A 2026 Guide
If you’re considering a bathroom remodel in Northwest Ohio, there’s a good chance one of your first questions is also one of the hardest to get a straight answer to:
How much is this actually going to cost?
A bathroom remodel cost in Northwest Ohio can vary significantly depending on the size and scope of the project. For the bathroom remodeling projects we typically complete at Kleeberger Contracting Services, homeowners can expect to invest anywhere from around $20,000 for a more straightforward secondary bathroom remodel to $95,000 or more for a high-end primary bathroom with significant layout changes.
And yes – that’s a big range. And there’s a reason for it.
When it comes to bathroom remodeling, the size of the room is only one piece of what determines the final cost. The existing layout, plumbing changes, shower design, tile work, cabinetry, fixtures, age of the home and even what’s hiding behind the walls can all have a significant impact.
Here’s a realistic look at what bathroom remodeling costs in Northwest Ohio in 2026 – and what actually drives those numbers.
Typical Bathroom Remodel Costs in Northwest Ohio
Based on the types of bathroom remodeling projects KCS completes, these are helpful starting ranges:
| Typical Project | Planning Range | What Tends to Move the Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hall/secondary bathroom with standard shower surround | $20,000–$35,000 | Layout, surround vs. tile, vanity, fixtures, existing conditions |
| Primary bathroom with custom tile shower | $55,000–$75,000 | Shower size and design, tile complexity, glass, cabinetry, fixtures |
| High-end primary bathroom/major reconfiguration with freestanding tub | $75,000–$95,000+ | Plumbing and layout changes, custom shower, tub, cabinetry, premium selections |
These aren’t package prices, and every project is different. They’re intended to give homeowners a realistic starting point when deciding whether a bathroom remodel fits their plans and budget.
We believe there’s value in being upfront about what we’re actually seeing in today’s remodeling costs. While a high-end bathroom may have been possible at a much lower price point in years past, a professionally completed, high-end bathroom remodel for $40,000 simply isn’t realistic for the type and scope of projects we’re talking about today.
We’d rather give you an honest range from the beginning so you can plan accordingly, and then help you understand which choices will have the biggest impact on where your project ultimately falls within that range.
Why Is There Such a Wide Range?
Even within the same type of bathroom remodel, there can easily be a $15,000–$20,000 difference between two projects.
That doesn’t necessarily mean one bathroom is significantly larger or more luxurious than the other. Often, it’s a combination of many individual decisions.
Take two primary bathrooms with custom tile showers.
One homeowner may keep the existing layout, choose a standard-size vanity, use moderately priced tile and select relatively straightforward plumbing fixtures.
Another may enlarge the shower, add a bench and multiple niches, choose a more labor-intensive tile design, install custom cabinetry, upgrade the shower system and make changes to the lighting or plumbing.
Both would fall into the category of a primary bathroom with a custom tile shower, but the scope of work — and therefore the investment — could be very different.
The same is true for a secondary bathroom. A project that keeps the existing tub, toilet and vanity locations and uses a standard shower surround will generally require less labor than one involving plumbing changes, additional tile work or more extensive electrical updates.
Some of the biggest variables within each range include:
- How much of the existing layout changes
- The amount and complexity of tile work
- Vanity and cabinetry selections
- Plumbing fixtures and shower systems
- Shower glass and other custom elements
- Lighting and electrical changes
- The condition and age of the existing bathroom
- Finish and material selections
That’s why we use these numbers as planning ranges rather than fixed bathroom packages. Two homeowners can start with bathrooms that look fairly similar and make very different decisions about where they want to invest.
And that’s okay.
Our goal isn’t to push every bathroom toward the top of the range. It’s to help you understand your options and decide where your budget will make the biggest difference for you.
Our goal isn’t to push every bathroom toward the top of the range. It’s to help you understand your options and decide where your budget will make the biggest difference for you.
$20,000–$35,000: Hall or Secondary Bathroom Remodel
A hall or secondary bathroom remodel will often fall somewhere in the $20,000–$35,000 range, particularly when the existing layout stays relatively similar and the shower or tub uses a quality standard surround rather than a completely custom tile system.
That doesn’t mean the bathroom has to feel basic.
A project in this range may include demolition, a new vanity and countertop, flooring, plumbing fixtures, lighting, paint and finish work, and an updated tub or shower surround.
One of the biggest ways to keep a bathroom remodel within this range is to work with the existing layout whenever it makes sense.
Moving a toilet, shower or vanity isn’t simply a design decision. It can involve relocating plumbing, opening additional walls or floors and coordinating multiple trades.
Keeping those elements in their existing locations can allow more of the budget to go toward the finishes and features you’ll actually see and use every day.
$55,000–$75,000: Primary Bathroom With a Custom Tile Shower
Once you move into a primary bathroom with a custom tile shower, the investment typically increases.
For the projects KCS completes, a primary bathroom remodel with a custom tiled shower will commonly fall around $55,000–$75,000.
Why does a custom shower make such a difference?
There’s much more happening behind the tile than most homeowners ever see.
