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AfterHow Much Does Bathroom Remodel Cost in Fort Lauderdale?
A full bathroom remodel in Fort Lauderdale typically runs between $9,000 and $28,000 in 2026. Most mid-range guest baths and hall baths land in the $12,000-$18,000 zone, while a primary bathroom with custom tile work, a walk-in shower, and upgraded fixtures can push past $25,000. The spread comes down to square footage, the condition of the plumbing beneath the floor, and whether you’re moving walls or keeping the existing footprint.
Those numbers aren’t guesses. They reflect what we see across Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods like Victoria Park, Rio Vista, Poinsettia Heights, and Coral Ridge, where homes range from 1950s ranch-style builds to newer concrete-block construction. Older homes carry different costs than newer ones, and the difference often hides behind the walls.
Key Takeaways
- Fort Lauderdale bathroom remodels run $9,000-$28,000 for a full job in 2026.
- Small bathrooms (5×7 or smaller) typically cost $5,000-$12,000 without moving plumbing.
- Walk-in shower installations run $4,500-$12,000; tub-to-shower conversions run $3,500-$10,000.
- Moisture and humidity in South Florida make waterproof substrate (the layer behind your tile) a non-negotiable cost, not an optional upgrade.
- Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale puts a written price in your hand before work starts, and every project carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing.
Bathroom Remodel Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s how a typical Fort Lauderdale bathroom remodel breaks down by line item. These are the numbers we quote from, and they hold consistent whether the home is in Sailboat Bend, Progresso Village, or up near Imperial Point.
| Scope of Work | Typical Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full bathroom remodel (mid-range, 5×8 to 8×10) | $9,000-$28,000 | Includes demo, tile, fixtures, vanity, lighting, paint |
| Small bathroom remodel (5×7 or smaller) | $5,000-$12,000 | Compact footprint, fewer tile surfaces |
| Walk-in shower installation | $4,500-$12,000 | Frameless glass, tile pan, waterproofing, fixtures |
| Tub-to-shower conversion | $3,500-$10,000 | Remove tub, build curb or flush pan, tile, glass |
| Shower replacement | $3,000-$8,500 | Swap existing shower without moving drain |
| Bathroom vanity installation | $800-$3,000 | Includes faucet hookup and basic plumbing trim |
| Tile work (floor and shower walls) | $1,800-$7,500 | Depends on tile choice, pattern, and waterproofing scope |
| Plumbing rough-in (moving drain or supply lines) | $1,200-$4,000 | Biggest variable on slab-on-grade Fort Lauderdale homes |
| Electrical (GFCI, lighting, exhaust fan) | $500-$2,200 | Code-required GFCI protection and humidity-rated fixtures |
| Permits and inspections | $300-$1,500 | City of Fort Lauderdale permit fees plus inspection scheduling |
What drives the number up or down? Three things dominate in Fort Lauderdale specifically.
First, plumbing access. Many homes built between 1950 and 1980 sit on a concrete slab. If you want to move a toilet or shift a shower drain, the plumber has to cut concrete, reroute pipe, and re-pour. That single change can add $1,500-$4,000 to the job overnight. Homes on raised foundations or with crawl spaces (more common in older sections like Colee Hammock) are easier and cheaper to modify.
Second, waterproofing. Fort Lauderdale’s humidity stays above 70% most of the year. The cement board substrate (the moisture-resistant layer behind your tile) has to be installed correctly, with proper seam taping and waterproof membrane. Skip this and you’ll smell mildew inside eight months. We use a full waterproofing system on every shower we build, and we don’t negotiate that line item out of the bid. It’s the difference between a bathroom that lasts twenty years and one that fails in three.
Third, materials. A stock vanity from a big-box store runs $400. A Wellborn or KraftMaid vanity built to the dimensions of the space runs $1,200-$2,800 but doesn’t leave a half-inch gap against the wall. Cambria or Caesarstone quartz countertops cost more than laminate, but they carry lifetime manufacturer warranties that stack with our 365-Day Done Right Promise. Kohler and Moen fixtures cost more than no-name imports, but they don’t develop pinhole leaks in year two.
