Estimate a full bathroom remodel from your floor area, scope and layout, with demolition, permits and a contingency built in.
Quick answer: A 40 sq ft bathroom at the national average of about $275 per square foot comes to roughly $11,000 for the main work. Add demolition and a permit and you are near $12,150; a 15% contingency makes the planning figure about $14,000. Edit the unit price and scope for your area.
sq ft
A typical 5×8 ft full bathroom is about 40 sq ft
$/sq
Typical U.S. range: $150–$600 per sq ft (mid-range around $275)
$
$
%
Estimated total
$13,973
40 sq ft at $275
Cost per sq
$349
Total divided by quantity
Cost breakdown
Materials (55% of base)$6,050
Labour (45% of base)$4,950
Demolition & haul-away$700
Permits & fees$450
Contingency (15%)$1,823
Estimated total$13,973
Plausible planning band: $11,443 to $17,135 — roughly ±20% around your unit price, before any regional or seasonal swing.
Estimates use the unit price you enter and typical U.S. averages. Get at least two local quotes before committing.
Core facts
Typical U.S. range
$150–$600 per sq ft installed
Typical 5×8 ft bathroom
About 40 sq ft
Cost split
Roughly 45% labor, 55% materials
Often overlooked
Permits, demolition, contingency
What is Bathroom Remodel Cost Calculator?
A bathroom remodel is the highest cost-per-square-foot project most homeowners take on, because one small room has to hold plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tile and ventilation. Cost per square foot is the usual way contractors price the work, so this calculator multiplies your bathroom floor area by an installed unit price you control. The national average sits in a wide band, from a cosmetic refresh that keeps the existing layout to an upscale remodel that moves plumbing and replaces everything. Demolition and haul-away, permit fees and a contingency for surprises behind the walls are added separately, because those items are what push real invoices past the first estimate. The result is a planning range, not a quote.
Common uses for Bathroom Remodel Cost Calculator
Budget a full bathroom remodel before you start collecting contractor quotes
Compare a quick refresh against a mid-range or upscale renovation
See how much moving the plumbing or walls adds to the total
Check whether demolition, permits and contingency fit your budget
Test how a different per-square-foot price changes your planning number
What drives the price per square foot
Three things dominate. First, scope: a refresh that reuses the tub, vanity and tile layout can cost a fraction of a full gut renovation. Second, fixtures and finishes: tile, stone, a freestanding tub and a frameless glass shower all carry a premium. Third, complexity: moving a drain, rerouting supply lines or taking out a wall means trades, inspections and repair work. Because those three pull in different directions, two bathrooms of identical size can differ in price by several times over.
Why demolition and permits belong in the budget
First-time remodelers usually forget the two line items that appear before any finished work: tearing out the old room and paying the building department. Demolition includes protection of adjacent rooms, disposal and haul-away, and it can climb quickly if the old room contains tile over a mortar bed or a cast iron tub. Permit fees are set locally and vary widely, and an inspection schedule can add days to the timeline. Both are defaults you can edit here.
How to use the estimate well
Treat the output as a budget envelope rather than a bid. Start with your real floor area, pick the scope that matches what you actually want, then test the options that worry you — moving the plumbing, an upscale finish level, a longer demolition. The number that matters most is the range between a modest and an ambitious version, because that spread is the money you are really deciding about. Then compare each contractor quote against the same scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a bathroom remodel cost per square foot?
Typical U.S. figures run from about $150 per square foot for a cosmetic refresh to $600 or more for an upscale renovation, with mid-range work near $275. Region, season and material choices move that number a lot, so treat any figure as a starting point and get local quotes.
Why does a small bathroom cost so much?
Density, not size, drives the price. A bathroom packs plumbing, electrical, waterproofing and tile into a few dozen square feet, and every trade has to schedule a visit. There is little room to work quickly, and any surprise behind the wall adds both labor and a change order.
What is a realistic contingency for a bathroom?
Ten to twenty percent of the project total is a common planning allowance, and fifteen percent is a reasonable middle. Old homes and any project that opens walls or floors deserve the higher end, because hidden rot, outdated wiring and undersized plumbing are usually discovered once demolition starts.
Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom?
Usually yes if you move plumbing, electrical or walls, and often for a full remodel even when the layout stays. Permit rules are set locally and enforcement varies, so check with your city or county building department before work begins. Unpermitted work can complicate a future sale.
Does this calculator replace a contractor quote?
No. It is a planning estimate built from a unit price you choose, and it cannot see your site, your fixtures or local labor rates. Use it to sanity-check quotes, compare scope options and set a budget ceiling, then get at least two written quotes from licensed local contractors.