The average bathtub faucet installation costs $550, but most homeowners pay $450 to $1,000 depending on the faucet. A pro can help you find a faucet in your price range.
You’ll spend anywhere from $70 to $2,200 on a new bathroom faucet unit.
Labor for this job costs between $100 and $400, but it can go over $700.
Additional work, like installing pipes and making repairs, will increase costs.
You should hire a licensed plumber when working on your home's plumbing.
Planning on upgrading your bathroom hardware? Bathtub faucet installation costs $550 on average, but it depends on the type of faucet, brand, materials, and labor required for the project. You could spend as little as $300 installing a basic faucet or more than $2,000 installing a luxury faucet with added features. This guide will help you break down the costs to set a realistic budget.
Bathroom faucet installation is often a small part of a larger bathroom model. The cost depends on several factors since there are faucet options that suit a range of budgets. Here are some details that impact the price.
Different types of bathtub faucets come at different price points. Those that are larger, more decorative or ornate, or require more components for installation cost more than standard tub faucets.
Type of Bathtub Faucet | Average Price Range (Faucet Only) |
---|---|
Wall mount | $70–$800 |
Tub wall mount | $90–$950 |
Tub deck mount | $100–$1,000 |
Freestanding | $150–$2,200 |
Wall mount: Wall-mounted faucets cost $70–$800. This type of faucet attaches to the wall of the bathtub, and the piping is hidden inside the wall.
Tub wall mount: Tub wall-mounted faucets cost $90–$950. These faucets attach to the wall of your tub using predrilled holes on the inside of one of the tub’s walls.
Tub deck mount: A deck-mounted faucet costs about $100–$1,000, depending on the model. This kind of faucet attaches directly to the bathtub's rim using predrilled holes.
Freestanding: Freestanding (or floor-mounted) bathtub faucets cost $150–$2,200, but you’ll pay more for luxury models. This type of bathtub faucet is used for a freestanding (or standalone) tub that doesn’t have predrilled holes. It’s mounted on the floor and has exposed piping that extends up and over the tub.
Higher-end materials will increase the price of your bathtub faucet. Chrome is largely considered the most affordable, but stainless steel or bronze are great middle-of-the-road options. Mid-range options don’t differ much by price, but specialty faucet finishes cost the most.
Bathtub Faucet Material | Average Price Range (Faucet Only) |
---|---|
Chrome | $50–$500 |
Bronze | $50–$600 |
Copper | $100–$600 |
Stainless steel | $65–$600 |
Matte black | $80–$800 |
Brass | $80–$1,200 |
Nickel | $80–$1,000 |
Aside from the type of faucet, the brand has the largest impact on price. High-end brands like Kohler, Moen, or Delta cost significantly more than other brands on the market. The best way to keep prices down is to research specific models and strike a balance between durability and price.
Basic faucets without all the bells and whistles go for $50 to $350. Once you start adding features, like sprayers or adjustable streams, the cost could rise. Touchless handles, operated by a sensor, tend to remain affordable as long as you get a standard model. Keep an eye on the features while you shop, and get ready to compare costs. Extra features can include:
LED lighting
Touchless handles
Adjustable stream
Handheld sprayer
Shower diverter
Labor costs are a significant part of the job. Most plumbers who install faucets charge $45 to $200 per hour, and the average labor cost is between $100 and $400. However, if you choose a wall-mounted or freestanding faucet that requires additional plumbing inside the floor or wall, it could cost $600 to $700—not including the cost of the faucet.
Bathtub faucet installation costs more in areas with a high cost of living, such as New York City or Los Angeles. You’ll find more affordable prices outside major cities and in lower-cost-of-living areas. That said, if your area has a shortage of plumbers, you will end up paying more for the job since demand increases prices.
It costs less to replace a bathtub faucet than it does to install a brand-new faucet. As long as you buy a similar model, you can pop a replacement into the existing plumbing. Installing a new faucet requires a significant amount of extra plumbing work if it’s not already roughed in prior to your bathtub installation. You’ll pay $400 to $2,200 to relocate plumbing lines alone.
