If your tub is sound but stained, scratched, or stuck in an outdated color, refinishing renews it for a fraction of replacement. Bathtub refinishing — also called reglazing — costs $300 to $650 in 2026, averaging around $475.
What you’re paying for
Refinishing strips, repairs, primes, and sprays a fresh coating onto the existing tub. You’re paying for prep and skilled application — the surface is cleaned, chips and cracks filled, and several coats applied for a smooth, glossy finish.
Refinish vs. replace
Replacing a tub means demolition, plumbing, and often retiling — $1,500 to $5,000+. Refinishing renews a sound tub for a few hundred dollars. It’s the clear budget choice when the tub itself isn’t failing.
Make it last
A quality refinish lasts 5–15 years. Use non-abrasive cleaners and skip suction-cup bath mats, which can peel the coating. Prep quality is what separates a finish that lasts from one that flakes.
How to save on bathtub refinishing
- Refinish a sound tub instead of replacing it.
- Do the surround too while the crew is there, if it’s dated.
- Care for it properly to avoid an early redo.
- Skip refinishing a failing tub — put that money toward replacement.
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard tub reglaze | $300 – $600 | – |
| Chip / crack repair | $50 – $200 | – |
| Rust or extensive prep | $75 – $250 | – |
| Surround / tile refinishing | $200 – $600 | – |
| Color change | $50 – $150 | – |
| Option | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard bathtub reglaze | $300 – $600 | – |
| Tub + tile surround | $500 – $1,200 | – |
| Clawfoot / specialty tub | $400 – $1,000 | – |
| Full tub replacement (for comparison) | $1,500 – $5,000+ | – |
What affects the price
- Tub condition A tub that just needs a refresh is cheapest; chips, cracks, or rust require repair and prep that add cost.
- Material Porcelain, fiberglass, and cast iron all refinish, but heavily worn or rusted surfaces take more prep.
- Scope Refinishing just the tub is cheapest; adding the tile surround or wall area costs more.
- Color change Switching colors (e.g., almond to white) adds a bit for extra coats and masking.
- Specialty tubs Clawfoot, antique, or oddly shaped tubs take more careful work.
Bathtub refinishing cost by state
Where you live can change the price as much as the options you pick. Labor is a big part of the bill, and construction workers are paid more in some states than others. A typical bathtub refinishing job costs about $350 to $760 in Hawaii (17% above the U.S. average). In Arkansas, it costs about $260 to $550 (15% below the U.S. average).
See the typical cost in all 50 states and D.C.
| State | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $260 – $570 |
| Alaska | $350 – $750 |
| Arizona | $290 – $620 |
| Arkansas | $260 – $550 |
| California | $340 – $730 |
| Colorado | $300 – $650 |
| Connecticut | $320 – $700 |
| Delaware | $290 – $640 |
| District of Columbia | $320 – $700 |
| Florida | $270 – $590 |
| Georgia | $280 – $600 |
| Hawaii | $350 – $760 |
| Idaho | $280 – $610 |
| Illinois | $350 – $750 |
| Indiana | $300 – $660 |
| Iowa | $290 – $630 |
| Kansas | $290 – $620 |
| Kentucky | $280 – $600 |
| Louisiana | $270 – $590 |
| Maine | $290 – $640 |
| Maryland | $300 – $650 |
| Massachusetts | $350 – $750 |
| Michigan | $300 – $650 |
| Minnesota | $330 – $710 |
| Mississippi | $260 – $570 |
| Missouri | $310 – $660 |
| Montana | $290 – $640 |
| Nebraska | $280 – $610 |
| Nevada | $310 – $670 |
| New Hampshire | $300 – $640 |
| New Jersey | $340 – $740 |
| New Mexico | $280 – $600 |
| New York | $330 – $720 |
| North Carolina | $270 – $590 |
| North Dakota | $300 – $660 |
| Ohio | $300 – $650 |
| Oklahoma | $270 – $590 |
| Oregon | $330 – $720 |
| Pennsylvania | $300 – $660 |
| Rhode Island | $310 – $680 |
| South Carolina | $270 – $590 |
| South Dakota | $270 – $590 |
| Tennessee | $280 – $600 |
| Texas | $270 – $590 |
| Utah | $280 – $610 |
| Vermont | $290 – $630 |
| Virginia | $290 – $620 |
| Washington | $350 – $750 |
| West Virginia | $290 – $620 |
| Wisconsin | $310 – $680 |
| Wyoming | $300 – $640 |
These are numbers to plan with, not quotes. Each one is this guide's U.S. range, adjusted for what construction workers earn in that state. See every state cost guide or how we estimate.
Common questions
- How much does it cost to refinish a bathtub?
- Bathtub refinishing (reglazing) costs $300–$650, averaging about $475. Adding the tile surround, repairing chips or rust, or refinishing a specialty tub raises the price.
- Is refinishing cheaper than replacing a bathtub?
- Far cheaper. Refinishing runs $300–$650 versus $1,500–$5,000+ to replace a tub, since replacement involves demolition, plumbing, and often retiling. Refinishing is the budget way to renew a sound tub.
- How long does a refinished bathtub last?
- A professional refinish lasts 5–15 years with proper care — using non-abrasive cleaners and avoiding bath mats with suction cups, which can lift the coating. Quality prep is what makes it last.
- Can you refinish a fiberglass or cast iron tub?
- Yes — refinishing works on porcelain, fiberglass, acrylic, and cast iron. The process and durability are similar; heavily worn or rusted surfaces just need more prep before the new coating goes on.
- Is bathtub refinishing worth it?
- If the tub is structurally sound but stained, scratched, or dated, yes — it's a big visual upgrade for a few hundred dollars. If the tub is cracked through, leaking, or you're remodeling the whole bath, replacement makes more sense.
How we estimate: These are typical U.S. prices for materials and for hiring a pro to install them. We checked them against the 2026 sources listed below (see how we get our numbers). Your price depends on where you live, the size of the job and the materials you pick. Get two or three written bids before you choose a contractor.
Sources
We checked the prices on this page against 2026 numbers from these sources: