Bathroom remodel cost in Fort Collins, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,600 – $22,800
- Per sq ft
- $97.50 – $488
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #128
- 1 = most expensive
A bathroom remodel in Fort Collins, CO usually costs $4,600 to $22,800 for 45 sq ft. That works out to about $97.50 to $488 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. 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 Fort Collins, CO, standard level
$10,000 to $17,300
About $215 to $371 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,400 |
| Labor | $5,400 | $9,300 |
| Permits and fees | $380 | $630 |
| Total | $10,000 | $17,300 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Fort Collins, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,850 | $9,750 | 43% |
| Labor | $2,450 | $7,350 | $12,200 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $200 | $510 | $810 | 4% |
| Total | $4,600 | $13,700 | $22,800 | 100% |
Why Fort Collins prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, who do 25% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.14 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Fort Collins is 0.99 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 54% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Fort Collins is at 96.1 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,100 nationally becomes $5,850 here (midpoint, 45 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.1: $200 to $810.
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 Fort Collins. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in Fort Collins
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Fort Collins wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen backsplash comes out highest (−1%) and kitchen remodel lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $920 – $2,750 | −1% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,900 – $30,400 | −3% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,500 | −3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,600 | −2% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $300 – $1,500 | −1% |
What local crews earn in Fort Collins
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 Fort Collins the blend is 0.99.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $29.14 an hour, 5% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.26 and $36.75 an hour. About 800 work in the metro. That is 47.2 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 Fort Collins 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 $28.04 an hour, 4% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.36 and $30.74 an hour. About 510 work in the metro. That is 30.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.52 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.52 and $36.33 an hour. BLS counts 830 of them working in the area, 49.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is about average.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.39 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $22.05 and $31.45 an hour. BLS counts 120 of them working in the area, 7.1 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 $23.51 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $21.88 and $27.93 an hour. About 270 work in the metro. That is 15.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $460 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $360. That is a swing of roughly 2.6% to 3.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Fort Collins-Loveland has 169,430 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 138th 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% | $23.26 | $29.14 | $36.75 | $30.67 | 0.95 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $17.40 | $27.74 | $34.59 | $26.77 | 1.04 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $23.36 | $28.04 | $30.74 | $29.12 | 0.96 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.52 | $29.52 | $36.33 | $30.38 | 0.97 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $22.05 | $29.39 | $31.45 | $28.33 | 1.04 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $21.88 | $23.51 | $27.93 | $23.75 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
How Fort Collins compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Fort Collins. Colorado Springs is the lowest at about $13,400 (midpoint, 45 sq ft), 135 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins, COthis page | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | |
| Boulder, CO40 miles | $4,700 – $23,200 | $14,000 | +2% |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $4,600 – $22,700 | $13,600 | level |
| Cheyenne, WY60 miles | $4,500 – $22,400 | $13,400 | −2% |
| Denver, CO90 miles | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +6% |
| Colorado Springs, CO135 miles | $4,500 – $22,300 | $13,400 | −2% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $4,750 – $23,500 | $14,100 | +3% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Fort Collins ranks #128 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Fort Collins is 3% below the Colorado figure.
Elsewhere in Colorado
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +6% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $4,500 – $22,300 | $13,400 | −2% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $4,700 – $23,200 | $14,000 | +2% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $4,600 – $22,700 | $13,600 | level |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $4,600 – $22,700 | $13,600 | level |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Collins against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 170,820 jobs | $4,250 – $21,100 | $12,700 | −8% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 168,700 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +6% |
| Visalia, CA | 171,140 jobs | $4,900 – $24,300 | $14,600 | +7% |
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $4,000 – $19,900 | $12,000 | −13% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Fort Collins bid
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).
Cost by quality level and size in Fort Collins
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Fort Collins. 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
$4,600 to $11,900
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,000 to $17,300
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$15,500 to $22,800
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,150 – $5,500 | $4,700 – $8,050 | $7,200 – $10,600 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,100 – $10,600 | $9,000 – $15,500 | $13,800 – $20,300 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,050 – $15,700 | $13,300 – $22,900 | $20,500 – $30,100 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $9,950 – $25,800 | $21,900 – $37,700 | $33,800 – $49,600 |
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Bathroom remodel in Fort Collins: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Fort Collins?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,600 to $22,800 in the Fort Collins area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,000 to $17,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Fort Collins?
About $97.50 to $488 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $200 to $810 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Fort Collins or Boulder?
Boulder is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $14,000, which is 2% more than Fort Collins ($13,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Collins?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $7,350 out of $13,700. Materials are 43% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Fort Collins?
$6,050 to $30,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Fort Collins?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $200 to $810 for fees in the Fort Collins area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Collins expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Colorado?
Fort Collins is 3% 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 Fort Collins?
The BLS median is $29.14 an hour in the Fort Collins area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.26 to $36.75.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Fort Collins?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,600 to $11,900 and premium work $15,500 to $22,800. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Fort Collins
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.