A bathroom remodel is costly, especially if you’re doing a complete overhaul. Even a small bathroom requires a significant investment.
However, with a small bathroom, making minor changes can make a tremendous difference in the functionality and look of the space.
When working with a limited budget, small bathroom remodel requires creativity and some DIY projects.
But there’s a lot you can do, and we’ll go through a few ideas. We’ll also break down the cost of a small bathroom remodel.
What Is The Average Cost Of A Small Bathroom?
The national average for a small bathroom remodel in 2023 is, according to Home Advisor, estimated to be around $6,500.
Bathroom remodels might be time-consuming and often expensive, but they offer between 60% and 70% return on the investment (ROI.)
If you’re planning to put your home on the market, renovating a small bathroom, half-bath, or powder room will impress buyers.
But before you can begin planning for this type of investment, it’s essential to understand what this process entails and how much your small bathroom remodel will cost. So, let’s take a closer look at a few key elements.
What Is A Small Bathroom?
At first glance, this may seem like a silly question. But most people have different a perception of room size; you might be researching small bathroom size remodels when your bathroom is in fact average-sized.
Fortunately, the industry has a standard for what constitutes a small bathroom. If the space you want to remodel is between 15 and 35 square feet, your bathroom falls into the small bathroom category.
Small Bathroom Cost Breakdown
Even a small bathroom remodel can be pricey. But regardless of your bathroom’s size, the price tag may range significantly depending on the quality of the materials, bathroom layout, and how well-furnished the bathroom was initially.
Therefore, the average cost for a small bathroom remodel can be between $110 and $250 per square foot.
If you are remodeling a 35-square foot full bathroom, the total cost will range from $3,850 to $8,750. However, the national average is around $5,500.
| Bathroom Size (Square Feet) | Total Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 15 | $1,650-$3,750 |
| 24 | $2,640-$6,000 |
| 32 | $3,520-$8,000 |
| 36 | $3,960-$9,000 |
| 40 | $4,400-$9,225 |
| 45 | $4,950-$10,000 |
You also have to understand that the price listed above includes labor costs, and if you’re planning a DIY bathroom remodel, you can save a lot of money.
The average labor cost is about 40-60% of the total cost. So, if you’re renovating your 35-square foot bathroom yourself, the average budget small bathroom remodel cost would be between $1,950 and $4,400.
The Average Cost Of Bathroom Materials
The price averages can help you a lot in your planning, but perhaps you’re buying every bathroom fixture at different times.
Perhaps you want to drive to Lowe’s or Home Depot on the weekend and pick up the bathtub or faucets before you start any projects. Even if that’s not the case, it’s helpful to know the price of materials, as you might only need some of them.
Here’s a complete list of bathroom materials and their prices.
- Shower – $300–$3,300
- Bathtub – $400–$12,000
- Tiles – $0.50–$15 per square foot
- Countertop – $200–$1,100
- Water Fixtures – $200–$1,700
- Vanity – $150–$2,900
- Lighting – $100–$1,000
- Bathroom fan – $50–$250
- Accessories – $10–$150 per item
Pro Tip: You don’t have to spend a fortune on bathroom vanity. There are many online markets, such as Facebook Marketplace, where you can find relatively new bathroom vanities at affordable prices.
If the budget small bathroom remodel is going at your desired pace, you can take your time searching for the perfect yet inexpensive bathroom vanity.
Essential Factors That Impact The Overall Cost Of A Small Bathroom Remodel
Determining a budget for a bathroom remodel is tricky by default, but a few factors will significantly affect the final cost.
Demolition
In the case of a total small bathroom remodel, homeowners will need to expand their budget for a complete interior demolition. This step can increase the overall price tag between $1,000–$2,200, and sometimes even more.
However, an experienced DIYer might be able to take on this project and save some cash.
Although demolitions sometimes include taking out a load-bearing wall or cutting electrical lines, in which case, professionals should take over.
Water Damage Repairs
When planning a budget small bathroom remodel, it’s crucial to look for water damage. A cracked bathtub, a leaking pipe, broken faucets, and other issues require additional attention.
Even minor plumbing repairs mean you might have to spend between $150 and $500. So, if you’re aware of these issues already, make sure to add the repair cost to the list.
Changing the Bathroom Floor Plan
Bathroom remodels on a budget typically keep the existing floor plan.
If you need to move your toilet, sink, bath, or shower to a different location in the small bathroom, the remodel price will skyrocket.
You may have to pay several thousand more for this project, plus it’s a lot more work. That’s why even contractors often advise keeping the floor plan as it is, though homeowners may have different goals.
Permits
Depending on where you live, home renovation permits will range between $160–$1,500.
Before starting the budget small bathroom remodel, homeowners should contact their local building code enforcement agency and ask for full details.
