For projects completed in 2025, the national median was $15,000 for a bathroom upgrade and $25,000 for a major bathroom remodel, according to Houzz’s 2026 U.S. Bathroom Trends Study. In that study, a major remodel included at least a shower upgrade. Actual bids vary with room size, layout changes, finishes, labor availability, permits and local pricing, so use these figures as planning benchmarks rather than a guaranteed quote.
The current U.S. bathroom remodel cost benchmarks
The most useful starting point is to identify which type of work your project resembles. “Upgrade” and “major remodel” are not interchangeable categories in the Houzz data, and combining them produces a misleading budget.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Project scope | Spend year | National median | Higher-cost benchmark | What the category means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom upgrades | 2025 | $15,000 | Not reported for this category | All upgrades included in the survey; this is broader and generally less extensive than the major-remodel category. |
| Major bathroom remodels | 2025 | $25,000 | $70,000 at the 90th percentile | At least the shower was upgraded. |
| Major remodels in bathrooms of at least 100 square feet | 2025 | $30,000 | $75,000 or higher at the 90th percentile | Major remodel scope in a bathroom measuring 100 square feet or more. |
| All bathroom renovations | 2024 | $13,000 | Not reported for this category | All renovation scopes in Houzz’s 2025 study of projects completed in 2024. |
| Major bathroom remodels | 2024 | $22,000 | Not reported for this category | Major-remodel scope in the prior spend year. |
The 2026 study reports work completed in 2025; the 2025 study reports work completed in 2024. A year-over-year change in the median does not mean every contractor raised prices by the same amount. The samples describe homeowner-reported national spending, not a price list or a guaranteed local bid.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What counts as a major bathroom remodel?
Houzz’s 2026 bathroom study defines a major remodel as a project in which at least the shower was upgraded. That threshold can include many different combinations of work: replacing a shower pan and wall system, enlarging the shower, changing its location, converting a tub to a shower, or rebuilding the entire room. A project that replaces a vanity, paint and lighting while leaving the shower untouched may fit the broader upgrade category instead.
#1 Best Overall
When you compare a contractor’s proposal with a benchmark, ask whether the shower work meets that definition. Two bids can both be called “full bathroom remodels” while covering very different scopes. One may include waterproofing, a new drain and glass enclosure; another may install cosmetic finishes around an existing shower. Put the scope in writing before using a median to judge whether a price is high or low.
How bathroom size and layout change the budget
Bathrooms of 100 square feet or more
Size has a measurable effect in the survey. Major remodels in bathrooms at least 100 square feet had a 2025 median spend of $30,000, compared with $25,000 for major remodels overall. The 90th-percentile figure for these larger rooms was $75,000 or higher, versus $70,000 for major remodels overall. More floor and wall area can require more tile, waterproofing, trim, flooring and paint, but square footage alone does not set a bid.
Moving plumbing and changing the footprint
Keeping fixtures in their existing locations usually limits the amount of rough-in work. Moving a toilet, sink or shower can require new supply lines, drain routing, venting, framing repairs and inspections. A contractor must also verify what is behind the walls and below the floor before promising a price. If the layout is changing, request a plan that identifies every relocated fixture and the work needed to close and finish the old openings.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Tub removal and shower enlargement
In 2025, 26% of surveyed renovators removed a bathtub. Among homeowners who removed one, 79% used the freed space to enlarge the shower. That combination can involve demolition, new waterproofing, a larger pan or a custom-tiled floor, additional glass and revised plumbing. The survey establishes how common the choice was, not a universal dollar premium, so a local quote is necessary.
Fixtures and finish choices that affect the estimate
Bathtubs
Houzz found that 38% of homeowners upgraded a bathtub, while 8% kept the existing tub. Another 27% had no tub and did not add one. Among homeowners who added or replaced a tub, 72% selected a soaking tub. These percentages describe selections, not prices. A basic alcove tub, a freestanding soaking tub and a specialty tub can have very different purchase, framing, plumbing and installation requirements.
