Bathroom remodeling guide
Bathroom remodeling: costs, scope and planning
Published by Clear House · Updated
Short answer
A midrange remodel of a 5 ft × 7 ft bathroom averaged $26,138 in the U.S. in 2025, according to the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. Smaller updates, such as a new vanity or shower surround, cost less.
Decide whether you are updating fixtures or replacing everything down to the studs. Clear House lets you plan the project and request a quote from one local pro where one covers your ZIP code.
Key points
- Tile, plumbing changes and water damage drive cost.
- Moving a toilet or shower drain is expensive.
- Waterproofing behind tile matters more than the tile itself.
Is there a Clear House pro for bathroom remodeling near you?
Enter your ZIP code to check live. Anyone in the U.S. can plan a project and see a ballpark, even where no pro is available yet.
What affects the cost of a bathroom remodel
- Room size and how much is replaced.
- Tub, shower or tub-to-shower conversion.
- Tile type and amount.
- Vanity, toilet, fixtures and lighting.
- Moving plumbing or adding ventilation.
- Water damage or rot found during demolition.
Published cost benchmarks
These are average costs for specific, defined projects from an independent annual report. Use them to sanity-check a budget, not as a price for your home.
| Project (defined scope) | South Atlantic region | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel — midrange | $25,609 | $26,138 |
Average job cost from the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (Zonda / JLC). Each figure is for one defined project scope, not your home. Your price depends on size, materials, access, damage found and the contractor.
- Bathroom remodel — midrange: Update a 5 ft × 7 ft bathroom: new tub with tile surround, toilet, vanity, fixtures and tile floor.
How to plan it
- Decide whether this is a refresh or a full remodel.
- Measure the room and note where plumbing is now.
- Choose fixtures early; some have long lead times.
- Plan for a second bathroom or alternative while work is under way.
Questions to ask a contractor
- Can I see your license or registration, if my state requires one for this work, and a current certificate of insurance?
- Who pulls the permit, and is the permit fee included in the price?
- What exactly is included and excluded in this quote, line by line?
- What warranty do you give on labor, and whose warranty covers the materials?
- What is the payment schedule, and how much is due before work starts?
- What waterproofing system will you use behind the tile?
- Is the exhaust fan vented outside?
How Clear House helps with a bathroom remodel
Clear House is a planning app and marketplace. It does not do the work itself. You choose the project, answer a few short questions and add a photo if you have one. Clear House then shows a planning ballpark so you have a starting budget before anyone visits your home.
Photo previews are not offered for this kind of project yet, so the planning steps focus on scope and budget.
When you are ready, Clear House checks whether a reviewed independent pro covers your ZIP code and this trade. If one does, you send your project to that one pro, who can review it and send a quote in the app. You are not obligated to accept a quote, and your request is not sent to a crowd of contractors. If no pro covers your area yet, you can join the waitlist and Clear House emails you when one is available.
Common questions
Can I replace just my shower?
Yes. Clear House also has a separate shower project with its own planning questions.
How long does a bathroom remodel take?
It depends on scope, inspections and material lead times. Ask your contractor for a written schedule.
Ready to plan?
Free to plan. See a ballpark before anyone visits. Your project goes to one pro at a time, only where a pro covers your area.
Start a projectSources
- Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report — South Atlantic region and national averages — Published 2025. Costs are averages for a defined project scope, not quotes.
- 2025 Cost vs. Value Report — Methodology — Explains how job costs (Verisk XactRemodel data) and resale values were estimated.
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission — How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam — Advice on licenses, insurance, written estimates, contracts and down payments.
Related
Clear House is a marketplace, not a contractor. Costs on this page are published averages or planning ranges, not quotes, and your price will differ. Always confirm licensing, insurance and permits with the pro you hire.