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Bathroom Remodel Cost Calculator
Use this free bathroom remodel cost calculator to estimate what your project will cost before you call a contractor. Enter the bathroom size in square feet, pick a finish level, and add any extras you want — a walk-in shower, a freestanding tub, heated floors, or a custom vanity. The calculator gives you a low-to-high cost range plus an itemized breakdown, so you can see where the money goes and where you can save.
Extras
| Item | Share | Cost (midpoint) |
|---|---|---|
| Fixtures (toilet, faucets, shower) | 20% | $2,500 |
| Tile & flooring | 18% | $2,250 |
| Vanity & cabinets | 20% | $2,500 |
| Labor | 25% | $3,125 |
| Plumbing & electrical | 12% | $1,500 |
| Paint, lighting & misc. | 5% | $625 |
How it works
The calculator prices a remodel in two parts: a base cost driven by the size of the room and the finish level, and any extras you add on top. The base cost is the bathroom size in square feet multiplied by a per-square-foot rate for the finish level you pick. A basic remodel runs $120 to $180 per square foot, a midrange remodel runs $200 to $300 per square foot, and a high-end remodel runs $350 to $550 per square foot. A 50-square-foot bathroom at midrange is therefore $10,000 to $15,000 before extras. The midpoint of the range — $12,500 in that example — is used for the itemized breakdown.
Finish level is the single biggest driver of cost. A basic remodel keeps the layout, reuses the tub if it is sound, and uses stock fixtures, a standard vanity, and ceramic tile. A midrange remodel replaces the fixtures and vanity with better-quality ones, uses porcelain or stone-look tile, adds a glass shower door, and upgrades the lighting and ventilation. A high-end remodel uses custom cabinetry, natural stone or large-format tile, a frameless glass shower, a freestanding tub, designer fixtures, and often heated floors.
Layout changes are priced separately because they are the most common budget surprise. Keeping the existing layout costs nothing extra, since the toilet, sink, and shower stay where the plumbing already is. A minor layout change — moving a vanity a few feet, or swapping the tub and shower positions — adds about 15 percent, because it means some new pipe and drain work. Moving the plumbing entirely, such as relocating the toilet to the opposite wall, adds about 30 percent, because it means opening walls and floors, rerouting drains, and bringing in licensed plumbers and electricians. If your budget is tight, keeping the layout is the single most effective saving you can make.
The itemized breakdown shows where the midpoint money goes, using typical shares of the total. Labor is the largest item at about 25 percent, which covers the contractor, the tile setter, the plumber, and the electrician. Fixtures — the toilet, faucets, showerhead, and hardware — take about 20 percent, and the vanity and cabinets take another 20 percent. Tile and flooring take about 18 percent, plumbing and electrical work about 12 percent, and paint, lighting, mirrors, and miscellaneous items about 5 percent. These shares shift with the finish level: in a high-end remodel, fixtures and tile take a bigger share, while in a basic remodel labor takes a bigger share because the materials are cheaper.
Extras are added as their own low-to-high ranges on top of the base cost. A walk-in shower with a glass enclosure typically adds $2,500 to $4,000, a freestanding tub adds $1,500 to $3,000, heated floors add $800 to $1,500, and a custom vanity adds $1,000 to $2,500. The calculator adds the low end of each selected extra to the low end of the base range, and the high end to the high end, so the range stays honest.
Two practical notes before you start. First, get at least three written quotes from licensed contractors, and make sure each quote lists the same scope — the same fixtures, the same tile, the same layout — or you will be comparing different jobs. Second, keep a 10 to 15 percent contingency for surprises behind the walls, such as water damage or old wiring.
Layout change multiplies the base cost by 1.15 (minor) or 1.30 (major)
Worked example
You are remodeling a standard 50-square-foot full bathroom at midrange finish, keeping the existing layout, with no extras.
Step 1: Low end — 50 × $200 = $10,000.
Step 2: High end — 50 × $300 = $15,000.
Step 3: Midpoint — ($10,000 + $15,000) ÷ 2 = $12,500.
Step 4: Breakdown at the midpoint — fixtures 20% = $2,500; tile and flooring 18% = $2,250; vanity and cabinets 20% = $2,500; labor 25% = $3,125; plumbing and electrical 12% = $1,500; paint, lighting, and misc. 5% = $625.
The remodel costs $10,000 to $15,000, with $12,500 as the planning midpoint. If you add a walk-in shower, the range becomes $12,500 to $19,000, and if you also move the plumbing, the base cost rises by 30 percent before the extra is added.
FAQ
How much does a bathroom remodel cost?
A midrange bathroom remodel typically costs 200 to 300 dollars per square foot, so a 50 square foot bathroom runs about 10,000 to 15,000 dollars. A basic refresh costs 120 to 180 dollars per square foot, while a high-end remodel with custom finishes runs 350 to 550 dollars per square foot. The final price depends on the size, the finish level, and how much plumbing moves.
What is the most expensive part of a bathroom remodel?
Labor is usually the biggest single cost at about 25 to 30 percent of the total, followed by the vanity and cabinets at about 20 percent, tile at about 18 percent, and fixtures at about 20 percent. Moving plumbing or electrical work adds the most cost, because it means opening walls and hiring licensed trades.
Does a bathroom remodel add value to a home?
A midrange bathroom remodel typically returns about 60 to 70 percent of its cost in added home value, and a basic remodel often returns more because it costs less. High-end remodels return a smaller share of their cost. The value depends on the local housing market and on whether the remodel fixes real problems like an outdated layout or a leaking shower.
How long does a bathroom remodel take?
A basic bathroom refresh takes about 1 to 2 weeks, a midrange remodel takes about 3 to 5 weeks, and a high-end remodel with custom work can take 6 to 10 weeks. Delays usually come from material lead times, permit inspections, and surprises behind the walls such as water damage or old wiring.
How can I save money on a bathroom remodel?
Keep the existing layout so the plumbing stays where it is, refinish the tub instead of replacing it, choose a standard vanity over a custom one, and do the painting and demolition yourself if you are comfortable with it. Buying fixtures and tile during sales and comparing at least three contractor quotes also cuts the cost noticeably.