Bathrooms are small rooms with expensive problems. Per square foot, they're among the most expensive rooms in the house to remodel: nearly every surface is tile, nearly every wall has plumbing or wiring in it, and most of the labor is skilled trade work.
Below are the most credible published benchmarks for our region, what each one actually includes, and the choices that move a bathroom from one price tier to the next. Published data only — no made-up averages.
The short answer: 2025 benchmarks for the Mountain region
The Cost vs. Value Report (Zonda / JLC) is the remodeling industry's longest-running cost study. Its 2025 figures for the Mountain region, which includes Colorado:
| Project type | Typical job cost | What that includes |
|---|---|---|
| Bath remodel (midrange) | $24,920 | Existing 5×7 ft bath, same layout. New tub with ceramic tile surround, pressure-balanced shower valve, standard toilet, solid-surface vanity top with integral sink, recessed medicine cabinet, ceramic tile floor |
| Accessible bath (universal design) | $40,482 | Same 5×7 ft bath made wheelchair-accessible: curbless tiled walk-in shower with fold-out seat, comfort-height toilet, wider door, heated floor, accessible vanity and storage, grab-rated towel bars |
| Bath remodel (upscale) | $79,492 | Expand a 35 sq ft bath to 100 sq ft inside the existing footprint and relocate all fixtures. Frameless glass tile shower, freestanding soaker tub, stone double vanity, custom cabinetry, private toilet area, in-floor heat |
Source: 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, Mountain region, jlconline.com/cost-vs-value.
Read these carefully. The midrange benchmark is a small hall bath with no layout change and a tub, not a walk-in shower. Converting a tub to a tiled walk-in shower, moving the toilet, or enlarging the room all move you up the table. The upscale benchmark is a primary-suite-scale project — relocating every fixture is a big part of why it costs three times as much.
For a wider view: HomeAdvisor reports a national typical range of $6,651–$17,657, with full baths at $3,500–$20,000 and primary baths at $7,000–$30,000. Those ranges lean toward partial updates, like replacing fixtures without new tile and plumbing. (HomeAdvisor, updated June 2026.)
Where the money goes
- Labor is the biggest share — roughly 40–65% of a bathroom budget (HomeAdvisor). Plumbing, tile, electrical, and waterproofing are skilled trades, and a small room doesn't shrink the number of trades involved.
- Tile — how much surface you cover and the tile you choose. Large-format and intricate patterns take more labor than the tile itself costs.
- Shower or tub — from a standard tub with a tile surround to a custom tiled shower with frameless glass.
- Vanity and countertop — stock vs. custom, single vs. double sink.
- Plumbing and electrical — valves, drains, ventilation, lighting, outlets. Small line items that grow fast when anything moves.
What pushes your bathroom up (or down) the range
Moving fixtures. Keeping the toilet, shower, and sink where they are is the biggest single cost control. Moving a toilet or shower drain means opening the floor and rerouting drain and vent lines.
Tub-to-shower conversions. One of the most requested bath upgrades. A tiled walk-in shower needs a new drain, a properly sloped and waterproofed pan, and more tile than a tub surround. Curbless (zero-threshold) showers add more floor work on top of that.
Waterproofing you'll never see. What's behind the tile — the backer board and waterproofing membrane — decides whether a shower lasts. It's worth asking every bidder exactly what system they use.
Ventilation. A properly sized exhaust fan, vented outside, protects everything you just paid for from moisture. Upgrading or rerouting one is a common line item.
The age of your house. Older bathrooms can hide galvanized or cast-iron plumbing, outdated wiring, or water damage under the floor. Homes built before 1978 may also have lead paint that requires lead-safe work practices. None of it shows until demolition, which is why a contingency matters.
Accessibility. Planning to stay in the home long-term? Curbless showers, blocking in the walls for future grab bars, comfort-height toilets, and wider doorways are much cheaper to build in now than to retrofit later.
Permits. In Colorado Springs and most of El Paso County, permits run through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. Plumbing, electrical, and structural work typically require one. Cosmetic-only work may not — PPRBD's permit counter (719-327-2883) confirms for your specific scope.
How to budget before you call anyone
- Pick your tier honestly. Refresh (same layout, keep the tub), full remodel (new tile and fixtures, same layout), or reconfigure (tub-to-shower, move fixtures, enlarge the room).
- Start from the matching benchmark above, then adjust for what you know you want — a walk-in shower instead of a tub, a double vanity, heated floors.
- Hold a contingency. We recommend setting aside 10–15% on top of the contract for what's found behind the walls — more in pre-1978 homes.
- Decide what you'd cut first if bids come in high. Tile selection and vanity level are usually the easiest places to adjust without changing the layout.
- Compare bids by scope, not by bottom line. Line items, allowances, and exclusions — especially for tile and waterproofing — tell you whether two numbers describe the same bathroom. Our vetting kit walks through what to ask.
Does a bathroom remodel pay you back when you sell?
Partially. In the same 2025 Mountain region data:
| Project | Cost | Added resale value | Cost recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath remodel (midrange) | $24,920 | $17,300 | 69.4% |
| Accessible bath (universal design) | $40,482 | $24,833 | 61.3% |
| Bath remodel (upscale) | $79,492 | $28,969 | 36.4% |
The takeaway: a well-done midrange bath recovers the largest share of its cost. An upscale primary suite is mostly for the years you live with it.
Adding a bathroom instead of remodeling one
Sometimes the problem isn't an outdated bathroom — it's not enough of them. The same 2025 Mountain region data for adding a new bathroom:
| Project | Typical job cost | What that includes | Cost recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom addition (midrange) | $59,162 | New 6×8 ft bath added over a crawlspace: fiberglass tub/shower with tile surround, cultured-stone vanity top, standard fixtures, tile floor, lighting and wiring | 47.4% |
| Bathroom addition (upscale) | $109,606 | New 100 sq ft primary bath added to an existing primary bedroom over a crawlspace: tiled shower, freestanding soaker tub, stone double vanity, custom cabinetry, in-floor heat | 37.5% |
An addition means new foundation, framing, roofing, and tying into existing plumbing — which is why it costs more than remodeling an existing bath. Converting unused space inside the house (a large closet, part of a basement) can sometimes get you the extra bathroom for less; it depends on where the drain lines can reach.