How much does a bathroom renovation cost? | 2020 cost guide

How much does it Cost to Renovate a Bathroom?

You can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $40,000 (or more) for a complete bathroom renovation. This of course is subjective to size, materials and more. 

Generally speaking, you can expect to pay roughly around $15,000 for a standard bathroom renovation. However, this price can be affected depending on where you live, the size of the bathroom, structural integrity and whether the layout needs to be altered in terms of the electrical and plumbing fittings. Small bathroom renovations may cost as little as $5,000 to $10,000, but large-scale, complex bathroom renovations can cost upwards of $40,000.

Bathroom renovations are one of the most popular home improvement projects of the moment. Whether you are preparing your home for the market, wanting a more comfortable experience for guests or simply dying to create the bathroom of your dreams… we get it and we want to help you realistically understand how much it is going to cost you! 

 Get Bathroom Renovation Quotes Now

The costs involved with bathroom renovation should be viewed as an investment, as renovating can increase the value of your property, improve the appearance and functionality of the room, and provide rental appeal if you’re looking to rent out your property.

Article Overview

• Bathroom renovation cost? 
• The Bathroom Renovation Process 
• How long does a bathroom renovation take? 
• Who to hire for a bathroom renovation?
• Bathroom renovation alternatives
• Bathroom renovation FAQs

Bathroom renovation costs? 

Anywhere from $9,000 to $40,000 depending on a number of factors. If you want an approximate average, the Housing Industry Association (HIA)’s 2017/2018 Kitchens and Bathrooms Survey concluded the average bathroom renovation cost is approximately $17,000. 

Renovation Cost factors: 

• Bathroom size
• Chosen materials
• Chosen fittings
• Labour costs
• Permits (if required) 

Service.com.au breaks the cost of renovating a bathroom into three ranges; high, medium and low. Let’s discuss. 

High Range $30,000 + 

The over $30,000 range provides luxury bathroom renovations, including the use of premium materials and fittings. For this higher price, you are able to add any design elements you desire and are not restricted to the current layout. You will be working with an industry leader, with years of experience specialising in such projects. You are able to indulge on porcelain tiles, double showers, hanging vanities and glass tubs. Essentially, you are paying for the best of the best. 

Medium Range $15,000 - $30,000 

The medium range is what most people budget for with their bathroom renovation. You can expect a large range of tiling, shower designs and gorgeous bathtubs to choose from. You may be slightly more restricted when it comes to changing plumbing or electrics but as a whole the medium range assures a great bathroom renovation. Particularly for those who know where in the bathroom is best to invest their budget. 

Low Range under $15,000 

It is to be expected that a lower budget will restrict your choices. You will likely have to opt for large format porcelain tiles, framed shower screens and simple designs. While some professionals may offer low range prices, you may have to work with a less experienced professional depending on how low your budget is. 

WARNING - Service.com.au always encourages our readers to beware of falling victim to low prices that promise a lot. While it can tempt the best of us, often long term issues can arise as the job has not been properly carried out. 

What Factors Influence the Cost of Bathroom Renovation

Bathroom Plumbing Costs 

Plumbers can charge anywhere from $100-$150 per hour, when receiving a quote from a plumber you should ask for an itemised quote so you know exactly what costs what.

Bathroom Tiling Costs 

Most bathroom tilers quote by the square metre, the price ranges between $35 to $180 per square metre. Be sure to account for floor and wall tiles and your chosen material. 

Bathroom Bathtub Costs 

A plumber is likely to charge anywhere from$350 to replace and fit a bathtub, bearing in mind that your choice in tub may affect this price. Brand new tubs begin at $400 upwards. 

Bathroom Showerscreen Costs

This price of a showerscreen will vary depending on your choice in size and design, however a basic showerscreen can cost as little as $400 to install. The cost of purchasing a shower screen begins at $600. 

Bathroom Toilet Costs

Again, depending on your choice in toilet the price can vary. Toilet prices range between $150  to $750. 

Bathroom Vanity Costs

If you are chasing a 900mm wall hung vanity with hidden handles expect to pay $467, a 750 mm floor standing console vanity will be closer to $849, a 1500 mm double bowl vanity costs around $1000 and a 1200 mm wall hung vanity with integrated ceramic basin will be approximately $1360. 

Bathroom Waterproofing Costs

Absolutely essential! The average sized bathroom will cost anywhere from $500 to $750 to properly waterproof.

Labour costs for Bathroom Renovations

Labour costs also have to be taken into consideration. Depending on the service provider, they might either charge an hourly rate, day rate or an overall cost for the project. You can expect to pay around $100 an hour for a qualified professional.

Paying a fair price for the services of a qualified tradesperson ensures that you will be receiving high quality workmanship, so it’s important not to only base your decision on the cheapest quote you receive, as this may be indicative of the level of service provided.

It’s best to compare bathroom renovation quotes from several qualified tradespeople to get an idea of the price range, and select one based on their past customer reviews, photos of their work and their experience. Make sure you clarify whether the cost of their services is inclusive or exclusive of materials used, so there is a clear understanding of the costs involved from the outset.

You can potentially save costs by hiring individual contractors to handle each component of the bathroom renovation separately, as opposed to hiring a bathroom renovation specialist or builder to manage the separate tradies. However, you have to be cautious of job schedules and ensure each tradesman will complete the bathroom renovation in the required timeframe. Further, you have to ensure each service provider can undertake their work without interfering with the other.

