How we estimate bathroom renovation cost
Every estimate combines a national price for each part of the job with a local labor adjustment for your province. Here is exactly how that works and where the numbers come from.
The formula
For each line item we multiply a quantity (driven by your bathroom floor area, scope of work, finish level, and whether a tub is converted to a walk-in shower) by a national unit cost, then apply a quality-grade factor. A regional labor multiplier is applied to the labor portion only — materials are priced nationally. We show the itemized result as a ±25% range.
National unit costs
| Line item | National unit cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition & disposal | $38.00 / sq ft | ref |
| Toilet, faucets & fixtures | $2,100.00 / sq ft | ref |
| Tub / shower & surround | $5,400.00 / sq ft | ref |
| Tile & flooring | $74.00 / sq ft | ref |
| Vanity & countertop | $2,900.00 / sq ft | ref |
| Electrical & lighting | $2,000.00 / sq ft | ref |
| Plumbing rough-in & relocation | $4,500.00 / sq ft | ref |
| Painting & finishing | $1,000.00 / sq ft | ref |
| Permit & inspection | $1,250.00 / sq ft | ref |
Regional labor multipliers
Each province's labor multiplier is its carpenter-wage proxy relative to the Canadian baseline, reused from ca/hvac.ts pending human verification. Multipliers are bounded to a sane range and applied to the labor share of each line item, so materials stay nationally priced while labor tracks local wages.
Data vintage & limitations
Compiled June 2026 from public cost aggregators and government wage data — these are derived estimates, not live contractor quotes. Local prices vary with project complexity, access, and material availability; always confirm with a licensed contractor before budgeting.