Bathroom remodel cost in Bloomington, IN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,800 – $23,900
- Per sq ft
- $103 – $514
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #101
- 1 = most expensive
Bloomington homeowners pay roughly $4,800 to $23,900 to remodel a bathroom at 45 sq ft, or $103 to $514 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Bloomington is almost level. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $46.63 an hour in the Bloomington area, 52% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Bloomington, IN, standard level
$10,500 to $18,200
About $226 to $390 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $7,250 |
| Labor | $5,950 | $10,300 |
| Permits and fees | $360 | $590 |
| Total | $10,500 | $18,200 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Bloomington, IN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $5,750 | $9,550 | 40% |
| Labor | $2,700 | $8,150 | $13,600 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $480 | $760 | 3% |
| Total | $4,800 | $14,300 | $23,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Bloomington number
Labor is 57% 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 Bloomington the blended ratio comes out at 1.10.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bloomington metro is 94.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $5,750, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (95.1) and land at $190 to $760.
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 Bloomington. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Bloomington quotes can differ
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: bathroom remodel pricing in Bloomington
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bloomington 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
$4,800 to $12,400
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,500 to $18,200
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,300 to $23,900
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,250 – $5,750 | $4,900 – $8,400 | $7,500 – $11,000 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,300 – $11,100 | $9,400 – $16,200 | $14,500 – $21,300 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,350 – $16,400 | $13,900 – $24,000 | $21,500 – $31,600 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,500 – $27,100 | $23,000 – $39,600 | $35,500 – $52,100 |
Planning more than one job in Bloomington?
Because every project leans on different trades, Bloomington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +9% and kitchen backsplash −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $3,000 | +9% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,900 – $30,500 | −3% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,100 | level |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,400 | −8% |
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 Bloomington is 1.10 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $46.63 an hour, which is 52% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $30.76 and $47.47 an hour. BLS counts 320 of them working in the area, 43.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bloomington metro, so we used the Indiana statewide median: $23.29 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.64 and $27.66 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $29.50 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.82 and $35.36 an hour. BLS counts 270 of them working in the area, 36.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $31.57 an hour, 4% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $24.25 and $44.46 an hour. About 210 work in the metro. That is 28.7 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 Bloomington metro, so we used the Indiana statewide median: $23.95 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.04 and $30.49 an hour.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $25.60 an hour, which is 8% above the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $22.26 and $28.68 an hour. BLS counts 90 of them working in the area, 12.3 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 ($47.47 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $50. At the 25th percentile ($30.76) it shrinks by about $960. The total moves by 0.4% or 6.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 73,240 jobs in the Bloomington area. That makes it the 251st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $30.76 | $46.63 | $47.47 | $30.67 | 1.52 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $20.64 | $23.29 | $27.66 | $26.77 | 0.87 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $23.82 | $29.50 | $35.36 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $24.25 | $31.57 | $44.46 | $30.38 | 1.04 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $22.04 | $23.95 | $30.49 | $28.33 | 0.85 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $22.26 | $25.60 | $28.68 | $23.75 | 1.08 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.10 | |||||
How Bloomington compares
Same job, same size (45 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Evansville is the priciest of the group at $14,400. Lafayette is the cheapest at $13,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, INthis page | $4,800 – $23,900 | $14,300 | |
| Terre Haute, IN40 miles | $4,750 – $23,500 | $14,100 | −2% |
| Indianapolis, IN50 miles | $4,700 – $23,400 | $14,000 | −2% |
| Louisville, KY90 miles | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | −6% |
| Lafayette, IN90 miles | $4,500 – $22,300 | $13,400 | −6% |
| Evansville, IN95 miles | $4,800 – $23,900 | $14,400 | level |
| Indiana (statewide) | $4,650 – $23,000 | $13,800 | −4% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Bloomington comes in at #101 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Bloomington is 4% above the Indiana figure.
Other Indiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $4,700 – $23,400 | $14,000 | −2% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $4,600 – $22,900 | $13,700 | −4% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $4,800 – $23,900 | $14,400 | level |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | −4% |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $4,450 – $22,200 | $13,300 | −7% |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $4,500 – $22,300 | $13,400 | −6% |
Cities with a workforce like Bloomington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bloomington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $5,700 – $28,400 | $17,100 | +19% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $4,100 – $20,400 | $12,300 | −14% |
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | −11% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $4,400 – $21,800 | $13,100 | −8% |
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Bathroom remodel in Bloomington: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Bloomington?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,800 to $23,900 in the Bloomington area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,500 to $18,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Bloomington?
About $103 to $514 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $190 to $760 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Bloomington or Terre Haute?
Terre Haute is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $14,100, which is 2% less than Bloomington ($14,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bloomington?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $8,150 out of $14,300. Materials are 40% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Bloomington?
$6,350 to $31,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Bloomington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $190 to $760 for fees in the Bloomington area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bloomington expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Indiana?
Bloomington is 4% above the Indiana statewide estimate ($13,800 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Indiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Bloomington?
The BLS median is $46.63 an hour in the Bloomington area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.76 to $47.47.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Bloomington?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,800 to $12,400 and premium work $16,300 to $23,900. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Bloomington
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.