Bathroom remodel cost in Bowling Green, KY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,350 – $21,500
- Per sq ft
- $92.50 – $462
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #188
- 1 = most expensive
A bathroom remodel in Bowling Green, KY usually costs $4,350 to $21,500 for 45 sq ft. That works out to about $92.50 to $462 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,100 less. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $30.89 an hour in the Bowling Green area, 1% above the US median of $30.67.
Estimate your bathroom remodel cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Bowling Green, KY, standard level
$9,500 to $16,300
About $203 to $351 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,400 |
| Labor | $4,850 | $8,400 |
| Permits and fees | $340 | $560 |
| Total | $9,500 | $16,300 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Bowling Green, KY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,850 | $9,750 | 45% |
| Labor | $2,200 | $6,600 | $11,000 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $450 | $720 | 3% |
| Total | $4,350 | $12,900 | $21,500 | 100% |
Where the Bowling Green price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 6 trades: plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 25%, tile and stone setters at 25%, carpenters at 20%, electricians at 10%, drywall and ceiling tile installers at 10%, painters, construction and maintenance at 10%. Weighted together, Bowling Green wages are 0.89 times the national level. Labor makes up about 51% of the midpoint estimate (53% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bowling Green is at 96.2 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 90.2: $180 to $720.
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 Bowling Green. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Bowling Green cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (45 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Evansville is the priciest of the group at $14,400. Clarksville is the cheapest at $12,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KYthis page | $4,350 – $21,500 | $12,900 | |
| Nashville, TN70 miles | $4,350 – $21,600 | $13,000 | +1% |
| Clarksville, TN70 miles | $4,200 – $20,800 | $12,500 | −3% |
| Louisville, KY90 miles | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | +5% |
| Evansville, IN95 miles | $4,800 – $23,900 | $14,400 | +11% |
| Lexington, KY130 miles | $4,350 – $21,600 | $13,000 | +1% |
| Kentucky (statewide) | $4,400 – $21,700 | $13,100 | +1% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bowling Green ranks #188 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bowling Green is 1% below the Kentucky figure.
Elsewhere in Kentucky
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | +5% |
| Lexington, KY | 286,910 jobs | $4,350 – $21,600 | $13,000 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bowling Green against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $4,150 – $20,600 | $12,400 | −4% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $4,200 – $20,700 | $12,400 | −4% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $4,450 – $22,200 | $13,300 | +3% |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $4,150 – $20,600 | $12,400 | −4% |
Bathroom remodel: what moves the price in Bowling Green
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.
What local crews earn in Bowling Green
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 Bowling Green the blend is 0.89.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $30.89 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.41 and $42.62 an hour. About 160 work in the metro. That is 19.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bowling Green metro, so we used the Kentucky statewide median: $22.78 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.35 and $24.76 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $25.33 an hour, 13% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.62 and $25.33 an hour. About 480 work in the metro. That is 58.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $26.80 an hour, which is 12% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.33 and $33.00 an hour. BLS counts 480 of them working in the area, 58.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bowling Green metro, so we used the Kentucky statewide median: $23.24 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.92 and $27.76 an hour.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 10% of the weighting: a median of $19.52 an hour, 18% below the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $16.84 and $22.00 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 6.1 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 $710 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $450. That is a swing of roughly 3.5% to 5.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bowling Green has 82,160 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 231st 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% | $23.41 | $30.89 | $42.62 | $30.67 | 1.01 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $20.35 | $22.78 | $24.76 | $26.77 | 0.85 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $22.62 | $25.33 | $25.33 | $29.12 | 0.87 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.33 | $26.80 | $33.00 | $30.38 | 0.88 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $19.92 | $23.24 | $27.76 | $28.33 | 0.82 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $16.84 | $19.52 | $22.00 | $23.75 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Bowling Green?
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bowling Green wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and kitchen backsplash lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,700 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,800 | −8% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,200 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,400 | −8% |
Cost by quality level and size in Bowling Green
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bowling Green. 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
$4,350 to $11,200
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$9,500 to $16,300
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$14,600 to $21,500
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,050 – $5,200 | $4,400 – $7,550 | $6,800 – $9,950 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $3,850 – $10,000 | $8,450 – $14,600 | $13,100 – $19,200 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $5,700 – $14,800 | $12,500 – $21,600 | $19,300 – $28,400 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $9,400 – $24,400 | $20,700 – $35,600 | $31,900 – $46,900 |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $9,500 to $16,300 for Bowling Green, KY is attached.
Detailed bathroom remodel report for Bowling Green, KY, $9
The report lays out the bathroom remodel numbers for Bowling Green, KY 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 Bowling Green: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Bowling Green?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,350 to $21,500 in the Bowling Green area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,500 to $16,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Bowling Green?
About $92.50 to $462 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $180 to $720 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Bowling Green or Nashville?
Nashville is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $13,000, which is 1% more than Bowling Green ($12,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bowling Green?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $6,600 out of $12,900. Materials are 45% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Bowling Green?
$5,700 to $28,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Bowling Green?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $180 to $720 for fees in the Bowling Green area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bowling Green expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Kentucky?
Bowling Green is 1% below the Kentucky statewide estimate ($13,100 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Kentucky; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Bowling Green?
The BLS median is $30.89 an hour in the Bowling Green area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.41 to $42.62.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Bowling Green?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,350 to $11,200 and premium work $14,600 to $21,500. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Bowling Green
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.