Bathroom Remodel Shopping List: What to Buy and When

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Ordering the wrong thing, or ordering it too late, is one of the most common reasons a bathroom remodel stalls. Here’s the order we have homeowners buy in, and why.

Order these first (they decide the plumbing)

The plumber has to know these before walls and floors are opened:

• Toilet: rough-in size and drain type. See comfort height toilets, one-piece vs two-piece, or rear outlet toilets.
• Shower base or tub: the drain location and size. See shower bases or tub-to-shower conversion.
• Tub faucet: floor-mounted fillers need supply lines in the floor. See freestanding tub faucets.
• Vanity: its width and sink position set where the drain and supply lines go. See our vanity guide.

Order these next (they decide the electrical and framing)

• Medicine cabinet or mirror: recessed cabinets need framing, lighted ones need power. See lighted medicine cabinets.
• Grab bar locations: blocking goes in before drywall.

Order these last

• Shower glass, measured after tile is done. See the shower door guide.
• Faucets, towel bars, accessories and paint.

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