A Comprehensive Guide to Bathroom Remodel Costs in 2020

Second only to the kitchen, a bathroom remodel is the most effective way to add value to your home. But with plumbing, electrical, moisture barriers, flooring, lighting, and fixtures, it can also become one of the most costly makeover projects in your entire house.

That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to bathroom remodel costs in 2020. We’ll clearly outline high-end and low-end options, when you can afford to cut corners, and where costs could quickly mount.

The average bathroom remodel costs about $18,000. On the low end, you could spend around $6,000 while on the high end you could easily shell out $60,000 or more.

How is such a price difference even possible? So many factors and considerations can affect the total cost. How big is the space? Does it need a few cosmetic touches or a complete overhaul? Are you knocking down or rebuilding walls (if so, you may need permits and professional contractors). Are you simply adding a coat of paint and some new floor tiles? If the scope of the work is small, you might be able to do it yourself and save money, but not always.

So let’s break down the many variables that go into renovating a bathroom.

Bathroom Renovation: Planning

Possibly the most important step when remodeling your bathroom is the planning phase. Whether you’re hiring professionals to do the work or you’re tackling it all on your own, you want to strategically map it all out in advance.

One cost that might crop up during the planning phase is interior design. Designers can help you make the most of your space and can run you on average around $4,000 for a bathroom, though high-end designers can be much more expensive.

Bathroom Remodel: Demolition

Bathroom demo costs are typically between $350 and $1,000, depending on how much restructuring is involved. For instance, if you’re tearing down walls, the demo price will be higher. If you’re keeping the existing fixtures, it can be on the lower end.

For those with the right experience, demolition can be a great way to save some money. After all, you see everyday people on TV all the time wielding sledgehammers and taking out their worldly frustrations on an innocent vanity.

It looks fun, sure, but beware—demo can get really expensive really fast if you don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t want to damage pipes and electrical wiring in the process. If in doubt, best to leave it to the pros.

Bathroom Remodel: Cost of Materials

There are lots of factors that contribute to the cost of a bathroom remodel. Here are a few of the most common upgrades you’ll make.

Source: Improvenet

Bathroom Fixtures: Custom vs Economy

Custom-built fixtures and high-end fixtures are where things really start to get pricey. During the planning phase of your project, decide how much of your budget you are willing to spend on fixtures, then figure out if you should buy the local big box store or consider some custom fixtures.

Source: HomeAdvisor

Bathroom Remodel: Labor Costs

Be prepared to spend roughly half your reno budget on labor. Even experienced DIYers will need to work with professionals when it comes to things like plumbing and electrical work.

Other Considerations

The numbers we’ve pulled together are to give you a high-level overview of how much—or how little—a bathroom remodel might cost. But there are some other factors that can affect your bottom line. Things like:

• What is the square footage of the space?
• Will you require any building permits?
• How much of the project can be done on your own and how much you need to contract out to professionals?
• Will you need a general contractor?
• Are you moving plumbing fixtures (like a toilet, tub, or shower)?

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when planning to remodel your bathroom and other factors can affect your bottom line.
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