Bathroom Renovation Cost in NYC (2025): Real Prices, Permits, Timelines
Planning a bathroom remodel in New York is part tile, part paperwork, part elevator scheduling. This guide gives you realistic NYC cost tiers, what actually needs a permit, how boards think about sound and waterproofing, and a timeline that doesn’t pretend shower glass appears the day after demo. Jump to: Tiers, Permits, Timeline, FAQs.
TL;DR Cost Table
| Tier | Typical Scope | Summary Price Range* |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Refresh | Keep layout; swap finishes/fixtures; minimal electrical | $18k–$30k |
| Standard Gut | Full demo; new tile, vanity, lighting; minor plumbing shifts | $35k–$60k |
| High-End | Custom millwork/vanity, layered lighting, large-format porcelain or stone accents | $60k–$110k |
| Luxury Primary | Slab work, steam, heated floors, custom glass, specialty lighting | $110k–$220k+ |
*Ranges vary by building rules, logistics, and selections. Confirm specifics with your board and contractor.
Notes:
- In co-ops and condos, approvals and common-area protection often push refreshes toward the top end of a band.
- Strict elevator windows and staging limits can add a logistics premium of 5–10%.
- Powder room, truly cosmetic: typically $12k–$22k if tiny and layout stays put.
Open the tools: Cost Calculator · Bathroom Planning Checklist
What Actually Drives Cost in NYC
Building rules. Co-ops and condos control hours, deliveries, and noise. Brownstones trade elevator headaches for stair runs and street permits. Expect alteration agreements to require insurance certificates, protection, and sometimes deposits.
Layout moves. Keeping fixtures in place is cheaper. Relocating a shower or toilet bumps scope because of risers, venting, pitch, and possible wet-over-dry restrictions.
Logistics. Freight elevator windows are booked in blocks (mornings and afternoons). Supers often need 24–48 hours’ notice for water shut-offs. No, tile crates can’t live in the lobby. Limited storage means more delivery coordination.
Selections. Tile format (mosaic vs large-format), stone vs porcelain, custom vanity, glass type, and lighting complexity push the tier.
MEP reality. Valve specs, vent routes, panel capacity, and GFCI/AFCI all matter. Older buildings may need small upgrades to meet current standards.
Bottom line: cost follows rules, movement, and finish level. Plan accordingly.
Permits, Boards, LPC — Quick Matrix
| Scenario | Board? | DOB Filing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh (no layout, no new circuits) | Usually yes | Often no | Board-only approvals common for like-for-like work. Check alteration agreement. |
| Electrical only: new circuit, GFCI/AFCI, new exhaust fan | Yes | Electrical permit (LEC files) | Electrical is a DOB electrical permit, not Alt-2. Fan ducting changes can pull in Alt-2 (ME/PL). |
| Plumbing fixture relocation (sink/shower/toilet move) | Yes | Alt-2 (Plumbing), inspections (TR1/TR8 as required) | Risers/venting/slope reviewed. ACP-5 if asbestos disturbance. |
| Partition reconfiguration or door move | Yes | Alt-2 (OT/GC), special inspections as required | Coordinate drawings and inspection sign-offs. Energy/egress not usually triggered but verify. |
| Wet-over-Dry layout change | Yes (often restricted) | Alt-2 (PL/OT), possible additional inspections | Many boards limit or prohibit. Expect sound + waterproofing details and flood test proof. |
| Steam shower or heated floors | Yes | Alt-2 (PL/ME) + Electrical permit | Equipment specs, dedicated circuits, controls, and ventilation coordination. |
| Landmark building (LPC) | Yes | Yes (plus LPC review as applicable) | LPC for visible/historic elements; interiors usually simpler but confirm early. |
Tools
Paperwork to expect: ACP-5 (asbestos form), TR1/TR8 (inspections), flood test documentation, insurance rider details matching building requirements.
Timing reality: Board and DOB approvals can run in parallel if submissions are clean. Stack submittals so the site isn’t idle.
Where time disappears: backordered valves/trim, stone selection/fabrication, and custom glass. Glass is templated after tile is set and waterproofing is signed off. Plan for that gap.
Timeline That Won’t Blow Up Your Month
Phases: demo → rough MEP → inspections → close-up → tile/stone → glass template and fabrication → trim/paint → punch.
Keep it moving: lock specs early, order long-lead items first, and book elevator slots before they vanish. Protect common areas so you don’t lose days to violations or fines.
Procurement Plan You Can Actually Follow
- Order of operations. Valves and trim first. Then tile and vanity. Glass is last because it’s templated to finished openings. Lighting orders in parallel.
- Shop drawings & approvals. Who signs what: owner, architect/designer, board, GC. Keep one PDF thread so nothing goes missing.
