The short answer
A mid-range full bathroom remodel in Miami runs about $8,350 to $26,050 by our cost-adjusted figures. Moisture causes the most damage here, so insist on a shower that is waterproofed and flood-tested and a fan that vents outdoors, not into the attic.
What a bathroom remodel costs in Miami
Our numbers start with national remodeling cost data and apply the Miami metro cost factor of 0.93 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, so the same bathroom costs about 7% less here than the national average.
| Job | Miami (typical range) | US average |
|---|---|---|
| Half bath (powder room) remodel | $3,700–$13,000 | $4,000–$14,000 |
| Full bathroom, cosmetic refresh | $5,000–$15,600 | $5,400–$16,800 |
| Full bathroom remodel, mid-range | $8,350–$26,050 | $9,000–$28,000 |
| Full bathroom, high-end | $12,550–$39,050 | $13,500–$42,000 |
| Primary bathroom remodel | $18,600–$55,800 | $20,000–$60,000 |
| Tub-to-shower conversion | $1,850–$11,150 | $2,000–$12,000 |
| Tile, installed | $9.5–$37/sq ft | $10–$40/sq ft |
| New toilet, installed | $325–$745 | $350–$800 |
| New faucet, installed | $110–$280 | $120–$300 |
Estimates for 2026, including labor and standard parts. Miami prices use the metro's construction cost factor of 0.93 (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.
For your room size, finish level and ZIP code, run the cost estimator below or open the full bathroom cost estimator.
What drives a Miami bathroom budget
| Choice | Lower cost | Higher cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shower | Tub with tile surround, same spot | Walk-in shower with glass, tub removed ($1,850 to $11,150 for the conversion here) |
| Tile | Ceramic on the walls, from about $9.50 per sq ft installed | Large-format porcelain or stone, up to about $37 per sq ft |
| Toilet | Standard model swapped in place, $325 to $745 installed | Wall-hung toilet with a new carrier in the wall |
| Layout | Everything stays | Toilet or shower moved, wall shifted |
Small bathrooms cost more per square foot because the valve, toilet and vanity cost the same whether the room is small or large.
Moving a drain on a slab
Most South Florida houses sit on concrete slabs, so moving a toilet or shower drain means saw-cutting the floor. A toilet needs a 3-inch drain with a vent close enough to satisfy the plumbing code, and that requirement is why a small move can turn into a big one. If your house was built before 1975, ask for a drain camera inspection before the slab opens. Nearly 40% of Florida homes from that era have cast iron drains under the slab, and in this climate many fail in 25 to 30 years instead of 40 to 50, according to the Insurance Journal. Replacing a home's drains can cost $20,000 to $100,000, and insurers often deny those claims as wear and tear.
Keeping a Miami bathroom dry
Miami International averages 67.41 inches of rain a year, with an August dew point around 74°F, according to NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals. Moisture causes more everyday damage here than heat does.
The exhaust fan is not optional
The Florida Building Code requires bathroom exhaust fans to vent to the outside of the building envelope, not into an attic or crawl space, and calls for at least 50 cubic feet per minute of intermittent airflow, according to My Florida Home Energy. The same source says many fans installed in standard construction do not work well, and that adds to moisture problems in hot, humid climates. Ask for a straight, rigid duct to the outside, a fan rated 2.0 sones or less, and a humidistat or timer so it runs long enough after a shower.
Waterproofing and the pan flood test
Tile and grout let water through, so the waterproofing goes behind and under the tile, tied into the drain, and the shower pan is flood-tested before any tile goes down. Ask your remodeler which waterproofing system they use and whether the inspector sees the pan test. A leaking shower soaks the framing and subfloor long before anyone sees a stain, and in a house that is closed up and air conditioned most of the year, wet framing grows mold fast.
Old bathrooms in old houses
About half of all homes in Miami-Dade and Broward were built before 1980, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey. Hollywood (74.7%), Miami Beach (67.3%), Fort Lauderdale (65.1%) and Coral Gables (61.1%) are older still. In those houses, tile often comes off over soft backer board, and the valve is original, so plan to replace both once the wall is open.
