Why do published guides disagree so much?
Because “bathroom renovation” means two different jobs. HomeStars, updated 21 August 2026, puts a full Toronto bathroom at $15,000 to $40,000 and a small 5×7 room at $9,000 to $22,000. Kitchen & Bath Renovation, updated 30 March 2026, puts a complete renovation at $5,000 to $20,000 and a mid-range job at $15,000 to $30,000.
The low end of one guide is a cosmetic refresh: same layout, same plumbing, new vanity, new tile, new fixtures. The high end of the other is a gutted room with moved drains, a curbless shower and heated floors. Both are called a bathroom renovation.
So the useful question is not “what does a bathroom cost”. It is “what does this bathroom, with these decisions, cost” — which is why the table below matters more than any headline number.
Published ranges for 2026
| Scope | HomeStars (Aug 2026) | Kitchen & Bath (Mar 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Powder room / small | $9,000–$22,000 (5×7 ft) | $3,000–$12,000 powder; $8,000–$15,000 basic |
| Standard bathroom | $12,000–$30,000 (10×10 ft) | $15,000–$30,000 mid-range |
| Large ensuite | $14,000–$40,000 (14×14 ft+) | $40,000+ luxury |
| Typical mid-range project | about $17,000 | $15,000–$30,000 |
These are guides published by renovation companies and lead platforms, not government statistics. Nobody in Canada publishes an official price for a bathroom. Treat them as a starting range and get local quotes.
Where does the money actually go?
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Labour | 40–60% of the whole budget |
| Demolition | $500–$1,500 |
| Plumbing rough-in, 3-piece | $1,500–$5,000 |
| Moving drain lines | $2,000–$5,000 and up |
| Waterproofing | around $100 per linear foot |
| Tile, installed | $10–$30 per sq ft; ceramic $8–$15, porcelain $12–$22, marble $20–$45 |
| Built-in shower | $8,000–$15,000 |
| Bathtub, replaced | $1,500–$5,000 |
| Toilet | $800–$1,200 installed |
| Vanity and cabinets | $800–$1,300 |
| Electrical | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Permit | $200–$1,000+ |
Read that first line again. Labour is up to sixty percent of the job. People budget for the vanity they fell in love with and are surprised by the invoice for the days of work behind the wall.
Why is a walk-in shower so much more than a tub?
A tub is a manufactured object that arrives on a truck and gets connected. A tiled shower is built on site: a sloped base, a waterproof membrane, a drain assembly, a niche, a glass panel measured after the tile is set, and days of a tiler’s time.
If your budget is tight and your layout allows it, keeping the tub is the biggest saving available to you — larger than downgrading every finish in the room.
Do I need a permit for a bathroom renovation in Ontario?
Usually not for a like-for-like refresh: same layout, same plumbing locations, new finishes. You are into permit territory once you move plumbing, add or remove a wall, change a window, or add new circuits.
Electrical work is separate from the building permit. It has to be done by a contractor licensed by the Electrical Safety Authority, who files a notification with ESA — and a bathroom means GFCI protection, a proper exhaust fan and often a new circuit. Our permit guide covers who applies and what gets inspected.
How long does a bathroom take?
Two to four weeks of site work for a standard bathroom, once demolition starts. Waterproofing and thinset need curing time that cannot be rushed, and glass is measured only after tile is finished, which commonly adds a week or two of waiting at the end.
A bathroom is also the one room a household cannot do without. If it is your only full bathroom, ask the contractor in writing how many days the room will be out of service, not just when the job finishes.
Red flags in a bathroom quote
| What you see | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No line for waterproofing | It is hidden work you will never see and the one failure that destroys the ceiling below | Ask which membrane system will be used and ask for it as its own line |
| Tile priced as a lump sum | Tile is priced per square foot and by layout; herringbone and large format cost more to set | Ask for square footage, the tile price and the installation rate separately |
| “We’ll see what’s behind the wall” | Old plumbing and rot are found on day one, and a vague quote becomes an open cheque | Agree in writing how surprises are priced before demolition starts |
| Electrical by the general crew | Bathroom circuits need a licensed electrical contractor and an ESA notification | Ask for the ECRA/ESA licence number of whoever does the wiring |
| Deposit above 10% | Ontario’s guidance to homeowners is no more than 10% down | Stage the rest against finished milestones |
| Glass quoted before tiling | Custom glass is measured after tile; a firm price beforehand is a guess | Ask whether the glass allowance is a real quote or a placeholder |
Frequently asked questions
Ontario’s guidance to homeowners is no more than 10% down, with the rest paid in stages against completed work. Tie any larger early payment to the delivery of specific ordered materials.
Not for a like-for-like refresh. You do once you move plumbing, change walls or windows, or add circuits. Electrical work always needs a licensed electrical contractor who files an ESA notification, permit or not.
Two to four weeks of site work is typical, with curing time for waterproofing and a wait for custom glass at the end. Ask the contractor to state the out-of-service days in the contract if it is your only bathroom.
Labour, at 40 to 60 percent of the budget, followed by the shower if it is built in rather than a replacement tub. Tile and the vanity, which people worry about most, are usually smaller line items.
Not usually. A replacement tub is quoted at $1,500 to $5,000 while a built-in tiled shower runs $8,000 to $15,000, because the shower is built on site with waterproofing, a sloped base and custom glass.
Published 2026 guides put a small bathroom at roughly $8,000 to $15,000 for a basic refresh, and $9,000 to $22,000 for a full renovation of a 5×7 room. Keeping the layout and the tub is what holds the number at the lower end.
Sources
- HomeStars, Bathroom renovation cost guide for Toronto, updated 21 August 2026 — homestars.com
- Kitchen & Bath Renovation, Bathroom renovation cost in Toronto 2026, updated 30 March 2026 — kitchenandbath.ca
- Government of Ontario, Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs — ontario.ca, checked 18 September 2026
Prices are published ranges collected on 18 September 2026, not quotes. Get local quotes before you budget.
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