How Remodeling Your Bathroom Can Increase Your Home’s Value

How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Increase Home Value?

Good news: remodeling your bathroom is a great investment that adds significantly to the value of your home! According to This Old House, bathroom remodels/additions gave an average 81% return on investment. This is especially important in the resale of your home, as a remodel can add thousands to the estimated value of your house. 

In today’s world, time equals money. Your potential buyers don’t want to spend extra time doing additional work, they want something that is move-in ready. Renovating your outdated bathrooms will not only add to the resale value of your home, but could also bring you more potential interested buyers.

Doing the Math: What to Consider When Remodeling a Bathroom to Increase Home Value

Before you get swept up in tile samples and Pinterest boards, it’s worth stepping back and doing the actual math. A bathroom remodel isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about return, timeline, and learning where your money will make the biggest impact. Let’s break down the numbers that matter most.

Return on Investment

Raise your hand if you have a pink bathroom or yellow subway tile? No way, you have both?! As painful as that might feel, it’s actually not a bad starting point.

The more outdated a bathroom is, the more room there is for meaningful improvement. If you have an old space that is 20+ years outdated, you can see anywhere from 60% - 100% return on your investment, according to Modern Bathroom.  

There’s also the return most people don’t factor into spreadsheets: the happiness factor. According to the National Association of Realtors 2017 Remodeling Impact Report, 75% of homeowners want to be in their homes more after a remodeling project, and 65% have more fun in their homes. (If you’ve ever watched HGTV’s Love It or List It, this probably isn’t surprising.)

via GIPHY

So what does all of this mean? Whether you’re remodeling for resale or planning to stay put, bathrooms pull a lot of weight. They’re one of the most-used rooms in the house, and small improvements in layout, lighting, or shower functionality can have an outsized impact on daily comfort - and your home’s long-term value.

Timeline: How Long a Bathroom Remodel Actually Takes

Cost is only half the equation. The other big question homeowners ask is how long they’ll be living with contractors coming in and out of the house.

According to Builder’s Surplus, the timeline of a bathroom remodel can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the amount of work. If you are adding new walls, moving plumbing lines, or even doing bump-outs to expand a master bathroom, you can expect this to take a few months to complete.

Another factor to consider is the size of your bathroom. More square footage equals more time, more labor, flooring, parts, etc. Doing a simple bathroom refresh with new tile and fixtures, while keeping the shell of the space as is, will significantly cut down on the timeline. 

If your budget and schedule allow, a more extensive remodel often delivers a higher return. Expanding a bathroom creates opportunities for features buyers value, like walk-in showers or upgraded tubs. More square footage also increases overall home value, which is why full renovations often outperform quick refreshes when resale is the goal.

Choosing a remodel focus

If you have to choose only one bathroom to remodel, the best bet is to renovate your master bathroom. It’s the bathroom buyers care about most, and it’s the one you’re most likely to use every day. 

Since the master bathroom tends to have more square footage and more features, you can expect the costs of this bathroom renovation to be larger. But done well, it can also have the best chance of increasing your home’s value.

One of the best low-cost ways you can update your bathroom is by switching out the plumbing fixtures, focusing on items like: 

• Sink faucets

• Shower heads

• Sleek shower valves 

These elements influence both how a bathroom looks and how it functions. They also tend to age faster than tile or cabinetry, which makes them high-impact upgrades for the cost.

This is a great solution for bathrooms that are fairly classic in design, such as a hall bath with white subway tile or a simple powder room. Swapping out these fixtures can dramatically upgrade the look and feel of the space.

For example, updating a simple fixed shower head to one with dual shower heads creates a much different shower experience. Even if this is the only upgrade you make to your bathroom, an amazing showerhead will have a big impact..

Costs of a bathroom remodel

Bathroom remodel costs vary widely because every space comes with its own constraints. Labor costs are relatively consistent (unless you’re DIYing), but materials are where budgets can go off the rails. Tile alone can range from a few dollars per square foot to hundreds, depending on what you choose.

Only you will be able to assess your budget based on the items you are selecting and putting into your bathroom remodel.

That said, Home Advisor provides the following rough cost ranges for bathroom remodel in 2025: 

• Half Bath or Powder Room - $1,500 - $15,000

• Full Bathroom: $3,500 - $20,000

• Primary Bathroom: $7,000 - $30,000

The key takeaway: spending more doesn’t automatically mean better results. Strategic upgrades - especially to high-use components like shower heads and fixtures - often deliver the best balance of performance, longevity, and resale appeal.

