A midrange bathroom renovation of a 5×7 ft room averaged $26,138 in the U.S. in 2025, and an upscale 100 sq ft bath averaged $81,612 (Cost vs Value Report). Enter your room size, finish level and region to scale those averages, or switch to your own unit costs for lighting, flooring or any other job.
Every default here is a national or regional average estimate for a specific, described project, not a quote. Your price depends on your house, your contractor and what you choose to replace.
How to use this calculator
- Pick Published 2025 averages for a bathroom or kitchen, or My own unit costs for lighting, flooring or anything else.
- Choose the project and finish level. Each one matches a Cost vs Value project with a fixed scope, shown under the result.
- Pick your Census division, or leave it on the national average.
- Enter your room's floor area. Leave it blank to see the benchmark room as published.
- Set a contingency buffer for surprises.
- In own-cost mode, enter area × cost per square foot, the number of fixtures × cost each, and labor hours × hourly rate from your quotes.
- Copy the link to save or share the estimate.
How it's calculated
Benchmark mode starts with the published job cost for your project and region and turns it into a cost per square foot of the benchmark room:
cost per sq ft = job cost ÷ benchmark area(35 sq ft for the midrange and universal-design baths, 100 sq ft for the upscale bath, 200 sq ft for all kitchens)scaled cost = cost per sq ft × your areaestimate = scaled cost × (1 + contingency % ÷ 100)
Own-cost mode adds up area × $/sq ft + items × $/item + hours × $/hr and applies the same contingency.
The job costs come from the 2025 Cost vs Value Report. According to its methodology, national costs are built from Bureau of Labor Statistics price indices (CPI and PPI), the BEA's PCE index and BLS installer wage data, and local variation comes from Verisk's XactRemodel estimating data. They cover a complete professional job, including labor.
The area scaling is a simplification. A toilet, vanity and shower valve cost the same in a 35 or a 60 sq ft room, so linear scaling overstates big rooms and understates tiny ones. A 60 sq ft midrange bath scales to $44,808; the real price is probably lower. Use the benchmark-area result as the anchor and the scaled result as a rough upper guide.
Worked examples
Midrange bathroom renovation, national average
A 5×7 ft (35 sq ft) bath matches the benchmark exactly: $26,138 plus a 10% contingency of $2,614 = $28,752.
Upscale bathroom in the Pacific states
The Pacific division (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) average for the upscale bath is $86,863, or $869 per sq ft of the 100 sq ft room. With a 15% buffer for an older house: $99,892.
Minor kitchen remodel: Texas vs New York
The same 200 sq ft minor midrange kitchen averages $26,762 in West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) and $31,212 in Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA), a difference of $4,450.
Lighting renovation with your own quotes
Suppose you are replacing 8 fixtures at $60 each and an electrician quotes 10 hours at $95 an hour (made-up numbers for illustration). Items $480 + labor $950 + 10% contingency = $1,573.
2025 bathroom and kitchen renovation costs by project
| Project | National | Per sq ft | Lowest region | Highest region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel – midrange | $26,138 | $747 | $22,995 | $30,158 |
| Bathroom remodel – universal design | $42,183 | $1,205 | $36,046 | $46,763 |
| Bathroom remodel – upscale | $81,612 | $816 | $73,185 | $90,090 |
| Kitchen – minor remodel, midrange | $28,458 | $142 | $26,762 | $31,212 |
| Kitchen – major remodel, midrange | $82,793 | $414 | $77,742 | $89,679 |
| Kitchen – major remodel, upscale | $164,104 | $821 | $151,557 | $181,994 |
What each benchmark includes:
- Bathroom remodel – midrange: update a 5×7 ft bath: new tub with tile surround, toilet, solid-surface vanity, ceramic tile floor.
- Bathroom remodel – universal design: 5×7 ft bath made wheelchair-accessible: curbless walk-in shower, comfort-height toilet, radiant floor, 36 in door.
- Bathroom remodel – upscale: expand a 35 sq ft bath to 100 sq ft, relocate fixtures, frameless shower, freestanding tub, stone double vanity.
- Kitchen – minor remodel, midrange: 200 sq ft kitchen, 30 linear ft of cabinets: new fronts and hardware, range, fridge, laminate counters, sink, floor.
- Kitchen – major remodel, midrange: 200 sq ft kitchen: 30 linear ft semi-custom cabinets with island, laminate counters, new appliances, lighting, floor.
- Kitchen – major remodel, upscale: 200 sq ft kitchen: custom cabinets, stone counters, built-in fridge, commercial-grade cooktop, wall oven.
Median spending on home improvements (Census AHS 2023)
The 2023 American Housing Survey, run by the Census Bureau for HUD, asked owners about projects in the previous two years. These medians include DIY work and small jobs, so they sit far below full-remodel prices. They are useful as a reality check on what typical households actually spend.
| Project type | Median spent |
|---|---|
| Roofing | $10,000 |
| Kitchen remodels | $8,000 |
| HVAC | $5,500 |
| Bathroom remodels | $5,000 |
| Porch/deck/patio/terrace | $4,800 |
| Flooring/paneling/ceiling tiles | $3,000 |
| Doors/windows | $2,800 |
| Electrical wiring/fuse boxes | $1,000 |
| Plumbing fixtures | $500 |
The same survey counted 7.5 million bathroom remodels totaling $68.9 billion and 5.0 million kitchen remodels totaling $83.1 billion.