Bathroom fixtures

Another important factor that determines the cost of bathroom renovation is the fixtures you select for the design of your bathroom.

Bathroom Fixtures include:

• bathtubs 
• vanities 
• toilets
• sinks

Depending on the type of quality and design, this will also affect the overall cost of the project.

Fixtures will also require installation and electrical and plumbing lines connected. If these lines are not already in place this will also increase the cost of your bathroom renovation. If the plumbing is not conducted properly, this can cause immense issues and cost you greatly in the long run. It’s best to do your research on how to hire a professional plumber. When it comes to plumbing, we recommend hiring a highly skilled plumbing professional with the appropriate plumbing licence in their state.

When it comes to fixtures, tiles will have a prudent impact on the renovation. To save money on your renovation opt for ceramic tiles rather than marble, stone or decorative tiles. However, you should keep in mind cheaper tiles won’t have the same impact as more expensive, decorative tiles. There are a variety of shower screen options that will also vary in price depending on whether they are framed or frameless, but for inspiration it’s useful to have a look at these shower screens that will leave you breathless.

Bathroom Countertops

People with tight budgets can opt for a single-sink vanity or a pedestal sink made from acrylic or laminate timber. These countertops will cost less than marble or stone benchtops.

Once you have determined an accurate overall cost, you can choose to splurge on a feature piece likes a marble benchtop or decorative tiles to give your space a beautiful finish. 

Make sure you plan carefully and be creative with your choices. At the end of the day, all you need is a beautifully renovated bathroom that fits to your budget. 

The Bathroom Renovation Process 

It is a good idea to do some research and have a general understanding of the bathroom renovation process that will occur within your home. You can expect a seven step process, as follows. 

Design the Bathroom

This is the first part of the process, designing your new bathroom. You can lay this out on a piece of paper, within a folder, on an online software program or with the help of your chosen professional. 

Strip the Existing Bathroom

The fun part! Stripping your old bathroom will come next, expect a LOT of noise as your tradies get to work preparing the area for what is to come.  

Plan the plumbing  

For those opting to make changes to the plumbing system in place, you are going to need to enlist a plumber and/or electrician to relocate the chosen systems. This is also a crucial moment for checking fittings and whatnot. 

Plumbers licensing requirements by state:

• QLD Plumbing and Drainage Licensing
• NSW Plumbing, Draining and Gasfitting Licensing
• ACT Plumber, Drainer and Gasfitter licensing
• VIC Plumbing Registration and Licences
• SA Plumbing, Gasfitting and Electrical Contractors' licensing
• WA Plumbers Licensing
• NT Plumbing and Drainers Licence

Render the walls

Once the walls amenities are finished by the plumbers and electricians, you can start rendering! This is essential in preparing the wall for new tiles or paint. 

Tiling preparation 

The tiler will now begin preparing by laying a cement bedding and waterproofing. Two extremely important tasks in ensuring the safety of your bathroom and longevity. 

Tiling

Once the prep work has been adequately carried out, the tiler will begin adding the tiles. 

Fit out

Everything is added now! The bathtub, sinks, showers and everything in between. This is when you will begin to have a real feel for your new bathroom’s look. 

How long does a bathroom renovation take? 

Initially you will need to research, plan and design your bathroom. If you do not require any huge structural changes this process will take between six and eight weeks. Allowing for design development, selection of materials/fittings and obtaining a variety of quotes. 

The actual work should take one to three weeks minimum, depending on the scale of your project. Your chosen builder should be able to provide you with a time estimate. Variables that can affect your timeframe include; relocating plumbing/electricals, large area to be tiled, unforeseen events (e.g. a floor cavity) and structural works that require more time.

Who do you need to renovate your bathroom? 

You will need:

• Bathroom builders or renovators 
• Electricians 
• Plumbers
• Tilers
• Waterproofers 

You may also wish to hire: 

• An architect 
• A cabinet maker

But where can you find them?! Service.com.au provides a range of trade professionals to choose from, we recommend obtaining several quotes to ensure you get the fairest price for your job. We also recommend choosing the professional/s you feel best understand your needs, have a professional manner, the required qualifications and licenses. 

Helpful Tip - bathroom renovators should be licensed. That includes your builder, plumber, waterproofer and sparky. 

Bathroom renovation alternatives

Renovating an entire bathroom is neither a small job nor cheap, as such there are a few alternative ways to make your bathroom feel new without ripping it apart first. For example, you could simply replace your vanity, it is amazing the difference this can make. Or you could switch out your shower or repaint your tiles. Basically, focus on one area you use frequently or hate the look of and simply change that!

 Compare Bathroom Renovation Quotes 

Bathroom renovation FAQs

Q: What are the major costs to plan for in a bathroom renovation?

A: The major costs involved in a bathroom renovation include; plumbing, tiling, frameless shower screens, baths, toilets, vanities, lighting and waterproofing. 

Q: Can I renovate my bathroom myself?

A: Unless you are a qualified sparky, plumber, builder and tiler all in one, we are going to say no. There may be certain aspects of a bathroom renovation that your average handyman/woman can handle but a large portion of the job requires specialised skills. 

Further reading:

• Incredible before and after home renovation photos
• Budget friendly renovation secrets
• How much does it cost to hire a renderer? | 2019 cost guide
• Australia's 11 most popular interior paint colours | 2019 guide