What Affects Bathroom Remodel Pricing in Fort Lauderdale
Every Fort Lauderdale bathroom we walk into has its own set of cost drivers. Here are the ones that move the quote the most.
- Slab-on-grade plumbing. Most homes in Fort Lauderdale built after the 1950s sit on a concrete slab. Moving a drain means cutting concrete, and that’s the single most expensive change you can make. Keeping the toilet, sink, and shower in the same positions saves thousands.
- Waterproofing and moisture control. South Florida humidity demands a proper cement board substrate and waterproof membrane behind shower tile. Code requires it, and so does basic physics. This is not the line item to trim.
- Ventilation requirements. Fort Lauderdale bathrooms need a humidity-rated exhaust fan that vents to the exterior, not into the attic (a code violation we fix on nearly half of the older homes we work in). Adding a proper vent run costs $400-$1,200 depending on the roofline.
- Square footage and tile coverage. Tile labor prices per square foot. A full shower surround with floor-to-ceiling tile costs more than a fiberglass insert, but it also lasts longer and looks like a custom build.
- Material grade. Granite, Cambria quartz, and Silestone cost more than cultured marble. A custom Wellborn vanity costs more than stock. The spread between budget and premium materials can be $4,000-$8,000 on the same bathroom footprint.
- Age of the house. Fort Lauderdale homes built before 1980 often have galvanized supply lines that have corroded from the inside. If we open a wall and find galvanized, replacing it with PEX or copper is a $1,000-$2,500 upgrade. You want that upgrade.
Local Factors That Change the Math in Fort Lauderdale
Some things are specific to this market, and homeowners moving here from other states are usually surprised by them.
Hurricane-season scheduling. Fort Lauderdale has a defined rainy season from June through November. Roofers, window installers, and remodelers all compete for dry labor windows in the winter. That doesn’t change our written price, but if you’re planning a bathroom remodel, a March start typically means faster scheduling than an August start. Book ahead if you want the work done before Thanksgiving.
Older building stock. Fort Lauderdale isn’t all new construction. The neighborhoods east of US-1, including Rio Vista and Harbordale, have homes built between the 1920s and 1960s. Those bathrooms often hide surprises: cast-iron drain pipes, termite damage behind the drywall, or electrical wiring that’s out of code. We budget a contingency into the written quote for these homes, but we explain it before we start, not after we open the wall.
Building codes and permitting. The City of Fort Lauderdale requires permits for any bathroom remodel that moves plumbing or changes the footprint. A permit for a bathroom remodel typically costs between $300 and $1,500 depending on the scope, and that includes plan review and inspection fees. Unpermitted work is a legal and resale liability, and a contractor who offers to skip the permit is telling you something about how they’ll handle the parts you can’t see.
How Much Does a Small Bathroom Remodel Cost in Fort Lauderdale?
A small bathroom remodel (typically 5×7 or smaller, common in Fort Lauderdale’s older homes and condo conversions) runs $5,000-$12,000. That assumes you’re keeping the same footprint and not moving water lines or drains. At that price, you’re getting new tile or flooring, a new vanity and faucet, a new toilet, paint, lighting, and either a refinished tub or a replacement shower pan.
If the small bathroom is in a condo near the beach, like in Galt Ocean Mile or Harbor Beach, plan on the permitting and inspection process taking a bit longer. Condo and HOA boards often have architectural review requirements before work starts, and we handle that paperwork as part of the job.
Walk-In Shower vs. Tub: What Costs More in Fort Lauderdale?
A walk-in shower installation runs $4,500-$12,000 in Fort Lauderdale, while a tub-to-shower conversion runs $3,500-$10,000. The most cost-efficient option for many homeowners is converting the existing tub footprint into a walk-in shower. You’re not moving the drain, which means no concrete cutting, and you’re spending the budget on tile, glass, and fixtures instead of plumbing rough-in.
