Bathroom remodel cost: what it costs, and how much tile, grout and paint to buy

Short answer: in the 2025 Cost vs Value report, a midrange remodel of a 5 × 7 ft bathroom done by a contractor averaged $26,138 across the US, a universal-design (step-free, accessible) bathroom $42,183, and an upscale remodel that enlarges the room to 100 ft² $81,612. A midrange job won back about 80 % of its cost in resale value, an upscale one about 42 %. For the materials of a 5 × 7 ft bath with a tiled tub surround, plan on about 4 boxes of floor tile, 6 boxes of wall tile, 2 bags of thinset, a 10 lb bag of grout and a gallon of paint.

What a bathroom remodel costs (US, 2025)

The Cost vs Value report, published by the Journal of Light Construction, prices the same projects every year, with labour, materials and contractor's margin, as a national average:

The midrange job keeps the layout: a new 30 × 60 in tub with a ceramic tile surround, a pressure-balanced shower valve, a standard toilet, a solid-surface vanity top with an integral sink, a recessed medicine cabinet, a ceramic tile floor and new wall covering. Costs in your area can be well above or below the average, and outside the US they differ again — so treat these as a yardstick and get at least three written quotes.

What pushes the price up or down

• Moving plumbing. Keeping the toilet, tub and sink where they are is the biggest saving; moving the toilet drain or turning a tub into a walk-in shower adds plumbing, floor work and waterproofing.
• Tile area and size. Tiling to the ceiling, large-format tiles, mosaics and patterns all take more time per square foot. Large tiles also need a flatter floor.
• Waterproofing. Showers and tub surrounds need a waterproof membrane behind the tile. Don't skip it: it is cheap next to rotten studs.
• Fixtures and finishes. A stone top, a frameless glass screen or a freestanding tub can each cost more than all the tile.
• Electrics and ventilation. An extractor fan sized for the room, extra lights and a GFCI or RCD-protected circuit are often needed to meet the rules.
• Doing part of it yourself. Removal, painting and simple tiling are jobs many owners do; plumbing, electrics and waterproofing are usually best left to licensed trades.

Materials for a 5 × 7 ft bathroom

The same room as the midrange project — 5 × 7 ft (about 1.5 × 2.1 m) with a tub along the 5 ft wall:

How the lines are worked out:

• Tiles — area + 10 % for cuts, divided by what one box covers. The bathroom tile calculator does floor and walls together and takes off the door and window.
• Adhesive — a 50 lb bag of thinset covers roughly 40–50 ft² with the 1/4 × 3/8 in notch a 12 in floor tile often needs, and about twice that with a 1/4 × 1/4 in notch for small wall tiles; check the bag. Our guide to tile adhesive and grout per m² has the rates by trowel, and the tile adhesive calculator gives the bags.
• Grout — small tiles have far more joint per square foot than large ones, so the wall surround takes more grout than the floor. The grout calculator works from the tile size and joint.
• Paint — the walls not tiled: 24 ft of wall × 8 ft high, minus the surround and the door, is about 120 ft², twice for two coats. Use a bathroom paint that resists moisture; the paint calculator gives the cans.
• Sealant — along the tub, the vanity and any upstand. The caulk calculator turns the length into tubes.

Order of work

1. Strip out and check the floor and studs for damp or rot.
2. First fix: plumbing, electrics and the fan.
3. Fit the tub or shower tray, then backer board and waterproofing.
4. Tile the walls, then the floor; grout once the adhesive has set.
5. Second fix: toilet, vanity, taps, lights; seal with silicone last.
6. Paint the walls and ceiling.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to redo a bathroom?

In the US, a midrange remodel of a small (5 × 7 ft) bathroom averaged $26,138 in 2025, with an upscale remodel at $81,612 (Cost vs Value). Your own cost depends on the area, whether plumbing moves, the finishes and local labour rates.

Does a bathroom remodel add value?

A midrange bathroom remodel recouped about 80 % of its cost in resale value in 2025, an upscale one about 42 %. A tidy, working bathroom matters to buyers, but very high-end finishes rarely pay for themselves when you sell.

How many boxes of tile do I need for a small bathroom?

A 5 × 7 ft floor is 35 ft²; with 10 % for cuts that is 38.5 ft², so 4 boxes of 10 ft². A tub surround 5 ft high on three sides is about 50 ft², so 6 boxes with the extra.

What is the most expensive part of a bathroom remodel?

Usually labour, then the fixtures. Moving the toilet or the shower, tiling large areas and custom glass add the most to a quote.