Water-saving fixtures and plumbing rules
Florida's plumbing rules follow the statewide Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, which took effect December 31, 2023. The 9th Edition takes effect December 31, 2026. Every city in this metro enforces the same statewide code, though Broward County adds its own local amendments through the Board of Rules and Appeals.
What needs a permit depends on the work, not on the fixture brand. In unincorporated Miami-Dade, licensed plumbers may replace faucets, toilets, sinks, disposals, dishwashers and shut-off valves without a permit, and replacing an electric water heater of 4,500 watts or less and up to 50 gallons needs no electrical permit. A higher-wattage replacement does. Cities in Miami-Dade, including Miami, Miami Beach and Coral Gables, run their own building departments, so check with yours.
The hurricane zone changes some bathroom products
Miami-Dade and Broward are the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, the only two counties in Florida with that classification. Palm Beach County is outside the zone but still in the wind-borne debris region.
This matters when a bathroom has an exterior window or door, or when glass is part of the job. Every window, exterior door, shutter and roofing product installed in the HVHZ needs a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or an HVHZ-rated Florida Product Approval, and the inspector checks the number. Miami-Dade's Product Control Section issues NOAs and publishes them online. Ask for the approval number on the quote before you sign.
Shower and tub enclosure doors fall under Miami-Dade's glass and glazing contractor license, which requires three years of experience. If your remodeler subs out the shower glass, that sub should hold the right license.
Planning for aging in place
A bathroom remodel is the cheapest time to make the room work for someone with a walker, a bad knee or a wheelchair, because 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 | Before the walls close |
| Curbless shower | Recessed or sloped floor, linear drain, wider waterproofing | Before the slab or framing work |
| Wider clearances | Room beside the toilet and in front of the vanity | At design |
Recessing the floor for a curbless entry is structural work, so it moves the project from a simple permit into plan review. Decide before demolition.
Do you need a permit?
Most bathroom remodels in this metro need a permit, and who issues it depends on where you live.
| Area | Permit authority |
|---|---|
| Miami | City of Miami Building Department |
| Miami Beach | City of Miami Beach Building Department |
| Coral Gables | City of Coral Gables Development Services |
| Unincorporated Miami-Dade | Miami-Dade County |
| Fort Lauderdale | City of Fort Lauderdale Building Services |
| Hollywood | City of Hollywood Building Division |
| Boca Raton | City of Boca Raton Building Permits and Inspections |
| West Palm Beach | City of West Palm Beach Building Division |
Miami-Dade County raised its building permit fees on October 1, 2025, the first increase in more than 17 years. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing permit applications must include a fee sheet that breaks the cost down by category. The county's permitting center, the Herbert S. Saffir Permitting and Inspection Center at 11805 SW 26 Street, is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Broward County runs ePermits OneStop, a centralized site where some cities, such as Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, let homeowners submit both city and county applications online. Palm Beach County publishes an online Building Fee Estimator, and reactivating an inactive permit costs $75 within 180 days, or 30% of the original fee with a $75 minimum after that.
If your property is in a flood hazard area, the 2026 state exemption for work under $7,500 on single-family homes does not apply, and electrical, plumbing, mechanical and structural work still needs a permit either way.
How long a bathroom remodel takes in Miami
| Scope | Typical sequence |
|---|---|
| Fixtures swapped in place | Demo, rough-in, final inspection |
| Fixtures moved or shower enlarged | Adds a rough plumbing test before walls close |
| Gut remodel with structural change | Adds plan review and framing inspection |
On site, the work follows a fixed order: demolition to the studs, framing repairs and grab bar blocking, rough plumbing, electrical and fan, one rough inspection, backer board and waterproofing with the pan flood test, then tile, fixtures, glass and the final inspection. Glass is measured after the 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
Florida licenses contractors through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. A certified contractor holds a state certificate of competency and may contract anywhere in Florida, and license codes begin with C. A registered contractor has met one local jurisdiction's requirements and may contract only there, and codes begin with R.
