Bathroom remodel cost in Arkansas
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (45 sq ft)
- $3,950 – $19,500
- Per sq ft
- $84 – $419
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −16%
- US $14,000
- Metros covered
- 4
Across Arkansas, a bathroom remodel costs about $3,950 to $19,500 for 45 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 16% below the US figure of $14,000. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median $23.39 an hour in Arkansas (US: $30.67).
Inside Arkansas, the metros we cover range from $11,600 (Jonesboro) to $11,900 (Fayetteville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Arkansas (statewide), standard level
$8,650 to $14,900
About $184 to $318 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $7,200 |
| Labor | $4,150 | $7,150 |
| Permits and fees | $330 | $540 |
| Total | $8,650 | $14,900 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Arkansas
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $5,700 | $9,500 | 48% |
| Labor | $1,900 | $5,650 | $9,400 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $430 | $700 | 4% |
| Total | $3,950 | $11,700 | $19,500 | 100% |
Arkansas metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 4 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $11,700, and the top-to-bottom gap is 3%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (45 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | $4,000 – $19,800 | $11,900 | +1% |
| Little Rock, AR | $3,950 – $19,600 | $11,800 | level |
| Fort Smith, AR | $3,900 – $19,400 | $11,600 | −1% |
| Jonesboro, AR | $3,900 – $19,300 | $11,600 | −1% |
Arkansas versus the states around it
Arkansas ranks 51 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for bathroom remodel, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $17,800 and the cheapest Arkansas at $11,700, both for 45 sq ft at the midpoint. Arkansas sits at $11,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 220 miles away | $4,150 – $20,700 | $12,400 | +6% |
| Missouri | 230 miles away | $4,750 – $23,600 | $14,200 | +21% |
| Kansas | 280 miles away | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,200 | +13% |
| Mississippi | 330 miles away | $4,100 – $20,400 | $12,300 | +4% |
| Tennessee | 360 miles away | $4,250 – $21,100 | $12,700 | +8% |
What plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters and the other trades earn in Arkansas
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 6 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.76 for Arkansas.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $23.39 an hour, which is 24% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $18.82 and $29.12 an hour. BLS counts 3,370 of them working in the state, 25.9 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 $18.74 an hour, which is 30% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $17.62 and $21.63 an hour. BLS counts 160 of them working in the state, 1.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.96 an hour, which is 21% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.93 and $27.65 an hour. BLS counts 4,030 of them working in the state, 30.9 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 $23.59 an hour, 22% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $18.54 and $29.99 an hour. About 7,500 work in the state. That is 57.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $21.42 an hour, 24% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $17.82 and $22.65 an hour. About 240 work in the state. That is 1.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $19.28 an hour, which is 19% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $17.76 and $22.85 an hour. BLS counts 890 of them working in the state, 6.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters ($29.12 an hour) would add about $350 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.82) would take off about $280. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,303,630 jobs across Arkansas (May 2025), which is 0.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $18.82 | $23.39 | $29.12 | $30.67 | 0.76 | state |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $17.62 | $18.74 | $21.63 | $26.77 | 0.70 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $19.93 | $22.96 | $27.65 | $29.12 | 0.79 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $18.54 | $23.59 | $29.99 | $30.38 | 0.78 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $17.82 | $21.42 | $22.65 | $28.33 | 0.76 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $17.76 | $19.28 | $22.85 | $23.75 | 0.81 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.76 | |||||
Bathroom remodel: what moves the price in Arkansas
Size
HomeGuide's average-size bathroom comes to $3,500-$25,000+; per square foot it's $100-$500.
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.
Permit
A bathroom remodel permit is $200-$800, more if you move walls (HomeGuide).
Quality levels and sizes in Arkansas
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Arkansas wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,950 to $10,200
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$8,650 to $14,900
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$13,300 to $19,500
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $1,850 – $4,750 | $4,000 – $6,900 | $6,200 – $9,100 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $3,550 – $9,100 | $7,700 – $13,300 | $11,900 – $17,500 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $5,200 – $13,500 | $11,400 – $19,600 | $17,600 – $25,800 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $8,550 – $22,200 | $18,800 – $32,400 | $29,000 – $42,600 |
Related projects, priced for Arkansas
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Arkansas wages and prices. Against national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−10%) and shower pan lowest (−19%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $710 – $2,300 | −19% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,700 – $28,400 | −10% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,750 – $11,900 | −14% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,000 – $13,500 | −10% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $250 – $1,250 | −16% |
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Bathroom remodel in Arkansas: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Arkansas?
$3,950 to $19,500 for 45 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Arkansas can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Arkansas is cheapest for bathroom remodel?
Jonesboro at about $11,600 (midpoint, 45 sq ft). The priciest is Fayetteville at $11,900.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Arkansas than the US average?
It is 16% cheaper: $11,700 against $14,000 for 45 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Arkansas?
About 48% ($5,650). Materials are 48%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.76x the national wage level.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Arkansas?
The BLS statewide median is $23.39 an hour, against $30.67 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.82 to $29.12.
+Where does Arkansas rank for bathroom remodel costs?
51st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $11,700 for 45 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Arkansas?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $3,950 to $10,200 and premium work $13,300 to $19,500. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel by city in Arkansas
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.