January 16th 2023

Which bathroom improvements will deliver the best and worst ROI? Read on.

1. Fixing wear and tear: Good ROI

One of the best ways to improve your bathroom is to repair the little things that show the room’s wear and tear.

When a buyer is viewing a home, bathrooms are one of the key focal points. If there is cracked tile, moldy caulk, or any visible water damage, this may trigger buyers to think that you’re neglecting maintenance issues in general.

In addition to fixing your bathroom’s blemishes, you should consider replacing outdated or worn components.

Examples include: replacing or painting the vanity, bringing in new hardware, a new mirror, or updating your paint job.  You can also install a new showerhead and toilet, all for as little as $2,000. A general face-lift and update will deliver up to a tenfold ROI.

2. Adding a window: Good ROI

Even a small window added to the bathroom’s exterior wall was small—about 30 by 18 inches—can transform the tight dimensions of the space, flooding it with light and a sense of depth that was previously lacking.

3. Upgrading the flooring: Good ROI

Flooring upgrades are near the top the list in terms of ROI.  Whether you are replacing worn linoleum or refreshing with a new tile scheme, having a clean, new floor in a room where cleanliness really matters is crucial.

Flooring upgrades in your home can yield over 100% ROI, but choose your materials wisely to match your market and home. Don’t splurge for a marble mosaic if a more reasonably priced material will do.

Depending on materials, you can expect to pay between $1.82 and $2.39 per square foot on bathroom flooring.

4. Replacing the vanity top: Good ROI

If your bathroom features a building-grade or decades-old vanity, it’s time to upgrade.

Most standard vanities from big-box stores look great at first, but the cheap laminate wears out quickly.  A high-ROI project is to swap out a cheap vanity top with a top made of high-quality material.

The cost to replace a vanity top—taking into account materials and labor costs—is about $2,300 on average.

5. Updating the toilet: Good ROI

Investing in a new toilet offers great ROI,” says John Linden, an interior designer from Los Angeles with Mirror Coop. “They’ve come a long way in recent years, with more efficient models that use less water. Replacing an old toilet with a new one can bring in a return of up to 60%.”

6. Adding a whirlpool tub: Bad ROI

Ah, the lure of the whirlpool tub. Many have felt it and given in, but don’t make the same mistake yourself.

Whirlpool Jacuzzi tubs are expensive and provide one of the worst ROIs for a bathroom upgrade.  These tubs are costly to repair and have finicky components that always seem to give out at just the wrong time. More complexity means a higher potential for leaks and other issues, and this can be a major turnoff for potential homebuyers.

7. Adding luxury upgrades: Bad ROI

Investing in very specific, pricey amenities is typically a risky move if you’re trying to add value—even if they look and sound great.

Luxury additions almost never add the value you think they will and almost always have a very low ROI.  Curbless showers, in-floor heating, steam showers, and even bidet washlets are some of the most frequently installed luxury upgrades I see.

These projects rarely recoup the cost, and, often, they’re a turnoff for potential buyers.