Bathroom remodel cost in Northern Virginia: in our sold jobs, most bathroom remodels fall between $20,000 and $60,000+. Small hall and guest baths start at about $12,500 when only the tub or shower is redone, and usually run about $22,000 to $45,000 for a full refresh; a primary suite with a curbless shower and frameless glass sits at the high end.
Most of us would like a luxury bathroom, but it's not always within our budget. That's why it helps to understand where the money goes before you commit to a layout, finishes or a contractor.
This guide gives you both numbers people ask for: our own ranges from sold jobs in Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC, and the national averages from a named, dated report, clearly labeled. You'll get a clear look at what a bathroom remodel costs, the biggest factors that change the price, and the choices that are worth it: cabinetry and countertops, showers and wet areas, layout changes, plumbing and electrical, eco-friendly upgrades, signs a remodel is needed, ways to save, and how to hire the right contractor.
Average Bathroom Remodel Cost
What is the average cost to remodel a bathroom? Here are both answers: the national averages, and what our own bathrooms cost here.
National averages (not our prices): Cost vs Value 2025
A well-known source of national figures is the annual Cost vs Value Report, which compares the average cost of common remodeling projects with the value they keep when the home sells. Its 2025 national averages for bathrooms are:
| Project (national average) | Job cost | Resale value | Cost recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath remodel, midrange | $26,138 | $20,915 | 80% |
| Bath remodel, upscale | $81,612 | $34,000 | 42% |
| Bath remodel, universal design | $42,183 | $25,812 | 61% |
Source: Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs Value Report, 2025 national averages across 119 U.S. markets (checked October 25, 2026). These are not Fairfax Kitchen & Bath prices.
"Cost recouped" is the share of the job cost the report estimates the project adds to the home's resale value. A bathroom is also a room you use every day, so resale is only part of the answer to "is a bathroom remodel worth it?"
Why our ranges look different: the report averages 119 markets and its own project definitions, while our ranges come from bathrooms we sold here, where labor and permit costs differ from the national average, and every proposal is priced from its own design and scope.
Bathroom remodel costs in Northern Virginia
In our sold jobs:
- Most bathroom remodels fall between $20,000 and $60,000+. A hall bath refresh sits at the low end; a primary suite with a curbless shower and frameless glass sits at the high end.
- Hall bath refresh, from about $12,500: same layout, keep the tub: new tub and tiled surround, tile floor, vanity and top, sink, faucet, toilet, light, mirror and paint.
- Tub-to-shower conversion, from about $12,500: your old tub out, a tiled walk-in shower with a niche and custom glass in.
- Primary bathroom, priced from your design: double vanity, larger walk-in shower, frameless glass, a freestanding tub or heated floor.
A range is a starting point, not a quote. Sena, our sales director, calls you back within 2 business hours and tells you where your bathroom is likely to land, and your proposal is calculated line by line for your home.
Plan a bathroom remodel that is realistic for your budget. If you can't do all of it now, you can plan the work in phases. When you compare contractors, compare what each proposal includes, not just the total; our guide to choosing a remodeling contractor shows what to check.
Bathroom Remodel Cost per Square Foot
A cost per square foot is a rough way to compare bathrooms, and it can mislead: a small bathroom has the same plumbing, waterproofing, permits and trades as a large one, and the tile, vanity and glass you pick matter more than the floor area. Your proposal is calculated line by line from your design, not by the square foot.
Signs That You Need to Remodel Your Bathroom
Over time, bathrooms become outdated or worn from daily use. Here are some signs it may be time to remodel:
1) Outdated features: old-fashioned sinks, tubs and fixtures. New fixtures add looks and make the room easier to use.
2) Poor function: a worn shower, slow drains or weak water pressure make the room a daily frustration.
3) Not enough space: if two people can't get ready at once, a new layout, a double vanity or a walk-in shower in place of an unused tub can fix it.
4) Leaks and mold: leaks lead to mold, and mold can cause allergic reactions. Have the source found and fixed as soon as possible.
