What a bathroom remodel costs in Oakland County.
Bathroom remodel costs in Oakland County run from about $15,000 for a powder-room refresh to $90,000-plus for a full luxury primary bath. The biggest swings come from whether you’re changing the layout, what kind of shower you’re building, and how much tile you’re running. This guide walks through what those numbers buy, where the money goes, and what drives a Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, or Royal Oak bathroom from the bottom of the range to the top.
Cost ranges by type
Powder room · $15K-$25K
- New tile floor
- Vanity, sink, faucet
- Lighting + paint
- Mirror + accessories
- Same footprint
Secondary full bath · $25K-$45K
- Tub or tub/shower combo
- New tile (floor + wet wall)
- Vanity + stone top
- Fan, lighting, fixtures
Primary bath · $50K-$90K
- Curbless or curbed shower
- Custom vanity + stone
- Soaking tub (if room)
- Tile floor to ceiling
- Heated floor optional
Luxury primary · $90K+
- Steam shower
- Premium stone & tile
- Radiant floor heat
- Custom millwork & cabinetry
- Smart fixtures & lighting
Where the money goes
Tile & stone · 20-30%
- Material + labor
- Large-format = more cuts
- Mosaic + accent walls add labor
- Stone slabs add fabrication cost
Plumbing + fixtures · 15-25%
- Rough-in changes drive cost
- Premium valve brands
- Custom shower body packages
- Soaking tubs vs. drop-in
Cabinetry + counters · 15-20%
- Stock vs. custom vanity
- Stone vs. quartz tops
- Mirror + medicine cabinet
Shower glass · 5-10%
- Frameless costs more than framed
- Curved or steam-rated glass premium
- 3-5 week lead time after measure
What drives the cost up
Layout changes
- Moving the toilet: $1.5K-$4K
- Moving the shower: $3K-$8K
- Expanding into a closet: $5K-$15K
- Window changes: $2K-$6K
Curbless & aging-in-place
- Floor reframing for curbless
- Linear drains
- Grab-bar blocking in walls
- ADA-grade door clearances
Luxury upgrades
- Steam: $5K-$10K added
- Radiant floor heat: $2K-$5K added
- Premium stone slabs
- Towel warmers & smart fixtures
The house itself
- Older homes: 10-15% contingency
- Second-floor bath access
- Galvanized supply lines
- Tile substrate replacement
Tub-to-shower conversions
Tub-to-shower conversions are one of the most common bathroom projects we do in Oakland County. The simple version (rip out the tub, install a new curbed shower pan in the same footprint, tile the walls, hang a glass door) runs $9,000-$18,000 depending on tile selections. The curbless version, where the shower floor sits flush with the bathroom floor, is more involved because the floor framing has to be cut and re-sloped under the shower, and runs $15,000-$28,000.
Curbless is doable in most cases but depends on whether the bathroom is on a slab or above a finished space. On a second floor over a finished ceiling, the framing work is more invasive and the contingency goes up. On a slab, it’s usually straightforward.
Timeline
Powder room
- 2-4 weeks on site
- 1-2 weeks of selections beforehand
Secondary full bath
- 4-6 weeks on site
- 2-3 weeks selections + ordering
Primary bath
- 6-10 weeks on site
- 3-4 weeks selections + ordering
- Glass measured at end → 3-5 wk lead
Total project
- Powder: ~5-7 weeks total
- Secondary: ~8-10 weeks total
- Primary: ~12-16 weeks total
Bathroom remodel cost questions.
What does a bathroom remodel cost in Oakland County?
Powder rooms and small secondary baths typically run $15,000 to $35,000. Full primary baths with a new shower, custom vanity, and tile work usually land between $40,000 and $75,000. Luxury primary baths with radiant heat, steam, and premium stone go $90,000 and up. The Oakland County market is somewhat above national averages because of higher labor costs and the prevalence of custom tile work.
How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost?
A like-for-like tub-to-shower swap in the same footprint runs $9,000-$18,000 depending on tile selections and shower glass. A curbless conversion (which requires reframing the floor in most cases) runs $15,000-$28,000. Add another $3,000-$6,000 if the plumbing has to move.
How long does a bathroom remodel take?
Powder rooms run 2-4 weeks. Secondary full baths run 4-6 weeks. Primary baths with new layouts run 6-10 weeks. The biggest schedule variables are tile lead time (some imported tile is 4-8 weeks) and shower glass (3-5 weeks once measured).
What is the most expensive part of a bathroom remodel?
In a primary bath, the shower is usually the single most expensive scope: tile, glass, niche, bench, valves, drain, waterproofing. Tile labor alone can run $4,000-$12,000 on a curbless primary shower. Custom vanities and stone tops are the next biggest line.
Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Birmingham or Bloomfield Hills?
For anything beyond a vanity swap, yes. Moving plumbing, replacing electrical, or any structural change requires a permit in every Oakland County municipality. A reputable contractor pulls the permit, meets the inspector, and includes the permit fee in the estimate (typically $200-$1,500).
Can I keep using a bathroom while another is being remodeled?
If you have more than one full bath, yes. We put up dust walls and run HEPA filters to keep the rest of the house clean. If the primary bath is the only full bath in the house, plan on using a powder room with a temporary shower setup somewhere else, or staying offsite for the tile and glass phases.