom remodel cost estimator above to see small bathroom pricing for your state.

The most cost-effective small bathroom remodel strategy is to keep the existing layout, refresh paint and lighting, and replace only the vanity and toilet. This approach typically costs $6000 to $13000 and delivers a significant visual transformation at a fraction of a full remodel cost.

Bathroom remodel cost by component (2026)

Bathroom remodeling cost estimator - what is included

• Demolition - Removal of existing fixtures, tile and flooring as needed
• Plumbing - Connection or relocation of supply and drain lines
• Electrical - GFCI outlets, lighting and exhaust fan wiring
• Waterproofing - Membrane and proper sloping for shower and floor areas
• Tile installation - Your selected tile coverage, fully installed
• Fixture installation - Toilet, vanity, tub or shower set and connected
• Labor - All trades labor, typically the largest single cost category

The estimate does not include structural changes to the home, major water damage repair, or asbestos abatement in older homes. Ventilation upgrades, heated floors, lighting upgrades and permit fees are available as add-ons in our calculator above.

The single decision that forks the budget: does the plumbing move?

Keeping fixtures where they are means the work is finishes. Moving them means opening floors, rerouting supply and, critically, re-cutting drainage — which has to fall at a consistent slope toward the stack and cannot simply be redirected sideways.

Overall, plumbing relocation commonly adds somewhere in the region of $2,000 to $8,000 to a typical project. Against national mid-range pricing of roughly $180 to $280 per square foot and a full renovation average of $12,000 to $25,000, that is a substantial share of the budget spent on something nobody sees.

Which is not an argument against ever moving a fixture — a bathroom with a badly placed toilet stays badly placed for decades. It is an argument for making that decision consciously and first, rather than discovering it partway through. A full gut down to the studs is where layout changes become practical, and that scope runs roughly $23,000 to $42,000 for a standard 60 square foot hall bath at mid-range finishes, or $38,000 to $70,000 for a 100 square foot primary bath.

Waterproofing is the spend you will never see

Tile is not waterproof. Grout is not waterproof. What keeps water out of the structure is the layer behind the tile, and it is the most consequential invisible item in the whole project.

In a properly built modern shower that means cement backer board or an equivalent tile substrate rather than ordinary drywall, a waterproofing membrane over it, correct treatment at corners and the curb, and a pan that falls evenly to the drain. Tile installation labor alone commonly runs $2,500 to $6,000, and the preparation underneath it is part of why.

A shower built without that assembly can look identical on handover day and fail quietly behind the wall, which is how a remodel turns into a joist repair and a mold remediation job a few years later. When comparing bids, ask specifically what substrate and what waterproofing system each one includes. A quote that cannot answer that is cheaper for a reason. If the shower is the whole of your project, our shower remodel cost estimator covers it in isolation.

Ventilation, and the fixtures worth spending on

An exhaust fan sized for the room and vented to the outside — not into the attic — is what stops a new bathroom from steadily damaging itself. It is a small line item and the one most often specified carelessly.

On fixtures, the spread is wide enough to absorb budget pressure without changing the layout. A vanity with sink runs roughly $300 to $1,500 at mid-range and $2,000 to $5,000 or more custom. Tile, fittings and lighting scale similarly. The general principle: spend on what is hard to change later — waterproofing, the pan, plumbing rough-in, ventilation — and economize on what is easy to swap, which is most of what you can see.

Plan for the disruption, not just the cost

A bathroom remodel takes a bathroom out of service for weeks, not days. In a single-bathroom house that is a genuine logistical problem and worth planning around before the start date is set.

Two practical points. Order long-lead items — tile, vanity, specific fittings — before demolition begins, because a project waiting on a back-ordered item waits with the room unusable. And if the house has an aging water heater, replacing it while the plumber is already engaged avoids a second mobilization; our water heater installation calculator covers that cost.

Frequently asked questions