Here in L.A. bathroom remodeling costs can range from $15,000 to beyond $100,000, making it tough to answer the question ‘how much will a bathroom remodel cost Los Angeles homeowners’? As you can imagine, every homeowner wants their own style, they’ll use a variety of materials and colors, in bathrooms of all different sizes.
These factors and more, make it challenging to talk about average bathroom remodel costs in Los Angeles. With this said, we can look at median costs and give you a better understanding of what you’ll need to factor into the cost of a bathroom remodel.
Average Bathroom Remodel Cost In Los Angeles
For the sake of this piece, we are going to class average bathroom remodels as those are a little bit over the budget range, yet quite far below high class. The price range of a budget bathroom remodels is $15,000 to $22,000. At the other end of the scale, you have bathrooms with high-end materials, starting at $60,000, and going skyward.
With these prices in mind, we can safely say that an average bathroom remodeling project should sit between the $25,000 to $32,000 range. This is the cost of the labor and the materials needed for a Los Angeles bathroom remodel.
We should point out that this is the cost of a bathroom renovation here in Los Angeles. You will likely find great fluctuations in price depending on where you live in the US.
Average Bathroom Remodel Cost – Nationwide
According to Bankrate, the national average for a complete bathroom remodel is $10,788. As you can see, this is quite a lot less compared with a bathroom remodel cost here in Los Angeles.
The reality, however, is that labor costs change from state to state, and so too does the cost of materials. As you can see, bathroom remodel estimates can range wildly in overall cost.
What Is An Average Bathroom?
We talk about an ‘average bathroom remodel’ because it covers all bases. Once you have understood what we mean by average, you can then increase or decrease estimated costs based on what kind of bathroom you are looking for.
The typical average full-size bathroom is around 40 to 50 square feet and contains a shower, sink, and toilet area. Let’s take a look at exactly what factors will impact the price of your bathroom remodel.
Cost Factors
As we have laid out, the overriding factors that impact costs in Los Angeles or beyond are the average labor and material costs in that area. No matter where you happen to live, the following components must be factored in when you are working out bathroom remodel costs.
Size
A large bathroom doesn’t always mean a more expensive project, nor does a small bathroom indicate a budget remodel. The size will, however, be a factor that cannot be ignored when we look at raw materials.
It stands to reason that the drywalling or the flooring in a small bathroom will come in at a lower cost than using the same materials in a large bathroom. Additionally, it is far more likely that homeowners will seek to fill up a large space with more items.
The investment in more products and larger items could certainly drive costs up. Remodeling costs could be higher in a small bathroom, but through the purchase of more expensive items and not because of the impact of the size.
Scope Of Project
It is not just the size of the room that you are remodeling, but also the scope of the remodel. Understanding the project scope is essential as it will help you to map out each step of the bathroom renovation.
For example, are you simply looking to install new sinks and shower fixtures, or do you plan to rip it all out and start again? Try to think about every detail in the bathroom and consider what will be kept, and what will go.
A bathroom renovation can be as grand as starting from zero, and as small as replacing lighting fixtures and taps. The decision is going to have a major impact on cost, one way or another.
Service Provided
Here in Los Angeles bathroom remodel services can charge a variety of prices. A contractor’s estimate will be based on multiple factors. This will include the experience and reputation of a contractor, the size of the job, the cost of materials, labor costs, as well as any safety concerns.
One of the biggest factors in bathroom remodeling costs is labor, which can swing from business-to-business pricing.
Budget or High-End Finish
For the sake of ease, we have focused on the average costs in Los Angeles for bathroom remodels. We cannot ignore, however, the fact that if you are looking for a budget finish or a high-end bathroom remodeling project, it will cost you extra.
All costs regarding materials and labor will change depending on what kind of finish you are looking for with your bathroom renovation.
Bathroom Layout
Bathroom renovations are those that include a restructuring of the bathroom’s layout. The issue here in Los Angeles is that with so many custom-built homes, new owners tend to like to remodel the primary bathroom at least once to fit their own unique style.
It is much more cost-effective to leave new shower fittings or toilets in the same existing space. This is because the pipes and plumbing can all be left in place and the bathroom fixtures can simply be replaced.
