The short answer
A mid-range full bathroom remodel in Denver costs about $9,450 to $29,400, and a primary bath runs $21,000 to $63,000. Each city around Denver runs its own building department. Ask which one issues your permit before work starts, since fees and review steps differ from city to city.
What a bathroom remodel costs in Denver
Our numbers apply the Denver cost factor of 1.05 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to national remodeling cost data. The same bathroom costs about 5% more here than the national average.
| Job | Denver (typical range) | US average |
|---|---|---|
| Half bath (powder room) remodel | $4,200–$14,700 | $4,000–$14,000 |
| Full bathroom, cosmetic refresh | $5,650–$17,650 | $5,400–$16,800 |
| Full bathroom remodel, mid-range | $9,450–$29,400 | $9,000–$28,000 |
| Full bathroom, high-end | $14,200–$44,100 | $13,500–$42,000 |
| Primary bathroom remodel | $21,000–$63,000 | $20,000–$60,000 |
| Tub-to-shower conversion | $2,100–$12,600 | $2,000–$12,000 |
| Tile, installed | $10.5–$42/sq ft | $10–$40/sq ft |
| New toilet, installed | $370–$840 | $350–$800 |
| New faucet, installed | $125–$315 | $120–$300 |
Estimates for 2026, including labor and standard parts. Denver prices use the metro's construction cost factor of 1.05 (US average = 1.00) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors. Your quote depends on access, materials and the condition of the home.
Tile accounts for much of the cost difference. Installed tile in Denver runs $10.50 to $42 per square foot depending on material and pattern, so a 40-square-foot shower with large-format porcelain can cost several times what ceramic on a simple grid would.
Use the cost estimator below or open the full bathroom cost estimator for your room size, finish level and ZIP code.
The same estimator has its own page, easy to share or bookmark: Bathroom remodel cost estimator.
Moving a drain on a slab or a wood floor
Most Denver-area houses have a basement, which usually means a wood-framed floor over a crawl space or a finished basement ceiling. A plumber can often reach a relocated drain from below. A house on a slab, common in newer suburban builds, means saw-cutting the concrete. Either way, a toilet needs a properly sized drain with a vent close enough to satisfy the plumbing code. Colorado uses the International Plumbing Code (Colorado DPO). Ask the remodeler which foundation type your house has before you compare bids. The same layout change can cost very differently.
What drives a Denver bathroom budget
| Choice | Lower cost | Higher cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shower | Tub with tile surround, same spot | Walk-in shower with glass, tub removed ($2,100 to $12,600 for the conversion here) |
| Tile | Ceramic on the walls, about $10.50 per sq ft installed | Large-format porcelain or stone, up to about $42 per sq ft |
| Toilet | Standard model swapped in place, $370 to $840 installed | Wall-hung toilet with a new carrier in the wall |
| Layout | Everything stays | Toilet or shower moved, wall shifted |
Waterproofing and shower rules in Denver
A leaking shower rots the framing and subfloor before a stain shows on the ceiling underneath. The Denver metro cities enforce the International Residential Code and International Plumbing Code. The inspection sequence is where showers fail.
What the inspector checks in the shower
Arvada publishes the common inspections for interior remodels, and the list covers the shower steps: underground plumbing, rough plumbing, shower pan, gas line, rough mechanical, rough electrical, rough frame, insulation, drywall, then final plumbing, electrical and mechanical. The shower pan inspection happens before tile. A pan that is not flood-tested and tied into the drain will fail, and the tile has to come off.
Arvada's code also sets a shower ceiling height: a shower or tub with a showerhead needs at least 6 feet 8 inches of ceiling above a minimum 30 inch by 30 inch area at the showerhead. In a basement bathroom under a beam, that number decides where the shower can go.
Ventilation and electrical in a wet room
Colorado uses the National Electrical Code. At least one 20-ampere circuit is required for bathroom receptacles, and it may serve no other outlets unless it supplies a single bathroom (Larimer County wiring guidelines). At least one receptacle must sit within 36 inches of the outside edge of each basin, no more than 12 inches below the countertop. Every bathroom needs a wall-switch-controlled light. Tamper-resistant receptacles are required in dwelling units.
An exhaust fan ducted outside matters more in a dry, high-altitude climate than many homeowners expect. A sealed, well-insulated house traps moisture. Venting a fan into the attic fails inspection and feeds mold in the roof assembly.
Why older Denver showers usually need more than new tile
Denver homes built before the 1950s often trigger extra review items, including knob-and-tube wiring remediation and balloon-frame fire blocking (BH Builders). Once old tile comes off a shower that is decades old, the backer behind it is often soft. Replacing it and swapping the valve while the wall is open turns a tile job into a permitted plumbing job. Plan for that before demolition.