Shower systems and enclosures
Ask the proposal to identify the shower base or pan, waterproofing system, wall finish, valves, trim, niches, bench, drain, door or glass panel and labor for each. A larger or curbless shower may require floor reframing, slope corrections or a linear drain. If the quote uses an allowance for tile or glass, the contract should state the assumed quantity, quality and installation method so an upgrade does not become an unexpected change order.
Vanity, countertop and storage
Separate the cabinet, hardware, countertop, sink, faucet and installation. A stock vanity has different lead times and fitting requirements from semi-custom or custom cabinetry. Confirm whether fillers, side panels, finished ends, backsplash, mirrors and wall repairs are included. Product prices are not installed-project costs; labor, delivery, protection and disposal belong in the estimate as separate items.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesLighting, ventilation and electrical accessories
List each light, switch, outlet, exhaust fan, heater and any new circuit. A bathroom fan may need a new duct route or roof or wall termination. Ground-fault protection, code-required clearances and inspection fees should be identified by the electrician or general contractor rather than assumed to be covered by a fixture allowance.
What a complete bathroom estimate should include
The Houzz studies do not provide a dependable national percentage split between labor, materials, plumbing, electrical or demolition. Treat the following as quote-comparison headings, not as standard shares of a $15,000 or $25,000 project.
- Design, measuring and protection: drawings or selections, site protection, dust control and daily cleanup.
- Demolition and disposal: removal of fixtures, cabinets, tile and debris, including disposal charges.
- Framing and substrate: repairs to studs, floor structure, backer board and level or plumb corrections.
- Waterproofing: shower membrane, pan or liner, seams, penetrations and flood testing where applicable.
- Plumbing rough-in and trim: supply and drain changes, valves, traps, shutoffs, fixtures and final connections.
- Electrical and ventilation: circuits, outlets, switches, lighting, fan, ducting and required protections.
- Tile and other finishes: measured quantities, setting materials, grout, transitions, paint and trim.
- Shower or tub enclosure: pan or tub, doors, fixed glass, hardware and installation.
- Vanity, countertop and storage: cabinets, top, sinks, faucets, mirrors and accessories.
- Permits and inspections: permit applications, fees and coordination of required inspections.
- Labor and supervision: trade labor, scheduling, project management and warranty terms.
- Allowances and exclusions: assumed product budgets, owner-supplied items, concealed-condition work and anything specifically left out.
Requiring each bidder to use the same headings makes it easier to see whether a lower price simply omits waterproofing, disposal, permits or finish materials.
Rank #3
How to set a realistic bathroom renovation budget
- Define the scope before asking for prices. Write down whether the shower changes, whether the tub stays, whether the layout moves, the approximate room size and the finishes you want.
- Separate must-haves from selections. Structural repairs, waterproofing, code work and functional fixtures are different from optional upgrades such as a heated floor, premium glass or a soaking tub.
- Measure and photograph the existing room. Give every contractor the same dimensions, fixture locations, access information and photos of the electrical panel and plumbing where safely visible.
- Request itemized, written estimates. Require the categories above, quantities for major materials, labor descriptions, allowances, exclusions, schedule assumptions and payment milestones.
- Check allowances against your actual choices. A tile allowance that looks adequate on paper may not cover the tile, trim, setting materials and waste factor you selected. Ask how overages and credits are calculated.
- Document concealed-condition work. The contract should explain how rot, mold, failed subfloors, outdated wiring or damaged plumbing will be priced if discovered after demolition.
- Keep a running total. Record deposits, approved changes, owner purchases, delivery charges, permit fees and credits as the project proceeds rather than relying on memory at the end.
