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Whether you want to put in a soaker tub, remove dated wallpaper, or retile your floor, a personal loan can help you create the bathroom of your dreams.
Below, we'll talk about the cost of remodeling a bathroom, how the best personal loans work, and other ways to fund your renovations.
Dreaming of a rainfall shower? Or stone countertops? Big dreams come with big costs: The average bathroom remodeling project runs somewhere between $9,600-$11,000, according to Angie's List.
But that's the average. As with any average, you might spend less or more. You'll need to look at your bathroom and decide for yourself how much you'd like to spend. Not everyone can afford to pay cash for a bathroom remodel -- and that's okay.
One of the best financing options for a bathroom remodel is taking out a personal loan. You can use a personal loan to cover just about any costs, and pay it off over a few months or several years. You can customize monthly payments to fit your budget, too.
Get the best rates and terms to fit your needs. Here are a few loans we'd like to highlight, including our award winners.
Lender | APR Range | Loan Amount | Min. Credit Score | Next Steps |
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Apply Now for Discover Personal Loan
Powered by Credible
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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7.99% - 24.99%
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$2,500 - $40,000
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660
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Apply Now for Discover Personal Loan
Powered by Credible |
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Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
7.80% - 35.99%
|
$1,000 - $50,000
|
None
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|
![]()
Apply Now for Best Egg
Powered by Credible
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
8.99% - 35.99%
|
$2,000 - $50,000
|
550
|
Apply Now for Best Egg
Powered by Credible |
What is a personal loan? It's money you borrow from a lender and pay back with interest, normally in equal monthly payments. You can get a personal loan for just about anything -- there isn't a specific category for bathroom remodel loans. If you're financing a bathroom remodel with a personal loan, you'll just apply for a regular personal loan, then use the money to pay for your bathroom upgrades.
Some reasons you might want to get a personal loan for your bathroom remodel include:
But personal loans have some downsides, too. These include:
Only you can decide whether or not a personal loan is right for you. For more information on what a personal loan for a bathroom remodel might look like for you, use the calculator below to estimate different payments and loan terms.
Financing any home improvement project -- from a master bathroom remodel to a basement or kitchen remodel -- is more affordable if you can get a low-interest personal loan. Here's how to get approved for a low-interest bathroom remodel loan:
People with excellent credit have access to the best interest rates and loan terms. If you need a personal loan for financing a bathroom remodel, but your credit score makes borrowing expensive, consider postponing the project for a few months. Use that time to build your credit score. Then, you can apply to the best personal loans with confidence.
Here are some quick ways to build credit:
Check your credit reports. Look over your credit reports for any errors and report them to the credit bureau in question. By law, you are eligible for one free credit report annually from each of the big three credit bureaus -- TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian.
For example, if you see TransUnion reported that you owe $20,000 on a car you sold years ago, that error could be dragging down your credit score. Dispute that error with TransUnion. Credit bureaus typically have 30 to 45 days to investigate your claim. Unless they can prove their report is accurate, they must remove the negative information.
Pay off debt. If you have existing debt, it could be weighing down your credit score. Pay down as much as possible before applying for a loan. This helps improve something called your debt-to-income ratio -- the amount of debt you have relative to your salary. Your lender is far more likely to extend a bathroom remodel loan if they are confident in your ability to manage your debt load.
If you accept the first loan you find, how do you know you scored the best interest rate?
Getting pre-qualified doesn't (usually) impact your credit score -- and it lets you compare personalized interest rates from different lenders. For more information on getting pre-qualified for a personal loan, check out our guide on how to get a personal loan.
Once you can apply with confidence, here's how to finance a bathroom remodel with a personal loan. Each lender will have slightly different requirements, but these are the basics:
You have the option of applying for either a secured loan or an unsecured loan when you're ready to finance your bathroom remodel.
Secured loans require collateral. Collateral can be your bank account, vehicle, or other possession of value. If you miss loan payments, the lender has a legal right to take possession of what you offered for collateral.
Borrowers with poor credit have a better chance of getting approved for a secured personal loan. Secured personal loans also have lower interest rates.
Unsecured loans don't require collateral. If you miss payments on an unsecured loan, the lender can't take anything you own. The lender can sue you, though -- so you should still make an effort to make payments on-time.
Unsecured loans are harder to get and tend to have higher interest rates. Still, they're not as risky as secured loans.
As you investigate how to finance a bathroom remodel, don't forget to consider other options. If now is not the right time for you to take on a personal loan, here are a few other financing ideas.
Admittedly, saving up for a bathroom renovation sounds like zero fun. Still, there are a couple of advantages to putting a little money away each month until you have enough to cover your home improvement project.
A home equity loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC) are two types of secured loans. That means they both use the equity in your home as collateral to secure a loan.
One difference between a home equity loan and a HELOC is the way the money is distributed. With a home equity loan, the funds are distributed in a lump sum that you pay back over a specific period of time. A HELOC doesn't require you to take a set amount of money at once. You are approved to borrow a certain amount but are free to draw from it as needed. And once you've repaid money borrowed from your HELOC, you can borrow it again until what's called the "draw period" ends.
Another key difference is that a home equity loan typically has a fixed interest rate, while a HELOC normally has a variable rate that changes based on what's happening with interest rates.
The inherent risk of both a home equity loan and HELOC is that your home is on the line if you default on payments. Because your home is used as collateral, the lender can take possession, sell the property, and recoup their losses.
If your credit is strong, you'll likely qualify for a credit card with a 0% promotional APR offer. These offers typically let you pay the debt off in 12 to 18 months with no interest. Just make sure you pay the credit card off in full before the promotional rate expires to avoid getting hit with a high interest rate.
Taking out a personal loan to finance home improvements is an easy process. The challenge is making sure your credit score and budget are in good shape before filling out an application.
Looking for a personal loan but don’t know where to start? Our favorites offer quick approval and rock-bottom interest rates. Check out our list to find the best loan for you.
The average bathroom remodeling job costs between $9,600 and $11,000.
You have several options. Take out a personal loan, home equity loan, or HELOC. You can also open a 0% promotional rate credit card or pay cash you've saved.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Please note that this calculator is not personalized financial advice and should not be considered or used as such. Nor are we promising that by use of this calculator, will you be able to save more money, preserve wealth, or otherwise.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Please note that this calculator is not personalized financial advice and should not be considered or used as such. Nor are we promising that by use of this calculator, will you be able to save more money, preserve wealth, or otherwise.
*Upstart Loan Disclaimer
The full range of available rates varies by state. The average 3-year loan offered across all lenders using the Upstart platform will have an APR of 21.97% and 36 monthly payments of $35 per $1,000 borrowed. For example, the total cost of a $10,000 loan would be $12,646 including a $626 origination fee. APR is calculated based on 3-year rates offered in the last 1 month. There is no down payment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application.