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AfterHow Much Does Bathroom Remodel Cost in Austin?
A full bathroom remodel in Austin, TX typically costs $9,000 to $28,000 in 2026. Most mid-range projects land between $14,000 and $20,000, covering a new tub or shower, vanity, flooring, fixtures, and lighting. Small bathrooms or cosmetic refreshes start around $5,000 to $12,000, while high-end master baths with custom tile and premium fixtures can push past $28,000.
What you’ll actually pay depends on bathroom size, finish level, whether you’re moving plumbing, and how much of Austin’s older housing stock needs to be brought up to current code before the new tile goes in. We’ll break every line item down below so you can price your project without guesswork.
If you want a written price for your specific bathroom, call (325) 225-5429. We give you a number before any work starts, and that number holds.
Key Takeaways
- Typical Austin bathroom remodel: $9,000 – $28,000 for a full gut-and-replace project.
- Small bathroom (40 – 60 sq ft): $5,000 – $12,000 when you keep the existing layout.
- Walk-in shower installation: $4,500 – $12,000 depending on tile and glass.
- Tub-to-shower conversion: $3,500 – $10,000, one of the most popular mid-range upgrades in Austin.
- Biggest cost drivers: moving plumbing, waterproofing behind tile, custom glass, and failure to plan for what’s hiding behind the walls.
- Every Penhallow quote is written, not verbal. The price you approve before demo day is the price you pay when the job’s done.
Bathroom Remodel Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s how a full bathroom remodel in Austin splits out by line item. These are real market ranges we use when we price projects in neighborhoods from Circle C to Mueller to Allandale.
| Line Item | Typical Austin Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Demo and haul-off | $800 – $2,200 | Removing old tile, vanity, tub or shower, and flooring. Austin’s landfill fees add up faster than most folks expect. |
| Plumbing rough-in and fixture installation | $1,500 – $4,500 | Replacing supply lines, drain, and shower valve. Goes up if you’re moving the toilet, tub, or vanity to a new wall. |
| Shower or tub | $1,800 – $5,500 | Acrylic shower pans run lower; cast iron tubs and custom tile pans run higher. |
| Tile work (walls and floor) | $2,500 – $7,000 | Material is $3 – $15 per sq ft, but labor and substrate prep drive the real cost. Mosaic and large-format tile cost more to set. |
| Vanity and countertop | $800 – $3,000 | Stock vanities from big-box stores start low; custom or semi-custom cabs with Cambria or Silestone tops run higher. |
| Fixtures (faucet, showerhead, tub filler) | $500 – $2,000 | Kohler, Moen, Delta, and Toto are what we install most. You can spend more, but these brands hold up. |
| Flooring | $800 – $2,800 | Porcelain tile and luxury vinyl plank dominate Austin bathrooms. Heated floors add $1,500 – $3,000 if you want them. |
| Lighting and electrical | $600 – $2,200 | Adding a dedicated circuit, moving a light, or installing a vent fan that actually vents outside (many older Austin homes vent into the attic, and that’s a mold problem). |
| Ventilation fan | $350 – $900 | Required by code for any bathroom with a shower. If your 1970s tract home in Brentwood never had one, this gets added to the price. |
| Painting and trim | $500 – $1,800 | Bathroom-grade paint with mold inhibitors. You’d be surprised how many “remodel” bids skip paint, and then you’re left with drywall patches showing. |
| Waterproofing and substrate | $1,000 – $3,200 | Cement board substrate and a waterproof membrane (Schluter, RedGard, or similar) behind every tile surface. This is the layer nobody sees and the layer that decides whether your shower leaks in three years. |
| Glass shower enclosure | $1,200 – $3,500 | Frameless glass costs more than framed, but it’s standard on higher-end Austin remodels. |
| Permits and inspections | $400 – $1,200 | City of Austin requires permits for plumbing, electrical, and structural changes. We handle these on every permitted job. |
That’s a full-scope budget. If your project is closer to a Bathroom Remodel in Austin with cosmetic updates only, you can hold the line at the lower end. Once you start moving walls or relocating the toilet, expect the upper end.
