Updated July 12, 2026 · 10 min read
There is no single price for a bathroom remodel. The number moves with the size of the room, the finish level you pick, how much of the layout changes, and where the house sits. In Clark County that last variable carries more weight than most homeowners expect, because Washington taxes remodel labor and materials at the point of sale and permit authority is split between the City of Camas, the City of Vancouver, and unincorporated Clark County.
This guide starts with 2026 national cost data from This Old House and NerdWallet, then layers in the Washington-specific variables — state and local sales tax, regional construction cost trends for the Portland–Vancouver metro, and permit basics by jurisdiction — that change what a Camas project actually costs to pull off. Every figure below is attributed to its source; treat them as planning bands, not quotes.
Key takeaways
- National 2026 data puts a full bathroom remodel commonly at $6,600–$30,000, averaging roughly $12,000–$16,000 (This Old House, NerdWallet).
- Washington sales tax applies to remodel labor and materials, not just materials — combined Clark County rates run about 8.0%–8.9% depending on jurisdiction, with Camas at 8.8% (WA Dept. of Revenue, Q3 2026).
- Permits are issued locally — City of Camas, City of Vancouver, or Clark County — depending on the address, and cosmetic-only work is generally exempt.
- A tub-to-shower conversion is one of the more affordable projects; a full accessible bathroom runs about $8,000–$25,000 (Fixr).
- The Pacific region (which includes Washington) posts the highest bathroom-remodel resale ROI in the country at roughly 91% for a midrange remodel, per the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report — above the ~80% national figure.
The short answer
Nationally in 2026, a full bathroom remodel commonly lands somewhere between roughly $6,600 and $30,000, with the average around $12,000–$16,000 depending on the dataset. A basic refresh can come in under $10,000; an upscale or master bath runs $30,000 and up; and a true luxury bathroom can exceed $75,000.
On top of whatever base number a contractor quotes, Washington adds retail sales tax to both labor and materials on a remodel — combined rates in Clark County run roughly 8.0%–8.9% depending on the jurisdiction, with Camas itself at 8.8% (Washington Department of Revenue, Q3 2026). That is not optional and it is not a rounding error on a $20,000 project.
National cost by size (2026)
This Old House (2026) reports a national average bathroom remodel of about $15,586, and breaks the cost down by the size of the room. Larger rooms cost more not just in materials but in labor, plumbing runs, and the square footage of tile and flooring involved.
| Bathroom size | Typical cost range |
|---|---|
| Small (40–60 sq ft) | $12,695–$14,845 |
| Medium (70–90 sq ft) | $15,920–$18,070 |
| Large (100–120 sq ft) | $19,166–$21,295 |
| Master (130+ sq ft) | $22,370–$24,715 |
Source: This Old House (2026). National figures — see the Washington sales tax and Clark County sections below for local adjustments.
National cost by finish level (2026)
Finish level moves the number even more than size does. This Old House (2026) groups projects into three tiers based on the fixtures, tile, vanity, and how much of the layout changes.
| Finish level | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Basic refresh | ~$9,681 |
| Mid-range remodel | ~$16,825 |
| High-end remodel | ~$31,650 |
Source: This Old House (2026).
What other national sources say
Independent cost datasets vary because they survey different projects and regions, so it helps to compare more than one. NerdWallet (2026) cites a typical range of $6,600–$18,000 — with high-end projects topping $80,000 — and a per-square-foot cost of roughly $70–$250, in the same ballpark as This Old House’s by-size figures above.
Taken together, the consensus for planning purposes is: a midrange full bathroom commonly runs roughly $15,000–$25,000, an upscale or master bath starts around $30,000, and a luxury bathroom can exceed $75,000.
The Washington variables national averages skip
None of the national datasets above account for Washington’s retail sales tax on construction labor and materials, or for the regional cost pressure in the Portland–Vancouver metro. Both apply to a Camas project regardless of which contractor you hire.
Washington State Department of Revenue rate tables put Camas’s combined sales tax at 8.8% (6.5% state + 2.3% local), the City of Vancouver at 8.0%, unincorporated Clark County at 8.0%, and Battle Ground at 8.9% as of Q3 2026 — rates are set quarterly, so confirm the current figure for your address with the DOR’s lookup tool before budgeting a specific number.
