Bathroom remodel cost in Denver, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,850 – $24,100
- Per sq ft
- $103 – $516
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #92
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a bathroom remodel in the Denver area: $4,850 to $24,100 for 45 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 3% higher than the US figure. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $30.72 an hour in the Denver area, 0% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Denver, CO, standard level
$10,600 to $18,300
About $227 to $392 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $7,750 |
| Labor | $5,700 | $9,900 |
| Permits and fees | $400 | $660 |
| Total | $10,600 | $18,300 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Denver, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,050 | $6,150 | $10,200 | 42% |
| Labor | $2,600 | $7,800 | $13,000 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $530 | $850 | 4% |
| Total | $4,850 | $14,500 | $24,100 | 100% |
Why Denver prices look the way they do
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 Denver the blended ratio comes out at 1.05.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Denver is at 101.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,100 nationally becomes $6,150 here (midpoint, 45 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.8: $210 to $850.
Data note: 25% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Denver. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Denver
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Denver. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from half bath (20 sq ft) to primary bath (100 sq ft).
Basic
$4,850 to $12,500
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,600 to $18,300
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,400 to $24,100
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,300 – $5,850 | $4,950 – $8,500 | $7,600 – $11,200 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,350 – $11,200 | $9,500 – $16,300 | $14,600 – $21,500 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,400 – $16,600 | $14,000 – $24,200 | $21,600 – $31,800 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,500 – $27,300 | $23,100 – $39,900 | $35,700 – $52,400 |
What nearby projects cost in Denver
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Denver wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+4%) and kitchen remodel lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $950 – $2,850 | +2% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,900 – $32,100 | +2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,350 – $14,600 | +4% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,700 – $15,500 | +3% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,550 | +2% |
Is Denver cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Denver. Colorado Springs is the lowest at about $13,400 (midpoint, 45 sq ft), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, COthis page | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO45 miles | $4,500 – $22,300 | $13,400 | −7% |
| Boulder, CO55 miles | $4,700 – $23,200 | $14,000 | −3% |
| Greeley, CO80 miles | $4,600 – $22,700 | $13,600 | −6% |
| Fort Collins, CO90 miles | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | −5% |
| Pueblo, CO90 miles | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | −5% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $4,750 – $23,500 | $14,100 | −2% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Denver ranks #92 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Denver is 2% above the Colorado figure.
Elsewhere in Colorado
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $4,500 – $22,300 | $13,400 | −7% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $4,700 – $23,200 | $14,000 | −3% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | −5% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $4,600 – $22,700 | $13,600 | −6% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $4,600 – $22,700 | $13,600 | −6% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | −5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Denver against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | level |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $5,250 – $26,100 | $15,700 | +8% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | +2% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $4,250 – $21,100 | $12,700 | −13% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Denver bid
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.
Who does the work: Denver trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 6 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Denver the blend is 1.05.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $30.72 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.81 and $39.11 an hour. About 5,750 work in the metro. That is 35.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Denver 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.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $31.21 an hour, 7% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.70 and $36.14 an hour. About 7,250 work in the metro. That is 45.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.36 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.52 and $38.28 an hour. BLS counts 10,450 of them working in the area, 64.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.89 an hour, which is 9% above the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $24.44 and $33.81 an hour. BLS counts 1,110 of them working in the area, 6.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 10% of the weighting: a median of $27.92 an hour, 18% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $23.59 and $28.87 an hour. About 1,670 work in the metro. That is 10.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $510 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 0.8% to 3.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has 1,609,350 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 17th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $28.81 | $30.72 | $39.11 | $30.67 | 1.00 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $17.40 | $27.74 | $34.59 | $26.77 | 1.04 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $27.70 | $31.21 | $36.14 | $29.12 | 1.07 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.52 | $30.36 | $38.28 | $30.38 | 1.00 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $24.44 | $30.89 | $33.81 | $28.33 | 1.09 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $23.59 | $27.92 | $28.87 | $23.75 | 1.18 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
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Bathroom remodel in Denver: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Denver?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,850 to $24,100 in the Denver area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,600 to $18,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Denver?
About $103 to $516 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $210 to $850 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Denver or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $13,400, which is 7% less than Denver ($14,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Denver?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $7,800 out of $14,500. Materials are 42% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Denver?
$6,400 to $31,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Denver?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $210 to $850 for fees in the Denver area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Denver expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Colorado?
Denver is 2% above 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 Denver?
The BLS median is $30.72 an hour in the Denver area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.81 to $39.11.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Denver?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,850 to $12,500 and premium work $16,400 to $24,100. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Denver
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.