Best Remodel to Increase Home Value: What to Focus On

Now that we have thrown a lot of information and big numbers at you, let’s help you narrow it down so you can spend your time and money wisely when remodeling your bathroom. Here are the key areas to focus on when remodeling.

1. Vanity

The vanity gets a lot of use in bathrooms and is one of the main focal points. It is the space where we wash our hands, brush our teeth, check our reflection, and get ready for big days and nights out.

Replacing or updating your vanity is an opportunity for you to update your storage options and add new features. You might consider upgrading to a double bowl vanity, for example, as couples often prefer to have their own sinks and stations. Make sure to upgrade the little details as well, such as the faucets, cabinet knobs, and mirrors.

2. Flooring

3. Tub/Shower

The shower and/or tub is the oasis of a bathroom. It’s the spot we go to relax and unwind, so it’s an important area to focus on. 

The sky is the limit when it comes to shower upgrades. You can replace the tile in your current shower for an instant upgrade, or go all out and install a brand new walk-in shower.

Either way, updating the fixtures is a must when you do a shower or tub remodel. Look for modern shower fixtures that align with your renovation style and offer long-lasting quality, such as solid-metal shower parts.

Best Shower Fixtures for a Bathroom Remodel

When people think about shower upgrades, they usually start with tile or finishes. But the components that make the biggest long-term difference are the parts behind (and above) the wall. 

Upgrading key shower fixtures to solid metal isn’t just a style choice; it’s a durability and performance decision that buyers actually care about, even if they don’t always realize it.

Here are some of the most important shower parts to upgrade during a renovation:

Shower Valves

If you upgrade only one component in your shower, make it the shower valve. The valve controls temperature, water flow, and overall reliability - and it’s also the hardest (and most expensive) part to replace later.

High-quality shower valves offer:

• Temperature memory and volume control for consistent, comfortable showers

• Clean, minimal trim designs that don’t look dated in five years

• Ceramic disc cartridges, which outperform rubber seals and plastic internals over time

Upgrading the valve during a remodel is a cost-effective way to modernize the entire shower system while reducing long-term maintenance issues.

Shower Trim

Shower trim is what you see and touch every day: the handle, faceplate, and diverter controls. While trim is often treated as a purely aesthetic choice, it plays a big role in usability and perceived quality.

Well-designed trim should:

• Feel solid and substantial, not hollow or plastic

• Match the valve’s functionality (single-handle, dual-function, thermostatic, etc.)

• Complement the rest of the bathroom without stealing focus
  
  

Because trim styles evolve faster than plumbing infrastructure, pairing timeless trim with a durable valve gives homeowners flexibility without sacrificing performance.

Shower Heads

If there’s one upgrade buyers notice instantly, it’s the shower head. A good shower head improves water pressure, coverage, and overall comfort - even if nothing else in the bathroom changes.

Luxury touches like rain shower heads can elevate the space and help a bathroom stand out. Add a ceiling-mounted rain shower or use an overhead shower arm to achieve a true rain-style experience without opening the ceiling.

Shower Arms

Shower arms are often overlooked, but they directly affect how water hits your body, which matters more than most people realize.

Upgrading to a solid metal shower arm allows you to:

• Adjust shower head height and reach

• Improve water coverage for different users

• Support heavier, solid-metal shower heads without sagging

An extended or overhead arm can transform a standard shower into something that feels intentionally designed rather than builder-basic.

Handheld Shower Hoses

Handheld showers add functionality that buyers appreciate, especially in family homes. A solid metal hose:

• Resists kinking and cracking

• Feels noticeably higher quality than plastic alternatives

• Holds up better to daily use

From rinsing the shower to bathing kids or pets, handheld shower heads add practical value without complicating the plumbing.

Diverter Valves & Dual-Function Systems

For bathrooms with both a tub and a shower - or multiple shower heads - diverter valves play a critical role. Upgrading to a quality two-handle valve system allows users to control water direction and flow with precision.

Recommended Shower Upgrades for Your Bathroom Remodel

You can absolutely buy all of the parts mentioned above piecemeal, but when you’re doing a remodel to increase your home’s value, then saving money - and making cohesive design choices - is key.

Shower upgrade bundles from HammerHead® Showers make this simple. Here are our top picks:

2-Handle Valve and Trim Shower System with Dual Shower Head

This bundle is a great fit if you want precise control, clear functionality, and a built-in diverter wrapped into one durable package. 

The two-handle system separates temperature and flow, giving you intuitive control that feels balanced and dependable every time you step in the door. And a built-in diverter means you can effortlessly toggle between the fixed and handheld shower heads - or run both at once - without adding extra valves or complicated plumbing.