Bathroom Remodel Cost Calculator
Estimate acrylic surrounds, custom walk-in tile showers, vanities, plumbing fixtures, permits, and trade labor across standard 5×8, 6×9, and custom layouts.
Bathroom Remodel Cost Calculator
PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS
Length of bathroom in feet (e.g. 8 ft for 5×8 layout)
Width of bathroom in feet (5×8 ft = 40 sq ft standard benchmark)
Vanity cabinet, countertop slab, sink basin, and single-handle faucet
Plywood tear-out and joist sistering under old toilet or shower pan leaks
Quiet 110 CFM bath fan, exterior ducted vent pipe, and wall switch leg
Dedicated 20-amp countertop branch circuit per NEC Article 210
MATERIAL GRADE SELECTION
REGIONAL LABOR MARKET TIER
SPECIFICATION TAKEOFF & LINE-ITEM BREAKDOWN
Site-built curbed or curbless shower pan, Schluter-Kerdi waterproof membrane, porcelain wall tile, and frameless pivot door (basis: $6,200 package)
Licensed plumbing rough-in, drain stack connection, shower valve rough, 20A GFCI circuit wiring, backer board waterproofing, and tile setting labor
Municipal residential alteration permit covering plumbing rough/final inspection and 20A electrical sign-off
10-yard roll-off construction dumpster, old tub/tile demolition tear-out, and landfill disposal fees
Pre-assembled 36" vanity, vitreous china integrated sink top, and single-handle faucet
Elongated WaterSense dual-flush toilet, heavy-duty wax ring, braided stainless supply lines, and shutoff valves
Porcelain floor tile, modified thinset, uncoupling membrane, and stain-resistant grout allowance
110 CFM bath fan mounting, insulated flexible duct run, and exterior roof/soffit vent hood
| Cost Component | Notes & Rate Basis | Estimated Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Walk-In Tile Shower with Kerdi Membrane | Site-built curbed or curbless shower pan, Schluter-Kerdi waterproof membrane, porcelain wall tile, and frameless pivot door (basis: $6,200 package) Custom mortar shower bed, Schluter-Kerdi waterproof sheet membrane, 90 sq ft porcelain wall tile, linear drain, and 3/8" frameless glass door | $6,200 |
| Professional Trade Labor | Licensed plumbing rough-in, drain stack connection, shower valve rough, 20A GFCI circuit wiring, backer board waterproofing, and tile setting labor Source: [Modeled Conversion] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) • Checked 2026-10-24 Blended trade rate: BLS Plumbers SOC 47-2152 median $31.25/hr, Electricians SOC 47-2111 $31.95/hr, Tile Setters SOC 47-2044 $26.80/hr. Fully burdened turnkey rate modeled at $110/sq ft covers plumbing rough-in, valve soldering, waterproof membrane sealing, and tile leveling. | $4,400 |
| Building Permit & Municipal Inspections | Municipal residential alteration permit covering plumbing rough/final inspection and 20A electrical sign-off Municipal building department trade permit fees for residential bathroom MEP alteration and final inspection | $350 |
| Debris Disposal & Haul-Away | 10-yard roll-off construction dumpster, old tub/tile demolition tear-out, and landfill disposal fees 10-yard roll-off dumpster delivery, disposal fees for heavy ceramic tile rubble, cast iron/acrylic tub demolition, and job-site debris haul-away | $450 |
| Single 36" Vanity Cabinet with Ceramic Top | Pre-assembled 36" vanity, vitreous china integrated sink top, and single-handle faucet Custom mortar shower bed, Schluter-Kerdi waterproof sheet membrane, 90 sq ft porcelain wall tile, linear drain, and 3/8" frameless glass door | $700 |
| Toilet Fixture & Plumbing Trim Package | Elongated WaterSense dual-flush toilet, heavy-duty wax ring, braided stainless supply lines, and shutoff valves Custom mortar shower bed, Schluter-Kerdi waterproof sheet membrane, 90 sq ft porcelain wall tile, linear drain, and 3/8" frameless glass door | $450 |