On the labor side, Mortenson’s Q1 2026 Construction Cost Index for the Portland metro (which includes Clark County) shows costs up roughly 6.8% year over year, with materials up about 7.0% and trade-partner work up about 6.6%. That index tracks commercial construction rather than residential remodeling specifically, so treat it as directional evidence that Portland–Vancouver labor and material costs are trending upward, not as a bathroom-specific multiplier.
| Jurisdiction | Combined rate |
|---|---|
| Camas | 8.8% |
| Vancouver | 8.0% |
| Unincorporated Clark County | 8.0% |
| Battle Ground | 8.9% |
Source: Washington Department of Revenue, local sales & use tax rate table. Rates are set quarterly — use the DOR’s address-level lookup tool for a specific project.
Sales tax applies to labor, not just materials
Unlike many states, Washington charges retail sales tax on the labor portion of a remodel, not just the materials. Build the applicable local rate into your budget from the start rather than treating it as a closing surprise.
Permits by jurisdiction
A bathroom remodel that touches plumbing, electrical, or the structure typically needs a permit, and which office issues it depends on the address. The City of Camas Building Division reviews permits inside city limits and describes itself as a one-stop shop for construction questions from submittal through final inspection. The City of Vancouver runs its own residential permit process through its ePlans system, with plan review typically taking 5–28 days depending on project type. Unincorporated Clark County — including areas like Orchards, Hazel Dell, and Salmon Creek — issues its own residential permits, including an "ADS" (Additional Dwelling or Structure) permit category that covers remodels of existing living space.
Cosmetic work such as painting, new cabinets, or countertop swaps is generally exempt from permitting in Clark County, but moving a drain line, relocating a shower valve, or adding electrical circuits is not. Confirm requirements with the office covering your address before work starts — permit fees and review timelines are set locally and change over time.
- Inside Camas city limits: City of Camas Building Division — permits@cityofcamas.us, (360) 817-1568
- Inside Vancouver city limits: City of Vancouver Permit Center — ePlans submittal, (360) 487-7833
- Unincorporated Clark County (Orchards, Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Felida, and similar): Clark County Community Development — (564) 397-4078
- Painting, cabinets, and countertops are typically exempt; plumbing, electrical, and structural changes generally are not (Clark County)
Specific projects: tub-to-shower and accessible bathrooms
A tub-to-shower conversion is usually one of the more affordable bathroom projects because it often reuses the existing footprint and plumbing. Cost scales with scope — a prefab or acrylic unit swap sits at the low end, while a fully custom tiled walk-in shower sits at the high end. See our dedicated tub-to-shower conversion cost guide and walk-in shower cost guide for the full breakdown.
Accessible or aging-in-place bathrooms span a wide range depending on how much changes. Fixr (2025/2026) puts a full accessible remodel at about $8,000–$25,000; adding a walk-in or roll-in shower with grab bars, non-slip flooring, and comfort-height fixtures at around $9,500 in a typical case; and a walk-in tub at about $13,000.
| Project | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Accessible bathroom (full) | $8,000–$25,000 | Fixr 2025/2026 |
| Accessible shower + grab bars + non-slip floor | ~$9,500 typical | Fixr 2025/2026 |
| Walk-in tub | ~$13,000 average | Fixr 2025/2026 |
Source: Fixr (2025/2026). National figures; add applicable Clark County sales tax and local permit costs.
Does a bathroom remodel add value? The ROI picture
Two legitimate resale numbers get quoted, and they disagree because they measure different things. Remodeling magazine’s 2025 Cost vs. Value Report estimates that a midrange bathroom remodel recoups about 80% (79.9%) of its cost at resale nationally — the highest figure since 2007. That same report puts a Universal Design (accessible) bathroom at about 64.1% and an Upscale remodel at about 42.2%.
The NAR 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, by contrast, has Realtors estimating that a bathroom renovation recovers about 50% of its cost. The gap is methodological: Cost vs. Value uses estimated sale-price recovery, while NAR surveys Realtors’ perceptions of value.
