Not sure if the price is good or not as we are total DIYers. Look over that list and see if any of it you could do. Demo work maybe? Remove the tub? Get several estimates. I've heard that some tilers charge different fees for the type of tile you use, something to check on.

Well like you said, it does matter where you are. That said, he's not just laying tile, he's doing other things as well, plumbing, demo and replacing subflooring so it could be. You should get at least 3 estimates so you have a good comparison.

fwiw, what we discovered is many contractors don't want to deal with demo and will charge heavily to do it. If you can do your own demo you may be able to shave a noticeable amount off the bid.

Thanks! I was able to get a breakdown of the cost from the contractor.

Here's the list:
Demo (3 layers) 695, Dump fees 175, Cast Tub removal and reset level with materials 825, sink plumbing install 250, toilet removal and reset 90, Bath floor install and shower backer install with materials 950, bath tub fixtures removal and reset 100, tile install floor and wall 1240

We will plan to do the demo on our own. I'm not sure if DH and I can remove the tub on our own (new area, no close friends or family to help) since it's cast iron, but we're going to try. We will also hook up the sink (easy), toilet, and shower fixtures. That will save us 1,710 total, if I estimate 400 of the tub estimate as "removal" and have them reset it since we don't know how.

The project started because of a sagging floor (1940 house), so there's a good chance things will get expensive once the tile has been pulled up. I need as big of a buffer as I can get when it comes to the budget.

Looking at the breakdown, that is all very much in line with what we paid for our work.

We had a cast iron tub, my contractor's helper wasn't available the day he needed to do the tub so he brought his 20 year daughter instead. The two of them carried that puppy down the stairs and to the dumpster. I was surprise at how easy they made it look.

Definitely smart to prepare for the unknown. The remodel of our master bathroom was the first project we hired for and costs were much more than what we had saved for. So we did our bathroom in sections and paid for each section as it was completed. That gave us time to save more money but still experience progress. The whole thing took a about a year to finish. This was something we negotiated doing during the bid process. It worked out well for everyone even our contractor because he did our stuff in between larger jobs.

We painted to save money but that was the only thing we took on, after doing tons of work on the rest of the house we needed the break!

If contractor is removing the cast iron tub and breaks it - he replaces it. If you break it, you pay for it.

Given the amount of demolition, hauling and other work being done, this is not just a tile job ... what did other contractors bid?

Just for a basis of comparison -- My bathroom is 5x8 and I had my contractor do everything -- demo and gut to studs, dump all old stuff, sheetrock, lay new tile floor, install new tub and set tile bath on 3 walls, tub to ceiling, install new glass tub doors, set tile vanity/sink wall half-way, install new vanity, sink and granite counter, install toilet, install all plumbing fixtures, new lighting, install new door and door knob, hang towel bar and hooks, hang mirror and paint ceiling and untiled section of wall. His labor feel for all of the above was $6,500.

I purchased all materials/fixtures/finishes except for sheetrock, sub floor and tub alcove wall boards and exhaust fan/light.

Oh, and he's also mounting a 15" TV on a far-from-tub wall by the bathroom door with a nice articulating arm so I can watch whatever while soaking in my new tub :) It will be flush to the wall out of the way when not in use... when he comes back to paint the hall, which is extra :)

And... I can't do so much as hang a painting. Really, I'd so hurt my silly self. So I paid for every thing, right down to screwing in the light bulbs! (OK, maybe that was free.)

I hope this helps!

We are doing a remodel on a small hallway bathroom. I was looking for info on cost and saw this thread...wondering how it ended for you...

We just got an estimate to do the tub surround (tile to the ceiling and around 12x48 window) in 12x12 tiles (with three 12x12 wall niches) and 9 random diagonal square of 4" tile, a 4" backsplash over a 54" vanity with a bullnose edge at the top, and 18x18 tile on the floor with 13' of baseboard.

The bathroom is only 5x10 and the materials are all ceramic tile. The total estimate for labor came to 2337.00. The estimate for materials (ceramic tile) was 663.00. We are schocked at the cost. To lay the floor was approx $7 per square foot. But the tub surround was $24 per square foot. It must be that the niches are costing an awful lot of money.

This was our first estimate. We will get another and perhaps do away with a couple of niches and see what the estimate comes to.

Needless to say...it was way more than I imagined.