Bathroom remodel cost in Philadelphia, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $5,000 – $24,900
- Per sq ft
- $107 – $535
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #55
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a bathroom remodel in the Philadelphia area: $5,000 to $24,900 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 7% higher than the US figure. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $35.99 an hour in the Philadelphia area, 17% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Philadelphia, PA, standard level
$11,000 to $18,900
About $235 to $407 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,450 |
| Labor | $6,300 | $10,800 |
| Permits and fees | $390 | $640 |
| Total | $11,000 | $18,900 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Philadelphia, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,900 | $9,800 | 39% |
| Labor | $2,850 | $8,550 | $14,300 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $510 | $820 | 3% |
| Total | $5,000 | $15,000 | $24,900 | 100% |
Why Philadelphia prices look the way they do
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, Philadelphia wages are 1.15 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. Philadelphia is at 96.8 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 102.6: $210 to $820.
How Philadelphia compares
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 $14,200 to $15,200 across Philadelphia and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PAthis page | $5,000 – $24,900 | $15,000 | |
| Vineland, NJ40 miles | $5,050 – $25,000 | $15,000 | level |
| Trenton, NJ40 miles | $5,100 – $25,300 | $15,200 | +2% |
| Reading, PA50 miles | $4,850 – $24,200 | $14,500 | −3% |
| Lancaster, PA50 miles | $4,800 – $23,700 | $14,200 | −5% |
| Atlantic City, NJ50 miles | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | −3% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $4,900 – $24,400 | $14,700 | −2% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Philadelphia ranks #55 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Philadelphia is 2% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $4,900 – $24,400 | $14,600 | −2% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −6% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | level |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $4,800 – $23,900 | $14,300 | −4% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $4,800 – $23,700 | $14,200 | −5% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $4,950 – $24,700 | $14,800 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Philadelphia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $4,900 – $24,200 | $14,500 | −3% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $4,450 – $22,200 | $13,300 | −11% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $4,400 – $21,900 | $13,200 | −12% |
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $4,550 – $22,400 | $13,500 | −10% |
Who does the work: Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia the blend is 1.15.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $35.99 an hour, 17% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.28 and $49.89 an hour. About 7,150 work in the metro. That is 24.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 25% of the weighting: a median of $34.01 an hour, 27% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $24.64 and $38.68 an hour. About 390 work in the metro. That is 1.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $29.70 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.17 and $36.83 an hour. About 14,260 work in the metro. That is 49.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $35.86 an hour, which is 18% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.84 and $50.11 an hour. BLS counts 10,090 of them working in the area, 34.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.46 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $22.41 and $31.99 an hour. BLS counts 980 of them working in the area, 3.4 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 $27.60 an hour, 16% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $23.21 and $30.69 an hour. About 3,360 work in the metro. That is 11.6 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 $840 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $410. That is a swing of roughly 2.7% to 5.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has 2,897,830 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 7th 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% | $29.28 | $35.99 | $49.89 | $30.67 | 1.17 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $24.64 | $34.01 | $38.68 | $26.77 | 1.27 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $23.17 | $29.70 | $36.83 | $29.12 | 1.02 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $27.84 | $35.86 | $50.11 | $30.38 | 1.18 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $22.41 | $29.46 | $31.99 | $28.33 | 1.04 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $23.21 | $27.60 | $30.69 | $23.75 | 1.16 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.15 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Philadelphia
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Philadelphia. 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
$5,000 to $13,000
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$11,000 to $18,900
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,900 to $24,900
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,350 – $6,000 | $5,100 – $8,750 | $7,850 – $11,500 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,500 – $11,600 | $9,800 – $16,900 | $15,100 – $22,200 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,650 – $17,100 | $14,500 – $25,000 | $22,400 – $32,900 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,900 – $28,300 | $23,900 – $41,300 | $37,000 – $54,300 |
Bathroom remodel: what moves the price in Philadelphia
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.
Tile
New tile costs $10-$50 per square foot installed, and regrouting runs $7-$28 per square foot.
Planning more than one job in Philadelphia?
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Philadelphia wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+12%) and window replacement lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,100 | +12% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,400 – $31,400 | level |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,300 | +1% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,500 – $14,800 | −1% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $330 – $1,600 | +8% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Bathroom remodel in Philadelphia: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Philadelphia?
For 45 sq ft, expect $5,000 to $24,900 in the Philadelphia area. A standard-spec job lands at $11,000 to $18,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Philadelphia?
About $107 to $535 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $210 to $820 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Philadelphia or Vineland?
Vineland is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $15,000, which is 0% more than Philadelphia ($15,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Philadelphia?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $8,550 out of $15,000. Materials are 39% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Philadelphia?
$6,650 to $32,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Philadelphia?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $210 to $820 for fees in the Philadelphia area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Philadelphia expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia is 2% above the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($14,700 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Philadelphia?
The BLS median is $35.99 an hour in the Philadelphia area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.28 to $49.89.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Philadelphia?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $5,000 to $13,000 and premium work $16,900 to $24,900. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Philadelphia
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.