Bathroom remodel cost in Bangor, ME
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,750 – $23,500
- Per sq ft
- $101 – $506
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #112
- 1 = most expensive
Bangor homeowners pay roughly $4,750 to $23,500 to remodel a bathroom at 45 sq ft, or $101 to $506 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Bangor is almost level. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $28.92 an hour in the Bangor area, 6% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Bangor, ME, standard level
$10,400 to $17,900
About $222 to $384 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,350 | $7,500 |
| Labor | $5,700 | $9,800 |
| Permits and fees | $370 | $600 |
| Total | $10,400 | $17,900 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Bangor, ME
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,900 | $9,850 | 42% |
| Labor | $2,600 | $7,750 | $12,900 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $480 | $770 | 3% |
| Total | $4,750 | $14,100 | $23,500 | 100% |
Where the Bangor price comes from
Labor is 55% 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 Bangor the blended ratio comes out at 1.04.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bangor metro is 97.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $5,900, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (96.5) and land at $190 to $770.
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 Bangor. The wage table below marks each row.
Bangor against nearby metros and the rest of Maine
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Bangor. Manchester is the lowest at about $13,900 (midpoint, 45 sq ft), 230 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, MEthis page | $4,750 – $23,500 | $14,100 | |
| Portland, ME150 miles | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | +4% |
| Burlington, VT220 miles | $4,750 – $23,700 | $14,200 | +1% |
| Manchester, NH230 miles | $4,650 – $23,100 | $13,900 | −2% |
| Boston, MA230 miles | $5,600 – $27,800 | $16,700 | +18% |
| Barnstable, MA265 miles | $5,250 – $26,000 | $15,600 | +10% |
| Maine (statewide) | $4,900 – $24,400 | $14,700 | +4% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Bangor comes in at #112 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Bangor is 4% below the Maine figure.
Other Maine metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 288,480 jobs | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | +4% |
Cities with a workforce like Bangor's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bangor against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 72,280 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | −9% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | +5% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $4,400 – $21,800 | $13,100 | −7% |
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +3% |
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 Bangor is 1.04 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $28.92 an hour, which is 6% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.31 and $34.14 an hour. BLS counts 220 of them working in the area, 30.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bangor metro, so we used the Maine statewide median: $34.00 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $31.33 and $44.08 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $27.45 an hour, which is 6% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.29 and $30.70 an hour. BLS counts 430 of them working in the area, 59.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.48 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $28.34 and $37.62 an hour. About 210 work in the metro. That is 29.1 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 Bangor metro, so we used the Maine statewide median: $28.89 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $25.17 and $30.98 an hour.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.65 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $23.08 and $25.95 an hour. BLS counts 70 of them working in the area, 9.7 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 ($34.14 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $320. At the 25th percentile ($24.31) it shrinks by about $280. The total moves by 2.2% or 2.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 72,270 jobs in the Bangor area. That makes it the 255th 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% | $24.31 | $28.92 | $34.14 | $30.67 | 0.94 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $31.33 | $34.00 | $44.08 | $26.77 | 1.27 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $23.29 | $27.45 | $30.70 | $29.12 | 0.94 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $28.34 | $30.48 | $37.62 | $30.38 | 1.00 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $25.17 | $28.89 | $30.98 | $28.33 | 1.02 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $23.08 | $23.65 | $25.95 | $23.75 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Bangor 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).
Bangor: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bangor 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
$4,750 to $12,300
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,400 to $17,900
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,000 to $23,500
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,200 – $5,700 | $4,800 – $8,300 | $7,400 – $10,900 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,250 – $10,900 | $9,250 – $16,000 | $14,300 – $21,000 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,250 – $16,200 | $13,700 – $23,700 | $21,200 – $31,100 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,300 – $26,700 | $22,600 – $39,000 | $34,900 – $51,300 |
Related projects, priced for Bangor
Because every project leans on different trades, Bangor's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen backsplash runs +8% and window replacement −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,900 | +5% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,100 – $30,700 | −2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,400 | −4% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,250 – $14,300 | −5% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $330 – $1,600 | +8% |
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Bathroom remodel in Bangor: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Bangor?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,750 to $23,500 in the Bangor area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,400 to $17,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Bangor?
About $101 to $506 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $190 to $770 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Bangor or Portland?
Portland is 150 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $14,800, which is 4% more than Bangor ($14,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bangor?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $7,750 out of $14,100. Materials are 42% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Bangor?
$6,250 to $31,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Bangor?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $190 to $770 for fees in the Bangor area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bangor expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Maine?
Bangor is 4% below the Maine statewide estimate ($14,700 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Maine; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Bangor?
The BLS median is $28.92 an hour in the Bangor area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.31 to $34.14.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Bangor?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,750 to $12,300 and premium work $16,000 to $23,500. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Bangor
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.