Bathroom remodels have one of the widest price ranges of any renovation, because a vanity refresh and a full gut with custom tile are both technically called a bathroom remodel. Here is what real projects cost across Metro Detroit in 2026, pulled from work we have actually priced and built, not a national average pulled off the internet.
The three tiers
Cosmetic refresh: $8,000 to $18,000
A new vanity, mirror, light fixture, toilet, and paint, with the plumbing and layout left alone. This is the most common job we do for older Detroit-area ranches and colonials. As a hall bath refresh with a new tub surround and exhaust fan added in, it typically runs $12,000 to $18,000.
Full remodel: $20,000 to $40,000
Full demo, a custom tiled shower with a glass door, a freestanding or soaking tub, double vanity, recessed lighting, heated floor, and new exhaust, with plumbing kept in its existing locations. This is the project that turns a dated 1970s master bath into one you show off to guests, typically landing between $20,000 and $40,000.
Luxury master bath: $55,000 to $100,000+
Custom or natural stone tile, a frameless glass enclosure, premium fixtures, and finish-level detail throughout. Natural stone alone can run $20 or more per square foot, and tile is usually 20 to 30 percent of the total budget on a project this size.
What drives the price
Tile
Tile is one of the biggest swing factors in any bathroom budget. Builder-grade tile runs $2 to $4 per square foot, porcelain with a large-format look runs $6 to $12, and custom or natural stone can reach $20 or more. Choose it deliberately: it moves the number more than almost anything else in the project.
Shower vs. tub
A prefab fiberglass surround starts around $1,500 installed. A custom tiled shower with a niche, frameless glass door, and rainfall head runs $6,000 to $12,000 or more. If you have young children or plan to stay in the home long-term, keeping a tub helps resale value. For a second or master bath, a walk-in shower usually adds more day-to-day value.
Plumbing moves
Moving a toilet, sink, or shower drain means opening the floor: rough-in, concrete cutting if you are on a slab, patching, and a permit. That adds $2,000 to $5,000 to most projects. Keep the drain locations where they are and you save significantly.
Timeline and permits
Most full bathroom projects run three to four weeks from demo to punch list. Custom tile, a steam shower, or structural work can push that to four to five weeks. If plumbing or electrical work is involved, and it usually is, Detroit requires a permit, and we pull and manage that as part of the project.
What's included, and how to budget
Every Arise Above Construction bathroom estimate is line-item pricing, not a verbal number: labor by trade, material allowances, permit fees, and a project timeline, all in writing within three business days of the walk-through. If you are financing through an FHA 203K loan, bathroom work is one of the most common scopes in a 203K rehab, typically $10,000 to $20,000 built into the overall draw schedule, and we handle those draws and HUD compliance daily. Set your budget before you start picking tile: the decisions that make sense at $12,000 look very different at $25,000.