Bathroom remodel cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (45 sq ft)
- $4,450 – $22,200
- Per sq ft
- $95.50 – $477
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $14,000
- Metros covered
- 7
Across Iowa, a bathroom remodel costs about $4,450 to $22,200 for 45 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 5% below the US figure of $14,000. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median $30.72 an hour in Iowa (US: $30.67).
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $13,000 (Iowa City) to $14,200 (Davenport) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Iowa (statewide), standard level
$9,800 to $16,900
About $210 to $363 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $7,200 |
| Labor | $5,250 | $9,100 |
| Permits and fees | $330 | $540 |
| Total | $9,800 | $16,900 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $5,700 | $9,500 | 43% |
| Labor | $2,400 | $7,200 | $12,000 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $440 | $700 | 3% |
| Total | $4,450 | $13,300 | $22,200 | 100% |
Iowa against its neighbors
Iowa ranks 30 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for bathroom remodel, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $17,800 and the cheapest Arkansas at $11,700, both for 45 sq ft at the midpoint. Iowa sits at $13,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 190 miles away | $4,450 – $22,000 | $13,200 | −1% |
| Missouri | 220 miles away | $4,750 – $23,600 | $14,200 | +6% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $4,900 – $24,300 | $14,600 | +9% |
| Minnesota | 240 miles away | $5,300 – $26,400 | $15,800 | +19% |
| Illinois | 240 miles away | $5,650 – $27,900 | $16,800 | +26% |
Bathroom remodel: what moves the price in Iowa
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.
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).
What plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters and the other trades earn in Iowa
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 6 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.97 for Iowa.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $30.72 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.95 and $41.02 an hour. BLS counts 5,730 of them working in the state, 36.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 25%) the local median is $26.13 an hour, which is in line with the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.11 and $34.11 an hour. BLS counts 240 of them working in the state, 1.5 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 $27.75 an hour, which is 5% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.91 and $31.69 an hour. BLS counts 5,770 of them working in the state, 37.0 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 $29.26 an hour, 4% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $38.45 an hour. About 10,310 work in the state. That is 66.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $24.53 an hour, 13% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $21.54 and $29.70 an hour. About 290 work in the state. That is 1.9 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 $23.90 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $20.70 and $29.54 an hour. BLS counts 1,770 of them working in the state, 11.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters ($41.02 an hour) would add about $620 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($24.95) would take off about $350. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $24.95 | $30.72 | $41.02 | $30.67 | 1.00 | state |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $23.11 | $26.13 | $34.11 | $26.77 | 0.98 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $22.91 | $27.75 | $31.69 | $29.12 | 0.95 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.31 | $29.26 | $38.45 | $30.38 | 0.96 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $21.54 | $24.53 | $29.70 | $28.33 | 0.87 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $20.70 | $23.90 | $29.54 | $23.75 | 1.01 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
If you are planning more than one job in Iowa
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Iowa wages and prices. Against national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (−4%) and kitchen remodel lowest (−6%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $910 – $2,650 | −4% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $13,200 | −6% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,300 – $14,300 | −5% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $290 – $1,450 | −5% |
Quality levels and sizes in Iowa
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Iowa wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$4,450 to $11,600
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$9,800 to $16,900
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$15,100 to $22,200
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,100 – $5,350 | $4,550 – $7,800 | $7,000 – $10,200 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,000 – $10,300 | $8,750 – $15,100 | $13,500 – $19,800 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $5,900 – $15,300 | $12,900 – $22,300 | $20,000 – $29,300 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $9,700 – $25,200 | $21,300 – $36,800 | $32,900 – $48,400 |
Iowa metro-by-metro prices
3 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $13,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 9%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (45 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | $4,750 – $23,600 | $14,200 | +6% |
| Des Moines, IA | $4,650 – $23,100 | $13,900 | +4% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $4,600 – $22,900 | $13,700 | +3% |
| Waterloo, IA | $4,450 – $22,200 | $13,300 | level |
| Dubuque, IA | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | $4,400 – $21,900 | $13,200 | −1% |
| Iowa City, IA | $4,350 – $21,600 | $13,000 | −3% |
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Detailed bathroom remodel report for Iowa, $9
The report lays out the bathroom remodel numbers for Iowa line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Bathroom remodel in Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Iowa?
$4,450 to $22,200 for 45 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for bathroom remodel?
Iowa City at about $13,000 (midpoint, 45 sq ft). The priciest is Davenport at $14,200.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 5% cheaper: $13,300 against $14,000 for 45 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 54% ($7,200). Materials are 43%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.97x the national wage level.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $30.72 an hour, against $30.67 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.95 to $41.02.
+Where does Iowa rank for bathroom remodel costs?
30th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $13,300 for 45 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Iowa?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,450 to $11,600 and premium work $15,100 to $22,200. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel by city in Iowa
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.