Bathroom remodel cost in Boulder, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,700 – $23,200
- Per sq ft
- $99.50 – $498
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #120
- 1 = most expensive
Boulder homeowners pay roughly $4,700 to $23,200 to remodel a bathroom at 45 sq ft, or $99.50 to $498 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Boulder is almost level. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.1).
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Boulder, CO, standard level
$10,300 to $17,700
About $219 to $378 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,400 |
| Labor | $5,550 | $9,650 |
| Permits and fees | $400 | $650 |
| Total | $10,300 | $17,700 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Boulder, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,850 | $9,750 | 42% |
| Labor | $2,550 | $7,600 | $12,700 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $530 | $840 | 4% |
| Total | $4,700 | $14,000 | $23,200 | 100% |
Where the Boulder price comes from
Labor is 54% 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 Boulder the blended ratio comes out at 1.02.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Boulder metro is 96.1 (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 (105.2) and land at $210 to $840.
Data note: 35% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Boulder. The wage table below marks each row.
Bathroom remodel: what moves the price in Boulder
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.
Boulder against nearby metros and the rest of Colorado
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Boulder. Colorado Springs is the lowest at about $13,400 (midpoint, 45 sq ft), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, COthis page | $4,700 – $23,200 | $14,000 | |
| Fort Collins, CO40 miles | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | −2% |
| Denver, CO55 miles | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +4% |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $4,600 – $22,700 | $13,600 | −2% |
| Cheyenne, WY90 miles | $4,500 – $22,400 | $13,400 | −4% |
| Colorado Springs, CO95 miles | $4,500 – $22,300 | $13,400 | −4% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $4,750 – $23,500 | $14,100 | +1% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Boulder comes in at #120 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Boulder is 1% below the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +4% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $4,500 – $22,300 | $13,400 | −4% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | −2% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $4,600 – $22,700 | $13,600 | −2% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $4,600 – $22,700 | $13,600 | −2% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Boulder's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boulder against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | −10% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $4,300 – $21,200 | $12,700 | −9% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $4,950 – $24,500 | $14,700 | +5% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $4,150 – $20,500 | $12,300 | −12% |
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 Boulder is 1.02 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $31.20 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.30 and $38.49 an hour. BLS counts 420 of them working in the area, 21.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Boulder metro, so we used the Colorado statewide median: $27.74 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.40 and $34.59 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $28.73 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.92 and $35.50 an hour. BLS counts 540 of them working in the area, 28.1 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 $30.83 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $24.37 and $37.48 an hour. About 420 work in the metro. That is 21.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Boulder metro, so we used the Colorado statewide median: $29.70 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.43 and $33.77 an hour.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $25.37 an hour, which is 7% above the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $23.67 and $29.37 an hour. BLS counts 140 of them working in the area, 7.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($38.49 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $440. At the 25th percentile ($28.30) it shrinks by about $180. The total moves by 3.2% or 1.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 192,390 jobs in the Boulder area. That makes it the 119th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $28.30 | $31.20 | $38.49 | $30.67 | 1.02 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $17.40 | $27.74 | $34.59 | $26.77 | 1.04 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $23.92 | $28.73 | $35.50 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $24.37 | $30.83 | $37.48 | $30.38 | 1.01 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.43 | $29.70 | $33.77 | $28.33 | 1.05 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $23.67 | $25.37 | $29.37 | $23.75 | 1.07 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Boulder: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Boulder 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
$4,700 to $12,100
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,300 to $17,700
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$15,800 to $23,200
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,200 – $5,650 | $4,800 – $8,200 | $7,350 – $10,800 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,200 – $10,800 | $9,150 – $15,800 | $14,100 – $20,700 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,200 – $16,000 | $13,500 – $23,300 | $20,900 – $30,700 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,200 – $26,300 | $22,300 – $38,500 | $34,400 – $50,600 |
Planning more than one job in Boulder?
Because every project leans on different trades, Boulder's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +1% and kitchen remodel −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $950 – $2,800 | +1% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,000 – $30,700 | −3% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $13,800 | −1% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,450 – $14,800 | −1% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $300 – $1,500 | −1% |
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Bathroom remodel in Boulder: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Boulder?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,700 to $23,200 in the Boulder area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,300 to $17,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Boulder?
About $99.50 to $498 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $210 to $840 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Boulder or Fort Collins?
Fort Collins is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $13,700, which is 2% less than Boulder ($14,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boulder?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $7,600 out of $14,000. Materials are 42% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Boulder?
$6,200 to $30,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Boulder?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $210 to $840 for fees in the Boulder area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boulder expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Colorado?
Boulder is 1% below the Colorado statewide estimate ($14,100 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Boulder?
The BLS median is $31.20 an hour in the Boulder area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.30 to $38.49.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Boulder?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,700 to $12,100 and premium work $15,800 to $23,200. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Boulder
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.