Factors Affecting Bathroom Remodel Cost, Including Labor Costs
This is the tough part of budgeting a bathroom remodel, and it's why an experienced bathroom remodeler on your side helps.
The size of your bathroom is the first factor: the bigger it is, the more tile, waterproofing and fixtures you need. Material costs cover the vanity, fixtures, tile, flooring and cabinetry. Labor covers demolition, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tile and installation.
The second factor is the layout. Keeping the tub, toilet and vanity where they are keeps the cost down. Moving the shower, adding a second sink or turning a half bath into a full bathroom adds plumbing, electrical and permits, but it can be worth it for a growing family.
The third factor is your selections. Some tile and stone cost more than others, and vanities range from simple to fully custom. Your proposal lists allowances for anything you have not picked yet, like tile or a faucet. If you choose something that costs more, the difference is a change order. If you choose something that costs less, you get a credit.
Old homes can also hide problems behind walls, like old wiring or a leaking pipe, that only show up once demolition opens them.
How Much to Remodel a Small or Primary Bathroom?
A small hall or guest bathroom in our sold jobs starts at about $12,500 when only the tub or shower is redone, and usually runs about $22,000 to $45,000 for a full refresh, depending on tile, the vanity, the tub or shower and whether plumbing moves. A smaller room needs less tile and fewer fixtures than a large one, but it still needs the same trades and planning.
A hall bath costs more when the room itself changes. An example from Washington, DC, rebuilt from the joists, with the hallway linen closet taken in, a heated floor and herringbone tile to the ceiling: Washington, DC hall bath with a heated floor →
A primary bathroom is priced from your design. A larger walk-in shower, frameless glass, a double vanity, a freestanding tub or a heated floor all move it toward the high end of the $20,000 to $60,000+ range our bathrooms usually fall in.
A real example, with a curbless shower and a tub set in a Taj Mahal quartzite deck: McLean primary bath with a curbless shower →
Another, with a freestanding soaking tub under the window and a blue herringbone shower: Reston primary bath with a freestanding tub →
And one with a dark tile shower with two rain heads, an oversized hexagon floor and floating vanities: Sterling primary bath with a dark tile shower →
Plus one that took in attic space over the garage for a bigger walk-in closet, with a neo-angle shower, a freestanding tub under a chandelier and a long vanity with a makeup desk: Fairfax primary bath and walk-in closet →
And one opened into a wet room, with a freestanding tub in the bay window inside the shower glass, two rain heads and a pebble floor: Burke primary bath wet room →
Costs can rise when demolition uncovers work nobody could see, such as old wiring or a failing pipe. A change to the contract after it is signed is written as a change order, with its price.
Updating Cabinetry: Vanity Costs
A new vanity gives the bathroom an updated look and more storage, and it is one of the bigger selections in your budget. We install vanities from the cabinet lines we sell, with a vanity top, sink and faucet. The same three words you hear for kitchen cabinets apply here:
- Stock vanities come in set widths, styles and finishes. They suit a hall bath where the vanity stays in the same spot.
- Semi-custom vanities offer more widths, finishes and options, such as drawer stacks, a makeup area or a matching linen tower.
- Custom vanities are built to your exact dimensions and design, for an odd-sized wall or a furniture-style look.
The vanity's construction (particleboard, plywood or solid wood), its size, a single or double sink, and whether it is stock or built to your dimensions all set its price. You can see and compare vanities in our showrooms in Fairfax, Sterling and Bethesda.
Updating Countertops: Vanity Top Materials Compared
Not all countertops are the same. Some are more durable than others, and the price differs with them. Look into the care each material needs, so you know what it takes to keep your vanity top looking new for years. Do you set hot styling tools on the counter, or use cosmetics that can stain stone? Here is how the common materials compare, without the price tags:
| Material | Strengths | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Quartz (engineered) | Nonporous, consistent color, low upkeep | Keep very hot tools on a mat |
| Granite | Natural stone, durable, every slab different | Lasts longer when sealed |
| Porcelain | Thin, hard and resistant to water and stains | Edges need careful fabrication |
| Marble | Classic look and veining | Stains and etches more easily |
| Solid surface | Seamless look, nonporous | It can scorch and stain |
| Laminate | Many colors and patterns | Less durable around water |
Remodeling a Wet Area
A stunning, functional shower is at the top of most bathroom wish lists. A walk-in shower, or a curbless wet area with a tiled floor and proper drainage, opens up the room and is easier to step into.
