Bathroom Remodels | Traverse Renovations

Bathroom Remodeling

Daydreaming of a bathroom that heightens your daily dose of luxury? Standard bathroom remodels costs can range anywhere from $6,621 for mid-sized renovations and up to $28,500 to gut the tiles, fixtures, and floors and start from scratch with high-end materials. You can also start small, spending under $500 for a new toilet, shower stall, or faucet. Let's build your bathroom remodel from the ground up, whether you're building an at-home spa or making personalized changes one at a time.

Bathroom Remodel Cost Breakdown

Instead of looking at bathroom remodeling costs as one lump sum, break down each budget line item to build your dream design. The size of your bathroom, finishes, fixtures, cabinetry, and labor will sway the final costs strongly in either direction.

Size of Bathroom

The size and layout of your bathroom are the first places to start when estimating the cost of renovations. Bathroom remodels range from $70 to $250 per square foot, depending on the type of bathroom and whether you opt for basic or designer finishes. For instance, the average size of a small, full bathroom is 40 square feet, so you'll pay anywhere from $2,800 to $10,000 for renovations. Large bathrooms with a tub, separate shower stall, and double sinks will be 100 square feet or larger, pushing the costs to between $7,000 and $25,000.

Cabinets and Shelving

The cost of new bathroom cabinets ranges from $300 to $42,000 with an average of $200 to $600 per unit. Storage cabinets, medicine cabinets, and vanities take up the largest square footage outside of your major plumbing installations—making them a major star in your renovation.

Keep in mind that your vanity hosts your sink and hides the plumbing, so the more customized the vanity, the more you'll spend for hookups. A customized vanity can add $10,000 to your budget for materials and installation.

Building a shelf unit—for your hand towels, candles, and perhaps a few bathroom plants—will cost between $50 and $100 if you install them yourself or as much as $1,300 if you hire a professional contractor.

Countertops

Nothing spruces up a bathroom more than a fresh new countertop. High-end countertop materials can have a significant impact on the vibe of the space. If you’re only removing and replacing your old one, the price of a vanity countertop will range from about $400 to $4,300 for labor and materials.

Let's break it down further. For materials alone, stock vanities that include pre-fit countertops cost between $100 and $2,600, while custom countertops cost $500 to $2,800. Include about $300 to remove and dispose of the old countertop and $200 to $1,000 to install the new one. You may also need to hire a plumber to adjust the fit of the pipes and fixtures.

Last but not least, the countertop material costs will vary as well. See some of these in the table below.

Shower and Tub

Swapping out your shower or tub for the ultimate spa experience is often at the forefront of a homeowner's mind when revamping a bathroom. Installing a shower averages $6,800, but the cost to remodel a shower ranges from $200 to $15,000, depending on the extent of the upgrades. Prefab shower kits cost as little as $600 with materials and labor, whereas custom showers push costs over $10,000 since they require more time and labor for proper measurements, construction, and installation.

The overall price of a bathtub replacement ranges between $4,200 and $11,000. Standard tub materials include acrylic or fiberglass, or you can spring for higher-end models made of cast iron, steel, or cultured marble. You'll also pay extra for clawfoot tubs, jets, and freestanding models.

Major changes to your shower or tub may require your plumber to move or add pipes. Freestanding tubs and tubs with jets often require special configurations. Below are some options for installing a new tub and shower during your bathroom remodel.

Tile and Flooring

There's no other room in the house where the flooring, shower, and wall tiles have such a close-knit relationship. Investing in new materials to waterproof a bathroom is crucial for durability and style. You'll pay an average of $12.50 per square foot for the cost of retiling a bathroom or the cost of installing new flooring—including materials and labor. Tile alone costs between $0.50 and $15 per square foot, but it can go as high as $35 for high-end options.

Budget-friendly bathroom tiles often come in traditional shapes like squares and rectangles and are easier to install. Once you look at installing large marble slabs, custom-shaped ceramic tiles, or any material treated for better durability, you get into the higher price ranges. If stepping out of the shower and onto a warm floor interest you, heating bathroom tiles costs between $20 and $40 per square foot.

Flooring will range from $2 to $22 per square foot for materials, and add $0.60 to $4 per square foot for labor. To match the rest of your home, skip the bathroom tile and bring in hardwood, vinyl, or polished concrete; vinyl can mimic the look of wood or stone but keeps prices down and extends the floor's longevity.

Sinks

The cost to install a sink varies between $215 and $625. In a bathroom, the sink goes hand in hand with the type of vanity you choose. Dreaming of dual sinks that sit side by side? What about a trendy vessel sink that sits above the counter? Choosing and installing just the sink is quite simple before accounting for fixtures, plumbing, and how it fits with the surrounding counters.