- Deliveries. Coordinate with the super for elevator time and staging. Split large orders so you’re not storing a bathroom in your foyer.
Download: 1‑page Spec‑Lock Checklist (scope, brand/model, lead time, who orders, approval date).
Waterproofing, Sound, and Code Nuance
Waterproofing. Continuous membranes, proper pans, and documented flood tests. Curbless showers and linear drains need extra planning for slope and thresholds.
Sound. Many co-ops expect IIC-rated underlayments for tile. Check your alteration agreement; don’t assume last year’s product list still applies.
Small-apartment accessibility. Door clearances, controls reach, and safe transitions. Aim for practical improvements even if full compliance isn’t triggered.
Value Engineering That Doesn’t Look Cheap
- Large-format porcelain with minimal joints instead of full slab everywhere.
- Semi-custom vanity with a stone top you love; spend where your eye lands.
- Prefab glass when layout allows; fully custom where tolerances are tight.
- Two lighting layers done well beats four done guessy. Put dimmers where you’ll use them.
Soft Costs People Forget
Board fees, expediting, DOB fees, elevator reservations, common-area protection, carting, off-site storage, insurance riders, and after-hours rules. These aren’t “extras” in NYC; they’re the cost of doing it cleanly.
Three Micro Case Studies
Pre-war co-op, Upper West Side, 5×8 hall bath
Scope: standard gut, fixtures stay, new tile/vanity/lighting, GFCI/AFCI updates.
Hiccup: board required flood test proof and specific underlayment. Solved with a membrane system and a board-approved cork‑rubber underlayment.
Tier: Standard Gut.
High-rise condo, Midtown, primary bath with steam
Scope: layout shift for larger shower, steam unit, custom glass, slab accents.
Hiccup: freight elevator windows limited stone deliveries; split shipments and protected staging kept crews productive.
Tier: Luxury Primary.
Brownstone rental, Park Slope, compact bath
Scope: refresh with large-format porcelain and semi-custom vanity.
Hiccup: vent routing and joist surprises; coordinated site visit and minor framing adjustments before tile.
Tier: Budget Refresh → High side due to venting fix.
NYC Bathroom Renovation FAQs: Costs, Permits, Timeline
Most projects fall into these bands: Budget Refresh $18k–$30k, Standard Gut $35k–$60k, High-End $60k–$110k, Luxury Primary $110k–$220k+. Actual cost depends on building rules, logistics, scope moves, and finish level.
Board requirements, elevator logistics, fixture relocations, waterproofing/sound details, and finish selections. Layout changes and long-lead items (valves, glass, stone) move you up a tier.
Board approval is almost always required. DOB filings are typically needed for new circuits, ventilation changes, or plumbing relocations (often an Alt-2). Cosmetic like-for-like work can be board-only.
A standard gut often runs 6–8 weeks door-to-door, plus lead time for custom glass after tile is complete. Timeline depends on approvals, deliveries, and elevator access.
Yes. Expect an alteration agreement, insurance requirements, work-hour limits, common-area protection, and sometimes deposits. Submit clean drawings and product cut sheets to speed approvals.
Sometimes. You’ll need board and DOB approval, stack/riser feasibility, proper venting, slope, and waterproofing. Many buildings restrict “wet over dry” layouts.
It means placing a wet room (bath) over a neighbor’s dry space (bedroom/living). Many boards limit or prohibit it to reduce leak and noise risk. Ask early if you plan a layout change.
For permitted work that alters plumbing, electrical, or partitions, a registered design professional is commonly required to file drawings and coordinate inspections.
A small, truly cosmetic refresh typically lands around $12k–$22k, assuming layout stays put and logistics are straightforward.
Frameless assemblies often land $2.5k–$6k+ depending on size and hardware. Glass is templated after tile and waterproofing; fabrication commonly adds 1–3 weeks.
Yes, if designed and installed to code with proper controls and electrical protection. Plan for height build-up at thresholds and coordinate with your board’s sound requirements.
Interior bathrooms in landmarked buildings are usually less sensitive, but LPC review can apply depending on scope. Confirm early if your building or block is landmarked.
Backordered valves/trim, stone selection/fabrication, custom glass lead time, and missed elevator windows. Lock specs early and schedule deliveries within your building’s freight windows.
Use large-format porcelain instead of slab everywhere, choose a semi-custom vanity with a great top, keep fixtures in place, and focus on two well-planned lighting layers with dimmers.
Plan 10–20% for approvals, logistics, and discoveries inside old walls. Tight buildings or premium selections trend toward the high end of that range.
Long-lead items (valves/trim, tile, vanity, lighting) should be locked and ordered early. Decide upfront who purchases, who inspects on delivery, and how returns are handled to avoid idle time.