How Much Does Bathtub Refinishing Cost?
$300 – $650
National average: $475 per tub
Interactive worksheet
Bathtub refinishing cost calculator
Set the scope, size, and state — the tally updates as you go. Built from this guide's figures and BLS state wage data.
01 Quality & scope
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State figures apply BLS construction wages (2025) at a 60% labor weight — how we estimate.
Your estimate
- Labor ≈60%
- $285
- Materials & equipment
- $190
- Planning range
- $428 – $523
low $300 $650 high
U.S. construction trades average $65,360/yr (BLS 2025).
Get three written bids. One far under $380 usually means missing scope — ask what's not included. Far over $570, ask what's driving the number.
If your tub is sound but stained, scratched, or stuck in an outdated color, refinishing renews it for a fraction of replacement.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.
| Component | 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 moves the price as much as any option you pick, because labor is a big share of the bill and construction wages differ sharply by state. Adjusted with BLS wage data (2025), a typical bathtub refinishing job runs about $350 – $760 in Hawaii (+17%) versus $260 – $550 in Arkansas (−15%).
See the typical range in all 50 states + 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 |
Estimates apply each state's BLS construction-wage multiplier to this guide's national range — a planning number, not a quote. Browse the full state cost guides or our methodology.
Frequently asked 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: ranges reflect typical U.S. pricing for materials and professional installation, compiled and cross-checked against the current (2026) industry sources listed below (see our data & methodology). Your actual cost depends on your location, project size, material grade, and local labor rates — always get multiple written quotes before you commit.
Sources
Cost ranges on this page were checked against current (2026) data from these industry sources:
- Bathtub Refinishing Cost (2026) — HomeGuide
- How Much Does Bathtub Refinishing Cost? — Angi
- How Much Does Bathtub Refinishing Cost? — Bob Vila