Faucets and Plumbing

Upgrade your sink faucets from $170 to $360. Faucet installation prices rely heavily on how the sink mounts to the wall and its finish. For example, a traditional faucet mounted to the countertop costs between $40 and $200, while one mounted directly to the wall can cost over $750. Special finishes also add between $10 and $100.

A plumber may need to make adjustments to your current pipes to attach a new sink, toilet, or shower. The average cost to rough-in plumbing for a bathroom is $7,000 for a new bath or major renovations. The cost of installing new pipes runs between $0.50 and $8 per linear foot for materials only. You'll also pay $45 to $200 per hour to hire a plumber.

Plumbing updates during a bathroom remodel average $800. Keep in mind your plumber may also discover more complex repairs during renovation. Plumbing repairs have a large price range, costing an average of $175 for simple fixes like clogs and up to $3,000 for issues that stem back to the supply side (water main or well) or the disposal side (sewer or septic system).

Toilet

Expect to pay an average of $375 for the cost of installing a new toilet. While the shower, tiles, and vanity steal the show, you have some fancy commode options as well.

Extras and Accessories

Once you check the major bathroom installations off your list, hone in on the fun details that add a bit of luxury to the design. Bathroom extras and accessories include touches like a low-flow showerhead and cabinet hardware with metallic finishes. Keep these elements in mind, especially if you're hoping to add some small designer accents.

Ventilation and Lighting

Controlling moisture is half the battle when it comes to protecting your bathroom from mold and water damage. Install a bathroom vent fan with a light for an average of $400, or call a pro who installs vent fans. Complex vents that include a heating lamp cost as much as $425, while simple wall-mounted vents cost as low as $130.

Ventilation aside, bathroom lighting plays a functional and fashionable role in your bathroom's design. Installing a new light fixture costs anywhere from $150 to $930. You can opt for a simple ceiling-mounted light for as little as $90 or an antique chandelier for up to $2,000. Recessed lighting and track lighting can also designate separate areas of a bathroom, differentiating between the vanity area and tub or shower.

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Doors and Windows

Remember to update the surrounding structure of your bathroom as well. Installing a new door costs between $360 and $1,200, depending on whether you opt for a pre-hung door or something customizable like a pocket door. Trim will add $2 to $3 per linear foot, and hardware costs $200 extra.

You may have to account for the cost of installing a wall if you add a new door or window. For example, if you're adding a new wall opening, it will cost between $120 and $200. Adjusting the wall may also require the help of a structural engineer or a mold remediation specialist if your contractor finds some surprises in the wall.

Assume you'll pay about $280 for the cost of replacing an existing window, including materials and labor. The cost to install a new window and cut an opening is about $6,400. You might consider investing in the price of glass block windows for $710 or adding frost to traditional windows for privacy.

Paint or Wallpaper

Spruce up the paint in your bathroom with a paint sheen that can take on high moisture levels and potential mildew. The cost to paint a bathroom is $50 to $100, while the price of hanging wallpaper runs from about $2 to $6 per square foot for materials and $1 to $7 per square foot for labor. Flex your DIY muscles and save on costs by painting your bathroom yourself.

Labor

You will work with an impressive team of experts to make your bathroom remodel a reality. Labor comes out to 40% to 65% of your total remodeling budget or $50 to $75 per hour. As noted in each category above, labor will vary depending on the project's complexity. Your total labor cost will also depend on where you live.

Here are some common fees for your bathroom remodeling team.

Contractors cost: 10%–20% of your overall project cost
Hourly rate plumbers charge: $45–$200 per hour
Cost to hire an interior designer: $50–$200 per hour
Cost to hire an electrician: $50–$200 per hour
Hourly rate for HVAC repairs: $50–$100 per hour

You might be able to DIY small upgrades like installing a new showerhead and toilet, painting the walls, and changing out the sink, but for more complex bathroom renovations, you’ll want to hire a team.

Demolition and Prep

The demolition of your old bathroom will add between $1,000 and $2,300 to your bill. Make sure to double-check that these costs are in your contractor’s estimate. For example, you’ll want to be sure the costs cover the removal and disposal of old tiles, flooring, and fixtures.

Permits

The price of local construction permits heavily depends on where you live. You may not need to pay a fee for small projects. However, assume anywhere from $100 to $1,000 for permits for more in-depth construction, like changes to plumbing and electrical. Your contractor can provide approximate costs and obtain the permits for your project.

Cost of Bathroom Remodel by Type

Whether you’re remodeling a small half bath or gut-renovating your jack-and-jill bathroom, the type of bathroom will play a role in your final costs. Here are some considerations regarding each type and the corresponding price tag.

Half Bath or Powder Room Remodel

Coming in at about 30 square feet, a small half bathroom costs between $1,500 and $15,000 to renovate, depending on the finishes and fixtures you choose. Most powder rooms only feature a toilet, sink, and vanity but might require new floors, tiling, and a coat of paint.