| Labor | $7,650 |
| Tile & flooring | $3,400 |
| Fixtures & vanity | $3,740 |
| Plumbing & electrical | $1,360 |
| Paint & drywall | $850 |
Range shows the model’s planning allowance for this scope. Hold a 10% contingency for what's behind the tile.
What bathrooms cost by room type
Baseline model rates — the same model the calculator runs, before your region and shower adjustments.
Most U.S. bathrooms fall between 20 and 100 square feet. Cost scales with area but not linearly — fixtures, trades, and permits cost about the same in any room, so small bathrooms run the highest price per square foot.
| Room type | Refresh | Full remodel | Gut & redesign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half bath (~20 sq ft) | $4,340 – $6,020 | $6,800 – $9,440 | $9,950 – $13,810 |
| Three-quarter bath (~30 sq ft) | $6,500 – $9,030 | $9,350 – $12,980 | $13,010 – $18,050 |
| 5×7 full bath (35 sq ft) | $7,590 – $10,530 | $10,630 – $14,750 | $14,540 – $20,180 |
| 5×8 full bath (40 sq ft) | $8,670 – $12,040 | $11,900 – $16,520 | $16,070 – $22,300 |
| Primary bath (~100 sq ft) | $21,680 – $30,090 | $27,200 – $37,760 | $34,430 – $47,790 |
What moves the price most
- The shower decision. Going from a tub/shower combo to a tiled walk-in shower adds $4,000–$5,000 to a small bathroom — the single biggest line-item switch. See the walk-in shower cost breakdown for standalone shower pricing.
- Moving plumbing. Relocating a toilet, sink, or drain adds about $2,500 per fixture before any new fixture is bought.
- Tile coverage. Floor-to-ceiling tile can double the tiling line item versus a tub surround.
- Hidden water damage. Opening walls in pre-1980 homes regularly surfaces subfloor or supply-line repairs — that's the 10% contingency.
- Permits. $100–$1,000 depending on jurisdiction; skipping them complicates resale.
Before the demo day
The steps that keep the budget and the schedule honest, in the order they matter.
Pre-build checklist
- Pick fixtures and tile before demo. Vanities and special-order tile run 2–6 week lead times — ordering after demolition stalls the job mid-way.
- Order 10–15% extra tile. Cuts, breakage, and dye-lot mismatches are a rule, not an exception.
- Check permit requirements with your city. Plumbing and electrical changes almost always need one; $100–$1,000 and days of lead time.
- Photograph walls, floors, and shut-offs. You'll want them when quoting surprises appear behind the tile.
- Plan for the room being out of service. One bath down means scheduling around it for 2–3 weeks.
- Hold 10% contingency in cash. The calculator's range covers normal quotes; surprises behind the wall are what the extra 10% is for.
Typical timeline (40–60 sq ft, contractor crew)
| Phase | Duration |
|---|---|
| Demo & removal | 1–2 days |
| Rough plumbing & electrical | 2–4 days |
| Waterproofing & tile | 3–5 days |
| Fixtures & vanity set | 1–2 days |
| Paint, glass & accessories | 1–2 days |
| Bathroom usable again | ~2–3 weeks |
Bathroom remodel cost questions
How much does a 5×8 bathroom remodel cost?
A 40 sq ft full bath lands around $8,670–$12,040 as a cosmetic refresh, $11,900–$16,520 as a full midrange remodel, and $16,070–$22,300 gutted and redesigned at baseline model rates. Midrange assumes new fixtures, a tub or shower, vanity, and tile with the layout unchanged.
Why does a small bathroom cost more per square foot?
Most of the budget is fixtures and trades, which cost about the same in a 35-square-foot room as in a 60-square-foot one. A small bathroom spreads those fixed costs over less floor, so it routinely runs $300–$500 or more per square foot.
How much of the budget is labor?
Labor usually makes up 40–65% of a bathroom remodel. On a typical midrange full remodel that's roughly $5,000–$7,500 for demolition, plumbing, electrical, tile, and installation, depending on your location and how much tile work is involved.
How long does a bathroom remodel take?
Plan on 2–3 weeks with a contractor crew for a standard hall bath — demo through paint. Order-dependent pauses (fixtures on backorder) stretch it more than the trades themselves do.
Does a bathroom remodel pay off at resale?
Industry cost-vs-value studies put a midrange bath remodel recouping roughly 60–70% of cost at sale. Expect a nicer bath, not a dollar-for-dollar return — remodel for how you live, price it for the market.
Can I remodel a bathroom for $5,000?
Usually only a half bath, or a cosmetic update of a full bath where you keep the tub and do some of the work yourself: reglaze the tub, paint the tile, swap the vanity, toilet, lighting, and flooring. The moment the tub moves, the budget moves with it.
How we price these estimates
Midpoint = scope setup + area × scope rate + shower upgrade + fixture moves, then multiplied by the regional factor. Cosmetic: $0 + $255/sq ft; midrange: $2,000 + $300/sq ft; upscale: $4,500 + $360/sq ft. Shower upgrades add $800 (prefab) or $4,500 (tiled); a fixture move adds $2,500.
These are BathCalc model assumptions, not a survey of contractor bids. The range is 85%–118% of the midpoint, rounded to the nearest $10; it is a planning allowance, not a statistical confidence interval. Regional factors are baseline 1.00, Northeast 1.18, West 1.12, South 0.92 and Midwest 0.90; they do not replace ZIP-code quotes.
Scope reference: Homewyse installation cost calculators. Reference scopes and dates can differ from this model; the linked page does not independently validate every BathCalc rate. Compare demolition, disposal, waterproofing, tax, permits and structural repairs explicitly when requesting itemized quotes. Model documentation updated . Report a pricing or scope correction.
Every BathCalc calculator
One engine, one page per decision — pick the variable you're pricing.
| Calculator | Prices | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-in shower cost | Prefab vs. tiled vs. curbless standalone showers | $5,000–$15,000 |
| Jacuzzi bath remodel cost | Whirlpool & spa-bath remodels | $11,000–$20,000 |
| 5×10 bathroom remodel cost | 50 sq ft full-bath presets | $14,450–$20,060 |
| Bathtub installation cost | Alcove, rebuild & specialty tubs | $1,620–$2,240 |
| Tile installation cost | Ceramic, porcelain & stone, per sq ft | $820–$1,130 (60 sq ft) |
| Vanity installation cost | Stock to custom, with labor | $770–$1,060 |
| Shower door installation cost | Framed to frameless glass | $470–$650 |