| License | Who holds it | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Certified or registered general, building or residential contractor | Remodelers who manage several trades | A full remodel with plumbing, electrical, tile and drywall |
| Certified or registered plumbing contractor | Plumbers | Valve, drain or fixture work on its own |
| Certified electrical contractor | Electricians | New circuits, fan wiring, heated floors |
A building contractor can only do remodeling and repair that does not affect structural members. A residential contractor can only work on one-, two- or three-family residences of no more than two habitable stories.
Miami-Dade County also issues its own certificates of competency through the Construction Trades Qualifying Board. Applicants need one to five years of field experience, must pass an open-book exam at 70% or better, and must show liability and workers' compensation insurance. Look up a Miami-Dade certificate on the county's contractor search, and a state license on the DBPR license search.
- Confirm the license is active and the name matches the contract.
- Ask how they waterproof the shower and whether they flood-test the pan.
- Ask who pulls the permit and who does the plumbing and electrical work.
- Get the NOA or Florida Product Approval number for any window or exterior door in the bathroom.
- Keep payments tied to milestones, not to a large deposit up front.
Under Florida law, a contract with an unlicensed contractor cannot be enforced by that contractor, and unlicensed contracting during a declared state of emergency is a third-degree felony. Our guide to paying a contractor covers milestones and lien releases. For plumbing problems outside a remodel, see our Miami plumbing guide.
Areas we cover
GOLDGCP bathroom remodelers work across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, including:
- Miami and Miami Beach
- Coral Gables
- Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood
- Boca Raton
- West Palm Beach
Enter your ZIP code below to see bathroom prices for your area 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 license, insurance, background and reference checks, a portfolio review and onboarding.
- Your remodeler pulls the permit and books the inspections.
- You pay in milestones, each one after you approve that stage, and follow the job in the client portal.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Miami?
By our cost-adjusted figures, a mid-range full bathroom costs about $8,350 to $26,050, a powder room $3,700 to $13,000 and a primary bath $18,600 to $55,800. Moving drains on a slab pushes costs higher.
Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Miami?
Yes, if you replace or move a toilet, tub, shower valve or sink, add a circuit or install a fan. Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables and the unincorporated county each issue their own permits. Paint, accessories and floor tile alone need no permit.
Why does my bathroom fan matter so much in Miami?
The Florida Building Code requires bathroom fans to vent outdoors, not into the attic, at 50 cfm or more. In a hot, humid climate, a fan that dumps moisture into the attic feeds mold. Ask for a rigid duct to the outside and a humidistat or timer.
What is the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, and does it affect my bathroom?
Miami-Dade and Broward are the only two Florida counties in the HVHZ. Any window or exterior door in the bathroom needs a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or an HVHZ-rated Florida Product Approval, and the inspector checks the number. Palm Beach County is outside the zone.
How do I check a bathroom remodeler's license in Miami?
Look up the license on the DBPR site for a state certified or registered contractor, or on Miami-Dade's contractor search for a county certificate of competency. Confirm the license is active, the name matches the contract, and the scope covers plumbing, electrical and tile work.
Can I get a curbless shower in an older Miami house?
Usually, but recessing the floor for a zero-threshold entry is structural work, so it needs plan review rather than a simple permit. Decide before demolition. Add grab bar blocking while the walls are open, since it costs little at that stage.
Is a bathroom remodel worth it in Miami?
It depends on the house and the neighborhood, and we do not publish resale figures for this metro. Keeping the layout and drains in place is the easiest way to stay near the mid-range budget, and a dry, well-vented bathroom protects the rest of the house from moisture damage.
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
About this guide
Written by the GOLDGCP editorial team. Prices come from national cost guides adjusted with official construction cost factors for Miami; rules and statistics come from the agencies and reports linked in the text. We update this page when prices or codes change.