Bathroom remodel cost in Tucson, AZ
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,350 – $21,500
- Per sq ft
- $92 – $461
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #187
- 1 = most expensive
Tucson homeowners pay roughly $4,350 to $21,500 to remodel a bathroom at 45 sq ft, or $92 to $461 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Tucson is 8% lower. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $28.40 an hour in the Tucson area, 7% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Tucson, AZ, standard level
$9,500 to $16,400
About $203 to $350 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,400 |
| Labor | $4,850 | $8,350 |
| Permits and fees | $370 | $600 |
| Total | $9,500 | $16,400 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Tucson, AZ
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,850 | $9,750 | 45% |
| Labor | $2,200 | $6,600 | $11,000 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $480 | $780 | 4% |
| Total | $4,350 | $12,900 | $21,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Tucson number
Labor is 51% of the midpoint bill here, against 53% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (25%), tile and stone setters (25%), carpenters (20%), electricians (10%), drywall and ceiling tile installers (10%), painters, construction and maintenance (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Tucson the blended ratio comes out at 0.89.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Tucson metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $5,850, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (96.9) and land at $190 to $780.
Tucson against nearby metros and the rest of Arizona
Same job, same size (45 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. El Centro is the priciest of the group at $15,200. Yuma is the cheapest at $12,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZthis page | $4,350 – $21,500 | $12,900 | |
| Phoenix, AZ75 miles | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | +5% |
| Yuma, AZ130 miles | $4,350 – $21,500 | $12,900 | level |
| Prescott Valley, AZ180 miles | $4,400 – $21,800 | $13,100 | +2% |
| El Centro, CA215 miles | $5,100 – $25,300 | $15,200 | +18% |
| Flagstaff, AZ255 miles | $4,450 – $22,000 | $13,200 | +2% |
| Arizona (statewide) | $4,500 – $22,200 | $13,300 | +3% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Tucson comes in at #187 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Tucson is 3% below the Arizona figure.
Other Arizona metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | +5% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $4,400 – $21,800 | $13,100 | +2% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $4,350 – $21,500 | $12,900 | level |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $4,450 – $22,000 | $13,200 | +2% |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 56,490 jobs | $4,250 – $21,100 | $12,700 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Tucson's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tucson against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $4,300 – $21,400 | $12,900 | level |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +8% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | −2% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $4,400 – $21,900 | $13,200 | +2% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 6 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Tucson is 0.89 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $28.40 an hour, which is 7% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.88 and $31.05 an hour. BLS counts 1,170 of them working in the area, 30.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 25%) the local median is $24.30 an hour, which is 9% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $20.66 and $28.99 an hour. BLS counts 100 of them working in the area, 2.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $23.61 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $28.94 an hour. BLS counts 1,380 of them working in the area, 35.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.60 an hour, 6% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.34 and $35.30 an hour. About 1,340 work in the metro. That is 34.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.16 an hour, 18% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $22.18 and $27.07 an hour. About 340 work in the metro. That is 8.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $21.63 an hour, which is 9% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $20.27 and $26.66 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 15.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($31.05 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $160. At the 25th percentile ($22.88) it shrinks by about $330. The total moves by 1.2% or 2.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 389,630 jobs in the Tucson area. That makes it the 68th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.25% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $22.88 | $28.40 | $31.05 | $30.67 | 0.93 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $20.66 | $24.30 | $28.99 | $26.77 | 0.91 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $22.31 | $23.61 | $28.94 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.34 | $28.60 | $35.30 | $30.38 | 0.94 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $22.18 | $23.16 | $27.07 | $28.33 | 0.82 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $20.27 | $21.63 | $26.66 | $23.75 | 0.91 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Tucson bid
Tile
New tile costs $10-$50 per square foot installed, and regrouting runs $7-$28 per square foot.
Moving plumbing
Keeping the toilet, tub and vanity in place keeps plumbing costs down. Moving them does not.
Contractor fee
A general contractor charges $50-$150 an hour or 10-20% of the project cost.
Planning more than one job in Tucson?
Because every project leans on different trades, Tucson's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −6% and kitchen cabinets −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,650 | −6% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,700 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,500 | −10% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $280 – $1,400 | −6% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: bathroom remodel pricing in Tucson
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Tucson wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$4,350 to $11,200
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$9,500 to $16,400
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$14,600 to $21,500
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,050 – $5,200 | $4,400 – $7,600 | $6,800 – $10,000 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $3,900 – $10,000 | $8,450 – $14,600 | $13,100 – $19,200 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $5,700 – $14,800 | $12,500 – $21,600 | $19,300 – $28,400 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $9,400 – $24,400 | $20,600 – $35,600 | $31,900 – $46,800 |
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Bathroom remodel in Tucson: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Tucson?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,350 to $21,500 in the Tucson area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,500 to $16,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Tucson?
About $92 to $461 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $190 to $780 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Tucson or Phoenix?
Phoenix is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $13,500, which is 5% more than Tucson ($12,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tucson?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $6,600 out of $12,900. Materials are 45% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Tucson?
$5,700 to $28,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Tucson?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $190 to $780 for fees in the Tucson area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tucson expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Arizona?
Tucson is 3% below the Arizona statewide estimate ($13,300 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Arizona; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Tucson?
The BLS median is $28.40 an hour in the Tucson area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.88 to $31.05.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Tucson?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,350 to $11,200 and premium work $14,600 to $21,500. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Tucson
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 45% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range split for bathroom projects (50% labor, 45% materials, 5% permits and design). Their sample is their own guides, not a survey of contractors, so treat the split as approximate.