How Much Does a Small Bathroom Remodel Cost in 2025?

Average Small Bathroom Remodel Cost

Small Bathroom Remodel Cost Factors

Square footage, remodel type, and other factors influence total costs for a small bathroom remodel.

Bathroom Size

The size of your bathroom directly relates to remodeling costs—expect to pay between $70 and $250 per square foot. Most small full bathrooms measure about 40 square feet, and even 10 or 20 extra square feet drive up the cost. Retiling your floor, for example, costs more if you expand the space’s total footprint.

See these costs based on a small bathroom ranging from 15 to 60 square feet—or from a powder room to a standard full bathroom.

Labor

Labor accounts for about 40% of total bathroom remodel tasks. Complete remodels usually involve hiring a bathroom remodeling pro or construction manager to plan and oversee the project. They’ll likely have a team of carpenters and laborers and potentially specialized tradespeople, such as electricians or plumbers. Otherwise, they’ll subcontract the necessary professionals and build their rates into your remodel estimate. Average labor rates by contractor type include:

• General contractor: 10%–20% of total project cost

• Electrician: $50–$100 per hour

• Plumber: $45–$200 per hour

• Painter: $150–$350 total

Large, complex, or high-end remodels correspond to proportionally higher labor costs. Tile installation and plumbing repairs or replacements typically incur the highest labor expense. Likewise, changing the structural layout or relocating plumbing adds to total costs.

Bathroom Remodel Type

Various bathroom remodel projects carry different scopes of work and associated costs. Full remodels, which involve removing plumbing, demolishing the room down to its basic framing and flooring, and potentially removing and building walls, average $150 to $275 per square foot. In comparison, partial remodels cost $100 to $150 per square foot.

These are the main types of bathrooms and their associated features and characteristics:

• Full bathroom: Toilet, sink, bathtub, and shower

• Three-quarter bathroom: Shower, toilet, and sink—no bathtub

• Half-bathroom (powder room): Toilet and sink

Converting to a Full Bath

Converting a half or three-quarter bathroom to a full bath requires, at a minimum, a new bathtub, which costs $7,100 or $4,100 to $10,600 installed. Since bathtubs have a relatively large footprint compared to showers, your remodel may include expanding or reorganizing the room’s layout.

Adding a Shower to a Half Bath

Adding a shower to a half bath costs an average of $8,200. Like converting to a full bath from a smaller configuration, upgrading a quarter bathroom with a shower (which has one fixture), or adding a shower to another bathroom type may require expanding or restructuring the room. Adding these fixtures may also require installing a bathroom fan.

Retiling a Small Bathroom

A new shower means new tile. New tile installation costs an average of $2,100 for ceramic or porcelain. Glass or stone tile can be more expensive.

Cosmetic Remodel

Ranging from $3,000 to $10,000, cosmetic remodels are usually the most affordable since they don’t involve modifying, demolishing, or adding systems or structures. Instead, most of the costs go toward basic upgrades, such as:

• Painting

• New hardware and fixtures

• Refreshing showers or bathtubs

• Replacing a vanity or countertop

• Light fixture replacement

• New mirror

• Storage installation

Additional Small Bathroom Remodel Cost Factors

Some projects involve demolition and permits that may affect overall bathroom remodel expenses.

Demolition and Site Prep

Demolition costs between $1,000 and $2,300 for a small bath. Removing tiles, fixtures, walls, plumbing, and electricity usually reflects the higher end of this cost range. General contractors build these services and costs into your estimate.

Permits

Most municipalities require you to obtain a building permit before demolishing or modifying structural elements, plumbing, or electrical components in your bathroom. Contractors usually facilitate the permit application process and include permit fees, ranging from $100 to $1,000, in your estimate.

Cost by Component 

Bathroom remodels involve various components, each contributing to the overall cost. Showers, bathtubs, countertops, lighting, furniture, and various fixtures and hardware represent approximately 60% of total remodel costs or $1,500 to $9,000.

The quality of materials and finishes has a significant effect on the final cost of a bathroom remodel. For example, vinyl, porcelain, and laminate are popular with homeowners for their affordability, functionality, and durability. In comparison, materials requiring more labor-intensive installation, like heavy stone or quartz countertops, drive up costs. Prefabricated bathroom components are also more economical than customized bathroom remodel designs.

