Replacing a Bathtub Cost

• A standard new bathtub starts around $200 -$600, but can be $800 -$3,000 or more, depending on size and features such as water jets. Fiberglass and steel are less expensive but not as durable as cast iron, which keeps the heat in better.
• Total cost for removing the old tub and installing a new one can run $1,500 -$5,000 or more but averages $2,500 -$3,500 depending on the ease of access, local rates, the quality of the new fixtures, and the extent of the repairs/replacements for the walls, plumbing and flooring.

• A typical bathtub replacement project can take several days to a week or more, depending on what's involved. Often a one-piece tub won't fit into an existing home, so many manufacturers make sectional tub surrounds. Once installed, it can be hard to tell a sectional surround from a one-piece unit. But it's still important to make sure the replacement tub you select will fit through the doorway.
• Replacing a bathtub can be somewhat complex for a beginning do-it-yourselfer, requiring some plumbing experience and basic carpentry tools. It can also call for soldering skills if you're working with copper piping. Stretcher.com describes how to cut up the old bathtub to make it easier to carry it away and the Family Handyman magazine provides how-to instructions for installing a new acrylic tub and surround. However, AskTheBuilder.com recommends hiring a pro to be sure the plumbing work meets the building codes.
• Laws vary by location, so be sure to check with your local planning department to see what codes govern your bathtub replacement project and if you need a building permit.

• If the replacement tub is larger and heavier than the old bathtub, you might also need to install larger copper water pipes (anywhere from $1.30 -$10 a foot) and a bigger-capacity hot water heater ($150 -$3,500), and to reinforce the floor joists ($100 -$300 per joist).

• Replacing a bathtub can be less expensive if you're also doing other remodeling projects that involve opening up the walls, making it easier to get the old tub out and the new tub in. And some plumbers may agree to have you do some of the basic demolition or other back-breaking work yourself, to cut the total cost.

• Major bathtub manufacturers include American Standard and Kohler.
• Get several estimates, making sure all services, charges and fees are included in each quote. Request and check references, and be sure they're properly bonded, insured and licensed in your state. See if there are any complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
• You might hire a local handyman to do a fairly straight-forward tub replacement without a lot of repairs or changes to plumbing, floors and walls.
• For more extensive projects, referrals are available from the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

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