Bathroom remodel cost in Baltimore, MD
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,600 – $22,900
- Per sq ft
- $98 – $490
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #123
- 1 = most expensive
A bathroom remodel in Baltimore, MD usually costs $4,600 to $22,900 for 45 sq ft. That works out to about $98 to $490 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $30.38 an hour in the Baltimore area, 1% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Baltimore, MD, standard level
$10,100 to $17,400
About $215 to $372 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,550 | $7,900 |
| Labor | $5,150 | $8,850 |
| Permits and fees | $400 | $650 |
| Total | $10,100 | $17,400 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Baltimore, MD
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,050 | $6,200 | $10,400 | 45% |
| Labor | $2,350 | $7,000 | $11,700 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $520 | $840 | 4% |
| Total | $4,600 | $13,700 | $22,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Baltimore number
The wage side of the estimate leans on plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, who do 25% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $30.38 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Baltimore is 0.94 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 51% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Baltimore is at 102.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,100 nationally becomes $6,200 here (midpoint, 45 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 104.5: $210 to $840.
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 Baltimore. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Baltimore quotes can differ
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).
Size
HomeGuide's average-size bathroom comes to $3,500-$25,000+; per square foot it's $100-$500.
What local crews earn in Baltimore
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 Baltimore the blend is 0.94.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $30.38 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $26.38 and $39.76 an hour. About 5,220 work in the metro. That is 38.5 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 Baltimore metro, so we used the Maryland statewide median: $21.96 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.57 and $25.00 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $29.99 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.96 and $36.06 an hour. About 3,870 work in the metro. That is 28.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $31.54 an hour, which is 4% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $26.96 and $44.20 an hour. BLS counts 6,930 of them working in the area, 51.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is about average.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.41 an hour, which is 17% below the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $19.01 and $27.58 an hour. BLS counts 470 of them working in the area, 3.5 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 $23.36 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $22.29 and $28.73 an hour. About 1,460 work in the metro. That is 10.8 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 $570 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $240. That is a swing of roughly 1.8% to 4.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has 1,356,680 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 22nd 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% | $26.38 | $30.38 | $39.76 | $30.67 | 0.99 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $18.57 | $21.96 | $25.00 | $26.77 | 0.82 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $24.96 | $29.99 | $36.06 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $26.96 | $31.54 | $44.20 | $30.38 | 1.04 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $19.01 | $23.41 | $27.58 | $28.33 | 0.83 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $22.29 | $23.36 | $28.73 | $23.75 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Is Baltimore cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Baltimore. Dover is the lowest at about $13,200 (midpoint, 45 sq ft), 60 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MDthis page | $4,600 – $22,900 | $13,700 | |
| York, PA45 miles | $4,950 – $24,700 | $14,800 | +8% |
| Lancaster, PA55 miles | $4,800 – $23,700 | $14,200 | +4% |
| Dover, DE60 miles | $4,450 – $22,000 | $13,200 | −4% |
| Washington, DC60 miles | $4,900 – $24,200 | $14,500 | +6% |
| Lexington Park, MD70 miles | $4,550 – $22,400 | $13,500 | −2% |
| Maryland (statewide) | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +2% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Baltimore ranks #123 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Baltimore is 2% below the Maryland figure.
Elsewhere in Maryland
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown, MD | 107,170 jobs | $4,350 – $21,500 | $12,900 | −6% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $4,550 – $22,400 | $13,500 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Baltimore against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $4,300 – $21,200 | $12,700 | −7% |
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $5,100 – $25,300 | $15,200 | +11% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | −8% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $4,300 – $21,400 | $12,900 | −6% |
What nearby projects cost in Baltimore
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Baltimore wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+3%) and kitchen backsplash lowest (−5%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,700 | −4% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,800 – $32,000 | +2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,350 – $14,400 | +3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,600 – $15,400 | +3% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $280 – $1,450 | −5% |
Baltimore: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Baltimore. 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
$4,600 to $11,900
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,100 to $17,400
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$15,600 to $22,900
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,150 – $5,550 | $4,700 – $8,100 | $7,250 – $10,600 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,150 – $10,600 | $9,000 – $15,500 | $13,900 – $20,400 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,100 – $15,700 | $13,300 – $23,000 | $20,600 – $30,200 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,000 – $25,900 | $21,900 – $37,900 | $33,900 – $49,800 |
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Bathroom remodel in Baltimore: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Baltimore?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,600 to $22,900 in the Baltimore area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,100 to $17,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Baltimore?
About $98 to $490 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $210 to $840 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Baltimore or York?
York is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $14,800, which is 8% more than Baltimore ($13,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Baltimore?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $7,000 out of $13,700. Materials are 45% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Baltimore?
$6,100 to $30,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Baltimore?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $210 to $840 for fees in the Baltimore area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Baltimore expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Maryland?
Baltimore is 2% below the Maryland statewide estimate ($14,000 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Maryland; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Baltimore?
The BLS median is $30.38 an hour in the Baltimore area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.38 to $39.76.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Baltimore?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,600 to $11,900 and premium work $15,600 to $22,900. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Baltimore
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.