Converting a tub to a walk-in shower is one of the most popular changes. We take out the tub and build a tiled walk-in shower with a niche and custom glass, in the same space, planned, permitted and built like every other remodel. Because every wet area depends on its waterproofing, the tile goes in over proper waterproofing.
Our partner Always Glass & Mirror makes custom shower glass for our bathrooms, and we share its drawings with you for approval before anything is cut. Bathrooms that keep a tub get a shower rod unless you choose glass.
If you are planning for the years ahead, ask any contractor you talk to early about features like a bench, wider openings or support in the walls for future grab bars, because they are far easier to plan before the tile goes up than after.
Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost
A tub-to-shower conversion starts at about $12,500 with the basics (a new shower floor, waterproofing, wall tile and a ready-made glass door or a curtain rod), and every upgrade adds to it, because no two are the same. The basic job is the same every time: your old tub comes out, and a tiled walk-in shower with a niche and custom glass goes in, in the same space. What moves the price:
- The size of the shower and whether the drain or valve moves
- The tile you choose for the walls and the shower floor
- Extras such as a second niche, a bench or a handheld shower
- The glass: a fixed panel, a door, or a full enclosure
- Whether the rest of the bathroom is remodeled at the same time
See more on our shower remodeling page.
Cost Breakdown of a Bathroom Remodel
It's hard to imagine how much everything will cost, so here is what a hall bath refresh, from about $12,500 in our sold jobs, includes:
- A new tub and tiled surround
- A tile floor
- A vanity and top, sink and faucet
- A new toilet
- A vanity light, mirror and paint
The overall cost depends on which materials and fixtures you choose. The higher-end you go, the faster the budget rises, so decide where to spend and where to save: a simpler vanity with a beautiful tile wall, or the other way around.
Bathtubs and showers
Keeping a tub in the same spot with a new tiled surround is the simplest option. A freestanding tub needs floor space and its own filler, and a walk-in shower adds a shower pan, waterproofing, a niche and glass.
Tile
Tile is often where bathrooms differ most. Large-format, mosaic, natural stone and patterned tile, accent bands and niches each change the material and the labor. We install tile from Daltile, Porcelanosa, Atlas, Conestoga and Best Tile.
Toilets, lighting and accessories
A toilet, the vanity light, a mirror and accessories finish the room. They are smaller lines in your proposal, but upgrades add up across a room.
Shower glass
A frameless glass enclosure is made to measure after the tile is in, which is why glass is often one of the last steps of a bathroom remodel.
What Your Bathroom Proposal Should Show
A clear proposal makes prices comparable. Ours is calculated line by line for your home. Anything you have not picked yet is an allowance, and extras like a new exhaust fan are listed as their own lines. When you compare proposals from different contractors, check that each one covers the same work, such as demolition, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tile, the vanity and top, fixtures, glass, paint, permits and inspections, so you are comparing the same bathroom.
Is a Bathroom Remodel Worth It?
The national Cost vs Value figures above show that a bathroom remodel keeps part of its cost at resale, and how much depends on the scope. But most people remodel a bathroom to use it, not to sell it. A shower that doesn't leak, a vanity with room for two, and a floor that is easy to clean are worth something every morning. Decide what matters most to you, then spend there first.
Floor Plan Updates and Demolitions
If your bathroom is too small, you may be able to enlarge it, depending on the rooms around it. Taking out or moving a wall costs more than remodeling within the existing footprint, and structural changes usually need permits. We handle the whole permit process: the building permit, the trade permits, the scope, the county fees and every inspection. You never deal with the county. See our remodeling permits guide for the rules in Virginia, Maryland and DC.
