Bathroom Remodel Costs – Is It Worth It?

Pink tiles, old wooden vanities, and floral wallpaper are no longer in style. Nowadays, people want bathrooms with modern designs and luxury features.  

If your bathroom is no longer in style, a remodel may be calling your name. Especially if you are selling soon, you want to be able to attract buyers, not turn them away. Although your bathroom may be in need, can you afford it? What is the typical cost of a bathroom remodel, and will it be worth it? Find out.

What Work is Done in a Remodel? 

For some bathrooms, cosmetic updates are not enough. A remodel will include more intensive work that may also involve pulling permits. The projects that are included in a remodel will vary depending on the bathroom but may include work such as: 

• Replacing the vanity  
• Updating the flooring  
• Painting the walls and ceiling
• Upgrading the bathtub or shower 
• Changing the electric 
• Fixing or updating the plumbing  
• Changing the layout of the room or moving fixtures  
• Adding luxury features  

Because these projects are labor-intensive work that may also require the purchase of more materials, the cost of a bathroom remodel tends to be higher than a simple refresh.  

How Much is a Bathroom Remodel? 

The average bathroom remodel cost can range from a few thousand dollars to upwards of $100,000. The reason there is such variability in the cost is that the exact price of a bathroom remodel will depend on several factors. The scope of work, product/material costs, general contractor, location, permits involved, size of the room, and type of bathroom can all drastically impact your bath remodel cost. In order to get a narrower price range, it is important to get quotes before any work starts.  

Midrange Bathroom 

$27,164 

A midrange bathroom remodel can include a standard bathroom, guest baths, or a master bath without many luxury features. Most remodels will fall into this category. These projects tend to be more expensive than a refresh but less expensive than a luxury bath remodel. In 2022 in the United States, the average cost of a bathroom remodel that was considered midrange was $27,164.²  

Of course, every bathroom is different. Remodels for small bathrooms or half baths, for example, can be significantly cheaper because there just isn’t as much space to work with. 

Upscale Bathroom  

$82,882 

Some people want a bathroom that goes beyond traditional utility. These upscale or luxury baths will typically use high-end materials and include lavish amenities such as steam showers, heated flooring, jacuzzi baths, or smart features.  

Because these projects typically have higher material costs and involve more hours of labor, they tend to be more expensive. The average cost of an upscale bathroom remodel in the United States in 2022 was $82,882.² This cost can be much higher or lower depending on the specific features and amenities that are included.  

What is the ROI on a Bathroom Remodel? 

While the bathroom remodel cost is significant, this work also tends to have a high return on investment (ROI) that can make it worth it when you go to sell. Of course, the bathroom remodel ROI can vary and will be dependent on factors like the cost of the work, the buyer, the state of the rest of the home, the local market, and the sales price. While there is a lot of variability, this high return could result in thousands of dollars at the closing table for the seller.  

How to Cover the Cost of a Bathroom Remodel  

Because the estimated cost of a bathroom remodel can be so high, trying to budget or finance these projects can be intimidating. If there is not a lot of wiggle room in your bathroom remodel budget, you may need to rethink your initial plan.  

A significant way to decrease your bathroom remodel cost is to decrease project costs. One way to go about this is to use materials that are less expensive. Flooring, for example, can have very different costs depending on the material. If you compare ceramic tiles versus vinyl flooring, you will discover that both have a modern look, but vinyl flooring tends to be much less expensive.  

You may also consider doing the work yourself to save money on a general contractor. While this approach can significantly reduce the average bathroom remodeling cost, it can be risky. You need to have the proper tools and skills to complete the work. Not to mention the fact that it will cost you a lot of time to DIY.  

If the price of remodeling your bathroom is just too high, you could do a refresh instead. This work involves smaller cosmetic updates that can help transform the look of the room. For example, rather than replacing the vanity, you could paint it. You could also reglaze the tub instead of replacing it. 

At Curbio, we understand that bathroom remodel costs can be high, and many people do not have the time to manage these projects before they move. To make your updated bathroom a reality, we help homeowners complete home improvement projects before listing their homes. As a result, you can sell your home for more money and get it off the market faster to help cover your upfront costs.  

Don’t miss out. Talk to your real estate agent about working with us. You can also contact us, and we may be to find you a partner agent to work with.  

Sources:  

1. Curbio (2022). Preparing to Sell: 2022 Home Improvement Report  
2. remodeling by JLC (2022). 2022 Cost vs. Value Report