What Should a Bathroom Remodel Bid Include?

Bathrooms are small rooms with a lot packed into them: plumbing, waterproofing, tile, electrical, ventilation and fixtures, all within a few feet of each other. That's why bathroom bids can be confusing, and why two quotes for the "same" bathroom can look nothing alike.

I've been in remodeling since 1999. I started out building high-end custom cabinets and kitchens, and for the past 11 years I've worked in home remodeling as a project manager, head carpenter and estimator. I've written bathroom bids and built bathrooms from them. Here's what I look for when I read one.

A quick look at cost

National numbers vary a lot depending on how a source defines "a bathroom remodel":

• HomeAdvisor reports bathroom remodels typically cost $6,651 to $17,660, with most homeowners spending around $12,153 (HomeAdvisor bathroom remodel cost guide).
• The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report puts a midrange bath remodel at $26,138 and an upscale bath remodel at $81,612 national average job cost (Cost vs. Value 2025, JLC).

The gap between those sources shows how much scope matters. A new vanity and toilet is a very different job from a tear-out to the studs with a tiled walk-in shower. Use the numbers as a rough sanity check, not a target.

The sections a complete bathroom bid should cover

1. Demolition and disposal

• What's being removed: tub, shower, tile, vanity, toilet, flooring, drywall?
• Is disposal (dumpster or haul-away) included?
• HomeAdvisor notes that tearing out tile, fixtures and old drywall adds $1,000 to $2,300, depending on size and local labor (HomeAdvisor). If demo isn't on your bid, ask why.

2. Protection and access

• How will the contractor protect floors and hallways and control dust?
• If it's your only bathroom, will there be a period with no working toilet or shower? For how long?

3. Subfloor and framing

• Will the subfloor be checked and repaired if needed? Is that priced, or handled as a change order?
• Any framing changes, like a niche, a bench, a wider opening or blocking for grab bars?

4. Plumbing

• Is the plumbing like-for-like (same locations), or are fixtures moving? Moving a toilet or drain is a big cost driver.
• Are new valves, supply lines and drains included, or only reconnecting existing ones?
• Who supplies the shower valve and trim, and does the valve match the trim you picked?

5. Waterproofing

This is one of the most important lines in a bathroom bid, and one of the easiest to leave vague. For any tiled shower or tub surround, the bid should say: - What waterproofing system will be used behind the tile and in the shower pan - How the shower floor and curb are built - Whether the system will be tested before tile goes on, and how

"Tile shower" alone doesn't tell you how it will stay dry.

6. Tile

• Which surfaces get tile: floor, shower walls, tub surround, wainscot?
• Square footage or a clear description for each area
• Who supplies the tile, and is it an allowance?
• Grout type, trim pieces (edges, niches, corners) and any pattern work. Herringbone or diagonal layouts take more labor and waste.

7. Fixtures and vanity

• Toilet, tub or shower base, glass door or curtain rod, vanity, top, sink, faucet, mirror, medicine cabinet, accessories
• For each item: supplied by whom (you or the contractor), and is it an allowance?
• HomeAdvisor lists a glass shower door at about $950 on average for door and installation (HomeAdvisor). Check whether glass is in your bid or left for later.

8. Electrical and ventilation

• New lights, GFCI outlets, heated floor, and a vent fan
• Is the fan vented to the outside? The bid should say where it vents.

9. Drywall, paint and trim

• Moisture-resistant board where needed
• Paint, door casing and baseboard
• Patching any adjacent rooms if walls are opened

10. Permits and inspections (if required)

Permit rules depend on where you live, and some areas don't require one. Where they're required, HomeAdvisor notes that construction permit fees usually run $100 to $1,000 (HomeAdvisor). If a permit is required, the bid should say who pulls it and whether fees are included.

11. The business terms

• Payment schedule
• Change-order process
• Start date and estimated duration
• Warranty on labor and materials

Allowances in bathroom bids

Bathrooms often carry several allowances, for tile, the vanity, plumbing fixtures, lighting and glass. Each one is a guess at what you'll choose. For each allowance, ask:

• What does this amount buy? Can you show me an example?
• Does it include installation, or just material?
• Is there a markup if I go over?

A low tile allowance is one of the most common ways a bathroom bid looks cheaper than it really is.

Exclusions to look for

• Glass shower doors (often quoted separately)
• Moving plumbing
• Subfloor or framing repair
• Mold or water damage found during demo
• Painting outside the bathroom
• Accessories like towel bars, grab bars and the toilet paper holder

None of these are unusual to exclude. You just want to know before you sign.

Labor: why bathroom bids can seem high

People are sometimes surprised by how much labor goes into a small room. HomeAdvisor says labor can claim roughly 40% to 65% of the total bathroom remodel cost (HomeAdvisor). Several trades work in a small space, often one after another, and tile and waterproofing take time to do right.

So a high labor share isn't automatically a red flag. A labor line that's unexplained is worth asking about.

Comparing two bathroom bids

If you have more than one bid, don't start with the bottom line. Line the bids up section by section:

Fill in what each bid says, and leave a cell blank when a bid doesn't mention something. Blank cells are your questions. Once both bids cover the same scope, you can compare prices fairly. Sometimes the "expensive" bid turns out to include things the cheaper one left out.

It's also worth noticing how each contractor answers your questions. Clear, written answers before the job usually mean clear communication during it.

Red flags in a bathroom bid

• No mention of waterproofing on a tiled shower
• "Tile bathroom" as one line with no areas or square footage
• No demo or disposal line
• No subfloor language. What happens if they find rot?
• Unrealistically low allowances for tile and fixtures
• A large deposit before any work starts, with no explanation of what it pays for
• No permit for moving plumbing or walls in an area that requires one
• No change-order process written down

Questions to ask your contractor

1. What exactly is being torn out, and is disposal included?
2. What waterproofing system will you use in the shower, and will it be tested?
3. Is the plumbing staying where it is, or moving? What's included in plumbing?
4. Where does the vent fan exhaust?
5. What happens if you find rot or water damage under the floor? How is that priced?
6. What do the tile and fixture allowances buy, and is install included?
7. Who supplies the shower valve, glass door and vanity?
8. Are permits required for this job? If so, who pulls them, and are the fees included?
9. How long will I be without this bathroom?
10. Can I see your license (where required) and certificate of insurance?
11. What's your warranty on labor and on waterproofing, in writing?

The bottom line

A good bathroom bid tells you what's being removed, how the shower stays dry, what the allowances really buy, and what happens if something unexpected shows up behind the walls. If your bid doesn't answer those questions, ask before you sign.

Want someone to look over your bathroom bid?

I offer remote bid reviews: a 45-minute Cal Video call with a written summary, or a written-only review. I'll point out what's missing or unclear and give you the questions to ask your contractor. It's advice only, and you make the decisions.

See the bid review options →

Not available for projects in Lucas, Wood or Fulton County, Ohio.

— Jeremy Skadeland, Field Soft Picks

Cost figures are national averages from the linked sources as of when they were checked. Your costs depend on region, scope and materials. General information only, not professional, legal or financial advice.