Frameless glass shower enclosures in Fort Lauderdale run $1,200-$3,500 depending on the size and glass thickness. A sliding semi-frameless door costs less. A curbless (flush-to-floor) shower costs more than a curbed one because the entire bathroom floor has to be sloped, which means a full floor build-up and waterproofing treatment. Curbless showers are popular with Fort Lauderdale homeowners planning to age in place, and the accessibility benefit is real, but they add $1,500-$3,500 to the tile and floor work.
How to Save on a Bathroom Remodel in Fort Lauderdale
Saving money on a bathroom remodel doesn’t mean buying the cheapest tile and learning to live with gaps and cracks. It means being smart about scope.
Keep the plumbing where it is. Moving a toilet, sink, or shower drain is the fastest way to add $1,500-$4,000 to a Fort Lauderdale remodel, mostly because of the concrete cutting. If your current layout works, keep it.
Refinish instead of replace where it makes sense. A cast-iron or steel tub in decent shape can be reglazed for $400-$800 instead of paying $1,500-$3,000 to replace it. The finish won’t last as long as a new tub, but it buys you a decade.
Choose tile strategically. Porcelain tile that mimics marble costs $3-$6 per square foot versus $12-$25 per square foot for actual marble. You get the look without the maintenance and the price tag. Save the splurge for a narrow accent band or the shower niche.
Buy the right vanity once. A big-box vanity that’s too small for the space creates gaps that collect dust and moisture. A vanity built to the opening, even at $1,200 instead of $400, saves you the cost of pulling it out and redoing the job in two years.
Get a written price before you start. This is the single biggest savings lever in any remodel. A verbal estimate is not a number; it’s a conversation. When a contractor has to write the price down and sign it, the whole conversation changes. Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale gives every homeowner a written price before any work starts, and the number on that page is the number on the invoice. Call us at (754) 551-2922 and we’ll put a real number in your hand, free.
Why Some Fort Lauderdale Bathroom Quotes Are So Far Apart
You’ll see quotes for the same bathroom that differ by $8,000-$12,000. Here’s why that happens in the Fort Lauderdale market, and it has nothing to do with one contractor being “expensive” and another being “reasonable.”
The low quote usually leaves something out. It might be the waterproofing membrane, or the permit, or the concrete work for the drain, or the fact that the crew is paid in cash and not covered by liability insurance. The price looks good on paper. The cost arrives later, when the grout cracks, the floor sags, or the city inspector asks to see the permit that was never pulled.
The high quote sometimes includes padding for work the job doesn’t need. But just as often, the high quote is actually the only honest one, because it’s the only one that has the real cost of waterproofing, insurance, bonded labor, and code compliance baked in from the start.
Our approach at Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale is to write down exactly what we’re doing, what materials we’re using, and what it costs. That written price is the same number from the first meeting to the final invoice. If we find rot behind the wall, we show you a photo, tell you the cost to fix it, and get your signed change order before we touch it. No surprises, because surprises are what make bathroom remodel horror stories.
The Kingswell Way, which we’ve operated under since 2004, says it plainly: say the price before the work, show up in the window we gave, leave the place cleaner than we found it. Trevor Nash runs Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale to that standard on every job, and we back it with a 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If something fails inside the guarantee period, we come back and fix it at no charge. That’s not a customer service line; it’s a written provision on every contract.
What to Expect During a Fort Lauderdale Bathroom Remodel
A typical mid-size bathroom remodel in Fort Lauderdale takes two to four weeks from demo to final inspection. The big variables are tile scope, custom glass lead times (frameless glass is measured after the tile is set, so there’s always a 1-2 week gap), and inspector availability.
Our technicians arrive in uniform and are background-checked on every job. That may sound like a small thing, but when a stranger is going to be in your home for three weeks, it matters that you can pick the person out of a lineup and know who they are.
During the job, expect noise during demo and the first few days of tile cutting. Dust is controlled with zip-wall barriers and floor protection, and we clean the job site at the end of every day. A live person answers our phones 24/7, so if you have a question at 9:00 at night, you get a person, not a voicemail.
FAQs – Bathroom Remodel Cost in Fort Lauderdale
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Fort Lauderdale?
