Bathroom Remodel Cost in Eau Claire: 2026 Prices, Permits and Budget Tips

Bathroom Remodel Cost in Eau Claire: The Short Answer

Bathroom remodel cost comes down to two questions: is the shower being upgraded, and is any plumbing moving? The 2026 Houzz bathroom study puts the national median spend on 2025 bathroom remodels at $15,000, rising to $25,000 for major remodels (at least the shower upgraded) and falling to $9,000 for minor ones. This Old House reports a national average of $15,586, with most projects between $6,456 and $24,715, and HomeAdvisor puts the typical range at $6,651 to $17,660. Start with the kitchen and bathroom remodelers in Eau Claire on our directory, and ask each one for an itemized written quote.

No public source publishes Eau Claire bathroom prices, so treat these national numbers as a way to sanity-check local quotes. The local costs you can pin down are the City’s 2026 permit fees, covered below.

Bathroom Remodel Cost by Size and Scope

How much does a small bathroom remodel cost?

For a major remodel of a bathroom under 100 square feet, the Houzz study found a national median of $18,000, with the top 10% of projects starting at $44,000. A minor remodel of a small bathroom had a median of $5,000. This Old House prices a 40-60 square foot bathroom at $12,695 to $14,845. Small is common: Houzz found 42% of finished bathrooms measure less than 100 square feet.

How much does a larger or primary bathroom remodel cost?

For bathrooms of 100 square feet or more, the Houzz median for a major remodel was $30,000, and the top 10% reached $75,000 or higher. This Old House puts a 100-120 square foot bathroom at $19,166 to $21,295 and a 130+ square foot bathroom at $22,370 to $24,715.

What separates a minor remodel from a major one?

The shower. Houzz counts a remodel as major when at least the shower is upgraded, and minor when it is not. That one choice separates the $9,000 and $25,000 medians, so decide early whether the shower stays.

Here is how the Houzz national medians break down by scope and size:

Houzz 2025 national median	Major remodel (shower upgraded)	Minor remodel (no shower upgrade)
All bathrooms	$25,000	$9,000
Under 100 sq ft	$18,000	$5,000
100 sq ft or more	$30,000	$10,000

Bathroom Remodel Cost Drivers: What Moves the Total

Does moving the toilet or shower cost more?

Yes, usually a lot more. NerdWallet says reworking plumbing and electrical to fit a new floor plan will likely add about $5,000. This Old House reports that plumbing work averages $5,545 on a bathroom renovation, and that moving a toilet or tub requires a licensed plumber. HomeAdvisor’s advice is simple: keeping sinks, toilets, tubs, and showers where they are is one of the most reliable ways to save.

How much of the bill is labor?

Roughly 40% to 65%, according to both HomeAdvisor and NerdWallet. NerdWallet adds that a remodel needing plumbers, electricians, or other specialists costs more than one that only involves basic carpentry and installation.

What does demolition add?

HomeAdvisor and NerdWallet both put tear-out of old tile, fixtures, and drywall at $1,000 to $2,300, depending on bathroom size and local labor rates. Ask whether each quote includes demolition and disposal.

How much should I set aside for surprises?

This Old House recommends a 20% contingency. In its 2026 survey of 1,000 homeowners, about 1 in 3 said their remodel cost more than expected, often because of plumbing upgrades or hidden water damage. Nearly 1 in 4 ran into unexpected water damage repairs, and about 22% faced structural repairs to walls, subfloors, or framing. NerdWallet estimates water damage repairs found mid-project at $3.75 to $7 per square foot.

Bathroom Remodel Cost for Showers and Tubs

How much does a walk-in shower cost?

HomeAdvisor reports that a new walk-in shower installation averages $14,300 nationally, while a premade shower kit can cost as little as $500 installed and averages $1,000. A glass shower door averages $950. This Old House puts a complete shower remodel, materials and labor, at $8,044.

How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost?

HomeAdvisor’s fixture section puts a tub-to-shower conversion at $1,200 to $3,600, and its FAQ gives a wider $1,200 to $8,000 depending on the size and style of the shower. The trade is common: Houzz found a bathtub comes out in 26% of remodels, and when it does, 79% of homeowners use the space to enlarge the shower.

Bathroom Remodel Cost in Eau Claire: Permits and 2026 Fees

Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Eau Claire?

