Bathrooms are small rooms with a lot packed into them: waterproofing, plumbing, tile, glass, ventilation and lighting. That is why a compact bath can cost more per square foot than almost any other room in the house. Here is what a full bathroom remodel costs with us in 2026, using the same numbers as our online estimator.
Chicago bathroom remodel cost by size and finish level
Ranges below assume a full gut remodel that keeps fixtures in their current locations, in a single-family home.
| Size | Essential | Signature | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35–60 sq ft | $16,500 – $19,500 | $20,500 – $27,500 | $29,500 – $40,000+ |
| 61–100 sq ft | $19,500 – $24,500 | $25,000 – $33,000 | $35,000 – $50,000+ |
| 100+ sq ft | $24,500 – $31,000 | $32,000 – $43,000 | $45,000 – $65,000+ |
A typical Chicago hall bath or condo bath falls in the 35–60 sq ft row. A primary bath with a separate shower and tub is usually 61–100 sq ft or larger.
Why small bathrooms cost so much per square foot
A 48 sq ft bathroom at the Essential level works out to roughly $340–$410 per square foot. The fixed costs — demolition, a new shower pan and waterproofing, plumbing valves, exhaust fan, permits where required — are almost the same whether the room is 40 or 70 square feet, so smaller rooms carry a higher rate.
Popular upgrades and what they add
| Add-on | Typical added cost |
|---|---|
| Custom tiled walk-in shower | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| Curbless shower | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Frameless glass | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Freestanding tub | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Heated flooring | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Double vanity | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Shower bench / niche | $750 – $1,500 |
| Premium fixtures | $1,000 – $3,000 |
Planning for accessibility — a curbless shower, grab bars, a comfort-height vanity — typically adds 10–15% to the base. It is far cheaper to build in now than to retrofit later; see our guide to aging-in-place bathrooms.
Condos and high-rises
Condo bathrooms add roughly 7% and high-rise bathrooms about 12%, mostly for building logistics. Plumbing stacks in multi-unit buildings also limit how far a toilet or drain can move, which we check before you fall in love with a new layout. More on that in our Chicago condo remodeling guide.
Frequently asked questions
For a 35–60 sq ft bathroom that keeps the existing layout, our 2026 ranges are about $16,500–$19,500 at the Essential level, $20,500–$27,500 at Signature, and from $29,500 for Luxury.
A custom-tiled walk-in shower adds about $2,500–$5,000, a curbless shower about $2,000–$4,000, and frameless glass about $1,500–$2,500.
For a small bathroom it often lands around $340–$410 per square foot at the Essential level, because fixed costs like waterproofing, plumbing valves and ventilation are spread over fewer square feet.
