Bathroom remodeling in the Salt Lake area, from refresh to spa bath

Refresh, tub to shower, full remodel or spa bath

Most bathroom projects fit one of four levels, and each one calls for different trades and a different budget.

What bathroom remodels cost in Salt Lake

In the 2025 Cost vs Value report, Salt Lake bathroom jobs price about 5% above the national average³. All are planning figures, not quotes.

The midrange recipe redoes a 5 by 7 foot bathroom with a new tub and tile surround, toilet, solid surface vanity top and tile floor⁴. The upscale one grows a 35 square foot bath to 100 square feet and moves every fixture⁵. Houzz medians are self reported and include do it yourself jobs. More in the cost guide.

Tub to shower and walk in showers

A tub comes out in 26% of bathroom projects, and when it does, 79% of homeowners use the space for a bigger shower¹. A prefab shower unit is the simpler route, about $2,000 to $3,000 in materials plus around $1,000 of labor, while high end custom conversions can reach $20,000².

A tiled walk in shower brings in several trades. Utah's S230 license class covers tile, stone, glass and shower pans⁶, and moving a drain or valve is plumbing work that needs a permit in Salt Lake City⁷.

Hard water, glass and fixtures

Salt Lake Valley water is hard. Salt Lake City's 2025 water report, which also covers parts of Millcreek, Holladay and Cottonwood Heights, lists about 7 to over 28 grains per gallon depending on the source⁸. Jordan Valley Water averaged 182.4 mg/L in 2025⁹, and the USGS calls anything over 180 mg/L very hard¹⁰.

If water spots on the glass are part of why you're remodeling, bring it up at the visit. Worth asking about:

• Faucet and shower finishes that are easy to wipe clean
• Glass coatings, or a shower layout that needs less glass
• Whether a water softener or filter belongs in the plan

Permits and older homes

In Salt Lake City, installing or altering plumbing or electrical needs a permit, while painting and flooring don't⁷. Bathroom remodels that don't add plumbing fixtures can qualify for the city's Permit by Inspector track¹¹. In areas served by the Greater Salt Lake MSD, swapping a fixture for an equivalent one needs no permit, but adding or moving fixtures does¹².

Homes built before 1978 likely contain lead based paint¹³. Utah runs its own EPA authorized program¹⁴, and paid firms that disturb that paint must be certified¹⁵. You also can't spot asbestos by looking, so the EPA suggests having suspect materials checked by an accredited professional before a remodel¹⁶.

How long a bathroom remodel takes

Fixr says most bathroom projects take 2 to 12 weeks, and many take 2 to 4 weeks start to finish¹⁷. Planning runs longer: Houzz users report 8.4 months of planning and 4.8 months of work on primary baths, including do it yourself projects¹⁸. Ask the remodeler which pieces, like shower glass or special order tile, need lead time.

Before you sign

Check the remodeler on DOPL's online Licensee Lookup & Verification System¹⁹, and get the estimate and contract in writing. A Utah contractor's contract must tell you how to stay protected from liens²⁰. Without a license, a handyman can only take jobs under $7,000 in total, and plumbing or electrical work still needs a licensed contractor²¹.

Before we pass your request, we check that the remodeler's Utah license is active. Read more about how this works, or see kitchen remodeling if you're planning both rooms.