# How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost? (2026)

Page: https://magnoandco.com/blog-bathroom-renovation-cost-levels

> How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Somerville and Greater Boston? My 3 price levels: refresh, mid-level and full gut, and what each includes.

Costs & Budgets

## How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost? My 3 Price Levels for Somerville and Boston

How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Somerville and Greater Boston? My 3 price levels: refresh, mid-level and full gut, and what each includes.

**Mateus Magno**
Licensed Construction Supervisor · November 2, 2026 · 4 min read

Quick answer

With Magno & Co, my clients typically pay $5,000–$12,000 for a bathroom refresh, $12,000–$18,000 for a mid-level renovation, and $19,000–$30,000 for a full gut renovation of a standard 5x8 to 8x10 bathroom in Greater Boston. Moving walls or plumbing, bigger rooms and high-end finishes go past $30,000. Your exact price comes from a free walkthrough and a written line-item budget.

How much does a bathroom renovation cost? It is the first question I hear on walkthroughs in Somerville, Cambridge and Medford. The honest answer depends on how deep we go, so I sort every bathroom into one of three levels.

Here is what my clients typically pay with Magno & Co for a standard 5x8 to 8x10 bathroom. These are my own working ranges, not a statewide average, and your exact number always comes from a free walkthrough and a written line-item budget.

| Level | Typical price with Magno & Co | In one line |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Bathroom refresh | **$5,000 – $12,000** | Keep the layout, tub and walls; replace what you see and touch |
| 2. Mid-level renovation | **$12,000 – $18,000** | Keep the layout; new tub or shower area, floor and valve |
| 3. Full renovation (gut to the studs) | **$19,000 – $30,000** | Everything out to studs and subfloor, rebuilt right, same layout |
| Beyond a full renovation | **$30,000+** | Moving walls or plumbing, bigger rooms, suites, curbless showers, heated floors, high-end stone |

## Level 1: Bathroom refresh ($5,000 – $12,000)

A refresh keeps your layout, your tub and your walls. We swap the pieces you see and touch every day.

- New vanity and top, toilet, faucet and shower trim
- New lighting, mirror and a quieter exhaust fan
- Paint and fresh caulk, and often **new floor tileRight for you if** the tub and wall tile are sound, nothing leaks, and the room just looks tired. It is a smart move before listing a condo or between tenants.

**Timing:** the quickest of the three levels, because nothing is opened down to the framing.

## Level 2: Mid-level renovation ($12,000 – $18,000)

This is where most worn-out bathrooms land. The layout stays, but the wet area gets rebuilt.

- New tub or shower surround, or new tile walls in the wet area
- New floor tile and a **new shower valve** inside the wall
- New vanity, toilet, fixtures, lighting and fan
- Drywall and paint repairs where we opened things up

**Right for you if** the tub area is stained, cracked or leaking, or the old valve drips, but the floor framing and drains are in decent shape.

**Timing:** longer than a refresh, since the valve, tile and grout each need their own step and the plumbing work needs a permit and inspection. My [bathroom remodel timeline guide](https://magnoandco.com/blog-bathroom-remodel-timeline) walks through the order.

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## Level 3: Full renovation, gut to the studs ($19,000 – $30,000)

This is the answer to "how much to redo a bathroom completely." Everything comes out down to studs and subfloor, and we rebuild the room the right way, in the same layout.

- New supply and drain lines where needed
- Proper waterproofing behind and under the tile
- Full tile floor and wet walls; new tub or tiled shower with glass
- New vanity, toilet, electrical and ventilation
- **Permits and inspections** included

**Right for you if** the house is 80 to 120 years old, the bath has never been fully redone, or you want to know every hidden part is new.

**Timing:** the longest of the three, because demolition, rough plumbing and electrical, inspections, waterproofing and tile all happen in order.

## What pushes a job into the next level

Budgets jump for the same few reasons in older Somerville and Cambridge homes:

- **Rot.** A slow leak around a tub can soften the subfloor and joists. Once we find it, a refresh becomes a full renovation.
- **Old cast-iron drains.** Many 1900–1930 triple-deckers still have original cast iron. If it is cracked or badly corroded, replacing it is the right call while the walls are open.
- **Layout moves.** Moving the toilet, swapping a tub for a larger shower or moving a wall takes you past $30,000.
- **Lead-safe work.** In homes built before 1978, paid work that disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room must be done by a licensed lead-safe renovation contractor, per [Mass.gov's lead-safe renovation guidance](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/lead-safe-renovation-for-homeowners) and the [EPA RRP program](https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-program). Containment and cleanup add time and cost. More in my [lead paint guide](https://magnoandco.com/blog-lead-paint-older-homes-renovation).
- **Permits.** In Massachusetts, home plumbing work must be done by a licensed plumber holding a permit from the local plumbing inspector, according to the [state plumbers consumer fact sheet](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/plumbers-and-gas-fitters-consumer-fact-sheet). Building permits in Somerville go through the [ISD Building Division](https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/isd/building-division).

