Cost of a bathroom remodel on the South Shore, 2026

Bathroom pricing on the South Shore has stabilized after the 2022–2024 material swings. Tile and fixture lead times are back to normal. Plumbing labor is steady but expensive. The one number that moves projects most is whether you keep the existing plumbing locations or move them. Everything else is a line item.

Ranges below draw from publicly reported cost data (National Kitchen & Bath Association survey, Houzz state-of-the-industry reports, Remodeling magazine's Cost vs. Value regional figures for the Boston metro) and published pricing from South Shore design-build firms. Actual quotes vary materially by property condition and fixture specification.

The three tiers of bathroom work

Almost every South Shore bathroom remodel falls into one of three scopes.

Pull-and-replace (cosmetic refresh)

Same layout, same plumbing locations, new vanity, new toilet, new tub or shower insert, new tile, new fixtures, new paint. No wall changes. No moving drains or supply lines. No structural work.

• Lower end of the range: $12,000 to $22,000
• Middle of the range: $18,000 to $32,000
• Higher end of the range: $28,000 to $55,000

Light-gut (same footprint, everything new)

Full tear-out down to studs, new waterproofing membranes, new tile substrate, new cabinetry, new fixtures, new electrical rough-in for vanity lights and a GFCI or two, new exhaust fan if missing. No wall moving. Tub-to-walk-in-shower conversion is possible within this scope if the drain is already in the right place.

• Lower end: $22,000 to $40,000
• Middle: $32,000 to $60,000
• Higher end: $55,000 to $110,000

Full-gut with layout change

Walls move, plumbing relocates, a stackable closet becomes part of the room, the shower moves to the opposite wall, a tub is added or removed. Usually triggers framing work and sometimes structural review.

• Lower end: $38,000 to $65,000
• Middle: $55,000 to $90,000
• Higher end: $90,000 to $180,000+

Where the money goes

For a typical $45,000 mid-range light-gut bathroom, a rough allocation:

• Tile and waterproofing: 15 to 22 percent. Porcelain vs. ceramic vs. natural stone changes this line more than people expect. A Schluter or equivalent waterproofing assembly underneath is non-negotiable on a properly built shower.
• Cabinetry and vanity: 10 to 15 percent. Semi-custom is the value tier. Fully custom adds 30 to 60 percent.
• Plumbing fixtures (toilet, sink, shower valve, trim): 10 to 18 percent. A premium shower system alone can push this line meaningfully.
• Labor (demo, carpentry, tile install, plumbing, electrical): 35 to 45 percent. This is where higher-end projects diverge. A skilled tile-setter on a master-bath build-out costs more per day than on a hall bath, and the work takes longer because the detailing is more demanding.
• Permits, inspections, contingency: 5 to 10 percent.

Common premium specifications

A premium South Shore master bathroom typically includes some or all of these:

• Heated tile floor (electric radiant mat under tile). Adds $2,500 to $6,000.
• Curbless walk-in shower with a linear drain. Adds $3,000 to $8,000 over a standard shower.
• Freestanding tub with floor-mounted filler. Adds $2,500 to $7,000 over a drop-in or alcove tub.
• Double vanity with quartz or marble counter. Adds $3,000 to $9,000 over a single vanity.
• Schluter or similar waterproofing throughout, not just in the shower. Adds roughly $1,500 to $3,000 to membrane cost.
• Designer lighting with dimming, dedicated mirror lights, and a separate switch for the exhaust fan.

Any three of these specifications added to a mid-range scope pushes the project into the higher-end price range fast.

Things that surprise homeowners on older South Shore housing stock

On pre-1990 homes, budget a contingency for the things that show up when walls open:

• Cast iron drain lines. Replacement with PVC adds $800 to $2,500 depending on scope.
• Knob-and-tube electrical in the wall cavities. Remediation is code-required if disturbed. Usually $1,500 to $4,000 for a single bathroom run.
• Rotted subfloor around the toilet flange. Typical repair is $500 to $1,500 depending on extent.
• Non-vented exhaust fan discharging into the attic. Code-compliant re-route to roof or soffit adds $400 to $900.
• Missing or undersized supply lines (1/2 inch or smaller, worth upgrading to 3/4 inch runs for pressure). Usually $600 to $1,800 within a single bath.

If the contractor does not mention any of these possibilities during the walkthrough of an older home, ask why.

How to get a useful quote

• Get three quotes. Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License plus HIC registration is the baseline for full-gut work.
• Ask for line-item pricing by category: demo, framing, plumbing, electrical, tile, fixtures, labor.
• Specify fixtures by brand and model. "Mid-grade toilet" is a line item waiting to become a change order; "Toto Drake II" is a quote.
• Ask how the contractor handles concealed-condition discoveries (the rotted subfloor, the knob-and-tube). A good contract has a change-order process written in, with agreed hourly rates for unexpected work.
• Budget a 10 to 20 percent contingency of your own, separate from the contract's contingency.

Timeline

For planning purposes, not quotes:

• Pull-and-replace: 2 to 4 weeks of active construction. 6 to 10 weeks start to finish including design and orders.
• Light-gut: 4 to 7 weeks of active construction. 12 to 20 weeks start to finish.
• Full-gut with layout change: 7 to 12 weeks of active construction. 20 to 32 weeks start to finish. Coastal flood-zone review or historic district review adds weeks to this.

The shower is usually the rate-limiting path. Tile waterproofing takes time to cure. Tile layout takes time to do well. Budget the schedule around tile, not around cabinet delivery.