Water-saving fixtures and Denver water
Denver Water serves 1.5 million people and reports that its drinking water meets or exceeds EPA and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment requirements (Denver Water). The utility offers up to a $100 rebate on a WaterSense-labeled toilet. Claim it when you replace a toilet during a remodel.
Denver's water is naturally hard, often 180 to 220 ppm, according to Roto-Rooter. Hard water leaves scale on shower glass, showerheads and faucet aerators, and it shortens the life of a tankless coil or a cartridge valve. Two practical choices follow. Pick a showerhead and valve trim that can be descaled or replaced without opening the wall. Plan on cleaning glass more often than a soft-water household would. Boulder's water is much softer, at an average of 2.4 grains per gallon (City of Boulder), so the same fixtures behave differently across the metro.
Denver Water's Lead Reduction Program is a 15-year effort to replace an estimated 60,000 to 64,000 lead service lines. If your house was built before 1986, ask the remodeler whether the service line material is known before you plan a drinking-water tap at the vanity.
Planning for aging in place
A bathroom remodel is the cheapest time to make the room work for someone with a walker or a bad knee. The walls and floor are already open.
| Feature | What it involves | When to decide |
|---|---|---|
| Wood blocking for grab bars | Added in the wall framing before backer board | At framing |
| Curbless shower | Recessed or sloped floor, linear drain, wider waterproofing | Before the pan is built |
| Wider clearances | Room beside the toilet and in front of the vanity | At design |
| Lever handles and a hand-held shower | Fixture choice | At fixture selection |
Blocking costs little during framing and a lot after tile. A curbless shower may involve recessing floor framing, which is structural work and moves the project into plan review. Decide both before demolition.
Do you need a permit?
In the Denver metro, a bathroom remodel needs a permit, and the office that issues it depends on the address. Moving, removing or opening any wall almost always requires a permit, and so does new or relocated plumbing, gas or electrical work (BH Builders). Replacing cabinets is exempt, but replacing cabinets while moving the sink is a plumbing permit.
| Bathroom work | Permit |
|---|---|
| Paint, mirror, towel bars, floor tile only | No |
| Toilet, tub, valve or sink replaced in the same spot | Yes, plumbing |
| Tub-to-shower conversion with nothing structural | Yes, plumbing and often building |
| New circuit, GFCI outlet or exhaust fan | Yes, electrical or mechanical |
| Moving a drain or a wall | Yes, plumbing and building, with plan review |
Each city runs its own permit office:
- Denver prices residential permits on declared valuation, with trade permits typically $60 to $200 each and plan review commonly about 65% of the permit fee. Use tax on materials is collected at permit time at roughly 3% to 4.9% across the metro. Simple trade permits can take same-day to a few days. Single-family remodel plan review takes several weeks.
- Aurora is in Adams County, Arapahoe County and Douglas County territory depending on the parcel. Adams County requires contractors to be registered before pulling a permit, at no fee, and verifies state electrical and plumbing licenses.
- Lakewood runs permitting through its eTRAKiT system, and contractors must be registered with the city and hold a contractor account.
- Littleton approved a new permit fee schedule on December 21, 2025, and adds City of Littleton Use Tax and Arapahoe County Open Space Tax on top of building fees. Inspections scheduled before 4:00 pm are placed on the next available day.
- Douglas County issues permits for unincorporated areas only, verifies state electrical and plumbing licenses through DORA before issuing, and currently waives contractor registration fees.
- Arvada requires a permit for interior remodels including baths, and interior remodel permits need a Class B or Class C General Contractor License. Plan reviews take 1 to 2 days. Arvada's building use tax is 58% of the total value of the project.
- Boulder bases permit fees on the higher of its valuation table or your estimate, doubles fees on work started without a permit, and charges a plan check fee of 25% of the building permit fee for single-family work. A plumbing permit for a one-dwelling-unit remodel is $34.20, and a roughed-in bathroom counts as a bathroom for fee purposes. Reinspection costs $94.
Colorado also issues state electrical and plumbing permits, valid for one year. A homeowner may do their own plumbing or electrical work only under narrow conditions: the work is personally performed, the property is not for sale, resale or rent, and all work is inspected before covering and again before occupancy (Colorado DPO).
How long a bathroom remodel takes in Denver
| Scope | Permit time | Build sequence |
|---|---|---|
| Fixtures swapped in place | Days for trade permits | Demo, rough-in, final |
| Fixtures moved or shower rebuilt | 1 to 3 weeks | Adds a shower pan inspection before tile |
| Gut remodel with structural change | Several weeks for plan review | Adds framing inspection and plan corrections |
On site, the work follows a fixed order: demolition to the studs, framing repairs and grab bar blocking, rough plumbing, electrical and fan, backer board and waterproofing with the pan flood test, then tile, fixtures, glass and the final inspection. Glass is measured after tile is done. If this is the only bathroom in the house, agree with the remodeler on how you will have a working toilet each night.
