How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Maryland?
A full bathroom remodel in Maryland averages $11,868, with most homeowners paying between $5,934 and $16,813, according to Fixr’s state data. The published national average is $12,147. A hall bath refresh with the same layout can come in under $10,000, while a primary bath with a tiled walk-in shower runs $25,000 and up. Whether the plumbing moves is the biggest single swing.
Those are market figures from published cost guides, not our quote. For what your bathroom needs, our bathroom remodeling service page covers the work, and estimates are free.
What does a bathroom remodel cost by size?
Size sets the base. Fixr breaks Maryland prices down by bathroom type, and the national guides line up with it.
| Bathroom | Published range |
|---|---|
| Powder room (Maryland) | around $4,080 |
| Half bath (Maryland) | around $4,698 |
| Full hall bath (Maryland) | $7,418–$19,780, average $11,868 |
| Primary bath (Maryland) | $14,835–$37,582, average $26,209 |
| Small bath, 40 sq ft (national) | $6,000–$8,000 |
| Per square foot | $70–$250 nationally; about $297 in Maryland |
Location matters within the region. Fixr puts the Washington DC average at $19,080, about 60% above the Maryland figure, mostly on labor. A plumber runs about $124 an hour in Maryland versus $199 in DC in the same data. Anne Arundel County sits between the two markets and closer to the Maryland number.
What is the difference between a refresh and a full gut?
Demolition. This Old House’s remodel survey split the two: a cosmetic remodel with no demolition averaged $11,582, and a full remodel with demolition averaged $18,706. The refresh keeps the tub, the drain and the walls where they are and swaps what you touch and see.
| Line item | Published cost |
|---|---|
| Vanity replacement, installed | around $1,500 |
| Toilet, installed | around $500 |
| Tub-to-shower conversion | $1,200–$3,600 for a kit; $2,000–$12,000 with tile |
| Bathtub refinishing | around $500 |
| Glass shower door | around $950 |
| Tile | $0.50–$15 per sq ft, up to $35 |
| Demolition | $1,000–$2,300 |
| Moving a drain | $900–$1,100 |
| Utility relocation (Maryland) | around $1,780 |
Labor is 40% to 65% of the total in HomeAdvisor’s numbers, and 40% to 60% in Fixr’s Maryland data. Moving a toilet or a shower drain pulls a plumber into the job at that hourly rate, which is why keeping the layout is the cheapest decision you can make. Our plumbing repair crew handles the same-location swaps that keep a refresh in the refresh column.
Does the county require a permit for a bathroom remodel?
Sometimes. Anne Arundel County requires a plumbing permit for adding or relocating fixtures and piping, and an electrical permit for new wiring and fixtures. The county’s own permit page does not publish a list of exempt interior work. It asks owners to email the Permit Center with the address and the scope, so a same-spot fixture swap is a question to ask, not an assumption to make.
The fees are modest next to the remodel. The county schedule lists a plumbing permit at $51 for the first fixture plus $8 for each additional one, with a $43 application fee. A residential electrical alteration without a service change is $95 plus the $43. The City of Annapolis runs its own permit office and requires permits for altering or replacing plumbing and electrical systems inside city limits.
One more rule for older houses. The county’s median home was built in 1983, and about 45% of its housing units went up before 1980, according to the Census Bureau’s 2024 estimates. In a home built before 1978, disturbing six square feet or more of painted surface indoors puts the job under the EPA lead-safe rule. That means a certified firm, the Renovate Right pamphlet before work starts and lead-safe practices while it runs.
Does a bathroom remodel pay back at resale?
A midrange one mostly does. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report puts a midrange bathroom remodel at $26,138 with 80.0% of the cost recouped at resale nationally, and 75.3% in the South Atlantic region that includes Maryland. An upscale remodel at $81,612 recoups 41.7%. The report’s midrange scope is a full 35 square foot bath with a new tub, tile surround, toilet, vanity and floor.
The lesson for a hall bath in Glen Burnie or Crofton is plain. A clean, current bathroom at midrange prices sells. A marble showpiece at three times the cost does not get its money back, so build the expensive version only if you plan to enjoy it for years.
What should you do next?
Decide the layout first. If the tub, toilet and sink stay where they are, you are shopping for a refresh, and most hall baths in Anne Arundel County land between $6,000 and $12,000 in published ranges. If a wall moves or the shower drain shifts, plan for the full gut numbers and the permit step. Water damage found under an old tub adds $3.75 to $7 per square foot of repair, so ask what happens if the subfloor is soft. Our water damage repair crew handles that part when it turns up.
The Maryland handyman cost guide covers how the visit math works for smaller bathroom fixes. Call (877) 349-4632 with a photo of the bathroom and the office can give you a range the same day. Bigger projects get a free written estimate at the house, and the number you approve is the number you pay.