No doubt, pinning down what a bathroom remodel cost will actually be for your home is a difficult task to check off your to-do list. You can search for hours + find some low or high g-u-e-s-s-t-i-mations but nothing that really tells YOU what it will cost. 

And that’s because each project is drastically different from one another. 

From the overall size of your bathroom (small, medium or large) to the the scope of work that needs to be completed (moving walls, plumbing, redesigning casework) to your desire for  come-hither luxuries such as a soaking tub, luxurious steam shower or heated floors — bathrooms are pandora’s box. Not to mention, the quality of contractors + design team that you have involved and no wonder bathroom remodel costs on the internet can feel a lil elusive.

READ: Home Makeover Shows vs Real Life Interior Design. 

For as long as I’ve been in the industry, as a professional interior designer, the conversation of ‘budget’ has always been filtered through rose-colored glasses. 

It’s drastically deflated budgets that we see being tragically tossed around on TV or there’s little to no information available for you to wrap your mind around what the heck a healthy bathroom remodel budget actually looks like. Everything from design + material costs through permitting, construction + of course styling the space.

And to be honest, friend –– that really makes me upset! 

But there’s hope. There’s always hope, right?! 

While there are a ton of moving parts when it comes to remodeling your bathroom what you really want is not only what to budget for (a number) but context for you to understand + plan accordingly.

And that’s exactly what we’re gonna talk about, how much does a bathroom remodel cost + more…

Alas, the time has come, my friend! Let’s dig in.

Budget vs. Investment

At Elegant Simplicity, we talk about money in a few ways. First is investment. 

Investment

Investment is the financial number you feel comfortable spending on your bathroom remodel. For many of our clients, that number is “whatever it takes; no more + no less” But investment is the total you have to “invest” in its entirety for this phase of your project. 

At the onset of your clarity call, we work with you to get very specific around what you’re willing to invest. That’s because it’s our place as your interior designer to really identify how to invest in the highest quality (in this case, bathroom materials, casework + cabinetry, fixtures, finishes, decor + of course contractor labor).

Without clarity around what you’re open, willing and able to invest into your bathroom remodel then boo, we’ll never know upfront how we can best serve you.

And then…

Budget 

Budget is what actually comes later. 

Your bathroom remodel budget is actually a cost breakdown of what your dollars will be doing. This comes from your contractor’s bid + it creates context for the ‘investment’ you’re making.

In short, a bathroom remodel “budget” creates the necessary clarity around what things cost for your specific remodel.

Sidenote: At Elegant Simplicity, we DON’T charge markup on anything we purchase on your behalf or on contractor labor which means down to the last dolla, every single item out of your bathroom remodel budget is going directly into the quality + craftsmanship of the bathroom we’re working on creating for you #WinnerWinner

What Does A Bathroom Remodel Cost?

The truth is a full-service remodel can be shockingly expensive. 

And that’s because when it comes to your bathroom, creating a calming sense of continuity that seamlessly blends with the rest of your home is a complex task that requires a lot of skill. 

That’s where we come in *wink*

Cuz the real head-scratcher arises when you try to decipher what you want in your bathroom remodel + then draw parallels between the ballpark estimates you get from contractors, family who have recently remodeled their bathrooms or worse “national averages” you can find online.

Add to this pricing puzzle, the countless variables that influence the bottom line of a project (material shortages, contractor availability, etc) and you can quickly start to see why it's relatively difficult to land on exactly — how much your bathroom remodel costs.

But there’s a couple of saving graces here my friend. 

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) estimates that a typical bathroom remodel will cost between 5% and 10% of your home’s value. So, let’s say your home is valued at a million dollars ($1,000,000) then you can anticipate a ballpark of a $100,000 remodel.

That said, remember context is key when discussing costs.