| Floor Tile & Setting Materials Allowance (25 sq ft) | Porcelain floor tile, modified thinset, uncoupling membrane, and stain-resistant grout allowance Custom mortar shower bed, Schluter-Kerdi waterproof sheet membrane, 90 sq ft porcelain wall tile, linear drain, and 3/8" frameless glass door | $375 |
| Exhaust Fan Exterior Duct Run & Damper | 110 CFM bath fan mounting, insulated flexible duct run, and exterior roof/soffit vent hood Electrician and mechanical trade labor for mounting 1.0 sone bath fan, running dedicated switch leg, and core drilling exterior exhaust vent | $650 |
| Total Project Estimate | $13,575 | |
What's included in this estimate
- –Major structural wall removal requiring engineered steel post or LVL beam installation
- –Relocating main 3-inch cast iron soil stack across the home foundation
- –Radiant in-floor hydronic or electric heating cable mat systems (unless quoted separately)
- –Luxury bidet smart toilet seats requiring dedicated unswitched electrical circuits
- ·Maintaining existing plumbing fixture layout along the original single wet wall (5×8 standard)
- ·Selecting prefabricated direct-to-stud acrylic tub/shower surround ($1,800 materials)
- ·Choosing standard single 36-inch vanity with ceramic top ($700 materials)
- ·Rural or low-cost regional labor market (0.85× multiplier)
- ·Homeowner DIY demolition, surface preparation, and painting (35% to 45% labor savings)
- ·Installing custom walk-in curbless tile shower with Schluter-Kerdi membrane and frameless glass door ($6,200)
- ·Upgrading to 60-inch or custom dual 72-inch vanity with quartz countertop ($2,100 to $4,500)
- ·Repairing hidden subfloor rot and joist sistering under old water damage (+$950 allowance)
- ·Adding new dedicated 20A GFCI electrical branch circuit and exterior ducted exhaust fan (+$1,100)
- ·High-cost metropolitan labor market (1.20× to 1.40× in NYC, San Francisco, Boston)
Demolition frequently reveals long-term toilet flange leaks or shower pan failures that rotted subfloor plywood and compromised floor joists, requiring structural sistering ($950 to $2,500+).
Moving a toilet across joist bays requires cutting structural joists, running new 3-inch DWV piping, and rerouting vertical vent stacks, adding $1,500 to $4,500 in master plumber fees.
Simply swapping out a vanity, toilet, and faucet while leaving the existing bathtub and wall tile intact costs 50% to 65% less ($3,500 to $6,500) than a full gut renovation.
Check this estimate yourself
Verify our benchmark numbers against the same primary sources we use for materials, labor, and local permitting:
Calculation Formula & Engineering Rules
Our estimating engine calculates required volume or surface area from your project dimensions, applies verified unit material prices, adds trade-standard waste allowances, and adjusts labor, permit, and disposal components for regional economic variations:
Total Cost = Material Costs + [(Labor + Permits + Disposal) ×
Regional Multiplier] Worked Estimating Example: Baseline Specification
ENGINE BASELINE OUTPUTBelow is a fully itemized breakdown for a typical residential project configured with our default baseline dimensions ( 5 ft × 8 ft (40 sq ft benchmark)) using standard national benchmark pricing in an average-cost US market:
| Cost Component | Category | Amount ($) | Share of Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Component & Scope | Amount · Share | ||||
| materials Custom Walk-In Tile Shower with Kerdi Membrane Site-built curbed or curbless shower pan, Schluter-Kerdi waterproof membrane, porcelain wall tile, and frameless pivot door (basis: $6,200 package) | $6,200.00 · 45.7% | Custom Walk-In Tile Shower with Kerdi Membrane Site-built curbed or curbless shower pan, Schluter-Kerdi waterproof membrane, porcelain wall tile, and frameless pivot door (basis: $6,200 package) | materials | $6,200.00 | 45.7% |