However, some contractors deal with permits for you and include the price in the budget small bathroom remodel estimate.
Did you know? The most popular type of bathroom tiling in the U.S. is porcelain, followed by ceramic. Porcelain tiles are incredibly durable, easy to clean, and low maintenance. Ceramic tiles are less expensive, easy to install and offer excellent fire-resistant properties.
How Do I Remodel A Small Bathroom On A Limited Budget?
When the desire to remodel the small bathroom clashes with a tiny budget, frustration ensues.
While each home renovation project stressful, it’s an entirely different story if money is an issue.
Still, everyone deserves to have a refreshed bathroom, and strategizing is the surest way to have it. Before you even consider buying a single bathroom fixture or calling a contractor, consider the following tips.
Define Your Budget
You’re working with a small budget, but what does that mean precisely? It’s vital to write down the exact sum you can spend on your small bathroom remodel.
If the budget is too small at the moment, perhaps consider postponing the bathroom remodel until you have the necessary funds.
It’s also the perfect moment to decide whether you’ll do a DIY remodel or hire a contractor. This will significantly affect the small bathroom remodel price, as labor costs are expensive.
If you’re planning a DIY budget small bathroom remodel, you have the benefit of setting your own timeline, especially if there are other functional bathrooms in the home.
However small, a clearly defined budget will help you start the remodel more confidently.
Set Your Priorities
You may look at your small bathroom and want to change everything. But small budgets rarely allow a full remodel. Therefore, the task at hand is choosing which areas of the bathroom require the most immediate attention.
Of course, a limited budget sometimes means you’ll need to postpone the shower replacement for another time. But you could change the faucets or re-tile the bathroom floors and walls, for example.
Expect Additional Expenses
Unfortunately, the very nature of all home renovations includes unexpected expenses. You can plan your budget small bathroom remodel as best as possible, but you can never predict everything.
Perhaps you’ve miscalculated how many tiles you’ll need, so you need to buy extra.
Perhaps the budget small bathroom remodel uncovers electrical problems that need professional attention. Or you need to move an outlet for more convenience.
Being prepared for the added bathroom remodel costs will prevent a few headaches down the line.
Cost To Remodel A Small Bathroom vs Regular Size Bathroom
We’ve touched on what it would cost to remodel a small bathroom on a budget, so now, let’s look at the prices you can expect for a more typical bathroom remodeling project.
In the U.S., the typical bathroom size ranges between 40 and 110 square feet.
Considering that the average bathroom remodel price is between $110 and $250 per square foot, homeowners can expect to pay somewhere between $4,400 and $12,000 for a 40-square foot bathroom remodel and $10,000 to $27,500 for a 110-square foot bathroom remodel.
You can use our Bathroom Cost Calculator to estimate the cost of remodeling your bathroom.
Clearly, these price ranges are significant, and the most prominent factors influencing the price are the quality of materials, labor cost — which makes up to 60% of the total cost — and the size of the bathroom.
But there is another essential factor you should consider – location.
The price of bathroom remodels, or any home renovation project will vary depending on the region.
Homeowners in California (San Francisco and San Jose specifically) pay some of the highest rates for a bathroom remodel. New York City, Miami, Honolulu, and Seattle are also among the most expensive locations for remodels.
What About The Labor Cost?
Discussing bathroom remodel prices usually includes labor cost within the total price. It’s understandable, as most homeowners lack the experience or the skills to tackle plumbing or electrical issues, even if they know how to tile the walls.
But a budget friendly DIY bathroom remodel is possible if you have the required knowledge or experience, or if you know someone who can help you with the process. That saves you a lot of money because labor costs run high.
Let’s look at the specifics.
You will need to pay between $45 and $70 per hour, depending on where you live, and in some areas, even more.
General contractors typically combine all the services you need for a bathroom remodel, but if you only need specialists for your project, here’s what the going rates are.
- Plumber – $900–$1,800 total cost
- Electrician – $45–$95 per hour
Pro Tip: Always ask the contractor about a detailed estimate and request a full invoice for the bathroom remodel. You should know precisely what the cost for materials is, labor, demolition, and even disposal. There should be no hidden charges, and homeowners have the right to know what services they are paying for.
Is A Small Bathroom Renovation Cheaper Than A Remodel?
We often use the terms bathroom remodel and renovation interchangeably, but there’s actually some difference between the two.
Remodels typically include adding or replacing items in the bathroom, like a shower or vanity.
Renovations mainly include small but effective changes.
For example, you may want to repair the damaged door, refinish the old vanity, replace a few damaged tiles, add wallpaper or paint on the walls, and do any similar projects.
The renovation price is challenging to determine as it all depends on what you want to achieve.
But let’s say, hypothetically, you wish to re-paint the bathroom tiles and refinish the vanity.