Washington is part of the Pacific region in the Cost vs. Value report (with Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii), and the Pacific region posts the highest bathroom-remodel ROI of any region in the country — roughly 91% for a midrange remodel, well above the national 79.9% figure. That is a genuine advantage over markets excluded from the report’s regional data; note the primary report site restricts automated access, so treat the exact figure as a regional summary rather than a line you can screenshot yourself.
| Measure | ROI | Method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Cost vs. Value 2025 — midrange (national) | ~80% (79.9%) | Estimated sale-price recovery; highest since 2007 |
| Cost vs. Value 2025 — Pacific region (midrange) | ~91% | WA, OR, CA, AK, HI; highest of any U.S. region |
| Cost vs. Value 2025 — Universal Design | ~64.1% | Accessible bathroom |
| Cost vs. Value 2025 — Upscale | ~42.2% | High-end bathroom |
| NAR 2025 Remodeling Impact Report | ~50% | Realtors’ perceived value (different method) |
Sources: Remodeling/JLC 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (national and tier figures via CustomCraft DBR summary; Pacific regional figure via the Remodeling/JLC Cost vs. Value Report directly — primary report site restricts automated access). NAR 2025 Remodeling Impact Report (via Qualified Remodeler).
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Camas, WA?
- National 2026 data puts a full bathroom remodel at roughly $12,000–$16,000 on average, with a range of about $6,600–$30,000 depending on size and finish (This Old House, NerdWallet). In Clark County, add the applicable local sales tax — Camas is at 8.8% as of Q3 2026 (WA Dept. of Revenue) — since Washington taxes remodel labor as well as materials. A fixed quote against your actual bathroom is the only reliable way to know your number.
- Does Washington charge sales tax on a bathroom remodel?
- Yes. Washington applies retail sales tax to both the labor and materials portions of a remodel, unlike states that only tax materials. Combined rates vary by jurisdiction: Camas is 8.8%, Vancouver and unincorporated Clark County are 8.0%, and Battle Ground is 8.9%, per the Washington Department of Revenue’s Q3 2026 local rate table. Rates are set quarterly, so confirm the current rate for your address.
- Do I need a permit for a bathroom remodel in Camas or Clark County?
- Generally yes if the work touches plumbing, electrical, or the structure. Inside Camas city limits, the City of Camas Building Division issues the permit; inside Vancouver, the City of Vancouver Permit Center handles it through its ePlans system; in unincorporated Clark County, Clark County Community Development issues it. Purely cosmetic work — paint, cabinet swaps, countertops — is typically exempt.
- Do bathroom remodels add value in Washington?
- The Pacific region — which includes Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii — posts the highest bathroom-remodel resale ROI of any U.S. region in the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, at roughly 91% for a midrange remodel, compared to about 80% nationally. The NAR 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, which measures Realtor-perceived value differently, puts the national figure closer to 50%. Both are legitimate; they measure different things.
- How much is a tub-to-shower conversion or accessible bathroom in Clark County?
- A tub-to-shower conversion is usually one of the more affordable projects because it can reuse the existing footprint and plumbing — see our dedicated cost guide for the full breakdown by conversion type. A full accessible bathroom remodel runs about $8,000–$25,000 nationally (Fixr, 2025/2026); add local sales tax and permit costs for a Clark County budget.
Sources
- This Old House — Bathroom Remodel Cost (2026)
- NerdWallet — Bathroom Remodel Cost (2026)
- Fixr — Bathroom Remodel ROI (2025/2026)
- Washington Department of Revenue — Local Sales & Use Tax Rate Table
- City of Camas — Building Division
- City of Vancouver, WA — Residential Building Permits
- Clark County, WA — Building Permits
- Mortenson — Construction Cost Index for Portland (Q1 2026)
- CustomCraft DBR — 2025 Cost vs. Value Report Summary
- JLC / Remodeling — 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, Pacific Region
- Qualified Remodeler — NAR 2025 Remodeling Impact Report Summary
Claims and figures are drawn from the sources above and provided for general guidance; your project may vary. Photography is illustrative of design concepts. For a fixed price on your specific bathroom, request a free estimate.
