What’s the most expensive part of a bathroom remodel?

In general, two of the most expensive parts of a bathroom remodel are moving a waste line and replacing a vanity, Huebner says. If you change the bathroom’s layout, that involves moving the toilet, sink, or tub and needs the help of a professional plumber. Expect to pay about $45 to $65 per hour in labor. For a 40-square-foot bathroom, hooking up new fixtures to current plumbing plus cleanup takes an estimated 46 hours and costs roughly $2,070 and $2,990; moving any fixtures more than three feet costs an additional $500 to $1,000.

As for a vanity, prices vary whether it’s pre-made or custom built, but a vanity easily can cost about $1,300 to $1,800, Huebner said. The Ridgemore 71-inch double vanity in white with a granite top hits the low end of this range at about $1,300. A more high-end option would be the Charlton Home Larosa 73-inch double vanity with a white marble top and gray manufactured-wood base costing about $2,800.

Here’s how other materials and features affect pricing:

• Wall and floor tiles: Natural stone, porcelain, and ceramic are popular in bathrooms. Natural stone and porcelain cost about $5 to $20 per square foot compared to $1 to $5 per square foot.
• Countertops: Prefabricated countertops cost less than natural stone. Quartz costs about $100 per square foot compared to cultured marble at $4 per square foot.
• Faucets: Chrome is a less expensive finish than brushed nickel; matte black, antique bronze, and brushed brass cost more. Also consider the type of sink (pedestal, wall-mounted, console) and whether the faucet is wall-mounted or touchless. The Farrington 8-inch two-handle high-arc faucet in matte black by Glacier Bay sells for $129, for instance, while Zurn’s single-hole touchless bathroom faucet in polished chrome costs $376.
• Bathtub: An alcove tub installed with a shower is the most common type of tub and comes in a variety of widths and colors, Fixr.com says. Bootz Industries sells a 30x60x74.5-inch alcove bath and shower kit with left-hand drain in white for $638. Integrated grab bars can be an additional cost. A standalone soaking tub costs from $500 to $3,000, as does adding jets or other features.
• Shower: If you have an alcove bath and shower combo, add about $150 for a basic pressure balance valve tub and shower set. Shower valve systems that add varying body sprays or allow for better water control can cost about $550 and up. Tired of that rod and shower curtain? DreamLine has a 56x60x76-inch frameless sliding shower door in brushed stainless steel for about $800.
• Toilet: Prices vary from about $100 to $1,000 depending on the size of the “rough-in” (the distance from the finished wall to the floor drain), height, having a round or elongated bowl, water efficiency, and added features, such as a bidet toilet seat.

Other considerations: Location and hidden issues

Any remodeling project can incur expenses that you might not have considered, such as:

How long will the project last?

If your home has just one full bathroom—and you don’t have a gym membership or some other arrangement while it’s in disarray—there may be limits to what type of bathroom remodel you can manage. “I went through a major renovation in my house two and a half years ago,” Huebner says. “At one point, the only bathroom not out of commission was the one in the master bedroom.”

Will you need building permits?

Check with your municipality if you’re planning anything that affects the structure of the bathroom or rearranging the fixtures. “Here, if you’re just replacing [fixtures], you don’t need a permit,” Huebner says. “When you go down to the studs and move pipes around, then you need to have inspectors come in.”

Have you uncovered any water damage, outdated plumbing, or outdated wiring?

If so, you’ll likely need to hire a professional rather than handle the problem yourself. Rerouting plumbing generally costs about $45 to $150 per hour while rerouting electrical wiring costs about $50 to $100 per hour.

Will your new fixtures fit in the space?

One of Huebner’s design clients wanted a 72-inch vanity with double sinks for an upstairs bathroom. But the piece she bought on her own had a connected cabinet and countertop, making it impossible to lift up the interior staircase.

“I popped the window out of the bathroom and all the framing, and I hired a crane that moves pianos,” which cost about $800, he says. “We airlifted this giant vanity through the window with barely an inch on either side. All the money she had saved buying this vanity kind of went out the window with the crane and the extra labor.”

Maximize your value: Where to spend and where to save

• New flooring: If your bathroom has had wall-to-wall carpeting for years, that probably needs to go. (You could replace this with tile, but if you like the carpeting, a new 2020 carpeting option for bathrooms is 100% waterproof.)
• New hardware: Consumer Reports recommends replacing the sink and shower faucets, especially in homes with hard water because of metal corrosion. Faucets with scratch-resistant PVD (physical vapor deposition) protection come in several styles, such as Water Creation’s wall-mount two-handle elegant spout bathroom faucet in polished nickel PVD for about $248, or Water Creation’s 8-inch two-handle century classic bathroom faucet in the same finish for about $223. Add a matching mirror for a coordinated look.
• Certain new fixtures:If you use a standalone sink rather than a sink and vanity, for example, you could pay about $50 to $1,000 for a pedestal, wall-hung, or console version.

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