Bathroom remodel cost in Cleveland, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,550 – $22,500
- Per sq ft
- $96.50 – $483
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #137
- 1 = most expensive
Cleveland homeowners pay roughly $4,550 to $22,500 to remodel a bathroom at 45 sq ft, or $96.50 to $483 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Cleveland is 3% lower. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.6).
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 Cleveland, OH, standard level
$9,900 to $17,100
About $213 to $367 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $7,200 |
| Labor | $5,400 | $9,300 |
| Permits and fees | $360 | $580 |
| Total | $9,900 | $17,100 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Cleveland, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $5,700 | $9,500 | 42% |
| Labor | $2,450 | $7,350 | $12,300 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $470 | $750 | 3% |
| Total | $4,550 | $13,500 | $22,500 | 100% |
Why Cleveland prices look the way they do
Labor is 54% 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 Cleveland the blended ratio comes out at 0.99.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Cleveland metro is 93.6 (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 (93.9) and land at $190 to $750.
What nearby projects cost in Cleveland
Because every project leans on different trades, Cleveland's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs −3% and kitchen backsplash −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $880 – $2,650 | −6% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $30,000 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,700 | −3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,350 – $14,400 | −4% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $280 – $1,400 | −8% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: bathroom remodel pricing in Cleveland
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Cleveland 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
$4,550 to $11,700
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$9,900 to $17,100
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$15,300 to $22,500
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,100 – $5,450 | $4,600 – $7,950 | $7,100 – $10,400 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,050 – $10,500 | $8,850 – $15,300 | $13,700 – $20,100 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,000 – $15,500 | $13,100 – $22,600 | $20,200 – $29,700 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $9,850 – $25,500 | $21,600 – $37,300 | $33,400 – $49,100 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Cleveland bid
Tile
New tile costs $10-$50 per square foot installed, and regrouting runs $7-$28 per square foot.
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.
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 Cleveland is 0.99 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $30.30 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.28 and $39.94 an hour. BLS counts 3,040 of them working in the area, 29.5 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 $23.99 an hour, which is 10% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.74 and $29.98 an hour. BLS counts 150 of them working in the area, 1.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $29.16 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.22 and $38.03 an hour. BLS counts 3,280 of them working in the area, 31.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $34.07 an hour, 12% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $24.21 and $41.47 an hour. About 4,420 work in the metro. That is 42.9 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 $30.36 an hour, 7% above the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $23.34 and $34.50 an hour. About 230 work in the metro. That is 2.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.84 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $21.21 and $31.68 an hour. BLS counts 1,110 of them working in the area, 10.8 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 ($39.94 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $580. At the 25th percentile ($24.28) it shrinks by about $360. The total moves by 4.3% or 2.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,031,130 jobs in the Cleveland area. That makes it the 36th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.66% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $24.28 | $30.30 | $39.94 | $30.67 | 0.99 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $21.74 | $23.99 | $29.98 | $26.77 | 0.90 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $24.22 | $29.16 | $38.03 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $24.21 | $34.07 | $41.47 | $30.38 | 1.12 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.34 | $30.36 | $34.50 | $28.33 | 1.07 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $21.21 | $23.84 | $31.68 | $23.75 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Cleveland against nearby metros and the rest of Ohio
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 $12,900 to $14,600 across Cleveland and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OHthis page | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | |
| Akron, OH35 miles | $4,600 – $22,700 | $13,700 | +1% |
| Youngstown, OH45 miles | $4,300 – $21,400 | $12,900 | −5% |
| Canton, OH65 miles | $4,350 – $21,700 | $13,000 | −4% |
| Erie, PA75 miles | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +7% |
| Pittsburgh, PA115 miles | $4,900 – $24,400 | $14,600 | +8% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | −2% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Cleveland comes in at #137 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Cleveland is 2% above the Ohio figure.
Other Ohio metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $4,550 – $22,600 | $13,600 | level |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | −2% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $4,400 – $21,900 | $13,200 | −3% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $4,600 – $22,700 | $13,700 | +1% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | level |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $4,350 – $21,700 | $13,000 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Cleveland's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Cleveland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $5,050 – $25,100 | $15,100 | +12% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | level |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $4,700 – $23,400 | $14,100 | +4% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | +9% |
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 $9,900 to $17,100 for Cleveland, OH is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Cleveland, OH: 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 Cleveland: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Cleveland?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,550 to $22,500 in the Cleveland area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,900 to $17,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Cleveland?
About $96.50 to $483 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $190 to $750 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Cleveland or Akron?
Akron is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $13,700, which is 1% more than Cleveland ($13,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Cleveland?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $7,350 out of $13,500. Materials are 42% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Cleveland?
$6,000 to $29,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Cleveland?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $190 to $750 for fees in the Cleveland area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Cleveland expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Ohio?
Cleveland is 2% above the Ohio statewide estimate ($13,300 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Cleveland?
The BLS median is $30.30 an hour in the Cleveland area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.28 to $39.94.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Cleveland?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,550 to $11,700 and premium work $15,300 to $22,500. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Cleveland
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.