Bathroom Renovation Costs
Understanding complete bathroom renovation costs. Budget to luxury bathrooms explained.
Bathroom Renovation Labour
Budget: £120-£160/day
General builders. Basic fitting, functional rather than refined.
Standard: £180-£240/day
Experienced bathroom fitters. Professional finish, proper waterproofing.
Premium: £260-£320+/day
Specialist bathroom designers/installers. Luxury finishes, complex designs.
Bathroom Costs by Size (Complete Renovation)
Budget Small Bathroom (2m x 1.5m)
Basic suite (toilet, basin, bath):£600
Budget tiles & flooring:£400
Paint & simple finish:£100
Labour (4-5 days):£600
Total:£1,700
Excludes plumbing/electrics (add £500-800)
Standard Family Bathroom (3m x 2.5m)
Quality suite & fixtures:£1,500
Shower cubicle:£600
Quality tiles & flooring:£1,000
Lighting & ventilation:£300
Labour (6-7 days):£1,200
Total:£4,600
Excludes plumbing/electrics (add £1,000-1,500)
Premium Luxury Bathroom (4m x 3m, Ensuite)
Premium suite & fixtures:£3,000
Luxury shower system:£1,500
Freestanding bath:£1,200
Premium tiles & natural stone:£2,000
Heated towel rails & extras:£600
Labour (8-10 days):£2,400
Total:£10,700
Excludes plumbing/electrics/structural (add £2,000-3,500)
Bathroom Fixtures & Fittings Breakdown
Suite (toilet, basin, bath): Budget £300-500, Standard £800-1,500, Premium £2,000+
Shower cubicle/enclosure: Budget £200-400, Standard £600-1,000, Premium £1,500+
Tiles (walls & flooring): Budget £400-600, Standard £1,000-1,500, Premium £2,000+
Vanity unit: Budget £150-300, Standard £400-800, Premium £1,000+
Mirrors & lighting: Budget £100-200, Standard £300-600, Premium £800+
What Affects Cost?
- Waterproofing: Essential in bathrooms. Tanking cost: £300-800+
- Ventilation: Proper extraction fan required (adds £150-300)
- Substrate prep: Damp, tiling damaged, needs substrate replacement (adds £500-1,500)
- Layout changes: Moving toilet/basin to new location (adds £800-2,000)
- Heated floor: Underfloor heating adds £500-1,500 to project
Common Misunderstandings
- "All tiles are the same cost": Budget vs premium: 4-5x price difference
- "Bathroom takes 3 days to fit": Professional bathroom takes 6-8 days minimum
- "Grout is included in tile cost": No—waterproofing and grout separate costs
- "We can skimp on waterproofing": Terrible idea—damp in bathrooms is catastrophic
Red Flags
- Quote doesn't mention waterproofing/tanking
- No detail on fixture brands/specifications
- Doesn't assess existing substrate condition
- Unrealistic timeframe (says 3 days for complete family bathroom)