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Bathroom Remodeling · United States

How much does bathroom remodeling cost nationally?

$24,101typical · fair range $21,600 to $26,795

That is the modeled cost to deliver plus a fair contractor margin for bathroom remodeling in the United States, not a sales quote. Built from BLS wage data, Craftsman bills of materials, and verified permit fees. 2026-07-08

Mid-range here means a full gut to the studs. Water touches every surface in a bathroom, so once the tub or tile comes out, waterproofing and rough plumbing come with it. A surface-level refresh is the budget tier.

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Show the math
How $24,101 is built
Labor$5,997
Materials$7,648
Permit fee$436
Direct cost$14,081
Overhead (23% of revenue)$5,595
Cost to deliver (break even)$19,676
Contractor margin (22.5%)$4,425
Typical fair price$24,101

The margin is the gap between break even and a typical quote, not a markup we invent. Margins float by trade and city, with most fair jobs settling between 18 and 28 percent over cost to deliver. Nobody works for free. Full methodology.

View the full 15-city cost index →
How this number is calculated

The bathroom remodeling figure is built from parts, never scraped: published labor hours, this metro’s wages with burden, current material prices, permit data where available, and overhead a working shop actually carries. Cost index version: 2026-07-08. Updated Jul 2026.

Sources: BLS, NKBA, Remodeling Magazine, Craftsman
Reference URLs: BLS OEWS · FRED PPI
Reviewed by: Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Read methodology →
See costs near you

Enter your ZIP code for the closest tracked metro.

We route your ZIP to the nearest tracked city and show city-level bid fairness, true cost, margin, and lowest realistic price data.

Atlanta $22,988Austin $23,470Chicago $29,414Dallas $22,778Denver $25,111Houston $22,200Kansas City $23,208Los Angeles $28,054Atlanta $22,988Austin $23,470Chicago $29,414Dallas $22,778Denver $25,111Houston $22,200Kansas City $23,208Los Angeles $28,054
Proprietary benchmarks · BLS · FRED · Census · Craftsman
Estimate Scope

What the bathroom remodeling benchmark includes.

Included in the benchmark
  • Bathroom Remodel (Mid-Range) as the headline cost-index scope
  • labor-hour assumptions, regional wage inputs, materials, overhead, and permit data where available
  • low, average, high, lowest realistic price, margin, and savings benchmarks from the FatBook cost index
Not included automatically
  • hidden damage, change orders, emergency service premiums, or unusual site access conditions
  • contractor financing approval, warranties, provider recommendations, or guaranteed final quotes
  • permit rulings for a specific address unless the city permit panel lists verified local data
Scope methodology →
True Cost Data

National benchmarks.

All 15 Cities →
Chart of bathroom remodeling costs national average, July 2026: Bathroom Remodel (Mid-Range) averages $24,068; Bathroom Remodel (Budget) averages $7,012; Bathroom Remodel (Luxury) averages $80,174. Source: TheFatBook Cost Index.
Typical bathroom remodeling costs nationally: low, average, and high for the most common services. Source: TheFatBook Cost Index. The full line-item table is below.
Embed this chart on your site (free, with attribution)
ServiceLowAverageHigh
Install Tile Floor$2,507$2,767$3,339
Install Tile Wall$1,338$1,477$1,782
Bathroom Sink Installation$605$677$791
Install Bathtub$1,689$1,878$2,081
Install Shower Stall$2,650$2,953$3,278
Toilet Installation$565$632$739
Bathroom Faucet Installation$350$391$458
Vanity Installation$1,267$1,417$1,656
Specialty tool
Tile & material calculator
Estimate tile area, grout, thinset, and what a local installer charges for the matching bathroom remodel scope.
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Top Markets

Cost by city.

Full city index →

Additional Markets

Kansas CityLos AngelesMiamiMinneapolisNew YorkPhiladelphiaPhoenixSeattleSpringfield
Guides

Latest research.

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Common Questions

Questions homeowners ask about bathroom remodeling.

Note: dollar figures below are national averages from our v3 cost index (Craftsman labor hours x BLS regional wages + PPI-adjusted materials + verified permit fees + NAHB overhead). Where an answer references general industry estimates instead (timing, lifespan, resale recoup percentages, scope items outside our index), it says so explicitly. For metro-specific numbers, see the cost-index pages.

How much does a bathroom remodel cost?+
Our cost index tracks three tiers nationally: Budget at $7,264, Mid-Range at $24,101, Premium at $41,932. Mid-range is the typical homeowner job, and in a bathroom that means a full gut to the studs: water touches every surface, so once the tub or tile comes out, waterproofing and rough plumbing come with it. Budget is the surface-level refresh. Numbers come from BLS labor + Craftsman materials + permit fee + NAHB-benchmarked overhead.
What is the most expensive part of a bathroom remodel?+
Labor (40 to 60% of the total) and the tile or surfacing scope (15 to 25%) lead. Fixtures are 10 to 20%. Our cost index shows individual fixture installs as: Bathtub $1,878, Shower Stall $2,953, Toilet $632, Vanity $1,417, Sink $677, Faucet $391. Moving plumbing or expanding the footprint pulls additional walls, floors, and inspections in and is the single most expensive change.
How long does a bathroom remodel take?+
Cosmetic refresh: 1 to 2 weeks. Mid-range remodel: 3 to 5 weeks. Full gut: 6 to 10 weeks. Permit approval typically adds 1 to 4 weeks before crews start.
Does a bathroom remodel increase home value?+
Industry resale-value reports (Cost vs. Value, NAR Remodeling Impact) put mid-range remodels in the 60 to 70% recoup range and upscale remodels at 55 to 65%. Updated bathrooms consistently rank as a top buyer priority, so they help even when the recoup math looks tight.
Can you remodel a bathroom for $10,000?+
Yes if you stay cosmetic and keep the existing layout. Refinish the tub, swap the vanity ($1,417 average per our index), new toilet ($632), shower-door swap ($929), tile floor, paint, and fixtures land you in the $8,000 to $10,000 range nationally.
Do you need a permit for a bathroom remodel?+
Permits are required when you move plumbing, change electrical, or alter walls. Pure cosmetic work (paint, vanity swap, fixture swap) usually does not need one, but check your jurisdiction before assuming. For verified per-metro permit fees, see our methodology page.
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Cost index built by David Olson, Creator of the Cost Index & Permit Dataset · Methodology reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co., Owner (retired) · 2026-07-08