Bathroom remodel cost in Portland, ME
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,950 – $24,600
- Per sq ft
- $106 – $528
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #70
- 1 = most expensive
A bathroom remodel in Portland, ME usually costs $4,950 to $24,600 for 45 sq ft. That works out to about $106 to $528 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $770 more. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $31.01 an hour in the Portland area, 1% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Portland, ME, standard level
$10,800 to $18,700
About $232 to $401 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,350 | $7,500 |
| Labor | $6,150 | $10,600 |
| Permits and fees | $390 | $630 |
| Total | $10,800 | $18,700 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Portland, ME
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,900 | $9,850 | 40% |
| Labor | $2,800 | $8,350 | $13,900 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $200 | $510 | $810 | 3% |
| Total | $4,950 | $14,800 | $24,600 | 100% |
Where the Portland 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, Portland wages are 1.13 times the national level. Labor makes up about 57% of the midpoint estimate (53% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Portland is at 97.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,100 nationally becomes $5,900 here (midpoint, 45 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.9: $200 to $810.
Data note: 25% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Portland. The wage table below marks each row.
Portland against nearby metros and the rest of Maine
Same job, same size (45 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Boston is the priciest of the group at $16,700. Manchester is the cheapest at $13,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, MEthis page | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | |
| Manchester, NH85 miles | $4,650 – $23,100 | $13,900 | −6% |
| Boston, MA85 miles | $5,600 – $27,800 | $16,700 | +13% |
| Worcester, MA120 miles | $5,100 – $25,400 | $15,300 | +3% |
| Barnstable, MA135 miles | $5,250 – $26,000 | $15,600 | +6% |
| Providence, RI140 miles | $4,800 – $23,900 | $14,400 | −3% |
| Maine (statewide) | $4,900 – $24,400 | $14,700 | −1% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Portland ranks #70 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Portland is 1% above the Maine figure.
Elsewhere in Maine
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $4,750 – $23,500 | $14,100 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $5,050 – $24,900 | $15,000 | +1% |
| Lexington, KY | 286,910 jobs | $4,350 – $21,600 | $13,000 | −12% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | −9% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $5,000 – $24,900 | $14,900 | +1% |
Related projects, priced for Portland
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Portland wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen backsplash comes out highest (+9%) and window replacement lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $2,950 | +7% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,400 – $31,400 | level |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,400 | +2% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,350 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $330 – $1,600 | +9% |
Portland: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Portland. 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
$4,950 to $12,800
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,800 to $18,700
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,700 to $24,600
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,300 – $5,950 | $5,050 – $8,650 | $7,750 – $11,400 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,450 – $11,400 | $9,700 – $16,700 | $14,900 – $21,900 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,550 – $16,900 | $14,300 – $24,700 | $22,100 – $32,500 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,800 – $27,900 | $23,600 – $40,800 | $36,500 – $53,600 |
Why two Portland quotes can differ
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 local crews earn in Portland
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 Portland the blend is 1.13.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $31.01 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $30.51 and $36.97 an hour. About 1,740 work in the metro. That is 60.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Portland 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.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $30.91 an hour, 6% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.45 and $35.95 an hour. About 2,230 work in the metro. That is 77.3 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 $34.45 an hour, which is 13% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $30.72 and $38.12 an hour. BLS counts 1,870 of them working in the area, 64.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.72 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $26.59 and $31.76 an hour. BLS counts 70 of them working in the area, 2.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.35 an hour, 28% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $26.05 and $31.01 an hour. About 1,550 work in the metro. That is 53.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $360 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $30. That is a swing of roughly 0.2% to 2.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Portland-South Portland has 288,480 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 89th 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% | $30.51 | $31.01 | $36.97 | $30.67 | 1.01 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $31.33 | $34.00 | $44.08 | $26.77 | 1.27 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $28.45 | $30.91 | $35.95 | $29.12 | 1.06 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $30.72 | $34.45 | $38.12 | $30.38 | 1.13 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $26.59 | $28.72 | $31.76 | $28.33 | 1.01 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $26.05 | $30.35 | $31.01 | $23.75 | 1.28 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
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Bathroom remodel in Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Portland?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,950 to $24,600 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,800 to $18,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Portland?
About $106 to $528 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $200 to $810 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Portland or Manchester?
Manchester is 85 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $13,900, which is 6% less than Portland ($14,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $8,350 out of $14,800. Materials are 40% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Portland?
$6,550 to $32,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Portland?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $200 to $810 for fees in the Portland area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Maine?
Portland is 1% above 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 Portland?
The BLS median is $31.01 an hour in the Portland area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.51 to $36.97.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Portland?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,950 to $12,800 and premium work $16,700 to $24,600. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Portland
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.