$350 – $650That is Fixr’s national range for refinishing a standard bathtub, with an average of $480. The other major guides are close: HomeGuide says $350 to $600 and This Old House $335 to $630. A tub and shower surround done together runs $800 to $1,200 at HomeGuide. One outlier is worth knowing about: Homewyse puts the national average at $727 to $1,473 per tub.
Bathtub reglazing is a spray-on coating over your existing tub, so there is no demolition and no new plumbing. HomeGuide says it costs nearly 75% less than replacing the tub. Whether it is the right choice depends on the tub’s condition, because a coating hides surface wear but does not fix a leak or a failing tub. This guide sets the published prices side by side, then compares reglazing with a liner and with replacement, and covers durability, DIY kits and the fumes involved.
Bathtub reglazing cost by tub type
| Tub type | HomeGuide | Fixr | This Old House |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard tub | $350 – $600 | $350 – $650 (average $480) | $335 – $630 (average $480) |
| Freestanding or clawfoot | $400 – $1,400 | $650 standalone; $1,000 antique clawfoot (averages) | $300 – $650 (clawfoot) |
| Tub and shower surround | $800 – $1,200 | $500 – $1,200 (average $850) | $500 – $1,000 (bath-shower combo) |
| Jetted tub | — | $800 (average) | — |
The three guides agree closely on a standard tub. They split on freestanding tubs, where HomeGuide’s range tops out at $1,400 and This Old House stops at $650. Fixr says the high end can reach $2,500 for an antique clawfoot. Standalone tubs have three or four exterior faces to coat in addition to the inside, which is why they cost more. The Homewyse figure of $727 to $1,473 is roughly double the others, and the guides do not explain the gap. Get local quotes before treating either number as your budget.
Cost by tub material
| Material | HomeGuide | Fixr | This Old House |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiberglass | $350 – $1,000 | $250 – $600 | $250 – $600 |
| Porcelain | $350 – $600 | $300 – $600 | $350 – $600 |
| Cast iron | $350 – $650 | $350 – $650 | $300 – $650 |
| Acrylic | $400 – $700 | $400 – $700 | — |
| Steel | — | $300 – $700 | — |
| Antique porcelain | $500 – $1,200 | — | — |
Fiberglass is the widest range. HomeGuide says fiberglass can take longer to get a smooth finish, and its range tops out at $1,000. This Old House and Fixr both stop at $600. Other factors that raise the bill, according to HomeGuide, are chips and cracks that need repair, custom colors and plumbing fixes. This Old House prices tub condition separately: about $275 for a tub in good shape, $450 in fair shape and $900 in poor shape.
Estimate your bathtub reglazing cost
Our estimate: the published ranges above multiplied out for your inputs. Not a quote. Tub ranges from HomeGuide (August 2025). Fixr (February 2025) and This Old House (March 2026) are close for a standard tub. Recaulking and drain repair from Fixr (February 2025). Homewyse (May 2026) quotes $727 to $1,473 per tub. State adjustment: BLS construction wages (May 2025), applied to an assumed 50% labor share. How we calculate
Reglazing vs liner vs replacement
| Option | HomeGuide | Fixr | This Old House |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reglazing (tub only to tub and shower) | $350 – $1,200 | $350 – $650 | $335 – $630 |
| Bathtub liner, installed | $1,700 – $2,500 (liner guide); $2,000 – $4,000+ (refinishing guide) | — | $1,700 – $2,500 |
| Replacement, installed | $1,500 – $8,000 | $5,000 – $7,000 | $1,400 – $10,500 |
A liner is a custom acrylic shell glued over the old tub. HomeGuide says installation takes about a day, but a custom liner can take several weeks to manufacture, and it says a liner can last for the life of the house. The catch it lists: a liner covers what is underneath, so a moisture problem stays, and a poorly fitted liner can trap water and grow mold. This Old House adds that a liner makes the tub space smaller. HomeGuide’s replacement guide breaks the total into the tub ($300 to $3,000+), labor ($400 to $2,000+), removal ($150 to $750) and plumbing changes ($200 to $700+). Fixr’s replacement figure is well above HomeGuide’s low end, and the guides do not reconcile the difference.
Our estimate: for a standard tub in sound condition, the three guides put reglazing at $335 to $650; This Old House and HomeGuide’s liner guide put a liner at $1,700 to $2,500, and replacement runs anywhere from $1,400 to $10,500 across the guides. This range is combined from published figures, not a measured price. If you are redoing the whole room, our bathroom remodel cost guide puts the tub in context, and for a tub swap aimed at accessibility see walk-in tub cost or walk-in shower cost.
How long reglazing lasts
The published lifespans disagree more than the prices do. HomeGuide says 7 to 15 years with proper care, and 7 to 12 for acrylic. Fixr says a well-kept reglazed tub can last 10 to 15 years but most last 8 to 10, and that a tub can reasonably be reglazed twice. This Old House says at least 10 years if maintained. HomeGuide’s separate liner guide, though, lists reglazing as lasting just 2 to 5 years with no product warranty, and the older Inch Calculator guide (July 2023) says a professional job lasts five to fifteen years. Given that spread, budget as if the coating may need redoing sooner than the best-case figures, and ask any refinisher for the warranty in writing.
