What is the Average Cost of a Bathroom Remodel?

Kitchens may sell homes, but the bathroom can be a total make-or-break room too. Bathrooms are a private retreat where we can wash the day away and refresh ourselves — and a cramped dark space can seriously harsh this vibe. Whether you’re looking to remodel your own bathroom or planning to upgrade the investment in your rental home, this guide looks at the average costs of a bathroom remodel and how to plan for one. 

What should I budget for a bathroom remodel?

The National Kitchen and Bath Association has always recommended that homeowners budget between 5 - 10% of the value of their home as an appropriate investment into a bathroom remodel. That sounds like a neat little figure, but it’s way too simplified for a modern homeowner. This would mean that if your home is worth $750,000 for example, you should budget between $37,500 - $50,000 for a bathroom remodel budget. Are your pockets hurting yet? 

It would also suggest that if your home is worth $1.4million dollars (the median house price in San Francisco) this rule would have you spending $70,000+ for a bathroom remodel. You certainly could go this high for a lux high-end master bathroom, but in reality, depending on what you need and the quality of finishes, you may not even need to spend half that. To get a better picture of what people are spending on bathroom remodeling, we have pulled together some average costs across the country. 

What is the average cost of a bathroom remodel?

HomeGuide says the average bathroom remodel costs between $5,000 - $30,000. Smaller bathrooms and ensuites will be at the lower end of the scale, with master bathrooms higher. Angi puts the national average at $11,225, with renovations costing around $120 to $275 per square foot, depending on the quality of materials, labor, and layout changes.

The size, age and condition of the bathroom you’re looking to remodel will of course affect how much you need to spend to upgrade the space. The main factor that will really influence the cost of a bathroom remodel is just how much work you’re looking to do. There’s a big difference between updating a few fixtures and gutting a space to change the layout. 

There are three typical types of bathroom remodels:

1. Simple bathroom refresh
Cost guide: $2,500 - $15,000

This price range would allow you to replace the existing bathroom fixtures and update the design, like-for-like without any changes to the layout. This would include modest finishes including off-the-shelf options.

2. New bathroom remodel
Cost guide: $18,000 - $24,000

At this price point, you could install new fixtures and include some higher-end or luxury design finishes. This could also include some changes like a new vanity. 

3. Bathroom overhaul or luxury finishes
Cost guide: $26,000 - $35,000+

Sometimes everything has got to go, or an old bathroom layout just doesn’t make sense and align with what you or a potential buyer/resident wants. At this price point you could completely overhaul the bathroom, changing the location of fixtures and upgrading the materials. 

Budgeting for a bathroom remodel buffer

It’s also important to have a buffer in your budget. Especially in this era of wild inflation, a tight labor market and global stock shortages, prepare that you will need to spend more than you may have planned. Once you’ve set what you want to spend, you should plan to keep around 10-20% of that aside for unexpected expenses. If you suddenly find out that your dream tile went up by $2 sq/ft or your hot water heater needs to be replaced, having a buffer will take the stress out of the unexpected. 

What is the most expensive part of a bathroom remodel?

When planning a bathroom remodel, there are four factors that will heavily influence the cost of your renovation:

1. Labor costs

Bathroom remodeling can involve a large cast of contractors, with different professionals and qualifications needed for plumbing, tiling, electrical work, drywall, demolition — the list goes on. Labor will take up to 20 - 50% of your remodel budget. There is also the dual-issue of rising inflation and contractor shortages that the US is currently facing, which means homeowners are often paying a premium on the average price from years past. 

To help find competitive quotes and instant access to vetted contractors, Belong has an extensive vendor network of over 10,000 professionals on hand.

2. Moving fixtures or expanding the space

Replacing bathroom fixtures like-for-like is the simplest solution for a bathroom remodel. As soon as you decide to move toilets or make a bathroom larger, that is where the costs can add up. You will need to account for structural planning, demolition and extensive plumbing work to alter the layout. Additional electrical work will likely be needed for moving powerpoints and lighting too. 

For example, the cost of a new toilet can cost anywhere from $100 - $1,000, whereas moving a toilet could cost around $2,500 - $3,000+ due to the plumbing work required.  

3. Tile work

Tile choice is also going to have an impact on the cost of a bathroom remodel. Tile prices can vary greatly per sq/ft and the more tiles you need, the higher the cost. So if you choose a beautiful accent tile and need it done floor-to-ceiling, your labor and tiling costs are going to be considerably higher than for a lower-end tile on a small ensuite with drywall outside of the shower. 

Average tile cost ranges are:

• Ceramic tile: $1 - $30
• Porcelain tile: $3 - $20
• Natural stone: $3 - $50
• Glass tile: $10 - $30

4. Custom work 

If you can choose a new vanity off-the-shelf from your local hardware store, this is going to be considerably cheaper than custom-designed cabinetry and countertops. If you don’t have the budget for custom work, consider this at the planning phase and look at standard sizing that can work for your space. 

Bathroom upgrades that will make people want to rent your home

When renting, you don’t get a lot of say in how your bathroom looks. That doesn’t mean there aren’t things on your wishlist though — and things you would happily pay more rent to have in your home. An upgraded or secondary bathroom is high on that list (second only to a great kitchen). 

As a homeowner, it’s worth keeping these wishlists in mind to attract quality long-term residents to your home. A bathroom remodel can make your rental home unmissable at inspection time, keeping your vacancy rates low and rental income profitable. 

When remodeling your home for the rental market, keep in mind the kind of renters you want to attract. For example, families like to have a bathtub for young kids (and Mom), so if you have a spacious home for rent in a family-friendly area, don’t skip the tub and plenty of storage in a bathroom remodel. If your home is marketed toward young professional couples, you could save money by having a shower-only and investing in other luxury touches or aesthetics to give the space a spa-like vibe. 

You should also consider the functionality of the space and the fact that you will foot the bill for repairs and maintenance. For example, it’s much cheaper to install a shower curtain over a glass door — but it could cost you more in the long run. Shower curtains have poor functionality, letting water pool in your bathroom and risking issues with mold and mildew over time. You should also consider how the bathroom will be ventilated and have contractors inspect for leaks or erosion that could be costly to fix down the line. 

Find out how to maximize your rental ROI with Belong

A home in great condition screams "love me!" If you want to reduce your vacancies and attract high quality residents that treat your home with respect (and pay top-dollar to live there), good repairs or a fresh update will go a long way.  

Belong has introduced a way to make sure preventive maintenance runs like clockwork. Add, pause or remove recurring services and maintenance subscriptions, right from the Belong app. From lawn mowing to gutter cleaning, set and forget your seasonal home maintenance and let Belong do all the work. This will also keep your expenses predictable, supporting your cash flow. And if unexpected repairs are needed or you want to refresh your bathrooms, we’ll let you spread the costs over the term of your lease agreement. 

These are a couple of the many ways Belong is simplifying the rental experience and helping more homeowners reach their financial goals through real estate. Visit our homeowner's page to find out more about how our services are helping people to ditch property management in Seattle, Redmond, Oakland, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami and many more.