What drives the price up
- Moving plumbing. Relocating a toilet, shower drain, or vanity supply line across a slab foundation means cutting concrete. In Austin, a large share of homes are built on slabs, not crawl spaces, and that concrete work adds $2,000 – $6,000 fast.
- Tile, tile, and more tile. Floor-to-ceiling tile with a custom niche, bench, and mosaic accent strip is beautiful and labor-intensive. Tile setters in Austin charge $8 – $20 per sq ft for labor alone, more for intricate patterns.
- Old-house surprises. Austin homes built before 1980 frequently hide cast iron drain lines, galvanized supply pipes, or water-damaged studs behind the shower. We plan for contingencies on every quote, but the final number moves if we find something structural.
- Premium finishes. Cambria or Caesarstone countertops, Toto toilets, Kohler fixtures, and frameless glass all push the budget upward. You can do a nice remodel at the low end and a spectacular one at the high end.
- Permits and code compliance. Austin is stricter than many Texas cities on ventilation, GFCI protection, and waterproofing. Skipping permits saves money now and costs more when you sell or make a claim later.
What keeps the price lower
- Keeping the existing layout. Once the toilet, tub, and vanity stay put, the plumbing bill drops dramatically and demo stays simple.
- Choosing a tub-to-shower conversion over a full gut. It’s the most cost-effective way to update a dated bathroom while keeping the original footprint.
- Stock cabinets and standard tile instead of custom or designer lines. You’ll still have a solid, well-built bathroom, just with fewer custom touches.
- Doing a partial refresh. New vanity, new toilet, new lighting, new paint, and maybe new flooring. You save thousands by leaving the tub and tile alone.
What Affects Bathroom Remodel Pricing in Austin
- Bathroom size. A 40 sq ft hall bath in Crestview costs far less than a 150 sq ft primary bath in Westlake. Square footage drives tile, paint, flooring, and even drywall.
- Age of the home. Austin’s housing stock ranges from 1930s bungalows in Hyde Park to new construction in Leander. The older the house, the more chance of cast iron pipes, insufficient framing, or water intrusion that adds cost.
- Slab vs. pier-and-beam foundation. Moving plumbing on a slab requires concrete cutting. Homes on pier-and-beam (more common in East Austin and older central neighborhoods) are cheaper to re-plumb.
- Finish level. You can buy a big-box vanity for $400 or a custom Wellborn cabinet for $2,500. Both hold a sink. The difference shows in five years.
- Tile and waterproofing method. A fiberglass shower pan and acrylic surround cost a fraction of a fully tiled, waterproofed, custom shower. Both work. One lasts longer and looks better.
- Access and site conditions. A second-story bathroom in a northwest Austin hillside home means carrying tile, mortar, and a cast iron tub up stairs. That labor lands on the invoice.
What a Bathroom Remodel Includes (So You’re Comparing Apples to Apples)
One of the biggest pricing traps in Austin is the “cheap” quote that doesn’t include what the expensive quote does. Here’s what a proper bathroom remodel should include, and what we include on every project:
- Demo and haul-off of the old tub, tile, vanity, toilet, and flooring, with debris hauled to an approved Austin facility.
- Plumbing changes required to bring the bathroom up to current code, including the shower valve, drain, and supply lines.
- Cement board substrate and a waterproofing membrane behind and under every tile surface. Not greenboard. Not just thinset over drywall. A rated waterproof system.
- Tile setting by a professional installer, not a handyman picking up side work.
- Fixture installation with brands we’re willing to guarantee: Kohler, Moen, Delta, Toto, Grohe.
- Electrical including GFCI protection and a properly vented exhaust fan that exits through the roof or exterior wall.