Certainly, a bathroom remodel can be done + accomplished for less than $100,000. And it can also be completed for a lot more.
To be as transparent as possible with what it costs to remodel your bathroom, the scope of work being completed as well as additional factors that could increase your cost we put together this FREE Bathroom Remodel Pricing Guide which relies on over a decade of experience from designing + remodeling bathrooms with a top notch team.

A Few Factors That Increase Your Bathroom Remodel Cost

Your Design Team

Certainly, a bathroom remodel will cost less if you go it alone. And while we don’t recommend it, for a lot of reason’s that’s not you. 

You want someone who has done this over-and-over again because a bathroom remodel is complex with some unforeseen challenges. Having a design team that knows how to navigate the details the contractor is requesting is integral to a good outcome!

And regardless, a bathroom remodel in Seattle is a significant investment either way, which is why you want us on your A-Team of Design Professionals *wink*

The Rest Of The Team

From general contractors, foreman + tradesmen or women the list of professionals only gets larger as the scope of work increases.

Here’s a short list of this team:

• Interior Designer

• General Contractor

• Jobsite Foreman

• Electricians

• Plumbers

• Drywallers

• Carpenters

• Tile Installers

• Caseworkers

• Slab/Countertop Installers

• Painters

Not so short is it?

But everyone on this list is a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y necessary because each is trained in their specific field of knowledge. Like you, they’ve dedicated thousands of hours to their profession + technique. And you want them to work on your bathroom remodel because you want their decades worth of knowledge making your investment exceptional :)

Luxury Bathroom Amenities + Brand Fixtures

It goes without saying that investing in luxury is going to increase the cost. 

From soaking tubs, steam showers or saunas, to even body sprayers + dual shower heads, luxury bathroom fixtures enhance the ol’ bathroom routine but they also enrich your everyday life. 

Determining what you want is half the battle — understanding what the remodel costs associated with each…is how it comes full circle.

Custom Tile Work + Radiant Floor Heating

It’s safe to say that in bathrooms, the potential for a lot of tile work exists. 

So, when it comes to really gussying up your bathroom custom tile for inlays, linear drains + shower niches will add to the total cost of your bathroom remodel. 

Speaking of tile work, there’s nothing better than stepping out of your shower or soaking tub onto heated floors which means accounting for more electrical work too.

Additional Plumbing + Electrical

If your bathroom remodel requires plumbing or electrical work, whether that’s adding wall-mounted plumbing fixtures, moving electrical or installing heated floors then additional remodel costs for certified professionals will increase your budget.

But for good reason, right? Professionals are trained + their integral to completing your bathroom remodel.

Adding or Removing Walls

From time to time, knocking down a pony wall, creating a partition or completely reworking the layout of say your master bathroom can really change both the look and feel of a bathroom but more importantly the functionality of it. 

By now I’m sure you’re starting to imagine at least a handful of really important factors that could increase your bathroom remodel cost.

Bathroom Remodel Cost Breakdown

There’s more FREE guidance we’d like to provide around a bathroom remodel cost breakdown…

We’ve found that allocating percentages of your investment towards the general scope of work that needs to be completed can be incredibly valuable.

It’s a great way to assess your investment, let’s say $100,000 against what your priorities are.

For instance, your project may choose to prioritize more of your investment towards plumbing fixtures, tile work or countertops as opposed to electrical fixtures.

Example Of A Bathroom Remodel Cost Breakdown (by percentage of budget):

• Cabinetry + Countertops: 20 - 30%

• Tile: 20 - 30%

• Electrical Fixtures: 5 - 10%

• Plumbing Fixtures: 15 - 25%

• Installation: 30%

Want to see a few examples of bathroom remodel costs with a brief outline of the scope of work? Check out this free pricing guide in our resource library: Bathroom Remodel Pricing Guide.

Now that we’ve got you thinking + you’re able to put some context to the variables of what a bathroom remodel cost actually entails...

Don’t hesitate reaching out to our team + asking for help –– let’s chat. 

And if you absolutely loved this article about Bathroom Remodel Cost then trust me boo, you’re going to really enjoy FREE 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home video course.