The more plumbing work required, the more you’ll pay. Installing a bathtub faucet requires some level of prep and plumbing repair—whether it’s fixing a leaky connection, replacing broken valves, or solving low water pressure. Your contractor may need to drill holes in your bathtub for your faucet if the manufacturer didn’t drill them. Additional costs could include:
Pipe replacement cost: $400–$2,200
Bathroom leak repair cost: $150–$600
Shower valve replacement cost: $150–$550
Clogged drain repair: $150–$500
Water damage repair costs: $500–$11,000
Bathtub faucets don’t come with many ongoing costs. The long-term cost depends on how much you use your tub and local water prices. Beyond that, you’ll need to clean and repair your faucet as needed.
You can clean your faucet using products you already have underneath your kitchen sink. A standard bathroom cleaner ($10 to $25) will work. However, don’t use bleach on every fixture because it can damage brass, chrome, and copper.
Your faucet can eventually wear down with use and require repairs. The cost to fix a leaky faucet is $100 to $400, with the cost of most plumbing repairs hovering around $365.
Some homeowners with plumbing experience can install their own faucets, especially if it’s a simple replacement with a similar model. This will save on labor costs, but only if you do the job correctly. Hiring a local plumber costs $100 to $400 for a standard installation—about the same cost as an average plumbing repair. In other words, you won’t save by DIYing this project if you need to hire a pro to fix your mistake.
That said, some faucet installations are more difficult, with some projects requiring piping under the floor or behind a shower wall. Only a licensed professional plumber who understands local plumbing code should do this type of work.
Unless you’re just swapping out the hardware, your tub faucet installation may include additional projects or upgrades, which will raise the cost of your project.
If you’re installing a bathtub alongside your new faucet, you’ll spend anywhere from $2,000 to $9,400. Common upgrades include swapping out a standard alcove tub for a higher-end soaking tub or a jetted tub with added features.
Some homeowners choose to convert a standard bathtub into a tub-shower combo. Alongside the tub faucet installation, you’ll also need to install the shower. Remodeling your bathroom to add a tub-shower combo could cost anywhere from $600 to $10,000 (including the cost of the faucet), depending on whether you need additional plumbing.
If you have a tub-shower combo but don’t choose a tub faucet with a built-in diverter, you may need to install a shower diverter. The cost to replace a shower valve is between $150 and $550, but it could cost as much as $1,750 if you need to open up the wall and make serious plumbing changes.
Many tub faucets come with a handheld sprayer attached. If not, you can purchase a handheld sprayer for around $50. Some of these screw right into the tub spout, but if you need one that requires extra plumbing or is mounted on your tub wall, labor costs will be higher.
If you live in an area with hard water, you can install a water softener system alongside your tub spout installation. Depending on the size and type, water softener systems cost about $200 to $6,000.
The average bathroom remodel costs around $11,300. That’s no small chunk of change. Luckily, you can slash your budget for a bathtub faucet installation with a few careful tips:
Choose a basic faucet in a wallet-friendly material: The best way to save money on a tub faucet installation is to choose a basic faucet in an affordable material. Standard chrome will cost the least. Avoid highly ornate faucets and added features because they’ll add to your costs.
Skip designer brands: There are many different faucet manufacturers, which means you have choices. Avoid costly designer brands and go for a reliable mid-range brand.
Look for a sale: Faucets go on sale whether a brand is discontinuing a model or a retailer is having a seasonal sale. Browse different retailers before making your purchase.
Choose a faucet that’s compatible with your existing plumbing: If you’re replacing your existing tub faucet, installing a model that fits into your existing plumbing will save you on labor costs.
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If you're replacing a similar model, you don’t always need a plumber to install a bathtub faucet since it will fit over the existing plumbing. That said, there is some room for error. If you’re uncomfortable with working on your plumbing, your installation is more complex than a simple replacement, or the piping is old and corroded, call a pro to handle the job.
It takes a plumber one to two hours to install a faucet, but it depends on the complexity of the job. It could take longer if the installation requires them to open up the walls or flooring to install new plumbing, like putting in a wall-mounted or freestanding model, even for experienced plumbers.
A handyperson with basic plumbing experience can install a bathroom faucet, like the kind of skills you’d need to replace a P-trap or swap out a showerhead. They may not have deep knowledge of local plumbing code, though. If your faucet installation requires work on the pipes behind the wall or under the floor, hire a licensed plumber with the necessary training and licensing.