Regional variation
Regions use the nine Census Bureau divisions. For a midrange bath, the 2025 average ranged from $22,995 (West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX)) to $30,158 (Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA)). Those are averages of the metro areas in each division; a big coastal city can sit well above its division and a rural county well below it. Labor rates, permit fees, and how busy local contractors are matter more than any national table.
What affects the result
- Scope creep. Moving the toilet or shower drain, or taking down a wall, is what pushes a midrange job toward upscale prices.
- Age and condition. The benchmarks assume no hidden problems. Rot under a tub, old wiring or asbestos can add a lot.
- Finish choices. Tile, counters, cabinets and fixtures span a wide price range for the same room.
- DIY share. Doing demolition, painting or tiling yourself cuts labor but not materials.
- Time. The figures are 2025 averages; prices move with material costs and wages.
Common mistakes
- Comparing a contractor quote with the Census median. A $5,000 median does not mean a full bath remodel costs $5,000.
- Scaling a tiny powder room down linearly. Half the area does not halve the plumbing.
- Skipping the contingency. Leaving no buffer leaves you short when surprises show up behind the walls.
- Forgetting related work. New lighting may need a new circuit; check wire and breaker sizing with the wire size calculator.
When not to use this calculator
Don't use it as a bid or for financing decisions. It can't see your house. Get at least a few written quotes with the same scope, and check permit requirements with your local building department.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a bathroom renovation cost?
A professionally done midrange remodel of a 5×7 ft bathroom averaged $26,138 nationally in the 2025 Cost vs Value Report. An upscale remodel that expands the room to 100 sq ft averaged $81,612. The Census Bureau's 2023 American Housing Survey found a median of $5,000 spent on bathroom remodels, but that figure includes DIY and small partial jobs.
How much does a small bathroom remodel cost per square foot?
The midrange benchmark works out to $747 per sq ft of a 35 sq ft room, and the upscale one to $816 per sq ft of a 100 sq ft room. Small baths cost more per square foot because the fixtures, plumbing and labor are needed regardless of room size.
What does a universal design (accessible) bathroom remodel cost?
$42,183 national average in 2025 for converting a 5×7 ft bath with a curbless walk-in shower, comfort-height toilet, wider door and radiant floor heat.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost?
2025 national averages: minor midrange remodel of a 200 sq ft kitchen $28,458, major midrange $82,793, major upscale $164,104. The 2023 AHS median spent on kitchen remodels was $8,000.
How much does a lighting renovation cost?
We could not find a credible national average for lighting projects, so the calculator uses your own numbers: fixtures × price per fixture plus electrician hours × hourly rate. For example, 8 fixtures at $60 and 10 hours at $95 with a 10% buffer comes to $1,573. The Census AHS reports a $1,000 median for electrical wiring and fuse box work, which is a different job.
Which region is cheapest for a bathroom remodel?
In the 2025 Cost vs Value data, the midrange bath remodel was lowest in West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) at $22,995 and highest in Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA) at $30,158. Individual cities vary more than these regional averages.
How much contingency should I add to a renovation budget?
The calculator defaults to 10%, which is our assumption, not a published standard. Older houses, moving plumbing or walls, and hidden water damage justify a larger buffer; a like-for-like cosmetic update can use less.
Does a bathroom remodel pay for itself when I sell?
Usually not in full. Cost vs Value 2025 estimated that a midrange bath remodel recoups 80% of its cost at resale and an upscale one 42%. The NAR 2025 Remodeling Impact Report put cost recovery for a bathroom renovation at 50%.
Why is the Census median so much lower than contractor averages?
The AHS median covers every bathroom project owners reported over two years, including DIY work and partial jobs like a new vanity. The Census found that 36% of all home improvement projects were done by homeowners themselves. Cost vs Value prices a complete professional job with a fixed scope.
Are these prices current for 2026?
They are the latest published figures: the 2025 Cost vs Value Report (no 2026 edition was online when we checked in September 2026) and the 2023 American Housing Survey. Prices have likely changed since, so treat them as a starting point and get local quotes.
Sources & method
- JLC / Zonda, 2025 Cost vs Value Report — national and regional job costs for 28 projects
- JLC Cost vs Value — Bath Remodel | Midrange project description (5×7 ft bath)
- JLC Cost vs Value 2025 — Methodology (BLS/BEA price indices, Verisk local cost data)
- U.S. Census Bureau & HUD, 2023 American Housing Survey — Home Improvements infographic
- U.S. Census Bureau — Census Regions and Divisions of the United States
- National Association of REALTORS® & NARI, 2025 Remodeling Impact Report
Results are estimates for general information. Found an error? It helps everyone — see our methodology.