How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost?

Fun fact: the average person visits the toilet roughly 2,500 times per year.

If you have to go somewhere more than 2,000 times a year, it might as well be an attractive and functional space, right? Bathrooms aren’t just a frequently visited place. They’re also where most of one’s self-care happens.

It’s not surprising that bathrooms are one of the most popular renovation projects. At the same time, comprehensive bathroom remodels aren’t cheap or simple to cost out.

Fortunately, as seasoned experts in renovation, we’re here to share our insights on average bathroom remodel cost brackets.

There’s nothing like a grimy, shabby, or simply dated bathroom to bring down the overall feel of your space. Do you want your bathroom to ooze a fresh, upscale, spa-like ambience? Keep reading to learn more about bathroom remodel costs, how to budget for a bathroom reno, and more.

 

The Average Bathroom Remodel Cost

The national average bathroom remodel cost is currently around $9,000. However, this average cost skews low, as a lot of bathroom remodel projects don’t involve demos, and instead focus on light remodeling and purely cosmetic improvements.

Therefore, it’s not surprising that the average cost of a mid-range bathroom reno is around $21,000. Upscale remodels can often cost up to $60,000 or more.

 

The ROI Potential of a Bathroom Remodel

 

There’s a saying in real estate that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes.

Although bathroom remodels are an investment, they can yield a financial return when it comes time to sell your home. 

Estimates state that mid-range bathroom remodel projects have an average ROI of 70%. Upscale bathroom renos have average ROIs of around 60%. Minor renovations can trigger a $1.70 increase in home value per dollar spent on the project.

Bathroom Renovation Costs By Size

As you can see, bathroom renovation costs can vary greatly depending on materials used. Another big factor that can drastically influence the cost of a bathroom remodel is the size and amenities.

Below we give a brief breakdown of the average costs to renovate a bathroom by size.

Powder Rooms and Half Baths

Powder rooms and half baths are usually the cheapest bathroom spaces to renovate due to their smaller size and simpler features. Most powder rooms and half baths only feature a toilet and a sink or small vanity area, and measure around 30 square feet.

Powder rooms and half baths typically cost between $1,500 to $15,000 to renovate.

Guest Bathrooms

Guest bathrooms are usually a little bigger than powder rooms, averaging about 80 square feet. They also include more amenities, such as a shower or even a tub. Thanks to this, guest bathrooms typically cost a little more to renovate, with average remodel costs for a standard size ranging between $3,500 and $20,000.

Master Bathrooms

While it’s nice to spruce up powder rooms and guest bathrooms, the master bathroom is the place where most homeowners want to pull out the stops and create a space that has the most luxurious finishes and amenities.

Master baths are also a lot bigger than powder rooms, half baths, and guest bathrooms. Not only do they include more amenities and floor area, but most master baths also require more outlets, plumbing hookups, etc.

The average cost to remodel a master bath clocks in at between $7,000 and $30,000.

 

Factors That Influence Your Bathroom Remodel Cost

We’ve covered some broad estimates on what different types of bathrooms cost to remodel. But, these are very general. To help you get a better idea of your bathroom remodel cost, here are a few variables to consider.

Overall Area

As we touched on above, the size of your bathroom can greatly influence certain remodeling costs. These include things like:

Flooring
Tiling
Painting
Overall labor costs
Besides these basics, primary bathrooms also usually feature larger vanity spaces, larger shower stalls, and more elements. Large master bathrooms tend to include more lux features and finishes, which is an indirect cost of renovating a bigger bathroom area.

Wet Room Areas

Are you thinking of incorporating a wet room into your bathroom design rather than a shower stall? You might assume that this will reduce rather than inflate costs, as you won’t need to invest in glass partitioning.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that wet rooms require higher-quality, more water-resistant finishes. Bathrooms in general need more water-resistant tiles, grouting, paint, and fixtures than other rooms. But, if you’re doing a wet room, the majority of your bathroom floor will need to be fitted with closely grouted, porcelain or natural stone tiles.

In many cases, wet rooms require extensive demolition, as much of the existing tilework may need to be ripped out.

Cabinetry Updates

Another feature that can have a big influence on your bathroom renovation cost is what you want to do with your cabinetry. If you want to demo and replace existing cabinetry, this will drive up the cost of your project.

Bathroom cabinetry usually costs less to replace than kitchen cabinets, simply because they’re smaller and less extensive. But, they can still require a considerable portion of your bathroom remodel budget.

Countertop Materials

As with cabinets, bathroom countertops are typically a lot smaller than kitchen surfaces. Your choice of countertop material won’t have a massive impact on your bathroom remodel cost, but it can influence the project cost by a few hundred dollars.

In general, you can expect to pay between $200 and $1,000 for a bathroom counter.

Plumbing Changes

Upgrading your faucets isn’t a big home remodel expense, as you can get a good faucet for between $170 to $360. Sinks are a little more pricey, and upmarket sink designs, such as vessel sinks, can easily cost over $800.

The biggest area of expense when it comes to where the water flows in your new bathroom is plumbing changes.

If you need to have plumbing changes made to accommodate a new layout or additional features—such as a double shower, bidet, his and hers sinks, etc.—this can influence your total cost significantly. Plumbing work typically costs between $75 to $130 an hour.

Light Fixtures and Electrical Outlets

A well-thought-out lighting plan is key to a beautiful bathroom design. Things like vanity lights, backlit mirrors, wall sconces, and bathroom chandeliers can do wonders for finishing off your design and giving your bathroom a lux look.