A properly built custom shower involves careful preparation and waterproofing before the first piece of tile is installed. Then there’s the tile itself, installation labor, shower fixtures, niches or benches when included, the shower floor or base, and often custom glass.
Primary bathrooms also tend to include larger vanities, more cabinetry, upgraded lighting and plumbing fixtures, and higher-end finish selections.
The result can be a bathroom that feels completely different — but it also involves considerably more materials, skilled labor and coordination than simply replacing what’s already there.
$75,000–$95,000+: High-End Bathroom Remodel or Major Reconfiguration
When homeowners want to completely rethink a primary bathroom, projects can move into the $75,000–$95,000+ range.
These are often the projects where we aren’t simply updating the bathroom.
We’re changing how the room works.
That might mean relocating the shower, toilet or vanity; adding a freestanding tub; creating a larger custom shower; changing lighting and electrical; installing custom cabinetry; or selecting more premium finishes throughout the space.
In some homes, changing the layout can also involve structural, plumbing or electrical considerations that need to be addressed along the way.
A freestanding tub, for example, may look simple once it’s installed, but its location can affect plumbing, flooring, clearances and the overall layout of the room.
At this level, you’re not just selecting new finishes. You’re creating a new space within the existing home.
Why Can Two Bathrooms the Same Size Cost Completely Different Amounts?
One of the biggest misconceptions about remodeling is that cost is mostly determined by square footage.
Square footage doesn’t tell the whole story.
Imagine two bathrooms that are both 100 square feet.
In the first, the toilet, vanity and shower all stay where they are. The homeowner chooses a standard shower base, straightforward fixtures and moderately priced finishes.
In the second, the toilet moves across the room, a tub is removed, the shower is enlarged and fully tiled, plumbing is relocated, custom glass is added and the homeowner selects a custom vanity and premium fixtures.
The rooms may have exactly the same square footage.
The projects are completely different.
That’s why estimating a bathroom remodel based solely on cost per square foot rarely tells homeowners what they really need to know.
Is a Fully Tiled Shower Always Better?
Not necessarily.
We recently worked with a homeowner who intentionally chose a solid-surface shower pan rather than a tiled shower floor.
Her reason was simple:
She didn’t want to maintain the grout.
There are plenty of reasons to love a fully tiled shower. It offers nearly endless design possibilities and can create a beautiful, customized space.
But that doesn’t automatically make it the best choice for every homeowner.
A quality solid-surface option may make more sense in a secondary bathroom, a rental property, or simply for someone whose biggest priority is easier cleaning and lower maintenance.
That’s an important distinction when you’re planning a remodel.
The most expensive option isn’t automatically the best option.
The goal should be to spend your remodeling budget on the things that matter most to the way you live in your home.
Where Is It Worth Spending – and Where Can You Simplify?
This answer is different for every homeowner.
Someone who plans to stay in their home for decades may place a high value on creating a primary bathroom that works well for them long-term.
Someone else may care most about a large custom shower and couldn’t care less about having a freestanding tub.
Another homeowner may happily choose a simpler shower system if it means they can invest more in cabinetry, storage or lighting.
That’s why one of the most important parts of planning a bathroom remodel happens before construction ever begins.
We want to understand not only what you want your bathroom to look like, but what frustrates you about the current space, what you want to make easier and which features actually matter to you.
Those answers help determine where your remodeling dollars will have the greatest impact.
What About Unexpected Costs in an Older Home?
Northwest Ohio has no shortage of older homes, and remodeling them sometimes comes with surprises.
Once demolition begins, we may discover outdated plumbing or electrical work, water damage, framing issues or previous remodeling work that needs to be corrected before moving forward.
Good planning can reduce surprises, but no contractor can see through every wall before a project begins.
That’s one reason choosing a remodeling contractor based solely on the lowest initial number can be misleading. Understanding the scope of work, what’s included and how unexpected conditions will be handled is just as important as the number at the bottom of an estimate.
So, How Much Should You Budget for a Bathroom Remodel?
If you’re beginning to plan a bathroom remodel in Northwest Ohio, these ranges are a reasonable place to start:
$20,000–$35,000
Hall or secondary bathroom with a standard shower surround
$55,000–$75,000
Primary bathroom with a custom tile shower
$75,000–$95,000+
High-end primary bathroom or major reconfiguration with features such as a freestanding tub
Your bathroom may fall above, below or somewhere between these ranges depending on the scope of the project and the selections you make.
But having a realistic starting point can help you decide what’s possible before spending months saving inspiration photos and planning a space around a budget that doesn’t match the project.
Planning a Bathroom Remodel in Northwest Ohio or Southeast Michigan?
At Kleeberger Contracting Services, we believe a better remodeling experience starts long before construction begins.
It starts with understanding what you’re trying to accomplish, talking honestly about priorities and budget, and helping you make choices that make sense for the way you live in your home.
If you’re considering a bathroom remodel in Northwest Ohio or Southeast Michigan, or curious about what your bathroom remodel cost in Northwest Ohio would be, we’d be happy to talk through what you’re envisioning and help you understand what it may take to make it happen.