How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost?
3 pros!
Average bathroom remodels fall between $9,600 to $11,000 in costs. A low-end remodels typically cost around $2,500 while high-end remodels cost around $23,000.
If a dripping faucet or stained bathroom walls have you dreaming of the brushed metal, glass tile and ultra-modern sinks in a remodeled bathroom, you’re not alone.
There are numerous benefits in bathroom remodeling — improved aesthetics, safety and comfort.
Dreaming of bathroom ideas? Find out what the average bathroom remodel costs.
Did you know?
According to NKBA, millennials age 18 to 37 paid an average of $16,421 for a bathroom remodel.
Remodeling a bathroom also provides an increased home resale value, with a return on investment of up to 80 percent.
The average bathroom remodel cost $11,364 in 2016, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, with about 20 percent of that being labor cost.
A survey by NKBA on design trends showed that half of respondents paid between $10,000 and $29,999 for a bathroom remodel, while 31 percent reported paying more than $30,000.
Graphic by Emily Svenson
Remodel your bathroom all at once or in stages?
If you’re suffering from sticker shock, don’t worry. Bathroom remodeling isn’t all or nothing. You can cut down on bathroom remodel costs by going one step at a time. A bathroom can still benefit from new lighting or ventilation updates followed by a new bathroom vanity or granite countertops. You can always upgrade some features later down the road.
While it's easy to replace a light or faucet at a later date, you should have your contractor do the larger tasks at the same time. If you plan to replace the tub and install tile floor, it's best to do that all at once. You may save on labor charges if they can do a few tasks in one day instead of doing these tasks on separate days a few months apart.
Choose quality over quantity, especially based on the amount of traffic the bathroom gets. It’s a waste of money and a source of future aggravation if you buy a cheap toilet that leaks after you’ve redone the floor.
To save money, wait for sales at your local hardware store and look for rebates on high-quality materials. That way, you end up with a product you know will last and won't have to have someone replace fixtures from your remodel too soon.
Prepare for inconvenience during a bathroom remodel
Hopefully, your contractor won’t forget to mention the inconvenience that comes with bathroom remodeling. When the bathroom is unavailable, chaos is sure to follow.
It’s tough to predict an exact timetable for bathroom remodeling. Here are a few things to consider ahead of time:
• Locate alternative bathrooms on-site or nearby during construction.
• Keep lines of communication open with your contractor; be on the same timetable page of when things will be finished and when you can use your new bathroom.
• Plan for at least three weeks of an unusable bathroom.
Are you ready to remodel your bathroom? Remember to get estimates from three different contractors to ensure a competitive price. Do your homework and check all online sources before contacting any company. Resources such as the BBB and the local Angie's List of Bathroom Remodelers near you will help locate the best companies.
What do the pros say?
We talked to Meir Barzilai, officer and president of design and build at Treeium in Los Angeles. Here are Meir's tips:
“Relocations of plumbing fixtures or changing the layout of the bathroom make the biggest impact on bathroom remodeling costs," says Barzilai. "It doesn’t matter the size of the bathroom, whenever you change location or layout for a bathroom’s sinks, tub and toilet, that’s where your expenses are skyrocketing.”
“If it’s a one story home and you have a crawlspace, it’s much easier to relocate plumbing," stated Barzilai. "But in a two story home, if you change a layout and have to run your water supply and vents up through a second story, that’s where prices are going up to the sky.”
“The older the bathroom, the more things we actually have to do," warns Barzilai. "For instance, certain years you have to check for lead, some of them have acoustical ceilings and we have to check for asbestos, some have windows that are not operable or the sizes of windows no longer exist."
Editor's Note: This article has been updated from the original version.