If you need to add light fixtures, incorporate things like an exhaust fan, or add extra outlets, this will require some electrical work. Electricians typically charge between $50 to $100 per hour, and the average cost to hire an electrician is $150 to $500.

To give you an idea of the individual costs associated with specific features, a new outlet will add between $130 to $300 to your total bathroom renovation cost. Rewiring a room will run you between $2 to $4 per foot, and the cost of installing a new bathroom fan is usually somewhere between $250 to $560.

Smart Features

If you want to listen to music while in the shower, have your towels heated on command, or check the traffic on your vanity mirror—this will significantly add to your total bathroom remodel cost.

Interactive mirrors currently cost between $1,000 and $2,000. Smart toilets range between $2,000 and $3,000, and smart showerheads can cost anywhere between $300 and $2,000.

Floor Plan Changes

As we mentioned above, any time you want to make significant layout changes during a bathroom remodel, this will bump up the cost, especially if you have to get the plumbing rerouted or need to hire a structural engineer.

Bathrooms are subject to pretty strict building codes, and adhering to these tends to drive up costs.

As a general rule of thumb, changing a bathroom design layout will usually tack on around $5,000 extra to the bill.

Luxury Elements

Installing luxury elements is another price driver. Features like bidets, underfloor heating, heated towel rails, and skincare refrigerators, aren’t cheap, and they also require additional installation, plumbing, and electrical work. See also: 10 Luxury Features to Include in Your Next Bathroom Remodel

Updates to Adjoining Rooms

Sometimes, a bathroom remodel can overflow into adjoining rooms. For instance, you might want to repaint your bedroom to match the new color palette in your bathroom. Repainting an adjoining room will add between $3 and $6 per square foot to your total project cost.

 

Budgeting for a Bathroom Remodel

Bathroom remodels tend to attract a decent ROI. If you undertake a midrange remodel you could enjoy an ROI of almost 60%.

However, the secret to netting a good ROI on your bathroom remodel is to budget wisely. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in your bathroom, or that you should cut costs at every corner.

Instead, it means getting the most beautiful, functional, and upscale bathroom for the money you pay.

Figure Out What to Spend

The first step is to figure out how much you want to spend. If you’re not sure how much money you should be putting into the project, start with the value of your home and then allocate 5%-10% of this as your bathroom remodel budget.

Allocate 20% Of Your Budget to Unexpected Costs

You should also set aside roughly 20% of your total budget for unexpected costs such as water damage and mold. It’s not uncommon for pesky repairs to rear their heads during the demo phase. Once the walls and floors come up, you might encounter old wiring that needs to be replaced to meet code, leaky pipes, rot, and more.

Rectifying these issues can cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand.

 

List Your Needs and Wants

From here, work out your non-negotiable needs for the space and list out your wants. If you’re hiring a turnkey remodel service such as Michael James Remodeling, all you have to do is hand us this list, and we will work with you to bring your dream space to life.

Tips for Maximizing Your Bathroom Renovation Budget

It doesn’t matter whether you have a fair amount of capital to invest in your bathroom design, or a tight budget to stick to, everyone wants to make their money work for them. Here are a couple of tips for maximizing your bathroom budget.

 

Prioritize the Overall Experience

If you’re operating within strict budget constraints, one of the best tips is to focus on the overall experience your bathroom design will evoke, rather than individual elements. For instance, you don’t need to line your shower with the most expensive marble to achieve a spa-like experience.

Instead, focus on great lighting, incorporating texture, and implementing design elements that add functionality.

 

Choose a Great Design Service

If you hire a professional design service, this will ensure you get the best bang for your buck from a design point of view. Visually appealing, show-stopping bathrooms aren’t as easy to design as you might think.

If you want a cohesive space that oozes luxury, a design professional can ensure you get that. A good design service will work closely with you until you have a design that’s everything you want and more for your space.

In addition, a professional designer will ensure that the space turns out the way you envision it. Translating a mood board or loose design vision into stone, tile, and bathroom features isn’t an easy task, but a design professional will make sure their mockups can be executed by the contractors.

 

Choose a Contractor You Can Trust

Another way you can ensure your budget goes where it’s supposed to is by hiring a trustworthy contractor. Engaging the right contractor is a key part of any bathroom or home remodel project.

A good contractor will make sure your project goes off with the least disruption possible. If you hire an amateur outfit, you can open yourself up to an endless array of issues.

Ideally, the contractors you hire should work directly with your designer. You don’t want to end up being the middleman, running back and forth fielding erroneous details.

Fortunately, this is not necessary if you hire a service like Michael James Remodeling. We offer a turnkey solution for homeowners, including an in-house design service.

Once you are happy with your design, we handle all of the details, meaning you don’t have to waste time and energy sourcing contractors. We ensure that your project is completed to perfection.

All you have to do is tell us what you want, and we do the rest.

Are You Planning a Bathroom Remodel?

As you can see, there are many bathroom remodel cost factors that influence the total price tag on a reno. The easiest way to get a clear idea of what your specific project will cost is by gathering estimates.

Michael James Remodeling is a full-scale renovation company, specializing in upmarket remodels and room additions. We handle everything under one roof so you don’t have to run backwards and forwards between disparate services and contractors. We take the hassle, stress, and mess out of remodeling for our clients.

Contact us today to discuss your project.

What do customers think of Michael James Remodeling?