Care matters as much as the coating. HomeGuide and This Old House both say to avoid abrasive cleaners, and This Old House adds bleach-based products. Reglazing is not worth it on a leaking or moldy tub, according to This Old House, because you will be replacing it soon anyway. Time out of service is short: This Old House says a pro finishes in eight hours or less and you can often use the tub within 24 hours; Fixr says 24 to 48 hours.
DIY reglazing kits
This Old House says labor is about 80% of a refinishing job and a kit can cost less than $100, while Fixr estimates a DIY job saves $200 to $300 in labor. The older Inch Calculator guide (July 2023) puts kits at $75 to $150 and says a DIY finish is usually good for two to three years. A mainstream example is Rust-Oleum’s Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit, an epoxy for porcelain, fiberglass, cast iron, steel and some acrylic surfaces. The maker says to let it cure 3 days before water touches it and to use it indoors only. Both This Old House and Fixr recommend a professional, and Fixr warns that DIY materials are not as high quality as professional ones.
Fumes and strippers: a real safety issue
Fixr notes that epoxy, acrylic and etching chemicals give off high levels of volatile organic compounds while applied and curing, so ventilate and consider leaving the house while it cures. The more serious risk is the stripper used in preparation. A joint OSHA and NIOSH hazard alert (January 2013, older) counted at least 14 worker deaths since 2000 tied to refinishing tubs with strippers containing methylene chloride, usually in small, poorly ventilated bathrooms. It says bathroom fans and open windows do not provide adequate ventilation, and that refinishing often involves other hazardous chemicals, including acids and isocyanates, so substitute products carry their own risks (OSHA).
The EPA issued a rule in March 2019 prohibiting the manufacture, processing and distribution of methylene chloride in paint and coating removers for consumer use, citing acute fatalities; since November 22, 2019 those products cannot be available for purchase by consumers. In April 2024 EPA finalized a broader rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act that prohibits all consumer uses and most industrial and commercial uses, including paint and coating removers, with most prohibited uses to be fully phased out within two years (EPA risk management page). If you hire someone, ask what products they use to prep the tub and how they ventilate. This Old House also notes that older porcelain tubs may contain lead, and that encapsulating them with an epoxy primer and paint topcoat avoids that risk.
How to keep the bill down
- Choose a standard color. HomeGuide says custom colors and finishes add to the total, and This Old House makes the same point.
- Do the tub and surround in one visit. HomeGuide prices a combined job at $800 to $1,200, and Fixr says to refinish joined units together for a matching look.
- Fix leaks and recaulk before the coating goes on. Fixr puts a pro recaulk at $50 to $100.
- Get at least three written estimates, as HomeGuide and Fixr both recommend, and compare the same scope in each.
If you are retiling the surround afterward, see our tile installation cost guide, and for vetting a refinisher read how to find a contractor.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Does the price include repairs, prep, recaulking and removing the old finish?
- Which stripping and coating products do you use, and how do you ventilate the room?
- How long before I can use the tub, and what is the written warranty?
- Is there an extra charge for color changes or a non-standard tub material?
- Are you licensed and insured?
Frequently asked questions
Is reglazing the same as refinishing?
Mostly in practice. HomeGuide, Fixr and This Old House all describe reglazing as the final coating step of the larger refinishing job, and say the terms are often used interchangeably. This Old House also describes reglazing elsewhere as a separate process with a 15 to 20 year life, a claim the other guides do not make. Ask what a quote includes rather than relying on the word.
Can you reglaze a fiberglass tub?
Yes. HomeGuide says a technician can repair cracks and then apply a spray glaze or urethane coating, though structural repairs mean extra prep and cost.
When should I replace instead?
HomeGuide recommends a liner or replacement for major damage, persistent moisture or a remodel that changes the tub’s size or style. Fixr says a tub can reasonably be reglazed only about twice before replacement is more cost-effective.
Sources
- HomeGuide, How Much Does Bathtub Refinishing Cost?, August 19, 2025.
- HomeGuide, Bathtub Liners Cost, July 18, 2025.
- HomeGuide, Bathtub Replacement or Installation Cost, August 20, 2025.
- This Old House, How Much Does Bathtub Refinishing Cost?, updated March 17, 2026.
- Fixr, How Much Does It Cost to Refinish a Bathtub?, updated February 6, 2025.
- Homewyse, Cost to Refinish Bathtub, May 2026.
- Inch Calculator, Cost to Refinish a Bathtub, July 19, 2023 (older).
- Rust-Oleum, Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit, manufacturer product page, undated.
- OSHA and NIOSH, Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers, January 2013 (older).
- U.S. EPA, Final Rule on Regulation of Methylene Chloride in Paint and Coating Removal for Consumer Use, rule of March 2019, page updated June 10, 2026.
- U.S. EPA, Risk Management for Methylene Chloride, rule of April 2024, page updated October 22, 2026.
