Bathroom remodel cost in Chicago, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $5,850 – $29,100
- Per sq ft
- $126 – $629
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +25%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #2
- 1 = most expensive
Chicago homeowners pay roughly $5,850 to $29,100 to remodel a bathroom at 45 sq ft, or $126 to $629 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Chicago is 25% higher. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $49.70 an hour in the Chicago area, 62% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Chicago, IL, standard level
$12,900 to $22,200
About $277 to $478 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,800 | $8,250 |
| Labor | $7,700 | $13,300 |
| Permits and fees | $390 | $640 |
| Total | $12,900 | $22,200 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Chicago, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,150 | $6,500 | $10,900 | 37% |
| Labor | $3,500 | $10,500 | $17,500 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $520 | $830 | 3% |
| Total | $5,850 | $17,500 | $29,100 | 100% |
Where the Chicago price comes from
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 $49.70 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Chicago is 1.41 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 60% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Chicago metro is 107.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $6,500, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (103.6) and land at $210 to $830.
Cost by quality level and size in Chicago
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Chicago 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
$5,850 to $15,200
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$12,900 to $22,200
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$19,800 to $29,100
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,700 – $7,000 | $5,950 – $10,200 | $9,150 – $13,400 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $5,250 – $13,500 | $11,500 – $19,800 | $17,700 – $26,000 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $7,750 – $20,100 | $17,000 – $29,300 | $26,200 – $38,600 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $12,800 – $33,200 | $28,100 – $48,500 | $43,400 – $63,700 |
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 Chicago is 1.41 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $49.70 an hour, which is 62% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $35.72 and $58.91 an hour. BLS counts 12,750 of them working in the area, 28.2 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 $35.90 an hour, which is 34% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.90 and $48.52 an hour. BLS counts 550 of them working in the area, 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 $38.68 an hour, which is 33% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.26 and $54.79 an hour. BLS counts 14,220 of them working in the area, 31.5 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 $49.21 an hour, 62% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $35.77 and $57.05 an hour. About 17,720 work in the metro. That is 39.3 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 $33.23 an hour, 17% above the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $26.61 and $53.07 an hour. About 540 work in the metro. That is 1.2 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 $29.68 an hour, which is 25% above the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $23.54 and $46.08 an hour. BLS counts 5,480 of them working in the area, 12.1 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 ($58.91 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $560. At the 25th percentile ($35.72) it shrinks by about $850. The total moves by 3.2% or 4.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 4,513,280 jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area. That makes it the 3rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 2.90% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $35.72 | $49.70 | $58.91 | $30.67 | 1.62 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $23.90 | $35.90 | $48.52 | $26.77 | 1.34 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $28.26 | $38.68 | $54.79 | $29.12 | 1.33 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $35.77 | $49.21 | $57.05 | $30.38 | 1.62 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $26.61 | $33.23 | $53.07 | $28.33 | 1.17 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $23.54 | $29.68 | $46.08 | $23.75 | 1.25 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.41 | |||||
Bathroom remodel: what moves the price in Chicago
Permit
A bathroom remodel permit is $200-$800, more if you move walls (HomeGuide).
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.
Related projects, priced for Chicago
Because every project leans on different trades, Chicago's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +30% and window replacement +10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,300 – $3,550 | +30% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $21,000 – $35,800 | +14% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,950 – $17,300 | +22% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,000 – $16,500 | +10% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $360 – $1,750 | +18% |
How Chicago compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 45 sq ft range from $13,000 to $17,500 across Chicago and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, ILthis page | $5,850 – $29,100 | $17,500 | |
| Niles, MI55 miles | $4,400 – $21,700 | $13,000 | −26% |
| Kenosha, WI55 miles | $5,100 – $25,200 | $15,100 | −14% |
| Racine, WI70 miles | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | −17% |
| Rockford, IL75 miles | $5,350 – $26,500 | $15,900 | −9% |
| Milwaukee, WI80 miles | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | −15% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $5,650 – $27,900 | $16,800 | −4% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −20% |
Across 300 US metros, Chicago comes in at #2 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Chicago is 4% above the Illinois figure.
Other Illinois metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $5,150 – $25,700 | $15,400 | −12% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $5,350 – $26,500 | $15,900 | −9% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $5,400 – $26,700 | $16,100 | −8% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $5,300 – $26,300 | $15,800 | −10% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $5,000 – $24,900 | $14,900 | −15% |
Cities with a workforce like Chicago's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chicago against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $5,200 – $25,700 | $15,500 | −12% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $4,500 – $22,200 | $13,300 | −24% |
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $5,450 – $26,900 | $16,200 | −8% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $4,400 – $21,900 | $13,200 | −25% |
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Bathroom remodel in Chicago: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Chicago?
For 45 sq ft, expect $5,850 to $29,100 in the Chicago area. A standard-spec job lands at $12,900 to $22,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Chicago?
About $126 to $629 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $210 to $830 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Chicago or Niles?
Niles is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $13,000, which is 26% less than Chicago ($17,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chicago?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $10,500 out of $17,500. Materials are 37% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Chicago?
$7,750 to $38,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Chicago?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $210 to $830 for fees in the Chicago area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chicago expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Illinois?
Chicago is 4% above the Illinois statewide estimate ($16,800 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Illinois; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Chicago?
The BLS median is $49.70 an hour in the Chicago area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $35.72 to $58.91.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Chicago?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $5,850 to $15,200 and premium work $19,800 to $29,100. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Chicago
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.