You will need about $100 for specialized bathroom tile paint, which should cover up to a 40-square foot bathroom. For a bathroom of the same size, you’ll need around $300 for a vanity refinish kit.
Therefore, a simple but meaningful bathroom renovation can cost about $400, provided you do all the work yourself.
What Is The Cheapest Way To Remodel A Bathroom?
Undoubtedly, the cheapest way to remodel a bathroom is to buy less expensive materials and for you to provide most of the labor.
Buying inexpensive materials is simple enough, whereas labor costs are sometimes difficult to cut.
Regardless, there is plenty homeowners can do that constitutes a budget friendly bathroom remodel.
Here’s an extensive list of ideas you can consider.
- Painting walls
- Applying new wallpaper
- Changing the faucets
- Installing engineered wood floors
- Replacing the hardware
- Adding new light fixtures
- Adding fiberglass inserts
- Buying a new mirror
- Installing peel-and-stick tile
- Applying vinyl countertops
- Installing shelves
Finally, deep cleaning, reorganizing, and decorating your bathroom is a big part of the remodeling process.
Adding baskets, draw dividers, introducing plants, and wall art will all make your bathroom seem brand new.
Is Home Depot Good For A Bathroom Remodel?
Home Depot is an established home renovation brand that has been providing remodeling services to their customers for years.
It’s a popular solution, and with a 4.7/5 Consumer Advocate rating, you know you’re in good hands. Still, you might not be sure if that’s the right choice, so it’s essential to know the specifics.
Home Depot’s bathroom remodeling service includes the following.
- Vanity
- Sinks
- Faucets
- Tubs
- Showers
- Flooring
- Lighting
- Storage
- Wall paint
- Tiling
Homeowners can also ask for custom solutions, and Home Depot will send a free in-home consultation to assess the situation.
Also, rather than having a dedicated crew that handles bathroom renovations, Home Depot partners with local contractors who have been thoroughly vetted.
Did you know? Many house plants will absolutely thrive in your bathroom while freshening up the space. Succulents, rabbit foot ferns, spider plants, painted nettles, bird nest ferns, and snake plants are perfect for your small bathroom.
Small Bathroom Renovation Under $3,000
The prices we’ve covered for the bathroom remodel exceed a $3,000 budget. But $3,000 is still enough money to make significant changes in your bathroom.
First, with a budget of this size, let go of any idea about changing the floor plan or extensive plumbing work unless it’s essential.
Focus on the priorities. If the tiles are in poor condition, it’s the number one task. It makes no sense to install a new tub if the tiles are breaking.
Go for the budget friendly tiles too. Consider subway tiles that never go out of style, come in various colors, and can be found at very affordable prices.
If the toilet and bathtub are still in good condition, reuse them. You can re-paint or re-tile the tub and add a new toilet seat, and you’re already making significant changes.
Generally, anything in your bathroom that you can re-surface, even countertops, go for it.
Finally, remember that new wallpaper or fresh paint will instantly brighten your bathroom.
Bathroom Remodel Under $2,000
Some say that $2,000 is the absolute minimum for a budget bathroom remodel, and only if you’re doing the bulk of work yourself.
With this kind of budget, you can mostly plan one or two major bathroom changes or focus on several minor problems.
Re-painting the walls, re-tiling, applying wallpaper, re-surfacing, painting the tiles, reusing existing pieces, and similar ideas can all fall under the $2,000 budget for your small bathroom remodel.
But you can also replace the bathtub and paint the walls, for example. It all depends on what you’re trying to achieve.
Keep in mind that not all bathrooms are the same, and each has its weak points.
How Do You Remodel A Bathroom For $1,000?
A contractor would probably tell you that even a low budget small bathroom remodel will still cost more than $1,000.
Indeed, $1,000 is not a lot of money for a bathroom remodel, but with some patience and creativity, you can make some great changes.
For example, you can re-grout the bathroom tub if that’s your problem. Because you’re doing the work yourself, consider borrowing the tools from friends and family instead of buying new.
Re-painting tiles is always good and inexpensive, too.
However, the most important part of keeping your budget small bathroom remodel under $1,000 is investing your time in looking for clearances on faucets or hardware, relentlessly comparing prices, or buying second-hand fixtures you can restore on your own.
Wrap Up About Small Bathroom Ideas
The fact is that bathroom remodels tend to be pricey. In some areas of the country, even small bathroom renovations require substantial budget allocation.
However, homeowners have many solutions to keep the budget minimal and enjoy a lovely new bathroom space.
Saving money by purchasing on less expensive materials is the number one rule, but focusing on DIY projects will also save a lot of money.
For a budget of $1,000 to $3,000 for your small bathroom remodel, you have to be a little more creative and patient, but it’s still possible to make a fantastic difference.