**Builder's tip:** Before you pick a level, go to the room below your bathroom and look up at the ceiling. Water stains, sagging plaster or old patches right under the tub or toilet are the best early clue that you are looking at Level 3, not Level 1.

## How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Boston? The Cost vs. Value numbers

For an outside comparison, the [2025 Cost vs. Value report for Boston](https://www.jlconline.com/cost-vs-value/2025/new-england/boston-ma/) lists:

- **Midrange bath remodel:** $27,681 job cost, about 65% recouped at resale
- **Upscale bath remodel:** $84,165 job cost, about 35% recouped
- **Midrange bathroom addition:** $64,220 job cost

Their midrange figure sits near the top of my full renovation level, which makes sense: it models a complete remodel, not a refresh. The upscale number matches my "beyond $30,000" group. The report also shows that a bath remodel rarely pays for itself at resale, so pick the level that fixes real problems and fits how you live.

## How to pick your level

- **Check what is failing.** Leaks, soft floors or a dripping valve point to Level 2 or 3. Looks alone point to Level 1.
- **Think about how long you will stay.** Planning ten more years? Doing the full renovation once is usually cheaper than two partial jobs.
- **Know the house's age.** Pre-1978 means lead-safe practices; pre-1930 often means old drains.
- **Keep the layout if you can.** It is the single biggest way to stay under $30,000.
- **Get a line-item budget** and compare scope line by line.

## Need a hand?

I will walk your bathroom with you, tell you honestly which level it needs, and send a written line-item budget, usually within 48 hours. [Book your free walkthrough here](https://magnoandco.com/contact).

## Frequently asked questions

How much does a full bathroom renovation cost in Massachusetts?

With Magno & Co, a full gut renovation of a standard 5x8 to 8x10 bathroom typically runs $19,000 to $30,000 in Greater Boston. Moving walls or plumbing, larger rooms and high-end finishes push it past $30,000.

Is $15,000 enough to redo a bathroom?

For many standard bathrooms, yes. $15,000 falls in my mid-level range ($12,000 to $18,000), which usually covers a new tub or shower area, floor tile, shower valve, vanity, toilet and fixtures in the same layout.

What is the most expensive part of a bathroom remodel?

Labor for the wet area, meaning plumbing, waterproofing and tile, plus any hidden repairs like rot or old drains. Moving plumbing to a new layout is usually the biggest single cost jump.

Does a bathroom remodel add value to a house in Boston?

It helps a home sell, but it rarely pays for itself. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report for Boston shows a midrange bath remodel recouping about 65% of its cost at resale.

**Planning a bathroom?** See [how I remodel bathrooms in Somerville](https://magnoandco.com/bathroom-remodeling-somerville) and [my published prices](https://magnoandco.com/pricing).

**Good to know:** this article is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change and every property is different — confirm the details for your home with your city's building department, or [ask me](https://magnoandco.com/contact). See our [Terms & Disclaimers](https://magnoandco.com/terms).

**About the author**

Mateus Magno founded Magno & Co in 2020. He is a licensed Massachusetts Construction Supervisor (CS-123658), registered Home Improvement Contractor (HIC #220484) and certified Lead-Safe Renovator Supervisor who has renovated and managed over $5 million in projects across Greater Boston.

[More about Mateus →](https://magnoandco.com/about)

Keep reading

## More from the blog

[Costs & Budgets ### Small Bathroom Remodel Cost: What a 5x8 Bath Really Costs in Somerville Small bathroom remodel cost for the typical 5x8 tub bath in Somerville triple-deckers and condos: which of my 3 price levels fits and how to spend smart. 4 min read · Read article →](https://magnoandco.com/blog-small-bathroom-remodel-cost) [Costs & Budgets ### Bathroom Remodel Cost Breakdown: Every Line Item on a Real Written Budget A bathroom remodel cost breakdown from a Somerville contractor: every line item, labor vs materials, allowances, and what my 3 price levels include. 4 min read · Read article →](https://magnoandco.com/blog-bathroom-remodel-cost-breakdown) [Costs & Budgets ### Walk-In Shower Cost in 2026: Tile vs Prefab, Glass and Curbless Options Walk-in shower cost with installation in Somerville and Greater Boston: tile or prefab, glass doors, curbless showers and where each one fits. 4 min read · Read article →](https://magnoandco.com/blog-walk-in-shower-cost)

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