Often, yes, depending on the work. The City of Eau Claire requires:

• A plumbing permit before any fixture is added or removed, including adding or removing pipes.
• An electrical permit for new wiring or rewiring, including any new or added branch circuit.
• A building permit for structural alterations.

A licensed master plumber or a homeowner who lives in the home can pull the plumbing permit, and a licensed electrical contractor or a resident homeowner can pull the electrical permit. If you are unsure whether your project needs one, call the Inspections Division at 715-839-4947.

What do Eau Claire permit fees cost in 2026?

The City’s 2026 adopted fee schedule sets these residential fees:

Permit item	2026 fee
Plumbing fixture (each)	$17
Plumbing minimum (residential)	$47
Electrical alterations (single family or duplex)	$0.12 per sq ft, $52 minimum
Building permit, alterations up to $60,000	$7.25 per $1,000 of estimated cost, $50 minimum
Plan exam, additions and alterations	$55 (may be waived under 200 sq ft)

At the building permit rate, a project estimated at $20,000 would carry a $145 fee. The estimate must include labor and materials; if only materials are shown, the City doubles that value. Plumbing fees double if work starts before the permit is issued, so pull it first.

Who can pull the building permit?

Under Wisconsin rules, only a contractor holding a Dwelling Contractor certification, with a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier on staff, can get a building permit for a one or two family home. The exception is an owner who lives in the home and applies for the permit on it.

When do inspections happen?

Before the walls close. The City’s brochures call for plumbing and electrical rough-in inspections before piping or wiring is covered by sheetrock or insulation. Inspections must be requested by 3:00 pm for the next day, and electrical permits are valid for 12 months.

Bathroom Remodel Cost in Older Eau Claire Homes

Does the lead paint rule apply to my bathroom?

It does if the house was built before 1978 and you hire someone. Wisconsin DHS says a certified lead-safe renovator working for a certified lead company is required when work disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or involves demolition. DHS keeps a certified company list that is updated monthly. The rule does not cover owners working on their own home if only their immediate family lives there, no child with a high blood lead level lives there, and no part is rented out.

Should I worry about pipes on an outside wall?

Yes, if the new layout puts a sink or shower on an exterior wall. The Red Cross lists pipes against exterior walls with little or no insulation among the most likely to freeze. Ask your plumber how supply lines will be protected, and see our guide on how to keep pipes from freezing.

Bathroom Remodel Cost Savings on Fixtures and Ventilation

Which fixtures cut water bills?

EPA WaterSense toilets use 1.28 gallons per flush or less, 20 percent below the federal standard of 1.6, and older toilets can use as much as 6 gallons. WaterSense showerheads use no more than 2.0 gallons per minute versus 2.5 for standard models, which EPA says can save an average family 2,700 gallons a year. A remodel is the natural time to switch.

Is a new exhaust fan worth adding?

It is the most common system homeowners add: Houzz found 59% install a ventilation fan during a bathroom remodel. HomeAdvisor puts bathroom fan installation at $400 on average and notes that exhaust fans remove moisture that leads to mold and mildew.

Bathroom Remodel Cost: When to Hire a Pro

Most homeowners hire help. Houzz found 89% bring in at least one professional, and general contractors work on 52% of projects. HomeAdvisor says plumbing and electrical work should be left to the pros, and moving any fixture triggers a City plumbing permit anyway. For fixture moves, compare plumbers in Eau Claire; for new circuits, lighting, or a fan, compare electricians in Eau Claire. For the whole job, get itemized written quotes from more than one of the bathroom remodelers serving Eau Claire, and confirm who pulls each permit, what the contingency covers, and whether demolition and disposal are included.

Bathroom remodel cost questions to ask before you sign

Get these answers in writing before work starts.

Question	Why it matters
Will you pull the plumbing, electrical, and building permits?	Eau Claire requires permits to add or move fixtures, for new wiring, and for structural alterations.
Do you hold a Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor certification with a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier?	Wisconsin requires both for a contractor to get a building permit on a one or two family home.
Are you a certified lead-safe renovator working for a certified lead company?	Wisconsin DHS requires it for most paint-disturbing work in homes built before 1978.
Does the quote include demolition and disposal?	HomeAdvisor and NerdWallet put tear-out at $1,000 to $2,300.
How will you handle water damage found once the walls are open?	Nearly 1 in 4 homeowners in This Old House’s survey ran into unexpected water damage repairs.
How will supply lines on an outside wall be protected from freezing?	The Red Cross lists pipes against poorly insulated exterior walls among the most likely to freeze.