A bathroom remodel is one of the highest-ROI home projects you can take on — but it's also where most homeowners lose the budget battle by week three. Here's what to plan for before you swing the first sledgehammer.
The realistic budget
For a standard 5×8 ft bathroom in Florida, expect $4,500 to $12,000 all-in, depending on finish level. The big buckets:
- Demo & disposal — $500 to $1,200. Cheaper if you DIY the demo and rent a dumpster yourself.
- Plumbing rough-in — $1,200 to $3,500. Florida code requires a licensed plumber any time you move a drain or supply line.
- Tile & flooring — $1,000 to $3,500 including labor. Subway tile is the cost-effective default; large-format porcelain is where pricing gets unpredictable.
- Vanity, fixtures, lighting — $800 to $2,500. This is the line where you can save the most by shopping yourself.
- Permit fees — $150 to $500 depending on county.
Realistic timeline
A standard remodel runs 2 to 4 weeks of active work, but only if materials are ordered before demo starts. The most common cause of a 6-week project is a backordered vanity or tile. Order everything first, store it in the garage, then demo.
When to DIY and when to hire
Painting, hardware swap, and a vanity replacement on existing plumbing — all reasonable DIY if you have a Saturday and a level. Anything that touches structural, plumbing rough-in, electrical beyond a simple swap, or waterproofing membrane behind tile — call a Florida-licensed pro. The cost of redoing a tile job that leaks is roughly 3× the cost of doing it right the first time.
Florida-specific gotchas
- Permit required for any plumbing or electrical change in most counties. Pinellas and Hillsborough are strict — Sarasota is slightly looser.
- Wind / impact requirements don't apply to bathrooms unless you're relocating an exterior window.
- HOA approval is sometimes required for visible changes like window replacement or vent stack relocation.