How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost in Tempe, AZ?
At RDC, Tempe bathroom projects start at $9,000. A tub-to-shower conversion is $9,000 to $14,000, a smaller bathroom gutted and rebuilt starts at $9,000, and a primary bathroom at $18,000. What changes the total is the scope, the tile and what is found once the old bathroom is opened up.
| Tempe bathroom scope | Installed price at RDC | Construction time |
|---|---|---|
| Tub-to-shower conversion | $9,000 to $14,000 | 5 to 8 working days (+2 to 3 if the drain moves) |
| Smaller bathroom, gutted and rebuilt | From $9,000 | 5 to 8 working days |
| Primary bathroom with a custom shower | From $18,000 | One to two weeks |
Please note: Tempe ranges are a starting point only. Final pricing is set individually for each customer based on their specific project, after RDC measures the bathroom. The written estimate is the figure to rely on.
Need a number for a Tempe home or rental? Ask for a free written estimate, or reach RDC by call or text at (602) 788-1446.
Why Tempe Bathrooms Start With a Walkthrough
Tempe's median home was built in 1984, and 58% of its homes date from 1970 to 1999 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024). A bathroom in a house that age may have been updated before, sometimes more than once. What sits behind the tile or under the tub is only certain when demolition starts.
That is why RDC prices a Tempe bathroom from an on-site visit, not from a phone call. Demolition, plumbing, waterproofing, tile, glass and fixtures are written as separate lines. You can also text photos of the bathroom to (602) 788-1446 for a preliminary estimate first.
How Much Does a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost in Tempe?
A tub-to-shower conversion in Tempe costs $9,000 to $14,000 at RDC and takes 5 to 8 working days of construction. Add 2 to 3 days if the drain moves; the glass goes in about a week after the tile. Replacing a bathtub with a shower changes a Tempe bathroom without moving walls.
- The floor of the shower. A sloped tile pan with either a low curb or, where the drain can be dropped, a curbless entry. That choice is made before demolition, because a curbless entry has to be built into the pan.
- The plumbing. Licensed plumbing partners set a new valve and, if the layout changes, move the drain.
- The walls. Tile set over a bonded waterproofing membrane (Schluter KERDI or RedGard), not a loose liner.
- The extras worth adding now. A niche for bottles and wood blocking behind the wall for a future grab bar cost little while the wall is open. Added later, they cost a lot more.
Example: a Tempe condo hall bath with a tub combo becomes a tiled shower with a niche in the same alcove. The drain stays in place. That is the $9,000 to $14,000 row and 5 to 8 working days of construction. If the slab allows a curbless entry, it usually adds about $3,000, depending on the existing floor and drain.
The full tub-to-shower timeline and cost breakdown are on the tub-to-shower conversion cost page.
A shower mid-build: the pan and floor go in before the wall tile.
How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost in Tempe?
A tiled walk-in shower that replaces a tub in Tempe costs $9,000 to $14,000 at RDC. That includes demolition, waterproofing, tile, the shower pan or curb, fixtures and glass. Combining a tub and a separate shower into one larger walk-in costs about $3,000 to $5,000 more than a standard conversion. Final pricing is set after the on-site measure.
A walk-in shower in Tempe can mean one of two jobs. In a primary bathroom, the old shower, sometimes with a tub beside it, becomes one larger tiled shower. It gets a bench, a niche and frameless glass. In a hall bathroom, the existing shower footprint stays and everything inside it is rebuilt.
Either way the order of work is the same. Demolition to the studs comes first, then plumbing, framing and blocking, and the bonded membrane with its cure time. Tile and grout follow, then glass measured off the finished tile.
Layouts, benches and glass options are on RDC's walk-in shower installation in Phoenix page, and step-free designs are covered on the aging-in-place shower page.
A walk-in shower in glossy subway tile, built by RDC in Phoenix.
What Is the Best Shower Tile for Hard Water in Tempe?
Large-format wall tile, epoxy or sealed grout and a frameless panel without tracks are the right build for Tempe's hard water. They leave less grout to stain and fewer edges for scale. The City of Tempe's 2025 water quality report lists average hardness of 12.3 grains per gallon, with measurements from 10.4 up to 32.6.
That average is above 10.5 grains per gallon, the point where the U.S. Geological Survey scale counts water as very hard. Tempe's supply comes from Salt River Project surface water drawn from the Salt and Verde River watersheds and from city wells. Colorado River water also arrives through the Central Arizona Project. For a shower, the practical result is mineral film on glass and in grout joints.
What Is the Best Bathroom Remodel for a Tempe Rental?
For a Tempe rental, RDC recommends porcelain tile over a bonded waterproofing membrane. Choose neutral tile that will not date the unit at the next listing, and fixtures that are easy to source again. RDC remodels rental bathrooms for Tempe landlords, and a 5 to 8 working-day conversion can be planned into the gap between leases.
About 58% of Tempe's occupied homes are rented (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024). For a rental, the goal is a bathroom that survives tenant turnover without a call in between. That points to tile over a membrane rather than a surround that can be damaged and cannot be patched. Because the glass goes in about a week after the tile, schedule the work so it is finished before the new lease starts.
How Long Does a Bathroom Remodel Take in Tempe?
In Tempe, RDC's construction time is 5 to 8 working days for a tub-to-shower conversion or a smaller bathroom. A primary bathroom takes one to two weeks. If the drain has to move, count 2 to 3 more days. Glass comes last, cut to the finished tile and set about a week later.
- First days. Demolition and haul-away, then plumbing rough-in by licensed plumbing partners.
- Next. Framing, blocking, and the bonded membrane, which cures before tile.
- Then. Wall and floor tile, grout and the fixtures, plus the vanity in a full remodel.
- Last. The frameless panel is measured, fabricated and installed, about a week after the tile.
Start at the Showroom
Compare shower tile, floor tile and vanity-surface samples at the RDC showroom, 1610 E Bell Rd Suite 101, Phoenix, where full-size tile is on display. RDC then visits the Tempe home, measures and writes the estimate. Both are free.
Monthly payments are available through RDC financing, and Tempe pricing follows RDC's bathroom remodeling in Phoenix table.
Related: flooring and tile for Tempe homes and rentals, the Valley-wide bathroom cost guide, and how to choose a bathroom remodeler in Phoenix. Nearby: Chandler bathroom remodeling, Gilbert bathroom remodeling and Mesa bathroom remodeling.