How much a bathroom remodel costs in 2026, and whether your quote is fair
Homeowners who hired a contractor to remodel a bathroom paid $4,450 to $16,490 for the middle half of jobs, and the typical remodel came in at $9,160. The numbers come from 1,408 professional jobs in the Census American Housing Survey. Enter your ZIP and quote to see your region.
Reviewed by Matt Kovalik, licensed Minnesota journeyworker electrician. License AJ703617 (verify). Updated October 2026. Based on 1,408 Census survey records.
Bathroom remodel checker
Fair.
Your quote sits in the middle half of what homeowners paid.
Midwest range: what 232 homeowners paid (Census American Housing Survey).
Middle half: $4,010 to $15,390.
Nationally, the middle half of homeowners paid $4,450 to $16,490 (Census American Housing Survey 2023, 1,408 jobs).
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- Northeast$10,990homeowners, Census survey
- Midwest$8,790homeowners, Census survey
- South$7,700homeowners, Census survey
- West$11,450homeowners, Census survey
What to know about the electrical side of a bathroom remodel
Once a bathroom is opened up, the job can grow from tile and fixtures to moving switches, updating old wiring, adding an exhaust fan and better lighting, and bringing the room up to current code. Crumbling wire insulation, overstuffed boxes and doubtful splices are easiest to fix while the walls are open.
The list grows quickly in a small room: heated floors, a fan, light at the vanity, controls, outlets where they are useful, and ground fault protection. Plan the exhaust fan as carefully as the tile, since a fan that is too small or poorly ducted leaves moisture on every finish.
Settle the mirror, vanity light, heated floor thermostat and medicine cabinet locations before rough-in, because once tile and waterproofing go in there is little room to change them. Shower pans, drains, valves and waterproofing are plumbing and tile work; the lighting, fan power, ground fault protection and heated floor circuits are electrical.
Questions to ask before you sign
Matt's list for this job.
- What is fixed in this price, and what allowances remain for tile, fixtures, glass, and finishes?Tile, fixtures, and glass selections can move the total beyond the starting proposal.
- What waterproofing system will you use behind the shower finish, including corners, niches, and penetrations?Waterproofing protects the structure behind the tile, especially at seams and places where the assembly is pierced.
- How will you check the shower base for leaks before covering it, and who verifies that step?Testing the base while it is exposed gives the installer a chance to correct a leak without tearing out finished work.
- Is the framing and subfloor suitable for the tile and shower assembly you plan to install?Movement in the framing or subfloor can damage tile even when the surface initially looks sound.
- What plumbing moves, shutoffs, electrical protection, and permits are included?Moving a fixture can bring concealed plumbing and electrical changes into the job before any finish work starts.
- Where will the exhaust fan discharge, and are the duct, controls, and outdoor termination included?Bathroom moisture needs a route outdoors. A fan that empties into a concealed space can create another problem.
- Who manages the trades, and how will you handle damage, approved extras, downtime, payment milestones, and warranty callbacks?For an everyday bathroom, the plan for downtime and finishing outstanding work matters as much as the finished look.
Also worth asking
- Will you put changes and their price and schedule impact in writing before proceeding?An extra agreed to in passing can turn into a bill you were not expecting.
- Who is my daily contact, and what work has to be complete before each payment is due?Visible milestones make payments easier to assess, and a daily contact keeps decisions moving.
What moves the price
- $9,160
The typical remodel
Half the bathroom remodels came in under this. A tub to shower conversion or moved plumbing can push a quote above it.
- $11,450
Median paid in the West
Region matters. Check your own region in the bar above before judging a quote.
- $16,490
Top of the middle half
A quote above this should come with a reason you can see, such as a full gut, tile to the ceiling, a custom shower, or new plumbing and electrical.
Fair range by region
| Region | Middle half paid | Jobs in sample | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | $5,720 to $14,830 | 241 | October 2026 |
| Midwest | $4,010 to $15,390 | 232 | October 2026 |
| South | $3,660 to $14,310 | 531 | October 2026 |
| West | $5,500 to $22,250 | 404 | October 2026 |
| United States | $4,450 to $16,490 | 1,408 | October 2026 |
Census American Housing Survey 2023, professional jobs done 2021 to 2023, adjusted to 2026 dollars with CPI-U.
Questions people ask
How much does a bathroom remodel cost?
Nationally, the middle half of homeowners paid $4,450 to $16,490 for a professional bathroom remodel, with a typical job at $9,160. The survey does not split remodels by scope, so a refresh of fixtures and a full gut with a new shower and moved plumbing share one range. Enter your ZIP in the checker to see the range for your region.
Why does waterproofing matter in a bathroom quote?
Tile and grout are not waterproof on their own. A shower needs a membrane behind the tile, and the details at corners, niches and valves are where leaks start. A quote that does not name the waterproofing system may be cheaper today and more expensive later. Ask what system they use and how they test it before tile goes up.
Where do the bathroom numbers come from?
From the Census American Housing Survey, where homeowners report the work done on their homes and what they paid. We keep professional jobs, adjust each one to today's dollars, and weight them as the Census Bureau does. Added bathrooms are a separate category and are not in this range, so it reflects remodels of an existing bathroom.
Is a low bathroom remodel quote a red flag?
Not by itself. A quote under $4,450 can be fair for a small refresh. It becomes a concern when the scope sounds like a full remodel but the quote leaves out waterproofing, permits, plumbing changes or tile allowances. Get the scope in writing, and use the questions list on this page to compare bids on the same terms.