Electrical and Plumbing Repairs and Updates
Moving the sink, adding a toilet or a tub where there wasn't one, or adding outlets and lighting costs more than keeping things in place. Whether plumbing moves is one of the biggest differences between a bathroom at the low end of the range and one at the high end.
Installing New Fixtures
Fixtures and finishing include the faucets, shower valve and head, toilet, vanity light, mirror, paint and accessories. We install Kohler, TOTO, Moen, Delta and more. Fixtures range from simple to designer, so this is an easy place to adjust the budget.
Eco-Friendly Bathroom?
There are different ways to make your bathroom eco-friendly and lower your monthly bills and your carbon footprint.
Start with the lighting: Energy Star fixtures and LED bulbs use less energy than conventional bulbs, and layered vanity lighting with a good mirror improves visibility when you're getting ready.
Water-saving faucets and showerheads use less water for your shower, tub and sinks, and low-flow toilets use less water with every flush. You'll see the effect on your water bill.
How To Save on Your Bathroom Remodeling Budget
Here are our top tips for keeping a bathroom remodel within budget while still getting the bathroom you want:
Keep the existing layout. If you can, keep the tub, toilet and vanity where they are. Less plumbing and demolition means less material and labor.
Spend where it shows. Put the money into the pieces you see and touch every day, and choose simpler options elsewhere.
Choose your selections before you sign. Picking tile, fixtures and the vanity in the showroom before the contract keeps allowances accurate and change orders few.
Consider flooring options. Porcelain tile comes in many looks, including wood and stone, at different prices.
Plan for permits. Knowing how permits work avoids costly mistakes and delays. We take care of every permit.
How Long Does a Bathroom Remodel Take?
A standard bathroom in the same layout takes 3 to 4 weeks of construction: a new tub or shower, vanity, toilet, floor, tile and fixtures. A primary bathroom with an expanded shower, a freestanding tub, a custom vanity, specialty tile or moved plumbing takes 4 to 8 weeks. Every material is in our own warehouse before demolition, so there is no waiting with a torn-out bathroom.
A standard bathroom usually goes like this:
- Week 1: demolition and rough-ins: old fixtures and tile out, minor framing and repairs, rough plumbing and electrical, rough-in inspections where needed.
- Week 2: waterproofing and tile: backer board and waterproofing for the tub or shower, wall and floor tile, grout.
- Week 3: fixtures and finishing: drywall repairs and paint, vanity and top, toilet, faucets, shower fixtures, lighting, mirrors and accessories.
- Week 4: final details: shower glass if your design has it, final plumbing and electrical connections, caulking, touch-ups, final inspections and walkthrough.
Paying for Your Bathroom Remodel
Financing is available through independent lenders: Acorn Finance and HFS Home Improvement Loans. Fairfax Kitchen and Bath is not a lender; your loan is between you and the lender you choose. Checking your options does not affect your credit score, according to both lenders. See financing options.
How To Hire a Pro for Your Bathroom Remodel
When you look for a contractor for your bathroom remodel, a few steps help ensure the best results:
Know what you need and want from the remodel before you call, so you can compare proposals on the same scope.
Check the contractor's license and insurance. We are licensed in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC, and fully insured, including workers' compensation; verify our licenses.
Read reviews from past clients and look at real photos of finished bathrooms.
Get a written proposal that lists what is included and the allowances for anything not yet picked.
Ask about the warranty. Every project of ours includes a two-year labor warranty; most remodelers offer one year.
Start Remodeling Your Bathroom Today!
At Fairfax Kitchen and Bath, we plan, permit and build bathrooms from a hall bath refresh to a full primary suite. Your designer builds your bathroom in 3D on our showroom screen, you pick every material in person, and your proposal is calculated line by line for your home.
Request a free in-home consultation below, or visit our showrooms in Fairfax, Sterling or Bethesda. See more bathroom remodeling in Northern Virginia or our kitchen remodeling cost guide.
