Bathroom remodel cost: what a small, mid-range and master bath remodel runs

Bathroom remodel cost by scope

• Small or hall bath refresh, roughly $8,000 to $15,000. New vanity, toilet, faucet, lighting, paint, maybe new flooring. Plumbing stays put.
• Mid-range remodel, roughly $15,000 to $35,000. New tile on floor and walls, a tub-to-shower conversion or new tub, new vanity and counter, exhaust fan and lighting updates.
• Master bath or full gut, $35,000 to $75,000+. Moved plumbing, a double vanity, a walk-in tiled shower with a custom pan, freestanding tub, heated floors, and often a new layout.

Bathrooms cost more per square foot than almost any other room because everything is plumbed, waterproofed and tiled. A one-day acrylic shower conversion from a specialty company sits at the low end of the mid-range band; a custom tiled shower sits at the top.

Where the money goes

• Labor: often the largest share. Tile setters, plumbers and electricians are skilled trades.
• Shower or tub: from a prefabricated unit to a tiled shower with glass enclosure, the single biggest swing in the budget.
• Tile and waterproofing: material by the square foot plus installation; waterproofing done properly is not where to save.
• Vanity, counter, sink, faucet, toilet, lighting and exhaust fan.
• Plumbing and electrical if anything moves or needs updating to code.
• Permits, demolition and disposal.

Accessibility and aging-in-place remodels

Curbless showers, grab bars, comfort-height toilets, wider doors and non-slip flooring are increasingly common remodels, and they're often needed on a timeline set by a fall or a diagnosis rather than a budget cycle. Some states, local programs and the VA offer grants or low-interest loans for accessibility work; ask before you finance the whole job. Timing matters: lining up financing before the need becomes urgent gives you time to compare offers.

Bathroom remodel cost per month

Illustrative monthly payments at 10.99% APR, standard amortization, no fees. Lenders set real rates after reviewing an application. Not an offer of credit.

A $20,000 bathroom over 60 months costs about $6,085 in interest at 10.99%; over 120 months about $13,046. A shorter term usually makes sense on a bathroom because the amounts are moderate and the room will last decades.

How to pay for a bathroom remodel

Unsecured personal loans and contractor plans cover most bathrooms and fund quickly; one-day shower companies in particular lean on promotional financing, so check whether the 0% offer is deferred interest and whether the price is the same for cash. For a master bath or a full gut with moved plumbing, a home equity loan or HELOC may be cheaper if you have equity and time. Our bathroom remodel financing page compares the options with example payments. If you're also planning a kitchen, see how much a kitchen remodel costs.

A worked example: the $19,000 hall bath

A 5-by-8-foot hall bath, fixtures in place. Tub-to-shower conversion with a tiled shower and glass door $7,800, floor tile $1,600, vanity, counter and faucet $2,200, toilet $450, lighting and exhaust fan $900, plumbing updates $1,500, electrical $700, demo and disposal $800, paint and accessories $600, permit $250, contractor overhead and profit $2,200: about $19,000. Choosing a prefabricated shower unit instead of tile would have cut roughly $3,000. Financed at an illustrative 10.99% over 60 months, the job is about $413 a month.

Regional differences and timing

Tile and plumbing labor drive the regional spread: expensive metros can run 40% above national ranges. Specialty one-day shower companies price nationally and install fast, which is why they dominate the mid-range; their quotes are worth getting even if you end up choosing a tiled shower, because they set a useful floor for the comparison. Vanity and tile lead times are short compared with kitchens, so a bathroom can usually start within weeks of signing. If the remodel is accessibility-driven, ask about local or state grant programs before you finance; several exist for seniors and veterans.

Mistakes that blow the budget

• Moving the toilet when it doesn't need to move; drain relocation is expensive.
• Underspending on waterproofing behind the tile, where failures cost thousands later.
• No exhaust fan upgrade, leading to mould in a freshly tiled room.
• Signing a promotional financing plan without checking whether it's deferred interest and whether the price is the same for cash.
• Buying fixtures online without checking rough-in dimensions with the plumber first.

Questions to ask the remodeler

1. What waterproofing system goes behind the tile, and is it warrantied?
2. Is the shower pan prefabricated or site-built, and by whom?
3. Will the exhaust fan be upgraded and vented outside?
4. Are plumbing and electrical updates to current code included?
5. What is the schedule, and will we have a working toilet during the job?
6. Who handles permits and inspections?
7. What is the workmanship warranty?
8. If I use your financing plan, is the price the same as for cash?

Upgrade or standard? Think in monthly terms

Financing changes how upgrades feel. The difference between a $16,000 bathroom and a $22,000 one is $6,000 as a lump sum, but about $130 a month over 60 months at an illustrative 10.99% APR. That is why the better option often gets chosen once the monthly figure is on the table. Just make sure the upgrade pays you back in comfort, durability or running cost, and not only in looks, because you'll be paying for it long after the novelty fades.

What lenders look at when you finance a bathroom remodel

Unsecured home improvement loans are approved on the same five things whatever the project: your credit score and recent payment history, your income and how much of it already goes to debt, the amount you're asking for, how long you've had credit, and whether the application is complete. Lenders that fund bathroom remodels usually see requests in the $8,000 to $40,000 range, and a request near the low end of that is approved more often and at a better rate than one near the top.

Four moves improve offers everywhere: reduce the amount (rebates, a smaller scope, a down payment), pay a card balance below about 30% of its limit before the next statement, have pay stubs or bank statements ready so the application is complete, and check options with a soft-pull pre-qualification before any hard application. If your score is on the lower side, a co-applicant with stronger credit can open better terms; they share full responsibility for the loan. Home equity products add two more checks: an appraisal or valuation and a cushion of equity the lender wants left after the loan, commonly 15% to 20% of the home's value.

Questions to ask every lender

1. What is the APR including fees, and is the rate fixed?
2. Is there an origination fee, and is it deducted from the loan amount?
3. Is any promotional period deferred interest or waived interest?
4. Is there a prepayment penalty?
5. When is the contractor paid, and when does my first payment start?
6. Does checking my options use a soft or hard credit inquiry?

Choosing the contractor

The quote is only as good as the company behind it. Get two or three itemized quotes from licensed, insured bathroom remodelers on the same scope, confirm permits are included, and check reviews that go back more than a season. Read any financing documents separately from the work contract: the loan is with the lender, not the contractor. The Federal Trade Commission's guide to hiring a contractor, linked in the sources below, lists the warning signs, including pressure to pay the whole job up front and steering you to a lender before you've seen a written price.

Frequently asked questions