| labour Professional Trade Labor Licensed plumbing rough-in, drain stack connection, shower valve rough, 20A GFCI circuit wiring, backer board waterproofing, and tile setting labor | $4,400.00 · 32.4% | Professional Trade Labor Licensed plumbing rough-in, drain stack connection, shower valve rough, 20A GFCI circuit wiring, backer board waterproofing, and tile setting labor | labour | $4,400.00 | 32.4% |
| permit Building Permit & Municipal Inspections Municipal residential alteration permit covering plumbing rough/final inspection and 20A electrical sign-off | $350.00 · 2.6% | Building Permit & Municipal Inspections Municipal residential alteration permit covering plumbing rough/final inspection and 20A electrical sign-off | permit | $350.00 | 2.6% |
| disposal Debris Disposal & Haul-Away 10-yard roll-off construction dumpster, old tub/tile demolition tear-out, and landfill disposal fees | $450.00 · 3.3% | Debris Disposal & Haul-Away 10-yard roll-off construction dumpster, old tub/tile demolition tear-out, and landfill disposal fees | disposal | $450.00 | 3.3% |
| materials Single 36" Vanity Cabinet with Ceramic Top Pre-assembled 36" vanity, vitreous china integrated sink top, and single-handle faucet | $700.00 · 5.2% | Single 36" Vanity Cabinet with Ceramic Top Pre-assembled 36" vanity, vitreous china integrated sink top, and single-handle faucet | materials | $700.00 | 5.2% |
| materials Toilet Fixture & Plumbing Trim Package Elongated WaterSense dual-flush toilet, heavy-duty wax ring, braided stainless supply lines, and shutoff valves | $450.00 · 3.3% | Toilet Fixture & Plumbing Trim Package Elongated WaterSense dual-flush toilet, heavy-duty wax ring, braided stainless supply lines, and shutoff valves | materials | $450.00 | 3.3% |
| materials Floor Tile & Setting Materials Allowance (25 sq ft) Porcelain floor tile, modified thinset, uncoupling membrane, and stain-resistant grout allowance | $375.00 · 2.8% | Floor Tile & Setting Materials Allowance (25 sq ft) Porcelain floor tile, modified thinset, uncoupling membrane, and stain-resistant grout allowance | materials | $375.00 | 2.8% |
| labour Exhaust Fan Exterior Duct Run & Damper 110 CFM bath fan mounting, insulated flexible duct run, and exterior roof/soffit vent hood | $650.00 · 4.8% | Exhaust Fan Exterior Duct Run & Damper 110 CFM bath fan mounting, insulated flexible duct run, and exterior roof/soffit vent hood | labour | $650.00 | 4.8% |
| Total Estimated Baseline Cost | $13,575.00 · 100.0% | ||||
|
National Contractor Range (40 sq ft)
$11,965 – $15,478 (
$339.38/sq ft)
| |||||
| Total Estimated Baseline Cost | $13,575.00 | 100.0% | |||
| National Contractor Range (40 sq ft) | $11,965 – $15,478 ( $339.38/sq ft) | ||||
Material Grades & National Supplier Pricing
Unit material pricing sourced from verified national suppliers (Home Depot, Lowe's, and specialty regional building distributors) as of 2026-10-22:
| Material Grade | Unit Price | Specification & Recommended Use Case | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material Grade & Specification | Unit Price | |||
| Acrylic Tub / Shower Combo Package ($1,800) Standard 60x30 inch acrylic bathtub and 3-piece wall surround with integrated shelving (basis: $1,800 package, $45/sq ft for 40 sq ft room) | $45.00 / sqft | Acrylic Tub / Shower Combo Package ($1,800) | $45.00 / sqft | Standard 60x30 inch acrylic bathtub and 3-piece wall surround with integrated shelving (basis: $1,800 package, $45/sq ft for 40 sq ft room) |
