On this page9 sections
- Average cost to renovate a bathroom in Australia
- How much does a small bathroom renovation cost?
- Factors influencing bathroom renovation costs
- Licences, insurance and waterproofing rules
- The bathroom renovation process
- How long does a bathroom renovation take?
- Who do you need to renovate your bathroom?
- Are there any bathroom renovation alternatives?
- FAQs
Getting a home ready to sell, or fixing a shower that has started to leak, starts with a budget. This guide gives you the prices quoted through Service.com.au, what moves a quote up or down, and the licences and insurance that apply to the job.
Average cost to renovate a bathroom in Australia
These are the prices bathroom renovators quoted for full bathroom renovations through Service.com.au in the 12 months to October 2026.
| Job | Typical quote | Most quotes fell between |
|---|---|---|
| Full bathroom renovation | $16,500 | $4,500 to $25,000 |
The range is wide because quotes cover different scopes. Some renovators quote labour only, with the homeowner buying the tiles, vanity and tapware, while others quote supply and installation of everything. Check which kind you have before you compare two quotes. A quote given without a site visit will move once the renovator sees the room, the plumbing and any water damage.
What each budget buys
Under $15,000. Expect to keep the existing layout and choose from basic ceramic or porcelain tiles, framed shower screens and prefabricated laminate vanities. This is where a simple renovation of a small bathroom usually sits, at around $10,000 to $15,000. Be wary of a very low quote that promises a lot. In a room full of water, cut corners in waterproofing or plumbing show up later as leaks and damage behind the tiles.
$15,000 to $30,000. This is the range most people budget for. It allows a wider choice of tiles, a semi-frameless or frameless shower screen, a better vanity and tapware, and sometimes a small change to plumbing or electrical points. Spend the extra on tiles, tapware and waterproofing, the parts you live with longest.
More than $30,000. At this level you can change the layout and choose premium materials such as natural stone tiles, a freestanding bath, a wall-hung vanity and a double shower. Plumbing and electrical points can move to where the design needs them, and an experienced team manages the job from strip-out to fit-off.
How much does a small bathroom renovation cost?
A small bathroom or ensuite costs less than a large one, but not in proportion to its floor area. The same trades still visit, the same waterproofing rules apply and the toilet, basin and shower cost about the same whatever the size of the room. What a small room saves is mostly tiles, membrane and labour hours.
A simple renovation of a small bathroom that keeps the toilet, shower and basin where they are typically costs $10,000 to $15,000. Moving the toilet or shower, or turning a bath into a walk-in shower, pushes the cost towards the middle tier because the plumber, the waterproofer and the tiler all have more to do.
Factors influencing bathroom renovation costs
Most of the gap between a quote at the bottom of the range and one at the top comes from a handful of things:
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- The size of the bathroom, which sets how much tiling and waterproofing you pay for
- The materials and fixtures you choose
- Labour for the plumber, electrician, waterproofer, tiler and builder
- Whether the toilet, shower or vanity moves
- Water damage or rot found once the old bathroom is stripped out
- Permits, inspections, licences and insurance for the job
Where you live
Prices differ between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and regional areas, mostly because trade rates and demand differ. Access matters too: an upstairs apartment bathroom with strata rules on work hours and lift use costs more to renovate than a ground-floor bathroom in a house. Ask local renovators to quote the same scope so you can compare like with like.
Trade costs
Trades price bathroom work by the hour, by the square metre or as a fixed price for the job. Ask for an itemised quote, and ask whether materials are included, so you know what each line covers before work starts.
| Trade | How they usually charge |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $100 to $150 an hour |
| Builder | $70 to $120 an hour |
| Tiler | $30 to $170 per square metre (walls and floors) |
| Waterproofer | $35 to $200 per square metre |
| Electrician | By the hour or a fixed price per job, such as an exhaust fan or heated towel rail |
Hiring each trade yourself can cost less than paying a bathroom renovation company or a builder to manage them, but you take on the scheduling and the risk of one trade waiting on another. For what goes into tiling prices, see our tiler cost guide.
Tip: Choose on more than price. Compare each renovator's reviews, photos of finished bathrooms and what their quote includes. A low quote can leave out waterproofing details or the clean-up, so check what each one covers.
Material and fixture costs
Fixtures are where your own choices move the budget. If money is tight, mix budget and mid-range items and spend more on the things you touch every day, such as tapware.