Shower and Bathtub

Installing a shower costs about $6,800, and bathtubs range from $1,000 to $5,500. Together, these components represent some of the most important and costly parts of a remodel. Tub-and-shower combo installations are an economical choice, while high-end walk-in showers, vintage freestanding bathtubs, and other luxury styles drive costs up.

Countertop and Cabinetry

Homeowners can choose from many countertop and vanity/cabinetry options for their small bathroom remodel. Custom countertops made from quartz, crushed glass, natural stone, and other high-end materials cost $40 to $200 per square foot or $500 to $2,800 total but provide high durability and luxury appeal.

Likewise, custom cabinetry carries higher costs than prefabricated options, up to $10,000 or more. Stock cabinets or vanities with pre-fit countertops are the most economical, ranging from $100 to $2,600. Cabinets made from medium-density fiberboard cost the least, while solid maple, oak, or other woods have luxury prices.

Flooring

New bathroom flooring averages $6 to $11 per square foot, although costs can range from $2 to $90. Installation costs depend on removal, material type, and repairs to subflooring. Popular bathroom flooring materials include tile, vinyl, and linoleum.

Light Fixtures

Light fixtures cost $50 to $930 to install or higher for high-end and custom options. Lighting costs depend on the energy efficiency and features as well as the type, such as:

• Recessed lights

• Vanity lights

• Wall sconces

• Backlit mirrors

• Track lighting

• Shower lighting

• Under-cabinet or toe-kick lighting

Sink

Replacing a bathroom sink costs between $215 and $2,000 on average. Porcelain is cost-effective and has a classic look, making it popular in many homes. More high-end options include vessel sinks and artisan-designed sinks, which may exceed $1,000. In addition to the actual sink material, the style may also influence its price. Common styles include:

• Pedestal sink: $330–$1,100

• Wall-mounted sink: $350–$1,050

• Drop-in sink: $250–$950

• Undermount sink: $200–$2,000

• Vessel sink: $250–$2,000

• Integrated sink and vanity: $450–$5,000

Toilet

Depending on style, toilet installation costs $225 to $550. Two-piece toilets are most common as well as affordable, ranging from $100 to $500. Other toilet styles vary in cost, features, and other characteristics, with some costing up to $3,000 or more. For example, some high-end electric motorized toilets can cost upwards of $7,000 and require both electrical wiring, water supply roughing-in, and advanced installation skills.

Fixtures and Hardware

Faucets, knobs, towel hangers, toilet paper holders, and other fixtures finish and add visual appeal to your bathroom. Basic hardware sets start at around $40, and faucets average $200 to $600. Some costs vary from the average, usually those made with high-end materials or designs.

Upgrades and Add-Ons 

Small bathrooms can have a big impact with the right upgrades and add-ons, and each carries its own costs. For example, a bidet add-on or separate bidet unit ranges from $40 to $1,500. Potential bathroom remodel upgrades and add-ons include:

• Heated floors: $6–$25 per sq. ft.

• Smart home features: $2,000–$6,000

• Bidet: $50–$1,500

• Steam shower/sauna: $3,000–$6,000

Bathroom Repair vs. Remodel

If your bathroom is generally in good shape but has minor issues, opt for repair. Fixing leaking faucets, outdated fixtures, and similarly small issues is typically more cost-effective than remodeling the entire space.

Bathroom remodels are best reserved for more widespread damage, to modernize the space, or otherwise make significant changes to style or functionality.

Does a Bathroom Remodel Increase Home Value?

A bathroom remodel can increase your home’s value, depending on its quality, the scope of changes, your local market, and other factors. For example, neutral or versatile bathroom styles appeal to a broader amount of potential home buyers, and quality materials ensure the function and value of the space. Cosmetic updates and mid-range remodels typically have the best return on investment (ROI), but it’s most important that the bathroom aligns with the rest of your home. For example, a luxurious bathroom in a mid-range home or market may not offer a proportionate ROI.

Budgeting for a Bathroom Remodel

Bathroom remodel costs can climb quickly, but you can still streamline your budget without compromising on the quality of your project. Try these budgeting tips:

• Prioritize key upgrades, such as outdated fixtures and cosmetic damage.

• Limit major layout changes—if possible, reposition fixtures as necessary without moving plumbing lines.

• Choose materials and fixtures that balance affordability, durability, function, and visual appeal.

• Get detailed quotes from multiple contractors to compare their services and rates.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.