A bathroom remodel has more material categories than any other room in the house. Tile, plumbing, waterproofing, drywall, paint, electrical — miss one item and your weekend project becomes a month of hardware store runs. This checklist covers everything, organized by phase, with the calculators that handle the quantity math.
Phase 1: Demo and Prep
Before you build, you need to remove what's there and protect what's staying.
- Dumpster or disposal bags for debris
- Plastic sheeting and tape (seal HVAC vents)
- Pry bar, hammer, utility knife
- Shop vac
- Shut-off valves verified (toilet, sink, shower)
- Lead paint test kit (homes built before 1978)
- Mold remediation supplies if needed (bleach, respirator, antimicrobial spray)
Tip: Photograph plumbing connections before demo. You'll thank yourself at reinstallation.
Phase 2: Plumbing and Electrical (Rough-In)
Get inspections before you close walls.
- Supply lines (PEX or copper — match existing)
- Drain pipes (PVC: 1-1/2" for sink, 2" for shower/tub)
- Shut-off valves (replace old ones while walls are open)
- Shower valve and trim kit
- GFCI outlets (required in bathrooms)
- Exhaust fan (minimum 50 CFM, sized to room volume)
- Light fixtures and junction boxes
- Wire (12-gauge for 20-amp bathroom circuits)
Rough-in is mostly count-based, not area-based. Make a fixture list and buy 10% extra fittings.
Phase 3: Waterproofing and Backer Board
This phase prevents the most expensive bathroom failure: water damage behind walls.
- Cement board or foam waterproof board (walls around tub/shower)
- Waterproof membrane (paint-on or sheet membrane)
- Fiber cement board screws (1-1/4" or 1-5/8")
- Mesh tape for board seams
- Thinset for setting board to studs
- Vapor barrier (if local code requires behind cement board)
- Floor waterproofing membrane (if curbless or open shower)
Drywall calculator: For non-wet walls and ceiling, use the Drywall Calculator. A typical 5×8 bathroom needs 4–6 sheets of 4×8 moisture-resistant drywall for areas outside the wet zone.
Phase 4: Tile (Floor, Walls, Shower)
Tile is the biggest material category in most bathroom remodels.
Floor tile
- Floor tile (porcelain recommended for wet areas)
- Spacers (1/8" typical for floor)
- Thinset mortar
- Grout (sanded for floor joints 1/8"+)
- Grout sealer
- Cement board or uncoupling membrane (DITRA) under tile
- Transition strips at doorway
Calculator: Tile & Grout Calculator — enter bathroom dimensions, tile size, and pattern.
Shower/tub surround tile
- Wall tile (may differ from floor tile)
- Niche materials (prefab niche or framed opening)
- Bullnose or Schluter trim for exposed edges
- Thinset (modified for wet areas)
- Grout (sanded or unsanded depending on joint width)
- Caulk (silicone, color-matched — use at plane changes, not grout)
Thinset and grout quantities
A typical 5×8 bathroom with floor tile and a 3-wall shower surround (~120 sq ft of tile total) needs:
- 2–3 bags (50 lb) modified thinset
- 10–15 lbs grout
Use the Tile & Grout Calculator for exact numbers based on your tile size and spacer width.
Phase 5: Flooring (If Not Tile)
Some bathrooms use vinyl plank or sheet vinyl instead of tile.
- Vinyl plank or sheet flooring
- Underlayment (if required by product)
- Adhesive (for glue-down products)
- Transition molding at door
- Quarter-round or baseboard
Calculator: Flooring Layout Calculator — enter room dimensions and plank width for layout and quantity.
Phase 6: Drywall, Mud, and Paint
For ceilings, walls outside the wet zone, and any new walls.
- Drywall sheets (moisture-resistant for bathroom)
- Drywall screws
- Joint compound (all-purpose + setting compound for patches)
- Paper tape
- Corner bead
- Sandpaper / sanding screens
- Primer (mold-resistant for bathrooms)
- Paint — satin or semi-gloss for walls, flat for ceiling
- Caulk for trim joints
Calculators:
- Drywall Calculator for sheets, screws, mud, and tape
- Paint Calculator for wall and ceiling coverage with coats
A 5×8 bathroom ceiling and non-tiled walls: roughly 2 gallons of paint with primer.
Phase 7: Fixtures and Finishes
- Toilet (check rough-in distance: 12" standard)
- Vanity and countertop
- Sink and faucet
- Mirror and medicine cabinet
- Towel bars, toilet paper holder, hooks
- Shower door or curtain rod
- Vanity light
- Exhaust fan grille
- // TODO: affiliate link — silicone caulk (kitchen/bath rated) for all fixture-to-wall joints
Phase 8: Trim and Final Details
- Baseboard (PVC or MDF for moisture resistance)
- Door casing (if door was replaced)
- Door (pre-hung or slab)
- Paintable caulk for trim joints
- Touch-up paint
Budget Planning by Category
For a mid-range 5×8 bathroom remodel (DIY labor):
| Category | Typical % of material budget |
|---|---|
| Tile + thinset + grout | 25–30% |
| Fixtures (vanity, toilet, faucet) | 25–30% |
| Plumbing + electrical | 10–15% |
| Waterproofing + backer board | 8–10% |
| Drywall + paint | 5–8% |
| Flooring (if not tile) | 8–12% |
| Trim + hardware | 5–8% |
Timeline Reality Check
| Phase | DIY time (experienced) | DIY time (first-timer) |
|---|---|---|
| Demo | 1 day | 1–2 days |
| Rough-in plumbing/electrical | 1–2 days | 2–4 days |
| Waterproofing + backer board | 1 day | 2 days |
| Tile (floor + shower) | 2–3 days | 4–6 days |
| Drywall + mud + paint | 2–3 days | 4–5 days |
| Fixtures + trim | 1 day | 2 days |
| Total | 8–12 days | 15–22 days |
Add drying time between phases (thinset cures 24 hrs, mud coats dry 24 hrs each, grout cures 48–72 hrs, paint 4 hrs between coats).
One-Stop Calculator Guide
| Material | Calculator |
|---|---|
| Floor/wall tile, thinset, grout | Tile & Grout Calculator |
| Vinyl or laminate flooring | Flooring Layout Calculator |
| Drywall, screws, mud, tape | Drywall Calculator |
| Wall and ceiling paint | Paint Calculator |
| Shower pan or concrete curb | Concrete Calculator |
Save every estimate to your Materials List so you have one shopping list on your phone when you're at the store.
Final Advice
Buy materials in phases, not all at once. Plumbing rough-in supplies come first; paint comes last. But calculate everything upfront so you know the total budget before you swing the first hammer.
This checklist is your roadmap. The calculators handle the math. Bookmark this page, work through each phase, and you'll walk into the hardware store knowing exactly what you need.