- Permits and inspections through the City of Austin. We don’t skip this step and we don’t ask you to pull permits yourself.
- Final clean-up. The bathroom is left clean, swept, and ready to use. This is part of The Kingswell Way: leave the place cleaner than we found it.
Every Penhallow quote is line-itemed so you know exactly what you’re paying for. If a contractor hands you a single number with no breakdown, ask what’s missing. Usually it’s the waterproofing, the permits, or the ventilation.
How to Save on Bathroom Remodel
There are good ways and bad ways to cut costs on an Austin bathroom project. The bad ways involve skipping waterproofing, hiring unlicensed labor, or skipping permits and hoping the City of Austin doesn’t notice at resale. The good ways look like this:
- Keep the layout. The single biggest cost lever is whether you move plumbing. If the toilet stays, the shower stays, and the vanity stays on the same wall, you save thousands without giving up anything cosmetic.
- Refinish instead of replace. A cast iron tub in decent shape can be reglazed for $400 – $800 instead of replaced for $1,500 – $3,500. The old tubs are often better built than what’s on the shelf today.
- Choose a tub-to-shower conversion if your family never uses the tub. Most Austin homeowners are converting tubs to walk-in showers anyway, and it’s cheaper than a full remodel.
- Pick standard tile sizes. 12×24 porcelain tile is the budget-friendly workhorse of Austin bathrooms. Large-format slabs and tiny mosaics both cost more to set, even if the material is priced the same.
- Do the rip-out yourself? Rarely worth it. Demo looks easy and surprises you fast. If you hit a cast iron pipe or a load-bearing wall, the savings disappear and the timeline doubles. We’d rather you skip the risk and let our crew handle it.
- Get a written quote from us before you commit. Knowing your exact number helps you make better decisions than guessing off a ballpark. Estimates are free. Call (325) 225-5429 and we’ll walk your bathroom, answer questions, and hand you a written number.
Why Austin Bathroom Remodel Costs Differ from Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio
If you look at national averages, you’ll see numbers anywhere from $6,000 to $40,000. Austin sits higher than the state average for three reasons. First, construction labor is in high demand here because the city keeps growing, and skilled tile setters and plumbers don’t work cheap. Second, Austin’s older housing stock, particularly in central neighborhoods like Travis Heights, Rosedale, and Hyde Park, hides surprises that new suburban construction doesn’t. Third, the city’s code enforcement on waterproofing and ventilation is more rigorous than what you’ll find in surrounding counties, which is good for homeowners and adds cost to the job.
We see the same patterns in every neighborhood: a 1960s ranch in Allandale with original cast iron plumbing will run higher than a 2010s build in Cedar Park with PEX and good framing. The square footage might be identical. The condition underneath is not.
For a detailed look at what goes into a full project, see our guide to Bathroom Remodel in Austin, or start at the home page to explore all our services.
Bathroom Remodel Timeline in Austin
Most full bathroom remodels in Austin take 2 to 4 weeks from demo day to final walkthrough. A tub-to-shower conversion typically runs 5 to 10 days. A small powder room refresh can finish in a week.
Here’s what a typical 3-week primary bath remodel looks like:
- Week 1: Demo, plumbing rough-in, electrical rough-in, first city inspection.
- Week 2: Cement board install, waterproof membrane, tile setting. This is the slow, exacting part. Rushing it ruins the job.
- Week 3: Vanity and countertop install, fixtures, glass enclosure, final electrical, paint, final inspection, deep clean.
Permit scheduling with the City of Austin can add a few days. We pull permits before demo starts so the inspector is scheduled in parallel with the work, not after it.
Delays you should plan for: tile material arriving late, a cracked drain line discovered during demo, or a custom glass panel taking 10 business days from the fabricator. These are normal. A contractor who promises a full custom remodel in seven days is selling something we wouldn’t stand behind.
The 365-Day Done Right Promise
Every Penhallow bathroom remodel comes with our 365-Day Done Right Promise, in writing. Here’s what that means in plain terms:
- If the work fails inside the guarantee period, we come back and fix it at no charge.