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | High-end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanity | $300 to $700 (prefabricated, laminate or melamine) | $800 to $2,500 (semi-custom, engineered stone top) | $3,000 to $6,000+ (custom, natural stone, solid timber) |
| Basin | $100 to $300 (ceramic or acrylic, often part of the vanity) | $300 to $800 (porcelain, ceramic or glass vessel) | $900 to $2,000+ (stone, marble or designer) |
| Toilet | $150 to $500 (close-coupled) | $600 to $1,200 (back-to-wall or wall-hung, soft-close) | $1,300 to $3,000+ (concealed cistern, heated seat or bidet) |
| Bath | $300 to $800 (acrylic or fibreglass) | $1,000 to $2,500 (freestanding acrylic or enamelled steel) | $3,000 to $8,000+ (stone or cast iron) |
| Shower screen | $400 to $800 (framed glass or acrylic) | $900 to $1,800 (semi-frameless or frameless) | $2,000 to $4,000+ (custom frameless) |
| Tapware | $100 to $300 (chrome or stainless steel) | $400 to $1,000 (brushed nickel, matte black or brass) | $1,100 to $3,000+ (designer finishes, touchless) |
| Tiles, per m² | $30 to $60 (ceramic or porcelain) | $70 to $150 (stone-look or large-format porcelain) | $160 to $300+ (natural stone or handmade) |
| Towel rails and accessories | $50 to $150 (chrome or stainless steel) | $200 to $500 (matte black, brushed nickel or brass) | $600 to $1,500+ (designer or heated) |
A cheap fixture can cost more over time if it needs replacing in a few years, so put your money into the pieces that get daily use. Browse frameless shower screen ideas if you're choosing between styles.
Licences, insurance and waterproofing rules
A bathroom renovation brings in licensed trades and building rules, and the thresholds that apply depend on your state.
- Plumbing and electrical work must be done by a licensed plumber and a licensed electrician. In NSW this specialist work needs a licence whatever it costs.
- NSW: residential building work valued at more than $5,000 (labour and materials, including GST) needs a licensed contractor and a written contract. Work worth more than $20,000 also needs home building compensation cover, and the builder must give you proof of it before taking a deposit. See NSW Government: contracts for residential building work.
- Victoria: for contracts signed on or after 1 July 2026, Home Warranty insurance applies to eligible domestic building work valued at more than $20,000. Contracts signed before then fall under the older domestic building insurance scheme, which applied above $16,000. See the Building and Plumbing Commission.
- Other states and territories set their own licence and home warranty thresholds. Check with your state's building regulator before you sign.
Waterproofing in a bathroom must meet the National Construction Code, which accepts either its own wet-area provisions (Housing Provisions Part 10.2) or Australian Standard AS 3740, Waterproofing of domestic wet areas. The membrane under the tiles is what keeps water out of the walls and floor. Ask your renovator which standard they work to and whether you get a waterproofing certificate at the end.
The bathroom renovation process
Knowing the order of work helps you plan around the mess and spot a schedule that doesn't add up. Most renovations follow these steps.
- Design and select. Sketch the layout yourself or with a designer, then choose tiles, the toilet, the vanity and the shower screen. Ordering early avoids delivery delays, and booking trades early keeps the job on track.
- Strip out. The old bathroom comes out, with plenty of noise and dust. If you do this yourself, turn off the water before removing taps, basins and toilets, and watch for electrical cables in the walls.
- Rough-in plumbing and electrical. If anything is moving, the plumber and electrician relocate pipes and wiring while the walls and floor are open. This is also the time to check old fittings.
- Walls and floor. Wet areas are relined with fibre cement sheeting or another water-resistant board. Depending on how much was removed, this takes a few hours to a full day.
- Waterproofing. The waterproofer applies a membrane to the shower, the floor and the walls in the wet zones. Each coat must dry for the time the product specifies, so this step can't be rushed.
- Tiling. The tiler lays the tiles, then the adhesive needs 24 to 48 hours to set before grouting. Give the room a quick clean once the grout is dry, while every corner is still easy to reach.
- Fit-off. The plumber and electrician return to install the toilet, vanity, basin, tapware, shower screen, lights and fans. After a final clean, the bathroom is ready to use.
How long does a bathroom renovation take?
Allow 6 to 8 weeks to plan a renovation without major structural changes. That covers the design, choosing materials and fittings, and getting several quotes.
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The work on site usually takes at least 2 to 3 weeks. Moving plumbing or electrical points, tiling large areas and repairing hidden water damage all add time. Your renovator or builder should give you a schedule before work starts. Read more in how long a bathroom renovation takes.
Who do you need to renovate your bathroom?
Some bathroom renovation companies run the whole job with their own team. That is convenient, and it can cost more. If you manage the project yourself, you will usually need:
- A builder or bathroom renovator
- A licensed plumber
- A licensed electrician
- A waterproofer
- A tiler
Larger projects may also need a designer or architect and a cabinet maker. Our guide to which tradies you need for a bathroom renovation explains who does what.
Get several quotes so you can compare price and scope, and choose the people who understand the job best. Check that your builder, plumber, electrician and waterproofer hold the licences your state requires. You can post your job on Service.com.au for free and compare quotes from verified local businesses.
Tip: If you're on a budget, keep the toilet, shower and basin where they are. Moving plumbing can add $1,500 to $5,000 or more to a quote.
Are there any bathroom renovation alternatives?
If a full renovation isn't in the budget this year, a few targeted changes can make an old bathroom feel new. A new vanity changes the look of a room more than most people expect. New tapware, a new shower screen, or resurfacing the bath, basin or tiles can also work well.
If the toilet is the problem, see what a plumber charges in our toilet replacement cost guide. Planning a kitchen as well? Our kitchen cost guide covers that job.
Cosmetic updates only make sense when there is no water damage. If you can see swelling, mould or loose tiles, have a renovator or plumber look before you spend money on the surface.
All prices are a guide only and were current at the time of writing. Prices vary by location and by business.