How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost in the United States?
Scope first, then the local factor. Those two numbers added together are your estimate; everything else is finish selection, which you control.
In the United States the most common bathroom project - a full gut keeping the existing layout - runs $11,500-24,000 in 2026.
Roughly half of a full-gut budget is labour, and within labour the plumbing and the preparation dominate. Fixtures and finishes are where you have the most control and the least risk.
Across the four US cities where we hold first-hand ranges, the low ends differ by about 20% - but the surcharges behind the wall differ by up to $6,000, which is the real variance.
Where a mid-range budget goes
| Share of a full gut | How much control you have | |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition and disposal | 8-12% | Little |
| Plumbing and electrical | 20-28% | Little - it is what the house needs |
| Tile, waterproofing and labour | 22-30% | Some - material choice moves it |
| Vanity, fixtures, glass | 15-25% | A lot |
| Permit, contingency, overhead | 10-15% | Little |
The practical consequence: if a budget needs to come down, it comes down in the fourth row. Trying to save in the second row means asking a contractor to skip something the house needs, and that is where regret lives.
Add the local surcharge
Take the scope number, then add whichever of these applies to your house. This is the part national guides leave out, and it is usually the difference between a quote you expected and one you did not.
- House built before roughly 1950 and never repiped: add $1,800-4,500 for galvanized supply replacement. In the United States that covers a large share of pre-war urban stock.
- Slab-on-grade foundation and you want the toilet moved: add $2,500-6,000. Common across the South and Southwest.
- Cold climate and the bathroom sits on an exterior wall: add $900-2,600 to relocate the supply lines while the wall is open. Skip it and you keep a freeze risk.
- Hard water region: add $200-500 for factory-coated shower glass, or plan on a squeegee habit.
- Any age, any region: budget $600-2,200 in case the subfloor at the toilet flange has rotted. Nobody can see it until the toilet comes out.
Get a written quote
Tell us your city, the rough size, and the age of the house. One independent local contractor will come back in writing. No charge, no obligation.
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