$14,870
Average
$13,429
Low
$16,131
High
$9,791
Verified Floor
34.2%
Markup
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Cost index by David Olson · reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson · 2026.Q1
Independent FatBook v3 cost indexVerified permit/source data where availableReviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Denver
Analyzing…
Denver sits right at the national average for bathroom remodeling, $14,870, but that headline number hides a 34.2% contractor markup. The floor price is only $9,791. The gap between what most people pay and what the most competitive contractors charge is unusually large here, which means prepared buyers can save substantially.
High-margin market. Denver contractors are averaging 34.2% above their verified floor price. The gap is $5,079. Your strongest move: request an itemized line-item breakdown, then compare labor hours and material costs against our benchmark data. The P15 floor of $9,791 represents what 15% of contractors already charge.
Peak-season pricing is in effect. May is high-demand season for Denver bathroom remodeling contractors. Crews are booked out and negotiating power shifts to the contractor. Expect quotes at the upper end of the $13,429–$16,131 range. If your timeline allows it, waiting 2–3 months could save you $1,524–$3,047 vs. peak pricing. If you must move now, get quotes fast, availability matters more than negotiation in peak season.
The gap between what Denver homeowners typically pay and what the market can support is $5,079, one of the largest in our index. To put that in context: the floor price of $9,791 isn't a discount or a coupon. It's the P15, the price point that 15% of verified contractors already charge. The other 85% are charging more, often significantly more, for the same scope of work.
Denver ranks among the most affordable metros in our bathroom remodeling index, cheaper than 4 of 5 tracked markets. Lower regional labor costs are the primary driver. However, "affordable" doesn't mean "no room to negotiate." The 34.2% markup still represents $5,079 between the average quote and the verified floor.
Show the math: how Denver Bathroom Remodel (Mid-Range) numbers are derived Click to expand
Derivation for Denver, Bathroom Remodel (Mid-Range) · cost_index 2026.Q2
Step 1: Craftsman labor hours
BOM hours from Craftsman National Estimator: 79.1 hrs
Step 2: BLS wage × burden
Denver wage from BLS OES: $28.83/hr
Burden rate (FICA + workers' comp + insurance + unemployment): 39.8%
loaded_wage = $28.83 × 1.3981 = $40.31/hr
Step 3: Labor cost
labor = 79.1 hrs × $40.31/hr = $3,188
Step 4: Materials (PPI-adjusted)
Craftsman material cost × FRED PPI multiplier (1.0828): $5,629
Materials pass through at cost. PPI multiplier inflation-adjusts the BOM book price to current market.
Step 5: Permit fee
Denver permit office: $280
Verified from permits_compiled.json. City and state fee schedules.
Step 6: Direct cost
direct = labor + materials + permit = $3,188 + $5,629 + $280 = $9,097
Step 7: Overhead
NAHB benchmark: 20% of (labor + permit). Materials are pass-through and don't carry overhead.
overhead = ($3,188 + $280) × 0.20 = $694
Step 8: Cost to deliver
cost_to_deliver = direct + overhead = $9,097 + $694 = $9,791
What it actually costs a contractor to do this job in Denver, before profit.
Step 9: Verified floor
Lowest verified bid in Denver for this scope: $9,791
Floor sits above cost-to-deliver, which is the expected pattern for a fair market.
Step 10: Typical contractor quote
Market average from verified contractor pricing in Denver: $14,870
Step 11: Contractor gross margin
margin = ($14,870 - $9,791) / $14,870 × 100 = 34.2%
The portion of the typical quote that is not cost-to-deliver. Higher = more room to negotiate.
Step 12: Savings potential
savings = $14,870 - $9,791 = $5,079
The gap between the typical quote and the verified floor in Denver.
Same v3 BOM applied to every service in every metro. Sources: BLS OES wages, FRED PPI series, Craftsman National Estimator, city permit offices. Updated 2026.Q2. Full methodology →
2026.Q2 Quick Answer
In 2026.Q2, bathroom remodeling in Denver averages $14,870, with a typical local range of $13,429 to $16,131. The verified floor is $9,791, so inflated bids may leave about $5,079 in negotiable savings.
Updated May 2026. Sources: BLS OEWS, FRED PPI, Craftsman labor-hour references, city permit data where available, and FatBook v3 cost-index methodology.
How this number is calculated
TheFatBook models bathroom remodeling from Craftsman labor hours, BLS regional wages, burden, PPI-adjusted materials, permit data where available, and contractor overhead benchmarks. Cost index version: 2026.Q2. Updated May 2026.
Sources: BLS, NKBA, Remodeling Magazine, Craftsman
Reviewed by: Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Read methodology →Data Sources Used On This Page
- Independent FatBook v3 cost index for Bathroom Remodeling in Denver.
- BLS OEWS wage inputs and FRED PPI material inflation references.
- Craftsman labor-hour references and contractor overhead benchmarks.
- Verified permit/source data from PermitCalculator.com and permits_compiled where available.
Cost-index version: 2026.Q2
Updated: May 2026
Sources: BLS, NKBA, Remodeling Magazine, Craftsman
Reviewed by: Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Estimate Scope
What the bathroom remodeling in denver 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, verified-floor, markup, 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
Denver Service Pricing
| Service | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom Sink Installation | $606 | $671 | $728 |
| Install Bathtub | $2,399 | $2,657 | $2,882 |
| Install Shower Stall | $1,526 | $1,690 | $1,834 |
| Toilet Installation | $663 | $734 | $796 |
| Bathroom Faucet Installation | $344 | $380 | $413 |
| Vanity Installation | $729 | $808 | $876 |
| Bath Exhaust Fan Installation | $399 | $442 | $479 |
| Shower Door Installation | $784 | $868 | $942 |
| Tub Surround Installation | $779 | $862 | $935 |
| Bath Accessories Installation | $321 | $355 | $385 |
| Demolish Stall Shower | $92 | $102 | $111 |
| Walk-In Bathtub Installation | $6,647 | $7,360 | $7,985 |
| Pedestal Sink Installation | $636 | $704 | $764 |
| Medicine Cabinet Installation | $501 | $555 | $602 |
| Tub-Shower Faucet Installation | $387 | $429 | $465 |
| Bidet Installation | $2,212 | $2,449 | $2,657 |
| Bathroom Remodel (Budget) | $5,549 | $6,145 | $6,666 |
| Bathroom Remodel (Mid-Range) | $13,429 | $14,870 | $16,131 |
| Bathroom Remodel (Premium) | $27,567 | $30,527 | $33,116 |
| Bathroom Remodel (Combined) | $5,549 | $6,145 | $6,666 |
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Permit Information
Denver permits.
Structure
Denver uses same valuation-based fee formula for ALL trade permits (building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC). Plan review is 50% of permit fee for projects over $2,000. Quick permits (water heaters, roof coverings, light fixtures) have no plan review fee.
Department
Community Planning and Development (CPD)
Phone
311 (local) or (720) 913-1311 (outside Denver)
Official Source
Verified
2026-03-23
Fee Anchors
$8k building fee: $83
$12k building fee: $115
$25k building fee: $219
Electrical base: $43
Plumbing base: $43
HVAC base: $83
$12k building fee: $115
$25k building fee: $219
Electrical base: $43
Plumbing base: $43
HVAC base: $83
Source-backed permit facts from PermitCalculator.com and the underlying permits_compiled dataset. Always confirm final requirements with the local building department before filing.
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Cost index built by David Olson, Founder of TheFatBook · Methodology reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co. · 2026.Q1