A hall bath and a primary bath can share the same tile and the same faucet brand and still land $40,000 apart. This guide explains why, using the ranges Busy Builders has actually quoted, and shows where the money goes in each bathroom type in Clive: the shower, the glass, the plumbing that moves and the vanity that gets custom.
TLDR: Busy Builders has quoted hall bathrooms from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light facelift up to about $60,000 for a large primary bathroom remodel; a typical three-quarter to full remodel without moving much lands around $15,000 to $20,000. The gap comes from four things: a tiled walk-in shower instead of a tub-shower, frameless glass, moving plumbing, and a custom double vanity. A Clive permit is needed whenever plumbing or wiring moves.
Same trades, different square footage, different choices
A hall bath in a Clive two-story is usually 40 to 50 square feet with a tub-shower, a single vanity and one light. A primary bath is 80 to 150 square feet with a walk-in shower, a double vanity, a separate toilet room and often a freestanding tub. Every extra fixture is a plumbing rough-in, and every extra square foot of shower is tile and glass.
Busy Builders has quoted hall bathrooms from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light facelift up to about $60,000 for a large primary bathroom. A typical three-quarter to full remodel without moving much lands around $15,000 to $20,000. Two full bathroom remodels we completed in 2026 were reviewed by the homeowners, one a repeat customer.
The hall bath: where $3,000 becomes $20,000
Pro Tip 1: Decide what “done” means before the estimate. A facelift keeps the tub and the layout; a full remodel replaces everything to the studs. They are different projects with different prices.
The table below shows three levels of hall bath in Clive.
| Level | What it includes | Planning range | Time on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facelift | New vanity, faucet, toilet, lighting, paint, mirror; tub and tile stay | About $3,000 to $5,000 | 2 to 4 days |
| Three-quarter remodel | Above plus new tub-shower surround, floor tile, exhaust fan | About $10,000 to $15,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Full remodel, same layout | Everything to the studs: tile shower or new tub, tiled floor, vanity, fixtures, lighting, fan | About $15,000 to $20,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
The facelift is the honest budget option. Nothing moves, so no permit is usually needed and the plumber and electrician are on site for hours, not days.
Pro Tip 2: A tub-to-shower conversion in a hall bath adds tile, a shower pan and often glass. It moves a three-quarter remodel into full-remodel money.
The primary bath: where $20,000 becomes $60,000
Pro Tip 3: The four lines that separate a $20,000 primary bath from a $60,000 one are the shower, the glass, the plumbing moves and the vanity. Everything else is close to hall-bath pricing.
| Line | Typical hall bath | Large primary bath | Why it grows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower | Tub-shower surround, about $2,500 to $5,000 | Tiled walk-in shower with bench and niche, about $8,000 to $18,000 | Square feet of tile, pan, waterproofing membrane, bench framing |
| Glass | Curtain or sliding door, about $200 to $800 | Frameless enclosure, about $2,000 to $5,000 | Custom measured after tile, heavy glass, hardware |
| Vanity | Single 36 inch stock, about $800 to $2,000 | Custom double 72 inch with stone top, about $4,000 to $9,000 | Custom cabinet, two sinks, two faucets, stone |
| Plumbing | Fixtures in place, about $1,500 to $3,000 | Second sink, freestanding tub filler, relocated toilet, about $5,000 to $12,000 | Every new location is a rough-in and a vent |
| Tile floor | 40 sq ft, about $1,200 to $2,500 | 120 sq ft plus heated floor, about $4,500 to $9,000 | Area, heat mat, thermostat circuit |
| Lighting and electrical | One fixture, one fan, about $600 to $1,200 | Sconces, recessed cans, fan, heated floor circuit, about $2,500 to $5,000 | Circuits and fixture count |
Planning estimates for Clive and the western suburbs; actual costs vary by scope, materials, site conditions and current pricing. Add those six rows up at the high end and the $60,000 primary bath is not a mystery.
Pro Tip 4: Two of our remodeled showers, a walk-in with a glass enclosure and tiled walls, and a marble-look tile shower with a stone-top vanity, are the kind of primary bath this post is describing. Both show where the money went: tile, glass, stone.
Where plumbing moves change everything
The single biggest swing between the two bathroom types is whether fixtures move. In a hall bath, they almost never do. In a primary bath, the wish list usually moves at least one.
Pro Tip 5: Keep the toilet where it is if you can. Moving a toilet on a second floor means opening the ceiling below, rerouting a 3 inch drain and a vent, and a rough plumbing inspection.
| Plumbing change | Added cost, planning | Permit |
|---|---|---|
| Second vanity sink on the same wall | About $800 to $1,800 | Yes |
| Freestanding tub with floor-mounted filler | About $2,000 to $4,500 | Yes |
| Moving the toilet | About $1,500 to $4,000 | Yes |
| Converting tub to walk-in shower, same drain location | About $1,000 to $2,500 in plumbing | Yes |
| Adding a second shower head or body sprays | About $600 to $1,500 | Yes |
| Fixtures replaced in place | About $0 to $500 | Usually no |
The City of Clive requires a building permit when plumbing or electrical moves, and the licensed trades pull their permits under it. Fixture-for-fixture swaps usually do not need one.