- If a repair we did fails, the second visit is free. No service call fee, no re-inspection charge.
- You get a written guarantee on every project, not a verbal “don’t worry, we’ll take care of you.”
This promise is part of the Kingswell standard, the operating rules we’ve worked under since 2004. Every Penhallow location is independently owned and operated, but the standard is the same: say the price before the work, show up in the window we gave, leave the place cleaner than we found it, and stand behind what we built.
Trevor Nash leads our Austin team. When you call, you’ll eventually talk to Trevor or one of our project managers, not a call center. Every technician who walks into your home is background-checked and wears a Penhallow uniform. You know exactly who’s in your bathroom and why.
FAQs – Bathroom Remodel Cost in Austin
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Austin in 2026?
A bathroom remodel in Austin costs $9,000 to $28,000 for a full project, with most homeowners spending $14,000 to $20,000. Small bathrooms and cosmetic refreshes run $5,000 to $12,000. Call (325) 225-5429 for a written quote on your specific bathroom, estimates are free.
Is it cheaper to remodel a small bathroom or a master bathroom?
A small bathroom remodel runs $5,000 to $12,000, while a master bath typically lands between $14,000 and $28,000. The difference comes down to square footage, the number of fixtures, and whether you’re adding custom tile and glass. A compact hall bath with a standard tub, stock vanity, and simple tile will sit near the bottom of the range. Call us at (325) 225-5429 and we’ll walk you through the exact numbers.
How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost in Austin?
A tub-to-shower conversion in Austin runs $3,500 to $10,000, depending on whether you’re keeping the footprint, the tile you choose, and whether the existing drain needs relocation to accommodate a shower pan. It’s one of the most popular remodels we do in Austin neighborhoods with older homes.
Can you give me a quote before I commit?
Yes, and it’s not a “ballpark.” We hand you a written price before any work starts, itemized line by line, and that number holds. No verbal estimates that change when the crew shows up. Call (325) 225-5429 and we’ll schedule a walkthrough at a time that works for you.
Do I need a permit for a bathroom remodel in Austin?
Yes, if you’re changing plumbing, electrical, or structural elements. Most bathroom remodels in Austin require permits through the City of Austin Development Services Department. We pull all necessary permits and schedule inspections as part of the project. Any contractor who tells you to skip permits is putting your resale and your insurance at risk.
What if something breaks after the remodel is done?
If the work fails inside the 365-day window, we come back and fix it at no charge. That’s not a courtesy, it’s written into every contract. If a repair we did fails again, the second visit is free, including the service call. The Kingswell guarantee has worked this way since 2004.
Get a Written Price for Your Austin Bathroom Remodel
The fastest way to know what your bathroom will cost is to have us look at it. We’ll schedule a walkthrough, measure, answer questions, and hand you a written, line-itemed quote before any work starts. The number we quote is the number you pay. No surprises at the door, no ballooning after demo day.
Call (325) 225-5429 to schedule your free estimate. A live person answers, 24 hours a day, every day. Tell us about your bathroom and we’ll take it from there.
Pricing reflects the Austin market as of 2026. Penhallow Remodeling Austin offers free estimates, call (325) 225-5429.
Written by Trevor Nash, Owner at Penhallow Remodeling Austin, serving Austin since the Kingswell standard was established in 2004.
What Our Customers Say
"We'd been burned by a contractor before who disappeared halfway. Penhallow finished on time and stood behind everything. The written price gave me peace of mind the whole way."
- Simone Clarke"Full home refresh before we sold. They were straight about what was worth doing and what wasn't to get our money back. On time, on budget, and it sold in a week."
- Monica Vaughn"Gutted and redid the master bath. They gave me a schedule and actually stuck to it. Any time there was a choice to make they called me instead of guessing. Love the result."
- Kayla Benton
