Bathtub refinishing calculator
Refinishing a bathtub uses epoxy or polyurethane coatings sold in 1-quart kits. A standard 60-inch tub has ~24 sq ft of paintable surface and one kit covers it with two coats. Larger soaking tubs and tile surrounds need more.
How the kit math works
Bathtub refinishing uses a two-part epoxy or polyurethane coating sold in one-quart kits. A typical kit covers up to about 100 sq ft in two coats — well more than a single tub needs — so the calculator sizes your project and tells you whether one kit is enough or whether a tile surround pushes you into a second. It takes your tub area, adds the surround if you include it, and divides by the per-kit coverage with two coats built in.
These are the paintable areas the tool starts from.
- Standard 60-inch tub: about 24 sq ft — one kit covers it easily.
- Larger soaking tub: about 32 sq ft — still one kit.
- Drop-in or freestanding tub: about 40 sq ft — one kit, less margin.
- Tile surround: roughly 80 sq ft on its own — usually needs a second kit alongside the tub.
What it costs to refinish a tub
Doing it yourself, the whole cost is the kit plus a few supplies. A two-part epoxy tub kit runs $40 to $150, and you add maybe $20 to $40 in a respirator, abrasive cleanser, painter's tape, and a foam roller — call it under $200 all in for one tub. A DIY finish lasts about 3 to 5 years before it shows wear, which is why it suits renters, flippers, and short-term holds.
Hiring a pro to reglaze costs far more because nearly all of it is skilled labor and shop-grade materials. Here is how the three real options compare nationally:
- DIY kit: $40 to $150 for the kit, under $200 total with supplies — lasts 3 to 5 years.
- Professional reglazing: about $330 to $650, averaging near $480 (more like $400 to $700 in New York, San Francisco, or Boston) — lasts 8 to 15 years.
- Full replacement: $1,400 and up after demo and install — lasts 20 years or more.
Refinishing can save up to $3,000 over a full replacement, so the right call comes down to how long you will be in the home. For a project where paint is just one line item, thepaint cost calculatoradds up materials and labor together.
Prep is 80% of the result
DIY refinishing failures are almost always prep failures. You must clean with an abrasive cleanser, etch with the kit's acid or sand thoroughly to give the glossy surface tooth, wipe with a tack cloth, and apply when humidity is below about 60%. Skip any of these and the new finish peels in months no matter how carefully you brush.
Ventilate and respect the cure
Epoxy refinishers off-gas strong fumes during application, so open windows, run a fan, and wear a respirator. The coating is dry to the touch in about 20 minutes and dry to handle in roughly an hour, but it needs about 3 days to cure before you expose it to water. Rushing a hot shower or scrubbing it early softens the film and undoes the work.