How much does a small bathroom remodel cost?
Most small bathrooms are full hall baths, about 40 to 60 square feet, with a tub or shower, a toilet and a vanity. In Renovue's planning model, remodeling one runs $3,500–$34,000: the low end is a refresh around the existing tub, the high end replaces the tub or shower and retiles the room.
Planning range$3,500–$34,000
Preliminary planning estimate · not a contractor bid
What's included, and what isn't
Usually covered
- A refreshed or new vanity, top and faucet
- Reglazing the tub, or replacing it with a new tub or tiled shower
- New floor tile and shower-wall tile, with waterproofing
- A new toilet, shower valve, fan and lighting at mid-range
Usually not covered
- Moving the toilet, tub or drain
- Enlarging the bathroom
- A custom walk-in shower in most budgets
Cost by level of remodel
Three typical combinations from Renovue's bathroom calculator, from a refresh to a full remodel.
| Level | Choices | Planning range | Budget tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refresh | Vanity: keep and refresh · Tub or shower: reglaze or refresh · Tile: keep existing · Fixtures and lighting: basic | $3,500–$6,000 | $5K |
| Retile, keep the tub | Vanity: new standard vanity · Tub or shower: reglaze or refresh · Tile: floor and shower walls · Fixtures and lighting: mid-range | $14,000–$25,000 | $15K |
| Full remodel | Vanity: new standard vanity · Tub or shower: replace, same footprint · Tile: floor and shower walls · Fixtures and lighting: mid-range | $20,000–$34,000 | $25K |
Preliminary planning estimate only. Actual costs vary based on location, labor, materials, existing conditions, project scope and contractor. Renovue does not provide contractor quotes.
What moves the price
Starting from this page's combination, how far each decision can move Renovue's planning cost, with everything else unchanged:
- Tub or shower (none in this room → custom walk-in shower)about $23,500
- Bathroom type (half bath → primary bath)about $18,000
- Tile (keep existing → floor and full-height walls)about $12,500
- Vanity (keep and refresh → custom or double vanity)about $6,500
Renovue's ranges use national planning assumptions for a typical single-family home. Labor rates, material prices and permit requirements vary by region, and older homes often hide problems that only show up once walls and floors are opened. Compare several local bids that each list the same scope.
Price your own bathroom
The calculator starts on this page's combination. Change any choice to see how the range moves.
Estimated project cost
$14,000–$25,000
Preliminary planning estimate · not a contractor bid
See what your bathroom could look like at $15K.
Renovue's $15K “Refresh” budget fits this estimate. Upload a photo; your first remodel is free.
See My Bathroom at $15KActual costs vary by location, materials, labor and existing conditions.
Where the money typically goes
- Tub or shower$500–$1K
Reglaze or refresh
- Tile$4K–$7.5K
Floor and shower walls, full hall bath
- Vanity & countertop$2K–$4K
New standard vanity
- Fixtures & lighting$2.5K–$5K
Mid-range
- Demolition, plumbing & waterproofing$2.5K–$5K
Removing old work, rough-in and waterproofing behind tile
- Paint & finishing$400–$800
Moisture-resistant paint, caulk and trim
- Contingency$1K–$2.5K
10% for surprises found once work starts
Renovue's national planning assumptions for a typical single-family home, installed. Renovue does not provide contractor quotes. How these estimates work
Next: what $15,000 can do · how to set your budget · questions to ask a contractor
Making a small bathroom feel bigger
A wall-mounted or narrow vanity, a glass shower panel instead of a curtain, and one tile run from floor to ceiling all make a small bathroom read as larger, without changing the footprint.
Large-format floor tile means fewer grout lines, which makes a small floor look less busy. Ask your contractor whether your floor is flat enough for it.
Questions
- How much does a small bathroom remodel cost?
- In Renovue's planning model, $3,500–$34,000 for a full hall bath of about 40 to 60 square feet. Keeping and reglazing the tub keeps it toward the low end; replacing the tub or shower and retiling puts it at the high end.
- What's the cheapest way to update a small bathroom?
- Keep the tub and reglaze it, refresh the vanity with a new top and faucet, and change the mirror, light and paint. Nothing is torn out, so there's no demolition or waterproofing cost.
- Is it cheaper to replace a tub with a shower?
- Not necessarily. A standard shower in the tub's footprint costs about the same as a new tub in Renovue's model. A custom walk-in shower with a glass enclosure costs about twice as much.
- What's a realistic budget for a small bathroom with a new tub?
- A full remodel of a hall bath, with a new tub or tiled shower, new tile, vanity and fixtures, falls in the $25,000 tier. See the $25,000 bathroom remodel guide for the full breakdown.