Small Bathroom Remodel Cost in Chicago: Real 2026 Numbers
Author:
Nathan Brown
Updated:
Read Time:
6 min read
A small bathroom remodel in Chicago and the northwest suburbs costs $6,900 to $9,900 in 2026 for a complete job: new tub or shower, new tile, new vanity, new toilet, new fixtures and new lighting. That price assumes a standard 5x8 footprint and that the plumbing stays where it is. Moving fixtures pushes a small bath into the $13,900 to $19,900 range.
Small bathrooms surprise people. Homeowners expect a small room to be a small bill, and it is not, because the labor does not shrink with the square footage. Every trade still has to show up, and they have less room to work in.
What counts as a small bathroom
In most Chicago bungalows and northwest suburban ranches and split-levels, the hall bath is 5x8 or close to it, around 40 square feet, with a tub-shower on the short wall and the toilet and vanity opposite. That layout is the most common bathroom in the region and it is what these prices are built around.
What $6,900 to $9,900 actually covers
Full demolition and haul-away
New tub, or a tub-to-shower conversion in the same footprint
Waterproofing and new tile on the wet walls and the floor
New vanity, sink, faucet and mirror
New toilet
New exhaust fan vented to the outside, plus lighting
Paint, trim, hardware and accessories
Labor, cleanup and a 5-year workmanship warranty
What pushes a small bathroom above $9,900
Moving the toilet or the vanity
The drain has to be re-run at the correct slope. On a second floor that means opening the ceiling below. On a slab it means cutting concrete. Either one is a five-figure decision on its own.
What is behind the tile
Older homes in Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Park Ridge and Arlington Heights frequently have a failed shower pan or a soft subfloor under the tub. You do not find out until demo day. We quote a range for exactly this reason and we show you the damage before we price the repair.
Frameless glass
Beautiful, and one of the larger single line items in a small bath. A quality framed enclosure costs a fraction and performs the same.
Heated floor
Adds material and an electrical circuit. In a 40 square foot room it is one of the better value upgrades available, but it is an upgrade.
Old plumbing
Galvanized supply lines still exist in plenty of pre-1960 Chicago homes. Once the wall is open, replacing them is the right call, and it is not in a base quote.
Design moves that make a small bathroom feel bigger
Go frameless or clear on the enclosure so the eye reads the full room instead of stopping at the shower wall.
Run the same floor tile into the shower to remove a visual break.
Use a wall-hung or open-leg vanity so you can see floor underneath.
Build a recessed niche instead of hanging a caddy off the showerhead.
Put the light where the mirror is and add a second source. One ceiling fixture makes a small room feel like a closet.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to remodel a small bathroom?
$6,900 to $9,900 for a complete remodel in Chicago and northwest Cook County, with the fixtures staying in their existing positions.
How much will it cost to remodel a small bathroom if I move the layout?
Expect $13,900 to $19,900 once plumbing relocates. The drain work, floor or ceiling access and additional inspections are what drive it.
Is it cheaper to convert a tub to a shower?
Roughly the same in a small bath, because the labor and waterproofing dominate either way. Choose based on how you actually live, not on price. Keep at least one tub in the house if you plan to sell to families.
How long does a small bathroom remodel take?
3 to 7 working days when the layout stays put. Tile and grout curing sets the floor on how fast it can go.
Can I use the bathroom during the remodel?
No. Plan on a week with that bathroom out of service, which is why we sequence single-bathroom homes tightly and tell you the exact days up front.
See our bathroom remodeling packages, or read the full Chicago bathroom remodel cost guide.
Get a real number for your project
Every range on this page is a range because we have not seen your home yet. We come out, measure, and send an itemized written estimate within 5 business days. No charge, no obligation.
Pana Pro Builders is a family-run general contractor licensed by the City of Chicago (TGC142642), working out of Hoffman Estates and serving Chicago plus Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Mount Prospect, Elk Grove Village, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Inverness and Barrington.