How to Price a Bathroom Remodel

US bathroom remodel cost splits into three tiers in 2026. A basic refresh with tile swap, new vanity, and new fixtures runs $6,800 to $11,200. A mid-range remodel with a tub-to-shower conversion, custom tile, and semi-custom vanity runs $14,800 to $22,000. A high-end primary suite with layout changes, freestanding tub, and custom tile reaches $28,000 to $55,000 or more.

Primary suites, second-story layouts with joist or drain modifications, and waterproof curbless showers push the top end of each tier. Smaller hall baths with surface-only scope sit at the bottom.

Fixtures drive bid variation because every contractor assumes a different price point unless you spec them. List the vanity brand and SKU, the faucet set, the toilet model, and the shower trim set. If you have not chosen yet, set an allowance number and ask every bidder to use that same allowance.

Fixture allowances are where most bids feel different. A $2,500 vanity allowance vs a $1,400 vanity allowance is not a bid difference. It is a scope difference. The ContractShield Work Order Marketplace flags allowance mismatches inline so you do not compare them wrong.

• Faucet set: $180 to $720 depending on brand and finish.
• Vanity: $600 to $2,800 for semi-custom, higher for custom.
• Toilet: $240 to $980.
• Shower trim kit: $180 to $680.
• Vanity light: $85 to $380.

Labor is the single biggest cost line on most bathroom remodels. Typical US labor rates in 2026: plumber $120 to $195 per hour, electrician $95 to $175 per hour, tile setter $75 to $145 per hour, drywall and paint $55 to $95 per hour, carpenter $65 to $115 per hour.

A mid-range bathroom remodel runs 55 to 90 labor hours total, split across these trades. Layout changes add 12 to 25 hours because the rough-in inspection must pass before the shell closes up. Plan for 2 to 4 inspection visits by the authority having jurisdiction.

Materials break into tile and stone, drywall and trim, waterproofing, fixtures, and hardware. A mid-range bathroom with 95 square feet of tile runs $1,200 to $3,400 in tile cost including backer board, thinset, and grout. Waterproofing system runs $280 to $520. Vanity hardware runs $45 to $180.

Always add a 10% waste factor on tile. Cut tile around drains, corners, and curbs wastes more material than flat rectangular rooms. Skilled tile setters will dry-lay and plan the layout so waste stays under 10%.

Bathroom remodel permits depend on scope. Cosmetic swaps like a vanity or mirror do not need a permit. Any plumbing rough-in move, electrical circuit change, or wet-wall rework does.

Permit fees run $150 to $480 depending on the jurisdiction. Your contractor pulls the permit under their license. Homeowners should never pull the permit themselves, because that shifts code responsibility. Verified_pro contractors on ContractShield commit to pulling permits in the auto-generated contract.

Carry a 10 to 15% contingency on any bathroom remodel. Older homes usually hit something inside the walls: galvanized pipe that needs replacing, dated wiring that is not to code, or rot around the tub that only shows up during demo.

ContractShield contracts list the contingency inside the contract. Change orders draw from the contingency first, so the client's final cost matches the total on the contract, not the sum of the original plus surprise invoices.

Normalize everything before you compare: scope line items, allowance values, equipment tier, warranty term, and schedule. A $16,200 bid and an $18,400 bid may be identical once you normalize a $2,000 tile allowance difference.

On ContractShield, the Work Order Marketplace enforces the bid template, so three bids on the same work order all use the same fields. Mismatches are flagged, and the side-by-side view lets you see labor hours, materials, allowances, and warranty in the same columns.