Bathroom renovation cost by province in 2026
What a mid-range bathroom renovation costs in each province, ranked from most to least expensive, and why prices differ so much across Canada.
A mid-range bathroom renovation costs $20,000 across Canada in 2026, with most jobs between $15,600 – $25,900, before GST/HST. That national figure hides a real spread: the same bathroom, with the same tile and fixtures, costs noticeably more where trades earn more. The table below ranks every province for an identical job.
The job we priced
To compare provinces fairly, every figure is for the same renovation: a full gut of a bathroom of about 5 m², with the old tub replaced by a walk-in shower. The mid-range job includes:
- demolition down to the subfloor, with debris hauled away
- new hot and cold supply lines and drain lines inside the bathroom, with shut-off valves
- a waterproofing membrane on the whole floor and on the shower walls to about 2 m
- 30 x 60 cm porcelain tile on the floor and on the walls to about 2.2 m, walls levelled first
- a new toilet, a countertop or semi-recessed sink, a concealed shower valve with hand shower, and a vanity with mirror
- three light points, two receptacles and a sealed LED ceiling fixture
- a shower screen or enclosure, and paint on the ceiling and the wall above the tile
A basic refresh with standard ceramic tile and fixtures runs about $14,700; full-height tile, a stone floor and a rain shower push the premium version to about $27,600.
Mid-range bathroom renovation cost by province
| Region | Mid-range |
|---|---|
| Quebec | $21,500 |
| Ontario | $20,100 |
| Alberta | $19,600 |
| British Columbia | $19,600 |
| Saskatchewan | $19,600 |
| Manitoba | $19,000 |
| Nova Scotia | $19,000 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $18,800 |
| New Brunswick | $18,300 |
Click a province to see its own breakdown, with the basic and premium tiers and figures for its main urban areas. All amounts are before GST/HST.
Why the same bathroom costs more in some provinces
Labour drives the gap
A bathroom is one of the most labour-intensive rooms in a house. In a few square metres you pay for demolition, a plumber, an electrician, a tile setter and often a carpenter or drywall finisher, each on site for a day or more. Levelling the walls, waterproofing and tiling a shower alone take several days.
We build every estimate from the bottom up: the hours each task takes, multiplied by what each trade charges locally, plus materials, checked against market prices and real quotes. The hours do not change from province to province; a shower base takes as long to set in Moncton as in Vancouver. What changes is the rate. We start from national rates for each trade and adjust them province by province using official wage data, so where plumbers, electricians and tile setters earn more, the same job costs more.
Materials vary less
Tile, fixtures, valves and vanities come through national supply chains, so their prices move much less between provinces than wages do. That is why the provincial gap is proportionally larger on a bathroom than on jobs where equipment makes up most of the bill.
Busy markets and remote communities
Where housing is expensive and renovators are booked months ahead, prices rarely drop to the national average. At the other end, remote and northern communities face their own costs: getting materials and trades on site takes time and money, which a general wage index does not fully capture. If you live far from a major centre, expect quotes to reflect travel.
What the table does not include
- GST/HST. Renovation work is taxable, and the rate depends on your province: 13% HST in Ontario, 5% GST in Alberta, for example. Our figures are before tax, so add yours when you compare.
- Permits. Electrical, gas and plumbing work needs licensed trades and usually a permit. A renovation that replaces supply and drain lines and adds circuits normally falls into that category; permit fees are set locally.
- Hidden damage. Rotten subfloor, old galvanized pipes or a drain that has to be moved add cost anywhere in the country.
Differences within a province
Provincial averages are only a starting point. In most provinces, a renovation in a large city costs more than the same job in a smaller town, because urban trades charge more and lose more time between jobs. The provincial pages show the figure for different areas, so use the one closest to you.
How to use these figures
- Pick your province, then your tier. The table shows the mid-range job. For a basic refresh or a high-end finish, check the other tiers on your province's page.
- Adjust for size. Our bathroom is about 5 m². A larger ensuite needs more tile, more waterproofing and more hours; change the floor area in the calculator on Bathroom remodel.
- Keep the scope identical when you compare. Keeping the tub, or retiling only the shower, is a different and cheaper job.
- Compare before tax. Ask each contractor for a pre-tax total so you can compare it with our figures and with each other.
When you have a quote, run it through our "Is my quote fair?" tool. It compares your price with what homeowners in your area typically pay for the same job and shows whether it sits at the low, typical or high end.
Planning a kitchen too? See Kitchen remodel.