Bathroom remodel cost in Kansas City, MO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,700 – $23,400
- Per sq ft
- $101 – $504
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #117
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to remodel a bathroom in Kansas City, plan on $4,700 to $23,400 for 45 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $101 to $504 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $36.61 an hour in the Kansas City area, 19% 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 Kansas City, MO, standard level
$10,300 to $17,800
About $222 to $383 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $7,250 |
| Labor | $5,800 | $10,000 |
| Permits and fees | $350 | $570 |
| Total | $10,300 | $17,800 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Kansas City, MO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $5,700 | $9,550 | 41% |
| Labor | $2,650 | $7,900 | $13,100 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $460 | $740 | 3% |
| Total | $4,700 | $14,100 | $23,400 | 100% |
Where the Kansas City price comes from
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 $36.61 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Kansas City is 1.06 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 56% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Kansas City metro is 94.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $5,700, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.5) and land at $190 to $740.
Cost by quality level and size in Kansas City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Kansas City 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
$4,700 to $12,200
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,300 to $17,800
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$15,900 to $23,400
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,200 – $5,650 | $4,800 – $8,250 | $7,350 – $10,800 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,200 – $10,900 | $9,200 – $15,900 | $14,200 – $20,900 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,250 – $16,100 | $13,600 – $23,500 | $21,100 – $31,000 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,300 – $26,600 | $22,500 – $38,800 | $34,800 – $51,100 |
Why two Kansas City 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.
How Kansas City compares
Same job, same size (45 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Kansas City is the priciest of the group. Springfield is the cheapest at $12,700.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MOthis page | $4,700 – $23,400 | $14,100 | |
| Topeka, KS75 miles | $4,500 – $22,300 | $13,400 | −5% |
| Columbia, MO100 miles | $4,500 – $22,400 | $13,500 | −4% |
| Joplin, MO125 miles | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | −4% |
| Springfield, MO130 miles | $4,250 – $21,200 | $12,700 | −10% |
| Jefferson City, MO130 miles | $4,500 – $22,300 | $13,400 | −5% |
| Missouri (statewide) | $4,750 – $23,600 | $14,200 | +1% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Kansas City comes in at #117 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Kansas City is 1% below the Missouri figure.
Other Missouri metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $5,100 – $25,300 | $15,200 | +8% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $4,250 – $21,200 | $12,700 | −10% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $4,500 – $22,400 | $13,500 | −4% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | −4% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $4,500 – $22,300 | $13,400 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Kansas City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Kansas City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $4,350 – $21,600 | $13,000 | −8% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $5,050 – $25,100 | $15,100 | +7% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | −5% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | −4% |
What nearby projects cost in Kansas City
Because every project leans on different trades, Kansas City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +3% and window replacement −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,850 | +3% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,800 – $30,300 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,000 | level |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,350 – $14,400 | −4% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $290 – $1,450 | −2% |
Kansas City labor market for bathroom remodel
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 Kansas City is 1.06 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $36.61 an hour, which is 19% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $27.42 and $47.59 an hour. BLS counts 3,740 of them working in the area, 34.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 25%) the local median is $27.45 an hour, which is in line with the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $24.21 and $30.31 an hour. BLS counts 290 of them working in the area, 2.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $29.72 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.13 and $39.30 an hour. BLS counts 4,540 of them working in the area, 41.4 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 $36.95 an hour, 22% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $25.41 and $46.85 an hour. About 5,400 work in the metro. That is 49.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.46 an hour, 21% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $17.25 and $30.09 an hour. About 530 work in the metro. That is 4.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.07 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $21.64 and $30.43 an hour. BLS counts 1,330 of them working in the area, 12.1 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 ($47.59 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $660. At the 25th percentile ($27.42) it shrinks by about $560. The total moves by 4.7% or 4.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,096,110 jobs in the Kansas City area. That makes it the 34th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.70% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $27.42 | $36.61 | $47.59 | $30.67 | 1.19 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $24.21 | $27.45 | $30.31 | $26.77 | 1.03 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $24.13 | $29.72 | $39.30 | $29.12 | 1.02 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $25.41 | $36.95 | $46.85 | $30.38 | 1.22 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $17.25 | $22.46 | $30.09 | $28.33 | 0.79 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $21.64 | $24.07 | $30.43 | $23.75 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
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 $10,300 to $17,800 for Kansas City, MO is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the bathroom remodel numbers for Kansas City, MO 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 Kansas City: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Kansas City?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,700 to $23,400 in the Kansas City area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,300 to $17,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Kansas City?
About $101 to $504 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $190 to $740 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Kansas City or Topeka?
Topeka is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $13,400, which is 5% less than Kansas City ($14,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Kansas City?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $7,900 out of $14,100. Materials are 41% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Kansas City?
$6,250 to $31,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Kansas City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $190 to $740 for fees in the Kansas City area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Kansas City expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Missouri?
Kansas City is 1% below the Missouri statewide estimate ($14,200 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Missouri; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Kansas City?
The BLS median is $36.61 an hour in the Kansas City area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.42 to $47.59.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Kansas City?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,700 to $12,200 and premium work $15,900 to $23,400. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Kansas City
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.