| Custom Walk-In Tile Shower with Kerdi Membrane ($6,200) Site-built curbed or curbless shower pan, Schluter-Kerdi waterproof membrane, porcelain wall tile, and frameless pivot door (basis: $6,200 package) | $155.00 / sqft | Custom Walk-In Tile Shower with Kerdi Membrane ($6,200) | $155.00 / sqft | Site-built curbed or curbless shower pan, Schluter-Kerdi waterproof membrane, porcelain wall tile, and frameless pivot door (basis: $6,200 package) |
| Freestanding Soaking Tub & Acrylic Alcove ($4,800) 60-67 inch modern freestanding acrylic soaking tub with floor-mounted tub filler faucet and surround waterproofing (basis: $4,800 package) | $120.00 / sqft | Freestanding Soaking Tub & Acrylic Alcove ($4,800) | $120.00 / sqft | 60-67 inch modern freestanding acrylic soaking tub with floor-mounted tub filler faucet and surround waterproofing (basis: $4,800 package) |
DIY vs. Professional Contractor Installation
DIY APPROACH
Best suited for experienced homeowners with proper specialty tools. Saves direct professional labor costs (typically 40% to 55% of the total contractor invoice). Requires significant physical stamina, site preparation, safety gear, tool rental expenses, and material hauling logistics.
HIRING A LICENSED CONTRACTOR
Recommended for structural integrity, code-compliant permitting, heavy demolition, and expedited completion. Professional contractors carry commercial general liability and workers' compensation insurance, provide manufacturer-backed workmanship warranties, and handle municipal building inspections.
Need an In-Depth Cost Analysis?
Explore our comprehensive cost guide for complete material comparisons, contractor negotiation tips, and local permit advice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bathroom Remodel Cost Calculator
What is the average cost to remodel a standard 5×8 bathroom in 2026? ↓
A turnkey 5×8 ft (40 sq ft) standard hallway bathroom remodel averages $9,200 to $13,600. A budget update with an acrylic tub/shower combo and single vanity runs ~$9,200, while a custom walk-in tile shower with porcelain floor tile and a premium vanity averages $13,600 to $16,000 turnkey.
How much does a walk-in tile shower cost compared to an acrylic surround? ↓
A prefabricated acrylic or fiberglass tub/shower kit averages $1,800 installed ($1,200–$2,400 range). A custom walk-in tile shower with a waterproof membrane system (Schluter Kerdi or RedGard), recessed shampoo niche, and mosaic floor pan costs $5,500 to $7,500 turnkey ($6,200 benchmark).
What vanity cabinet and countertop options are available? ↓
A standard 36-inch single vanity with integrated ceramic or cultured marble top costs ~$700 turnkey. A 60-inch double vanity with an engineered quartz or natural marble top averages $2,100, while custom dual 72-inch master bathroom cabinetry with premium quartz tops runs $4,500+.
Can I remodel a bathroom myself to save money? ↓
Demolition, drywall patching, vanity assembly, and painting can safely be done DIY, saving $4,000 to $6,000 in trade labor. However, shower pan waterproofing, behind-wall copper/PEX plumbing rough-ins, and dedicated 20A GFCI circuits should be handled or inspected by licensed trade pros to prevent hidden water leaks and code violations.
When is subfloor repair or exhaust fan ducting required? ↓
Bathrooms over 15 years old frequently reveal moisture damage or rot around the toilet flange and shower threshold when old floor layers are removed; structural OSB/plywood repair adds an average $950 allowance. Installing a dedicated 80–110 CFM exhaust fan ducted through the roof or soffit averages $650 and prevents mold growth.
Do I need a building permit to remodel a bathroom? ↓
Cosmetic fixture-for-fixture replacements with identical plumbing footprints often do not require permits. Relocating supply or waste pipes, running a new 20A GFCI circuit, or altering structural framing requires trade permits ($250 to $500) with required rough-in and final safety inspections.