Full gut, cosmetic refresh, or something in between—get a real number for tile, fixtures, vanity, shower, and labor so your quote doesn't embarrass you at the kitchen table.
Budget $8–$12/sqft for standard floor tile installation and $12–$18/sqft for shower walls with waterproofing. Premium large-format tile and natural stone add another $5–$8/sqft. Don't let the customer buy cheap tile and assume labor costs stay the same—12×24 porcelain and 4×4 ceramic are not the same install.
You can't see subfloor condition until tile is up. Add a line item at your quote: "Subfloor repair: T&M at $X/hr + materials if condition warrants." This protects you from eating $800 in plywood on a job that was priced as cosmetic. Most homeowners accept it once you explain why.
Old plumbing tile-overs hide everything: mold behind shower walls, unlevel studs, improper drain slope, galvanized supply lines that fail when disturbed. For full guts, price demo as a discovery phase—$500–$800 to demo and assess, then provide a firm quote. You'll win more jobs than you think, and your callbacks drop to near zero.
The Handyman's Business Starter Kit includes a remodel price book, client intake form, subcontractor coordination checklist, and change order template. Guide from $19 — Complete Kit with all 19 templates, $49.
Get the Handyman's Kit →Bathroom remodel pricing has one of the widest cost ranges of any trade job — a cosmetic refresh and a full gut-and-tile renovation can differ by $15,000. This calculator builds an estimate from the actual scope: tile, fixture upgrades, vanity, plumbing work, drywall, painting, and labor hours for each task. Use it to give customers a realistic budget range and avoid the scope creep that kills bathroom project margins.