Bathroom remodel cost in Durham, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,300 – $21,300
- Per sq ft
- $91.50 – $457
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #204
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a bathroom remodel in the Durham area: $4,300 to $21,300 for 45 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 8% lower than the US figure. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $28.90 an hour in the Durham area, 6% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Durham, NC, standard level
$9,400 to $16,200
About $201 to $347 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,450 |
| Labor | $4,750 | $8,200 |
| Permits and fees | $370 | $600 |
| Total | $9,400 | $16,200 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Durham, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,850 | $9,800 | 46% |
| Labor | $2,150 | $6,450 | $10,800 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $200 | $490 | $780 | 4% |
| Total | $4,300 | $12,800 | $21,300 | 100% |
Where the Durham 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, Durham wages are 0.87 times the national level. Labor makes up about 50% of the midpoint estimate (53% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Durham is at 96.6 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 97.6: $200 to $780.
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 Durham. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Durham cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 45 sq ft range from $12,300 to $12,800 across Durham and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | |
| Burlington, NC15 miles | $4,200 – $20,700 | $12,400 | −3% |
| Greensboro, NC40 miles | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | level |
| Raleigh, NC40 miles | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | level |
| Fayetteville, NC65 miles | $4,150 – $20,500 | $12,300 | −4% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $4,150 – $20,500 | $12,300 | −4% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | −2% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Durham ranks #204 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Durham is 2% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $4,300 – $21,200 | $12,700 | −1% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | level |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $4,150 – $20,500 | $12,300 | −4% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $4,300 – $21,200 | $12,700 | −1% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $4,300 – $21,400 | $12,800 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Durham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $5,100 – $25,400 | $15,300 | +19% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | level |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $3,950 – $19,600 | $11,800 | −8% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $4,000 – $19,900 | $12,000 | −7% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: bathroom remodel pricing in Durham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Durham. 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
$4,300 to $11,100
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$9,400 to $16,200
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$14,500 to $21,300
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,000 – $5,200 | $4,400 – $7,550 | $6,750 – $9,900 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $3,850 – $9,950 | $8,400 – $14,500 | $13,000 – $19,100 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $5,700 – $14,700 | $12,400 – $21,400 | $19,200 – $28,200 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $9,350 – $24,200 | $20,500 – $35,300 | $31,600 – $46,500 |
Who does the work: Durham trade wages
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 Durham the blend is 0.87.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $28.90 an hour, 6% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.25 and $31.27 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 18.0 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 Durham metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $21.47 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $24.36 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $24.78 an hour, 15% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.40 and $29.03 an hour. About 520 work in the metro. That is 15.1 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 $28.47 an hour, which is 6% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.95 and $30.77 an hour. BLS counts 1,160 of them working in the area, 33.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Durham metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $21.67 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.43 and $24.29 an hour.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.37 an hour, 6% below the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $18.56 and $24.01 an hour. About 260 work in the metro. That is 7.6 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 $140 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $340. That is a swing of roughly 2.7% to 1.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Durham-Chapel Hill has 344,020 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 74th 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% | $23.25 | $28.90 | $31.27 | $30.67 | 0.94 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $19.02 | $21.47 | $24.36 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $21.40 | $24.78 | $29.03 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.95 | $28.47 | $30.77 | $30.38 | 0.94 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $17.43 | $21.67 | $24.29 | $28.33 | 0.76 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $18.56 | $22.37 | $24.01 | $23.75 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Durham?
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Durham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−5%) and kitchen backsplash lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,600 | −9% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,800 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $12,800 | −8% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Bathroom remodel: what moves the price in Durham
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).
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 $9,400 to $16,200 for Durham, NC is attached.
Detailed bathroom remodel report for Durham, NC, $9
Multi-page report for Durham, NC: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Durham: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Durham?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,300 to $21,300 in the Durham area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,400 to $16,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Durham?
About $91.50 to $457 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $200 to $780 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Durham or Burlington?
Burlington is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $12,400, which is 3% less than Durham ($12,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Durham?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $6,450 out of $12,800. Materials are 46% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Durham?
$5,700 to $28,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Durham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $200 to $780 for fees in the Durham area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Durham expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Durham is 2% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($12,600 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Durham?
The BLS median is $28.90 an hour in the Durham area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.25 to $31.27.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Durham?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,300 to $11,100 and premium work $14,500 to $21,300. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Durham
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.