Bathroom Remodeling Estimate Template

A bathroom remodel estimate is a priced proposal for work you have not started. It tells the client what you plan to do, trade by trade, what each part costs, which choices are still open, and what is not included. It is not a bill, and it is not paid.

Whether a signed estimate also counts as a contract depends on its wording and on local law. Many remodelers use an accepted estimate as the basis for a separate written contract, rather than relying on the estimate alone.

The template on this page is set up for a single bathroom: a full gut, a tub-to-shower conversion or a cosmetic refresh. For work that runs across several rooms, a remodeling estimate is a better fit. For a plumbing-only job, use a plumbing estimate.

The template groups line items into five priced sections: four trades plus the allowances. Each line has a description, quantity, unit, unit price and amount, and each section ends with its own subtotal. The client can see what each part of the job costs, and you can see where your number came from.

Demolition and disposal. Removal of each item being replaced, protection of floors and the route through the house, and debris removal (dumpster, trailer loads or hauling). If any existing items are being kept, list them, so nobody expects them to be removed.

Plumbing. Keep plumbing labor separate from the fixtures themselves. Typical lines are supply and drain changes for a new layout, a new shower valve, shut-off valves, and setting the toilet, vanity and faucets. If plumbing is subcontracted, enter the sub's price as its own line.

Tile and surfaces. Floor preparation, backer board, waterproofing for the shower or tub surround, floor tile and wall tile by area, trim pieces and grout. Measure the actual area and state how much waste allowance is included, because tile layouts and cuts vary. Drywall repair and painting for walls that are not tiled go here too.

Electrical and ventilation. New or relocated receptacles, lighting circuits, switches, and the exhaust fan with its ducting. Electrical and ventilation requirements are set by your local code and building department, so price to what they will inspect rather than to the existing setup.

Fixtures and finishes (allowances). Vanity, toilet, faucets, shower trim, tile selection, mirror, light fixtures and accessories. The client usually has not chosen these yet, so they are entered as allowances. The next section explains how allowances work.

Overhead and profit have to be covered somewhere. The template has no separate markup line, so either build them into your unit prices or add a line of your own. Whichever you choose, use the same method on every estimate, so you can tell whether a job is priced the way you intended.

Bathrooms are where concealed problems tend to show up: rotted subfloor, damaged framing, corroded supply lines, a drain that is not where you expected. The template has a contingency line, calculated as a percentage of the subtotal. In the Excel file the percentage sits in its own rate cell, so you can change it. The 10% in the sample file is a placeholder, not a recommendation.

There is no standard percentage. Base it on what you saw and what you could not see, then explain it on the estimate:

• What the contingency is for (concealed conditions, not upgrades or client changes).
• That it is spent only with the client's written approval, and is not charged if it is not needed (if that is how you work).

The sample estimate also lists repairs to hidden damage under Not included, to be priced before any extra work is done. If you use both, say how they fit together. For example, any such repair is priced and approved in writing first, then paid from the contingency until it runs out.

Another approach is to price likely problems as unit prices the client agrees to in advance. For example: "replace damaged subfloor, per square foot, if found". This gives both sides a number before the floor comes up.

Write down what is not included, so the client does not have to guess at what the price covers. The template has notes headed Included and Not included for this. Be specific, because a vague exclusion still leaves room to disagree about what it means. "Excludes structural work" invites an argument. "Excludes replacement of floor joists or wall framing; any such work will be priced by change order" does not.

Items worth stating explicitly, where they apply:

• Work outside the bathroom, including patching and painting in adjacent rooms or ceilings below.
• Repairs to concealed damage beyond the contingency.
• Testing for, or removal of, mold, asbestos or lead-based paint.
• Permit fees, if the client is paying them directly.
• Items the client is supplying (say who is responsible for their condition and warranty).
• Moving walls, doors or windows, unless they are in the scope.
• Removal of the client's own belongings from the room.

Valid until. Put a specific date on the estimate, not just "30 days". Choose a period that matches how long your suppliers will hold their prices. After that date, you can reprice before accepting.

Acceptance. The acceptance block has spaces for the client's signature, printed name and date, and for your signature.

Change orders. Once the client accepts, any change to the scope, selections or price should go through a written change order. Each one should describe the change, show the added or credited amount and any effect on the schedule, and be signed before the changed work starts. Allowance overages and contingency spending go through the same process, so the final invoice matches a paper trail the client has already signed.