Bathroom remodel cost in Appleton, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,950 – $24,600
- Per sq ft
- $106 – $529
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #71
- 1 = most expensive
Appleton homeowners pay roughly $4,950 to $24,600 to remodel a bathroom at 45 sq ft, or $106 to $529 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Appleton is 5% higher. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $44.11 an hour in the Appleton area, 44% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Appleton, WI, standard level
$10,800 to $18,700
About $233 to $402 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $7,200 |
| Labor | $6,300 | $10,900 |
| Permits and fees | $350 | $570 |
| Total | $10,800 | $18,700 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Appleton, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $5,700 | $9,500 | 39% |
| Labor | $2,850 | $8,600 | $14,300 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $460 | $740 | 3% |
| Total | $4,950 | $14,800 | $24,600 | 100% |
Why Appleton prices look the way they do
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 $44.11 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Appleton is 1.16 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 58% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Appleton metro is 93.8 (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 (92.4) and land at $180 to $740.
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 Appleton. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Appleton
Because every project leans on different trades, Appleton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +13% and kitchen remodel −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,150 – $3,100 | +13% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,000 – $30,600 | −3% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,100 | level |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,450 – $14,600 | −2% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,500 | +1% |
Why two Appleton quotes can differ
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.
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 Appleton is 1.16 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $44.11 an hour, which is 44% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.35 and $50.33 an hour. BLS counts 890 of them working in the area, 71.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Appleton metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $30.14 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.44 and $36.42 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $30.04 an hour, which is 3% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.40 and $40.83 an hour. BLS counts 700 of them working in the area, 56.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $32.13 an hour, 6% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $24.37 and $39.62 an hour. About 810 work in the metro. That is 65.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Appleton metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $28.83 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $33.42 an hour.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.34 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $23.32 and $29.40 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 6.4 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 ($50.33 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $380. At the 25th percentile ($29.35) it shrinks by about $890. The total moves by 2.6% or 6.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 124,230 jobs in the Appleton area. That makes it the 174th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $29.35 | $44.11 | $50.33 | $30.67 | 1.44 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $27.44 | $30.14 | $36.42 | $26.77 | 1.13 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $24.40 | $30.04 | $40.83 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $24.37 | $32.13 | $39.62 | $30.38 | 1.06 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.05 | $28.83 | $33.42 | $28.33 | 1.02 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $23.32 | $24.34 | $29.40 | $23.75 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
Appleton: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Appleton 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
$4,950 to $12,800
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,800 to $18,700
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,700 to $24,600
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,300 – $5,900 | $5,000 – $8,600 | $7,700 – $11,300 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,400 – $11,400 | $9,650 – $16,700 | $14,900 – $21,900 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,550 – $16,900 | $14,300 – $24,700 | $22,100 – $32,500 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,800 – $27,900 | $23,600 – $40,800 | $36,500 – $53,700 |
How Appleton compares
Same job, same size (45 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Oshkosh is the priciest of the group at $15,300. Wausau is the cheapest at $14,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WIthis page | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | |
| Oshkosh, WI20 miles | $5,100 – $25,400 | $15,300 | +3% |
| Green Bay, WI20 miles | $4,950 – $24,500 | $14,700 | level |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | +1% |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $4,850 – $24,000 | $14,400 | −2% |
| Milwaukee, WI100 miles | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | level |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $4,900 – $24,300 | $14,600 | −1% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −5% |
Across 300 US metros, Appleton comes in at #71 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Appleton is 1% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | level |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $5,000 – $24,900 | $15,000 | +1% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $4,950 – $24,500 | $14,700 | level |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $5,100 – $25,400 | $15,300 | +3% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $4,950 – $24,500 | $14,700 | level |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Appleton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Appleton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $5,050 – $25,000 | $15,000 | +2% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $4,150 – $20,600 | $12,400 | −16% |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | −14% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $5,100 – $25,400 | $15,200 | +3% |
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Detailed bathroom remodel report for Appleton, WI, $9
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Bathroom remodel in Appleton: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Appleton?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,950 to $24,600 in the Appleton area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,800 to $18,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Appleton?
About $106 to $529 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 Appleton or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $15,300, which is 3% more than Appleton ($14,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Appleton?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $8,600 out of $14,800. Materials are 39% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Appleton?
$6,550 to $32,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Appleton?
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 Appleton area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Appleton expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Appleton is 1% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($14,600 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Appleton?
The BLS median is $44.11 an hour in the Appleton area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.35 to $50.33.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Appleton?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,950 to $12,800 and premium work $16,700 to $24,600. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Appleton
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.