How Long Does It Take a Contractor to Remodel a Bathroom?

Phase 1: Planning and Design (2 to 6 Weeks)

Before a single tool touches your bathroom the decisions need to be made. Tile selection, fixture choices, layout changes, and budget sign-off all happen here. Skipping this step or rushing it is one of the most common reasons a bathroom remodeling project goes over budget and over schedule.

Good planning covers:

• Scope of work and layout decisions
• Material and fixture selections (in stock or special order?)
• Budget approval and contract signing
• Scheduling the project start date

The more decisions you lock in early, the fewer surprises show up mid-project. Change orders mid-construction slow everything down and cost more.

Phase 2: Permits (Anywhere from 2 Weeks to 4 Months)

Here is where timelines get unpredictable. Permit requirements vary by city, county, and state. Some jurisdictions turn permits around in a week while others take months, especially if your municipality has a backlog.

Any project that touches plumbing, electrical, or structural work almost always requires a permit and it’s not optional, and skipping it creates real problems at resale.

Rough rule of thumb:

• Simple municipalities: 2 to 4 weeks
• Busy urban areas: 6 weeks to 4 months

Factor this in before you set an expectation on when your bathroom will be done. Permit timing is outside anyone’s control once the application is submitted.

Phase 3: Demolition (1 to 3 Days)

Demolition moves fast. Most bathroom gut outs take one to two days and once the old tile comes down, fixtures get removed, drywall comes out where needed, and the space gets prepped for new work.

Do not assume demo is simple just because it goes quickly. Hidden surprises show up here more often than anywhere else. Rot behind the shower walls, outdated knob and tube wiring. Old cast iron plumbing that needs to be replaced. These are not rare, and they add time and cost when they appear.

A good bathroom remodeling company flags these findings immediately and adjusts the scope before moving forward.

Phase 4: Rough Plumbing and Electrical (3 to 10 Days)

This is the behind the walls work that sets up everything else. Moving a toilet a few feet sounds simple. In practice, it means re-routing drain lines, cutting concrete slab in some cases, and getting everything inspected before the walls close.

Electrical rough-in includes adding circuits for a new exhaust fan, heated floors, or GFCI outlets near the sink. Code requirements here are strict, and inspections happen before drywall goes back up.

Timelines for this phase vary based on:

• Whether plumbing or electrical is being moved (versus replaced in place)
• Inspector availability for rough-in sign-off
• Existing conditions behind the walls

Phase 5: Waterproofing and Backer Board (2 to 4 Days)

Waterproofing is not optional in a wet area and it is one of the places that separates solid bathroom remodeling work from shortcuts that cause problems later. Cement board or specialized waterproofing membranes go in before any tile touches the wall.

This phase does not take long but it requires cure time before the next step. Rushing this creates the conditions for moisture infiltration, mold, and tile failure down the line.

Phase 6: Tile Work (3 to 10 Days)

Tile is often what takes the longest in a bathroom remodel, and for good reason. A properly set tile job is slow and deliberate work because one big error and you’ve got big problems.

How long it takes depends on:

• Square footage being tiled (floor only vs. full shower surround vs. full room)
• Tile size and pattern (large format and herringbone take more time)
• Grout and cure time (tile adhesive and grout both require drying periods before the next step)

A basic shower surround and bathroom floor might take 3 to 5 days and a fully tiled bathroom with a custom shower, niche shelves, and decorative borders can run 8 to 10 days or more.

Phase 7: Fixture and Finish Installation (2 to 5 Days)

This is where the bathroom starts to look like a bathroom again. Vanity, toilet, faucets, mirrors, lighting, exhaust fan, shower hardware, and accessories all get installed in this phase.

The order matters. Flooring goes in before the toilet, then the vanity goes in before the plumbing connections. Sequencing errors here cause rework that no one wants to sit through or pay for.

Custom vanities, specialty fixtures, or anything with a long lead time should already be on site before this phase begins. Waiting on a backordered vanity at this stage can stall the project by weeks.

What Causes Delays? (And How to Avoid Them)

Alright, let’s talk about the real-world slowdowns that stretch a bathroom remodel timeline.

Material delays. Lead times on tile, vanities, and specialty fixtures can run 4 to 12 weeks. Order early, or choose in-stock alternatives.

Permit backlogs. No amount of urgency speeds up a city permitting office. Apply as early as possible but we usually take care of that.

Hidden conditions. Rot, mold, outdated plumbing, improper venting. These are discovered during demo and must be addressed. Building a small contingency budget (10 to 15%) into your project helps absorb these surprises without stopping work.

Change orders. Switching materials or adding scope mid project is the single biggest timeline killer. Finalize selections before work begins.

Inspection scheduling. Some areas have limited inspector availability. A rough in inspection that cannot get scheduled for two weeks stalls the whole project and if you move forward with us we’ll manage this proactively.

Realistic Cost Ranges by Project Size

Of course, none of this comes free. Timeline and cost are closely connected. Here is what to expect:

• Cosmetic refresh: $1,500 to $5,000
• Partial remodel: $5,000 to $15,000
• Mid-range full remodel: $15,000 to $30,000
• High-end gut renovation: $30,000 to $70,000+

These ranges include labor and materials. Location, labor market, and material choices all shift the number. High end tile and custom cabinetry will push you toward the top of any range. Builder grade selections bring costs down.

How to Choose the Right Bathroom Remodeling Company

The contractor you hire has a direct impact on how long your project takes and how it turns out. A good bathroom remodeling company manages the schedule, handles permit coordination, and communicates clearly when surprises come up.

When evaluating contractors, ask:

• Do you pull the permits, or do I?
• Will your crew work on my project exclusively, or am I sharing workers with other jobs?
• What is your process when hidden damage is discovered?
• Do you have references from recent bathroom remodels?

The contractor working multiple projects simultaneously is not automatically a problem, but it does mean your project may sit idle on days when workers are elsewhere which is fine, you will usually have to wait for any contractor to free up. Just make sure you know what you are agreeing to upfront.

Summary: What to Expect From Start to Finish

A bathroom remodel is not a one-week job unless the scope is genuinely limited. Here is a realistic total timeline for a standard full remodel:

• Planning and design: 2 to 6 weeks
• Permitting: 2 weeks to 4 months
• Active construction: 4 to 10 weeks
• Total from decision to done: 2 to 6 months

The biggest variables are permitting and material lead times, both of which happen before construction even begins. Starting the planning process early, locking in selections quickly, and working with a bathroom remodeling company that manages the schedule tightly will keep the project on track.

If you are thinking about a bathroom remodel, the best next step is a detailed on-site estimate. A walk-through of your space surfaces the conditions that cannot be diagnosed remotely, and it gives you a realistic number and timeline before any commitments are made.