How to check a bathroom remodeler before you hire
Colorado does not license general contractors at the state level. The plumbing and electrical trades are licensed by the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations, and each city registers or licenses the contractor who pulls the permit.
| Credential | Who holds it | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Master plumber and plumbing contractor | The plumber and the plumbing company | DORA license lookup |
| Master electrician and electrical contractor | The electrician and the electrical company | DORA license lookup |
| City contractor registration or license | The remodeler | The city's portal, such as Lakewood eTRAKiT or Boulder Customer Self Service |
A Colorado master plumber needs five full-time years, or 8,500 hours, of practical experience. Plumbing licenses expire on the final day of February of odd-numbered years. Douglas County verifies state electrical and plumbing licenses through DORA before it issues a permit.
- Look up the plumber and electrician on the DORA site, and confirm the license is active.
- Check the remodeler's city registration in the city where the work happens.
- Ask how they build the shower pan, which waterproofing system they use, and whether they flood-test before tile.
- Ask who pulls the permit and which inspections they expect.
- Put the payment schedule in writing. Our guide to paying a contractor covers milestones and lien releases.
For design help before you bid, see our residential design and 3D renderings guides. For plumbing problems outside a remodel, see our Denver plumbing guide.
Areas we cover
GOLDGCP bathroom remodelers work across the Denver metro and the Front Range, including:
- Denver
- Aurora
- Lakewood
- Littleton
- Highlands Ranch
- Arvada
- Boulder
Enter your ZIP code to see bathroom prices and the remodelers who cover it.
How GOLDGCP works
- Describe the bathroom through the form, a call or WhatsApp: its size, what you want to change and whether the toilet or shower moves.
- We match you with up to 3 vetted, licensed remodelers in your area, and you see prices by ZIP code before anyone visits.
- Each remodeler has passed state license verification, an insurance check, a business and public-records check, a portfolio review, client reference calls, and onboarding and a quality score.
- Your remodeler pulls the permit and books the inspections.
- You pay your remodeler directly, stage by stage, each milestone after you approve that stage, and follow the job in the client portal.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Denver?
By our cost-adjusted figures, a mid-range full bathroom costs about $9,450 to $29,400, a powder room $4,200 to $14,700 and a primary bath $21,000 to $63,000. A cosmetic refresh runs $5,650 to $17,650. Moving drains or walls pushes costs higher.
Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Denver?
Yes, if you replace or move a toilet, tub, shower valve or sink, add a circuit or install a fan. Denver and the surrounding cities each issue their own permits, and Arvada requires a permit for interior remodels including baths. Paint, accessories and floor tile alone need no permit.
What does a Denver inspector check in a new shower?
Arvada lists the shower pan inspection among the common interior remodel inspections, and it happens before tile. The pan must be waterproofed and tied into the drain. Arvada's code also requires a shower ceiling at least 6 feet 8 inches above a 30 inch by 30 inch area at the showerhead.
Who licenses bathroom remodelers in Colorado?
Colorado does not license general contractors. Plumbers and electricians are licensed by the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations, and each city registers or licenses the contractor who pulls the permit. Check both the state license and the city registration.
How much does it cost to move a toilet in a Denver bathroom?
It depends on the floor. In a house with a basement or crawl space, a plumber can often reach the drain from below. On a slab, the concrete has to be cut. Either way, the toilet needs a properly sized drain with a vent, and the work needs a plumbing permit.
Can I get a curbless shower in an older Denver house?
Usually, but recessing the floor framing for a zero-threshold entry is structural work, so it moves the project into plan review. Decide before the pan is built. Add grab bar blocking while the walls are open, since it costs little during framing.
Is Denver water hard enough to affect bathroom fixtures?
Denver's water is naturally hard, often 180 to 220 ppm, which leaves scale on glass, showerheads and aerators. Boulder's water is much softer at about 2.4 grains per gallon. Choose fixtures that can be descaled or replaced without opening the wall, and claim Denver Water's $100 WaterSense toilet rebate.
How we calculate these prices
GOLDGCP starts from national price ranges for each job, taken from published 2026 cost guides and checked against local price guides where they exist. To get a local price, we multiply the national range by the construction cost factor for the metro from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors (US average = 1.00). Where that table has no entry for a metro, we use the nearest listed location or the state value. For ZIP codes outside the 50 largest metros, the cost estimator uses the state's price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities. Ranges include labor and standard materials but not unusual site conditions, so a written quote after an inspection is always the final price.
Sources
- dpo.colorado.gov
- City of Arvada
- Larimer County Building Division
- BH Builders
- denverwater.org
- rotorooter.com
- City of Boulder · City of Boulder
- apps.colorado.gov
- City of Boulder · Planning and Development Services 2025…
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
About this guide
Written by the GOLDGCP editorial team. Prices come from national cost guides adjusted with official construction cost factors for Denver; rules and statistics come from the agencies and reports linked in the text. We update this page when prices or codes change.