Bathroom remodel cost in Memphis, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,300 – $21,200
- Per sq ft
- $91 – $456
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #212
- 1 = most expensive
Memphis homeowners pay roughly $4,300 to $21,200 to remodel a bathroom at 45 sq ft, or $91 to $456 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Memphis is 9% lower. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $28.22 an hour in the Memphis area, 8% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Memphis, TN, standard level
$9,350 to $16,200
About $200 to $346 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,400 |
| Labor | $4,750 | $8,200 |
| Permits and fees | $350 | $570 |
| Total | $9,350 | $16,200 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Memphis, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,850 | $9,750 | 46% |
| Labor | $2,150 | $6,450 | $10,800 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $460 | $740 | 4% |
| Total | $4,300 | $12,800 | $21,200 | 100% |
Where the Memphis price comes from
Labor is 51% 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 Memphis the blended ratio comes out at 0.87.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Memphis metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $5,850, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.2) and land at $180 to $740.
Related projects, priced for Memphis
Because every project leans on different trades, Memphis's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −6% and kitchen backsplash −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,550 | −9% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,600 | −9% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Memphis: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Memphis 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
$4,300 to $11,100
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$9,350 to $16,200
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$14,500 to $21,200
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,000 – $5,150 | $4,350 – $7,500 | $6,700 – $9,850 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $3,850 – $9,900 | $8,350 – $14,400 | $12,900 – $19,000 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $5,650 – $14,600 | $12,400 – $21,300 | $19,100 – $28,100 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $9,300 – $24,100 | $20,400 – $35,200 | $31,500 – $46,300 |
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 Memphis is 0.87 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $28.22 an hour, which is 8% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.82 and $36.24 an hour. BLS counts 1,920 of them working in the area, 31.4 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 $22.00 an hour, which is 18% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $17.87 and $24.63 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 0.8 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 $24.34 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.58 and $28.26 an hour. BLS counts 1,240 of them working in the area, 20.3 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 $29.27 an hour, 4% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.23 and $36.87 an hour. About 2,770 work in the metro. That is 45.3 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 $22.65 an hour, 20% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $18.97 and $27.12 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 2.3 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 $21.45 an hour, which is 10% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $17.93 and $22.56 an hour. BLS counts 590 of them working in the area, 9.6 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 ($36.24 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $490. At the 25th percentile ($22.82) it shrinks by about $330. The total moves by 3.8% or 2.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 611,670 jobs in the Memphis area. That makes it the 46th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.39% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $22.82 | $28.22 | $36.24 | $30.67 | 0.92 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $17.87 | $22.00 | $24.63 | $26.77 | 0.82 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $22.58 | $24.34 | $28.26 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.23 | $29.27 | $36.87 | $30.38 | 0.96 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $18.97 | $22.65 | $27.12 | $28.33 | 0.80 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $17.93 | $21.45 | $22.56 | $23.75 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Memphis against nearby metros and the rest of Tennessee
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 $11,600 to $12,800 across Memphis and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TNthis page | $4,300 – $21,200 | $12,800 | |
| Jonesboro, AR65 miles | $3,900 – $19,300 | $11,600 | −9% |
| Jackson, TN75 miles | $4,150 – $20,600 | $12,400 | −3% |
| Little Rock, AR145 miles | $3,950 – $19,600 | $11,800 | −8% |
| Decatur, AL160 miles | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | level |
| Clarksville, TN170 miles | $4,200 – $20,800 | $12,500 | −2% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $4,250 – $21,100 | $12,700 | −1% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, Memphis comes in at #212 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Memphis is 1% above the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $4,350 – $21,600 | $13,000 | +2% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | −1% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $4,200 – $20,800 | $12,500 | −2% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $4,200 – $20,800 | $12,500 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $4,150 – $20,600 | $12,400 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Memphis's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Memphis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $4,400 – $21,900 | $13,200 | +3% |
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | +17% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $4,200 – $20,900 | $12,500 | −2% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | +7% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Memphis bid
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.
Moving plumbing
Keeping the toilet, tub and vanity in place keeps plumbing costs down. Moving them does not.
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Bathroom remodel in Memphis: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Memphis?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,300 to $21,200 in the Memphis area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,350 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 Memphis?
About $91 to $456 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $180 to $740 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Memphis or Jonesboro?
Jonesboro is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $11,600, which is 9% less than Memphis ($12,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Memphis?
About 51% 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 Memphis?
$5,650 to $28,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Memphis?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $180 to $740 for fees in the Memphis area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Memphis expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Memphis is 1% above the Tennessee statewide estimate ($12,700 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Memphis?
The BLS median is $28.22 an hour in the Memphis area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.82 to $36.24.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Memphis?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,300 to $11,100 and premium work $14,500 to $21,200. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Memphis
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.