Estimate a bathroom remodel by size, layout, fixture tier, tile square footage, and relocation scope. 2026 data; not a contractor bid.
| Item | Quantity | Estimated range |
|---|
Got a contractor quote? Compare it to the planning range.
What this is: a planning-range bathroom calculator informed by Kohler / Toto / Delta / Moen manufacturer pricing, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor, Homewyse, and licensed cost-estimating references.
Size scaling: demo, paint, and floor-tile labor scale per square foot of bathroom area. Plumbing/electrical rough-in scale by layout type (powder/three-piece/master) and fixture relocation scope.
Labor is modeled from per-unit installed rates with a crew-rate sanity check ($75-$140/crew-hr loaded billing rate), informed by BLS OEWS 47-2152 (Plumbers / Pipefitters) and 47-2031 (Carpenters).
Last updated: May 2026. Full methodology →
| Scope | Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Powder room refresh (25 sf) | $4,000-$10,000 | 3-5 days |
| Mid-range 3-piece (50 sf, no relocation) | $12,000-$28,000 | 2-3 weeks |
| 3-piece + full layout change | $18,000-$40,000 | 3-5 weeks |
| Master spa bath (110 sf) | $30,000-$80,000+ | 4-8 weeks |
| Add-on: heated floor | +$600-$1,200 (40 sf) | included |
| Add-on: frameless glass shower | +$1,000-$3,000 | 1 week lead |
In a mid-range 3-piece remodel, tile and tile labor take roughly a quarter of the budget, fixtures (tub, shower, toilet, vanity) another quarter to a third, and plumbing plus electrical labor about a quarter — with demo, paint, the exhaust fan, and the permit splitting the rest. Tile is the swing item: wall and shower tile run $20–$35 per sq ft installed and floor tile $16–$28.
| Scope | Range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Powder-room refresh | $4,000 – $10,000 | New vanity, toilet, floor, paint — no wet work |
| Mid-range 3-piece | $12,000 – $28,000 | Tub/shower, tile, vanity — same layout |
| Full layout change | $18,000 – $40,000 | Fixtures relocated, new rough-in, often a building permit |
| Master spa bath | $30,000 – $80,000+ | Double vanity, separate soaking tub + tile shower, heated floor |
The wet-area decision sets both the budget and the resale story:
One resale caution: removing the only bathtub in the house to build a walk-in shower can hurt resale with families. If you have more than one bath, convert the secondary one and keep a tub somewhere.
The tile you see is half a shower; the waterproofing you don't see is what keeps the wall from rotting. Modern code requires a continuous waterproof membrane behind wall tile — the old "tile over green drywall" approach fails inspection now, so a proper installation costs more than a quick one and is worth every dollar.
Other behind-the-wall surprises that move a bid: rotted subfloor under an old leaking tub, an undersized or missing exhaust fan (code wants ventilation to keep mold out), and relocating a vent stack when fixtures move. None of these show in a glossy before-and-after, but all of them show up on the invoice.
Powder room refresh: $4,000-$10,000. Mid-range 3-piece full bath (50 sq ft): $12,000-$28,000. Master spa bath (100+ sq ft, double vanity, separate tub + shower): $30,000-$80,000+. Full layout change with fixture relocation adds 25-60% to plumbing/electrical labor.
Powder rooms run 18-30 sq ft, standard 3-piece full baths 40-60 sq ft, and master baths 80-150+ sq ft. Demo, paint, and floor tile scale linearly with that area. Plumbing rough-in is more about layout (powder vs full vs master) and whether fixtures move.
Reusing existing rough-in (no relocation) is the cheapest. Relocating one fixture within 4-6 ft adds about 25% to plumbing labor. A full layout flip — multiple fixtures moved or the bath rotated — adds 60% or more, plus likely floor framing modifications and a building permit instead of a plumbing permit.
None = baseline. Minor +25%. Full flip +60%, plus floor framing mods + building permit.
Demo, paint, vanity install — DIY-friendly. Plumbing + electrical require licensed pros + permit in most jurisdictions.
Powder 3-5 days. Mid-range 2-3 weeks. Master spa 4-8 weeks. Add 1-2 weeks if structural mods.
A standard 3-piece full bath (40-60 sq ft) kept in the same layout runs $12,000-$28,000. A powder-room refresh - vanity, toilet, floor, and paint with no wet work - is $4,000-$10,000.
Typically $3,000-$12,000. A drop-in acrylic shower kit ($1,176-$2,000 plus install) is the budget route; a custom tile shower runs $118-$200 per sq ft of footprint plus a frameless glass enclosure at $1,470-$2,500.
Tile work and fixtures usually tie for the lead. Custom tile showers run $118-$200 per sq ft of footprint installed, and relocating plumbing fixtures adds 25-60% to labor versus reusing the existing rough-in.