How to compare competing contractor bids
Compare proposals on identical scope, not merely on their grand totals. Use a side-by-side checklist such as this:
| Category | Questions to ask each contractor |
|---|---|
| Demolition and disposal | What is removed, who protects adjacent rooms, and are haul-away and dump fees included? |
| Waterproofing and substrate | Which membrane or system is specified, what surfaces are replaced, and how are defects corrected? |
| Tile and finishes | What quantities, patterns, trim pieces, grout and waste assumptions are included? |
| Plumbing | Are rough-in changes, shutoffs, valves, fixture connections and testing included? |
| Electrical and ventilation | Are new circuits, GFCI protection, fan ducting, switches and inspections included? |
| Vanity and countertop | Are cabinets, fillers, top, sink cutouts, backsplash, mirrors and installation all covered? |
| Shower or tub | What pan or tub, enclosure, hardware, niches, bench and glass specifications are assumed? |
| Permits and inspections | Who applies, pays, schedules and attends each required inspection? |
| Labor and schedule | Which trades are employees or subcontractors, and what work hours and completion dates are assumed? |
| Exclusions and changes | What is excluded, and what written approval process applies before extra work begins? |
If one bid combines all materials into a single allowance while another names each product, ask the first contractor to restate it in comparable detail. A low headline number is not a saving if essential work appears later as an allowance or change order.
Why bathroom budgets exceed the first plan
Budget changes are common in the 2026 Houzz & Home Study. In 2025, 75% of homeowners set an initial renovation budget, 37% exceeded it, 35% consciously selected higher-end materials than originally planned, and 31% expanded the project scope during renovation. These figures do not establish one universal contingency percentage. They show why the budget should be managed as a live document.
Use written allowances for products you have not selected, and obtain a signed change order before work outside the original scope starts. The change order should state the added or removed work, material and labor amounts, schedule effect and revised contract total. Keep receipts for owner-purchased items and record whether a credit includes the contractor’s labor, markup or only the unused material.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Labor availability and professional involvement
Professional help is typical rather than unusual. In the 2026 bathroom study, 89% of homeowners brought in at least one professional. General contractors were hired for 52% of projects; bathroom remodelers and cabinetmakers were each hired for 23%. The figures overlap because a project can use several types of professionals.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteHomeowners also identified cost and scheduling pressures: 63% expected rising product and material costs to be a challenge, 31% cited higher labor costs and 25% cited finding available professionals. These are reported concerns, not portions of the project total. Obtain several scope-matched local estimates and ask how long each quoted price remains valid, especially for long-lead fixtures or custom glass.
Design decisions should serve the way you use the room
Cost is only one part of deciding what to include. Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO of NKBA | KBIS, described the direction of bath design in a November 11, 2025 release: “Bath design is becoming deeply personal. Beyond considerations like resale value, designers are focusing on how spaces support a homeowner’s individual rituals, preferences, and self-care routines. This perspective encourages creativity, niche trends, and designs that truly reflect how people live today.”
Translate that idea into explicit priorities before selecting products. For example, daily shower users may value a larger, easier-to-clean shower over retaining a tub; someone who takes baths may allocate more of the finish and plumbing budget to a comfortable soaking tub. The survey records how often homeowners made these choices, but it does not assign a standard price to personal preferences.
How much should you budget for your project?
Use the national figures as a scope check:
- A bathroom upgrade without the major-remodel shower threshold aligns most closely with the $15,000 2025 median.
- A project that upgrades at least the shower aligns with the $25,000 2025 major-remodel median.
- A major remodel in a bathroom of at least 100 square feet aligns with the $30,000 2025 median.
- Projects with extensive layout changes, premium selections, structural repairs or unusually high local costs can approach the survey’s upper range: $70,000 at the 90th percentile for major remodels and $75,000 or higher for major remodels in bathrooms of at least 100 square feet.
Those benchmarks do not replace a site-specific proposal. Before committing, obtain written bids based on the same drawings, selections and inclusion list, then reconcile every allowance and exclusion. The estimate is useful only when you know exactly which work the number buys.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