A full bathroom remodel in Fort Lauderdale costs $9,000-$28,000 in 2026. The typical guest bath or hallway bath lands between $12,000 and $18,000, while a larger primary bath with premium tile, custom glass, and moving plumbing can exceed $25,000. Call (754) 551-2922 for a free written estimate on your specific bathroom.
Is it cheaper to remodel a small bathroom or a large one?
A small bathroom remodel (5×7 or smaller) costs $5,000-$12,000, which is meaningfully cheaper than a large bathroom remodel at $18,000-$28,000. The savings come from less tile, fewer fixtures, and less labor. But fixed costs like waterproofing, permits, and the trip charges for the crew don’t scale down proportionally, so a small bathroom at $8,000 has less “room” in the budget than a large bathroom at $20,000.
How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost in Fort Lauderdale?
A tub-to-shower conversion runs $3,500-$10,000 in Fort Lauderdale. The range depends on whether the drain has to move (which is concrete work on slab homes), how much tile you’re installing, and whether you choose a framed, semi-frameless, or frameless glass door. Most conversions in Fort Lauderdale homes land in the $5,000-$7,500 range. Call us at (754) 551-2922 and we’ll give you a written price, not a range.
Why is bathroom remodeling more expensive in Fort Lauderdale than other parts of Florida?
Fort Lauderdale bathroom remodel pricing is driven by hurricane-era building codes, high humidity requirements for waterproofing and ventilation, and older housing stock with slab-on-grade plumbing. The City of Fort Lauderdale’s permit and inspection process also adds $300-$1,500 to most jobs. Homes built before 1980 often need supply line replacement or termite remediation discovered during demo, which adds to the total project cost.
How much does it cost to replace a bathroom vanity in Fort Lauderdale?
Bathroom vanity installation runs $800-$3,000 in Fort Lauderdale, including the new vanity, faucet hookup, and basic plumbing trim. If the wall behind the old vanity has rot or water damage (common in humid Fort Lauderdale bathrooms), repairs add to that number. We install Wellborn and KraftMaid vanities, and a custom-size unit costs more than stock but eliminates the gaps that collect moisture. Call (754) 551-2922 for a free, written quote on your vanity replacement.
Can you remodel my bathroom in Fort Lauderdale today?
Same-day starts aren’t realistic for a full remodel, but we can usually have a written estimate in your hand inside a week, and scheduling runs one to four weeks out depending on the season. Winter is the busiest time for Fort Lauderdale remodeling, so if you want to lock in a start date, calling (754) 551-2922 today is the fastest way to get on the schedule.
Ready to Get a Written Price for Your Fort Lauderdale Bathroom Remodel?
If you’re reading this, you probably already know what you want, and you’ve probably already talked to at least one contractor who made you feel like the price would be different next month. Let’s do this differently.
Call Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale at (754) 551-2922 and tell us about your bathroom. We’ll schedule a walkthrough, listen to what you want, and hand you a written price before any work starts. The price includes the permit, the waterproofing, the materials, and the labor. It also includes a 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the work fails inside the guarantee period, we come back and fix it at no charge.
Trevor Nash has built bathroom remodels in Fort Lauderdale on that promise, and it’s the reason our customers call us for the second bathroom after we finish the first one. That’s the kind of reputation we’d rather have than a cheap bid that evaporates at the door.
Visit our home page to learn more about how we work, or call now. A live person answers, 24/7. Your bathroom won’t remodel itself, but we’ll get it done right, and we’ll put that in writing.
Pricing reflects the Fort Lauderdale market as of 2026. Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale offers free estimates – call (754) 551-2922.
Written by Trevor Nash, Owner at Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale homeowners with written-price remodeling since the Kingswell way began in 2004.
What Our Customers Say
"Did our whole kitchen. The written estimate held, which after reading remodel nightmares online I did not take for granted. Showed up every morning on time and the crew was clean and polite."
- Warren Updike"We'd been burned by a contractor before who disappeared halfway. Penhallow finished on time and stood behind everything. The written price gave me peace of mind the whole way."
- Simone Clarke"Redid two bathrooms at once. The crew protected the floors and cleaned up every single day before leaving. Quote was detailed and there were no mystery charges at the end."
- Tricia Dawson
