A small bathroom remodel usually costs about $8,000 to $16,000 heading into 2027. A full midrange remodel of a typical 5 × 7 bathroom runs about $11,600 to $15,700, a cosmetic refresh can come in under $11,000, and a half bath can be updated for about $4,300 to $5,900.
Small doesn’t always mean cheap. A small bathroom still needs the same toilet, sink, shower or tub, plumbing, and electrical work as a bigger one. Use the calculator below to estimate your project, then read on for costs by bathroom type and ideas that make a small room work harder.
Small bathroom remodel cost calculator
Small bathroom remodel cost at a glance
These ranges use national average prices and midrange finishes, and include demolition, plumbing and electrical rough-in, drywall and paint, fixtures, and permits for full remodels.
| Small bathroom | Refresh | Full remodel | Gut and redesign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half bath or powder room (about 20 sq ft) | $4,300 – $5,900 | $7,100 – $9,700 | $10,000 – $13,500 |
| Three-quarter bath with prefab shower (about 30 sq ft) | $8,800 – $11,900 | $12,000 – $16,200 | $17,300 – $23,400 |
| 5 × 7 full bath with tub (35 sq ft) | $8,300 – $11,300 | $11,600 – $15,700 | $17,100 – $23,200 |
| 5 × 8 full bath with tub (40 sq ft) | $8,400 – $11,400 | $11,900 – $16,100 | $17,500 – $23,700 |
Notice how little the price changes between 30 and 40 square feet. That’s because the fixtures and trades, not the floor area, drive most of the cost. For more detail on a specific size, see our guides to 5 × 7, 5 × 8, 5 × 9, and 5 × 10 bathrooms.
5 × 7 bathroom remodel cost by finish level
| Project | Typical cost | Per square foot |
|---|---|---|
| Budget full remodel (vinyl plank floor, laminate top) | $10,000 – $13,500 | $285 – $385 |
| Midrange full remodel (tub/shower combo) | $11,600 – $15,700 | $330 – $450 |
| Midrange with prefab walk-in shower | $12,200 – $16,600 | $350 – $475 |
| Midrange with tiled walk-in shower | $15,700 – $21,300 | $450 – $610 |
| High-end (tiled shower, porcelain, quartz, new lighting) | $25,300 – $34,300 | $725 – $980 |
Where you live matters, too. The same midrange 5 × 7 remodel runs about $14,500 to $19,700 in California and about $10,200 to $13,900 in Alabama. The calculator adjusts for your state. For a full labor breakdown and layout tips, see our 5 × 7 bathroom remodel cost guide.
Where the money goes
Here’s how a typical midrange full remodel of a 5 × 7 bathroom breaks down:
| Cost category | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Labor, prep, demolition, and permits | $5,400 – $7,300 |
| Tub and shower | $2,400 – $3,200 |
| Toilet, faucets, mirror, and lighting | $1,700 – $2,400 |
| Vanity and countertop | $1,300 – $1,700 |
| Exhaust fan | $500 – $700 |
| Flooring | $400 – $500 |
Flooring is one of the smallest line items in a small bathroom, so it’s often worth upgrading. Going from ceramic to porcelain or natural stone in 35 square feet adds only a few hundred dollars. Our tile calculator can price it for you.
Small bathroom remodel ideas that make the most of the space
- Wall-mounted or narrow vanity: A floating vanity shows more floor and makes the room feel bigger. A 24- to 30-inch vanity or a corner sink frees up clearance in tight rooms.
- Pocket or outswing door: If the door bumps the toilet or vanity, a pocket door or a door that swings out reclaims usable space.
- Glass instead of a curtain: A clear glass panel or door lets light reach the back wall. See our shower door cost calculator for prices.
- Recessed storage: Shower niches and a recessed medicine cabinet add storage without taking up floor space.
- Larger tiles and fewer grout lines: 12 × 24-inch tile on the floor makes a small room feel calmer and more open.
- Light colors, a big mirror, and good lighting: Layered lighting and a large mirror do more to open up a small bathroom than almost any other upgrade.
Tub or shower in a small bathroom?
A tub/shower combo is the cheapest option and keeps a bathtub in the home, which many buyers with young children want. A prefab walk-in shower adds only a few hundred dollars over a combo. A tiled walk-in shower with glass looks more open but adds about $4,000 to $5,000 to a small bathroom remodel.
If you’re weighing the options, see our walk-in shower cost calculator and bathtub replacement cost calculator.
Ways to save on a small bathroom remodel
- Keep the toilet, sink, and tub or shower where they are. Moving a fixture adds about $2,500.
- Choose a tub/shower combo or prefab shower instead of a custom tiled shower.
- Tile the floor and shower, and paint the other walls with moisture-resistant paint.
- Use a stock vanity, or refinish your existing one. See what a new one costs with our vanity installation cost calculator.
- Reglaze a sound tub instead of replacing it. See our bathtub refinishing cost calculator.
- Handle demolition and painting yourself. That can cut a 5 × 7 full remodel to about $9,800 to $13,200.
- Get three written quotes that list materials, labor, permits, and cleanup.
For more ideas, see our guides to budget small bathroom ideas and bathroom remodel cost per square foot, or browse all our cost calculators.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a small bathroom remodel cost?
Most small bathroom remodels cost about $8,000 to $16,000 heading into 2027. A full midrange remodel of a 5 × 7 bathroom typically runs $11,600 to $15,700, a cosmetic refresh about $8,300 to $11,300, and a half-bath refresh as little as $4,300 to $5,900.
How much does labor cost to remodel a 5 × 7 bathroom?
Labor usually makes up 40% to 65% of a small bathroom remodel. On a typical $11,600 to $15,700 full remodel of a 5 × 7 bathroom, that’s roughly $5,000 to $10,000 for demolition, plumbing, electrical, tile, and installation, depending on your location and how much tile work is involved.
Can I remodel a small bathroom for $5,000?
Usually only a half bath, or a cosmetic update of a full bath where you keep the tub and do some of the work yourself, such as painting, a new vanity and toilet, and vinyl plank flooring. A full remodel of a small full bathroom with a contractor typically starts around $10,000.
Why does a small bathroom cost so much per square foot?
Most of the cost comes from fixtures and trades, which cost about the same in a 35-square-foot room as in a 60-square-foot one. A small bathroom spreads those costs over less floor, so it often runs $300 to $500 or more per square foot.
How long does a small bathroom remodel take?
A refresh takes about one to two weeks. A full remodel of a small bathroom usually takes three to five weeks, including tile work, inspections, and waiting on special-order items like glass doors.
Estimates are national average installed costs for 2027 planning and are not quotes. See our disclaimer and affiliate disclosure.
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