Bathtub Refinishing vs Replacement Calculator

Faced with a worn or dated tub, most homeowners weigh two paths: resurfacing the fixture they already have or tearing it out for a new one. The figures here put both routes side by side so the financial gap between them is obvious before you commit to either direction. A clear comparison of material, labor, and the hidden costs that tend to surface mid-project is what usually settles the decision.

The tool does not build either figure from parts. It looks up a planning price for each route from the tub type (standard, clawfoot or jetted) and its condition (good, fair or poor): refinishing runs from $300 for a standard tub in good shape to $650 for a jetted tub in poor shape, and replacement from $1,500 to $5,000 over the same range. It then reports the difference as your savings and divides it by the refinishing cost to show the return on the refinishing spend.

Replacement has a way of exposing problems behind the walls, so the condition of your subfloor and plumbing deserves a hard look before you assume that number is final. DIY refinishing also rarely matches professional work, which tends to hold up longer and look cleaner. Pulling several quotes for both approaches is the surest way to keep these estimates grounded in real local pricing.