Changing the layout or removing bathroom walls entirely will cost you an average of $846 per square foot. It will be difficult to stay under the average costs if you plan a full layout change.
Floor & Wall Tile
Once you are happy with the layout, it is time to look at what floor and wall tiles you are going to settle on and see how much it’ll cost on average.
Again we have taken the average from prices here in Los Angeles, rather than across the nation. Let’s start by looking at flooring costs for a budget, average, and high-end bathroom.
- Budget: $800 – $2000
- Average: $2500 – $3600
- High-End: $5000 – $7000
These are prices based on an average primary bathroom here in Los Angeles, which is between 40 and 95 square feet. Using similar square footage parameters here will be the average cost if you add wall tiles.
- Budget: $5.04
- Average: $7.64
- High End: $10.24
This is the price per square foot, and it includes material and labor costs.
Shower Installation
There are multiple options to consider when looking to install a new shower area. Some opt for a walk-in shower, others like the idea of a wet room, and some prefer to keep it simple with a shower enclosure. The decision a homeowner makes for their shower type will have a large impact on the price.
Once we add labor costs, a shower installation begins to rise in costs, and here is the average that you can expect to pay here in Los Angeles.
- Budget: $450 – $2000
- Average: $3000 – $4800
- High-End: $6000 – $10,000
Bathtub Installation
Bathtubs are a big cost factor when it comes to a remodel and there are many options to choose from. From freestanding tubs to a half bath and everything in between. Homeowners will generally aim to install the biggest bathtub possible depending on the space of the room.
Here we take a look at the range of costs that are included in the installation of a new bathtub.
- Budget: $400 – $1900
- Average: $2400 – $4300
- High-End: $5000 – $8200
Vanity
Most bathroom remodeling projects feature a vanity, featuring storage space, a sink, taps, a mirror, and often some light fittings too. There are multiple costs we have to factor in here, but generally speaking, these are the costs you can expect to pay for the installation of a vanity.
- Budget: $2400 – $6500
- Average: $9100 – $13200
- High-End $16500 – $26000
As you can see here, this is one of the most expensive aspects of a bathroom remodeling project.
Lighting/Electrical
Much like changing the plumbing fixtures, switching the lighting fixtures around will cost homeowners more money. Additional costs here include the number of lighting fixtures and the quality of each product.
Here are some lighting costs to consider, depending on what finish it is that you are going for.
- Budget: $165 – $1100
- Average: $1250 – $2100
- High-End: $2500 – $5000
With some creativity and the right vision, you won’t have to spend an enormous sum to buy great-looking new lighting.
Plumbing Fixtures
The number of additional plumbing fixtures that you are going to need will depend on a couple of factors. Firstly it’ll depend on how much you’ve changed the layout, and secondly, how different is the new bathroom from the old one?
If you have ripped out a shower door to create a wet room, for example, you can rely on the same valves and shower outlets as before. If you have decided on a rainfall shower with newly installed jets, however, you’ll need to invest in extra fittings for the pipework.
Los Angeles may judge a book by its cover, but your bathroom will need great plumbing work, or else looking good will be its only function.
What to Look For in a Bathroom Remodeling Contractor?
Here in Los Angeles, there are some fantastic remodeling contractors, but you may have to put a bit of work into finding them. Recommendations from family and friends are the best way to find some options, but researching reviews from Yelp and Google will help you narrow down your choices.
Once you have found a couple of contractors, you will need to schedule a free consultation so they can visit your home and scope out the project details. In doing this you will be able to vet the contractor and see how comfortable you feel with them.
They should give you an estimate based on what you are having installed, man hours, and any other services you require. Weigh up the estimates you are given with how you feel about the teams’ reputation, communication, and experience.
FAQ
What is The Average Cost of a Bathroom Remodel in California?
If we zoom out a little and take a look at California on the whole, the average cost of a bathroom doesn’t change a great deal when compared to L.A. The average cost here in California is $23,500, much the same as an average bathroom in Los Angeles.
Will I Need Permits to Remodel my Bathroom?
Many think that permits aren’t required for bathroom remodel projects, but this isn’t always the case. As a general rule, you’ll need a permit for structural or layout alterations on your home, including the bathroom. This requirement can be different from state to state, so ensure you check before you get started.