Illustrative scenario: A Clive family refreshes a hall bath for two kids: new vanity, faucet, toilet, lighting, paint. The tub and tile stay. Three days, about $4,200. No permit.
Illustrative scenario: A couple in Clive remodels a 1996 primary bath to the studs, keeps every fixture location, and chooses a tiled walk-in shower with a semi-frameless door and a stock double vanity. Two and a half weeks on site, about $27,000.
Illustrative scenario: A Country Club neighborhood primary bath gets a freestanding tub, relocated toilet, custom 84 inch vanity, heated floor and frameless glass. Four weeks on site, about $58,000. The plumbing line alone was about $9,500.
Making the money go to the right place
Pro Tip 6: In a primary bath, put the money in the shower and the vanity. Those are the two things you touch every day and the two things a buyer looks at first.
Pro Tip 7: In a hall bath, put the money in the tub-shower surround and the floor. A good surround and a tiled floor make a $12,000 bath look like a $20,000 one.
Pro Tip 8: Semi-frameless glass gets most of the look of frameless at about half the price. Ask to see both.
Pro Tip 9: Choose WaterSense labeled faucets, showerheads and toilets at selection time. Same lead time, lower water bill, and the labels are easy to find.
Pro Tip 10: Heated floors are the most common add after the first estimate. Decide before, because the mat, the thermostat and the circuit all go in before the tile.
Pro Tip 11: An ENERGY STAR exhaust fan sized for the room is cheap insurance against the mold that a primary bath with a big shower will otherwise grow.
Pro Tip 12: Communication is what customers mention most in our reviews. Ask for a fixture list with model numbers before the estimate, so the number you sign is built on real parts.
The table below sums up the two bathrooms at a glance.
| Question | Hall bath | Primary bath |
|---|---|---|
| Typical size | 40 to 50 sq ft | 80 to 150 sq ft |
| Quoted range we have seen | About $3,000 to $20,000 | About $20,000 to $60,000 |
| Fixtures usually move | No | Often |
| Permit | Facelift no; full remodel yes | Yes |
| Time on site | 2 days to 3 weeks | 2 to 5 weeks |
| Biggest cost swings | Tub-to-shower conversion, tile | Shower, glass, plumbing, vanity |
Two bathrooms, one set of trades, one honest answer: the money follows the shower, the glass and the pipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Clive? Busy Builders has quoted from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a hall bath facelift up to about $60,000 for a large primary bath. A typical three-quarter to full remodel without moving fixtures lands around $15,000 to $20,000. These are planning estimates; actual costs vary.
Q2: Why is a primary bath so much more than a hall bath? A tiled walk-in shower, frameless glass, a custom double vanity and plumbing that moves. Each of those lines runs two to four times its hall-bath equivalent, and a primary bath usually has all four.
Q3: Do I need a permit for a bathroom remodel in Clive? Yes when plumbing or wiring moves, a circuit is added, or a wall changes. A fixture-for-fixture facelift usually does not. The licensed plumber and electrician pull their trade permits under the building permit.
Q4: What is the cheapest way to make a hall bath look new? A facelift: vanity, faucet, toilet, lighting, mirror and paint with the tub and tile left in place. Three to four days and about $3,000 to $5,000 at the ranges we have quoted.
Q5: How do I keep a primary bath from reaching $60,000? Keep the fixture locations, choose semi-frameless glass and a stock double vanity, and skip the freestanding tub. That usually lands a full-remodel primary bath in the high $20,000s to $30,000s. Call: 844-435-9800 and we will price both directions.
Key Takeaways
- Hall bath: $3,000 to $5,000 facelift; $15,000 to $20,000 full remodel at the ranges we have quoted. Fixtures stay put; often no permit for a facelift.
- Primary bath: $20,000 to $60,000; the shower, glass, plumbing and vanity are the swing.
- The rule: Money follows moved plumbing and tiled square feet.
Price Your Bathroom Both Ways
Busy Builders is a registered Iowa contractor with 1,285+ completed projects across Central Iowa since 2020. Our bathroom remodeling estimates come as a fixture list with model numbers. If the bath is part of a bigger plan, we price the kitchen remodel at the same time. Free consultation. Written warranty on workmanship (details provided in your contract).
Call: 844-435-9800
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not project-specific advice. Cost figures are planning estimates and quoted ranges that vary by scope, materials, site conditions and current pricing. Permit requirements vary by city and jurisdiction; verify current requirements with the City of Clive before starting any project. No specific outcomes are guaranteed. Consult a registered contractor; electrical and plumbing work is performed by licensed subcontractors.
Busy Builders | Full-Service Construction and Remodeling | Serving Central Iowa Since 2020
