A bathroom renovation in 2026 costs £3,000–£5,000 for a budget refresh, £5,000–£10,000 for a mid-range renovation, and £10,000–£20,000+ for a high-end refit. A wet room conversion typically costs £8,000–£15,000. Labour accounts for roughly 40–50% of the total.
Bathroom Renovation Costs at a Glance
Budget Refresh
New white suite, basic tiling, keep plumbing in existing positions. 1–2 week job. Functional and clean — nothing wrong with that.
Mid-Range Renovation
Full strip-out, quality suite, floor-to-ceiling tiling, heated towel rail, new lighting. 2–3 weeks. The standard most homeowners choose.
High-End Refit
Designer sanitaryware, large-format porcelain, walk-in shower, freestanding bath, underfloor heating, bespoke vanity unit. 3–4 weeks.
Wet Room Conversion
Full tanking system, gradient floor, linear drain, floor-to-ceiling tiling throughout. Ideal for small bathrooms or accessible design.
En-Suite (New Build)
Typically 3–4m². Shower, toilet, basin. All new plumbing runs from scratch. Common as part of a loft conversion or extension.
Cloakroom / WC
1.5–2.5m². Toilet, small basin, tiling, decoration. Quick job — 3–5 days. Popular under-stairs conversion.
Individual Item Costs
If you're getting quotes, it helps to know what each element costs individually. These are supply-and-fit prices — the item plus installation by a qualified plumber or tiler.
Sanitaryware
- Bath (standard acrylic): £200–£500 supplied and fitted
- Bath (freestanding, cast iron/composite): £800–£2,000+ supplied and fitted
- Shower enclosure (standard quadrant or sliding): £200–£600
- Shower enclosure (walk-in frameless glass): £600–£1,500
- Toilet (close-coupled standard): £150–£400
- Toilet (wall-hung concealed cistern): £400–£800 — the concealed frame adds cost
- Basin (pedestal): £100–£300
- Basin (wall-hung or vanity unit): £200–£600
- Shower valve and head (thermostatic): £150–£500
- Shower valve and head (digital/premium): £400–£1,200
Tiling
Tiling is often the single biggest labour cost in a bathroom renovation. A typical bathroom has 15–25m² of wall and floor area to tile.
- Standard ceramic tiles: £25–£40/m² (supply and fit)
- Porcelain tiles: £40–£80/m² (supply and fit)
- Large-format porcelain (600×600 or bigger): £60–£100/m² — fewer grout lines, cleaner look, but slower to lay
- Natural stone (marble, limestone): £80–£150/m² — needs sealing and more careful installation
- Mosaic feature tiles: £60–£120/m² — labour-intensive to install
For a typical bathroom with floor-to-ceiling tiling, expect £1,500–£3,000 for mid-range porcelain tiles supplied and fitted.
Plumbing, Electrics, and Heating
- Moving the soil stack: £800–£2,000 — the single most disruptive plumbing change
- Relocating waste pipes (without moving stack): £300–£800
- New hot/cold water supply runs: £200–£500
- Electric underfloor heating (bathroom-sized): £400–£800 including thermostat
- Heated towel rail (electric): £150–£350 installed
- Heated towel rail (plumbed): £200–£450 installed
- New bathroom window: £300–£600 (obscure glass, trickle vent)
- Extractor fan (standard): £80–£200 installed
- Extractor fan (inline, ducted to exterior): £200–£450 installed
- Recessed LED downlights (bathroom-rated IP65): £40–£80 each installed
- Illuminated mirror cabinet: £200–£600
Regional Pricing (Mid-Range Renovation)
Labour rates for bathroom fitting vary across the UK. A bathroom fitter in London charges £250–£350/day vs £150–£200/day in the North. Since labour is 40–50% of a bathroom renovation, this moves the total price significantly.
What Affects the Price
Plumbing changes
Keeping everything in the same position? Straightforward. Moving the toilet to the other side of the room? That means rerouting waste pipes, possibly moving the soil stack (£800–£2,000), and potentially lifting floorboards. Plumbing layout changes can add £1,500–£4,000 to a project.
Tiling extent and specification
Half-height tiling with paint above is cheapest. Floor-to-ceiling tiling in large-format porcelain costs 2–3× more. The choice of tile has a huge impact — a £20/m² ceramic tile costs a quarter of an £80/m² natural stone, and the labour to lay stone is higher too.
Suite quality
A basic close-coupled toilet costs £150. A wall-hung toilet with concealed cistern frame costs £500–£800. A pedestal basin: £100–£200. A wall-hung vanity with integrated basin: £300–£800. You can spend £500 or £5,000 on sanitaryware for the same bathroom.
Wet room conversion
A wet room requires a tanking system across the entire floor and up the walls (£1,000–£2,000 for materials and labour), a graded floor to direct water to the drain, and full floor-to-ceiling tiling. This adds £3,000–£5,000 over a standard bathroom fit-out.
Structural work
Rotten floor joists (common in older bathrooms): £500–£1,500 to replace. Stud wall removal or construction: £300–£800. Dealing with damp or mould behind old tiles: £200–£600. These are unknowns until you strip the room back.
Underfloor heating
Electric UFH mats for a bathroom cost £400–£800 installed including a thermostat. Water-based UFH is rarely worth it for a single bathroom — the additional pipework and manifold cost more than the electric option and you lose less depth.
Electrical work
A bathroom is a "special location" under Part P building regs. New circuits, moving light switches, and adding shaver sockets must be done by a qualified electrician. A full bathroom rewire with downlights, fan, and heated mirror: £400–£900.
Access and disposal
A first-floor bathroom means carrying everything upstairs, including heavy cast-iron baths on the way out and tiles on the way in. Disposal of the old suite and tiles fills 2–3 hippo bags or half a skip: £150–£400.
How to Save Money on a Bathroom Renovation
💡 Smart ways to reduce your bathroom costs
- Keep plumbing in existing positions. This is the single biggest cost saver. Design your new layout around where the waste pipes already are. Moving the toilet even a metre can cost £500+ in plumbing work.
- Buy your own sanitaryware. Bathroom fitters mark up products by 15–30%. Buy directly from trade suppliers like Victorian Plumbing, Sanctuary Bathrooms, or even eBay for ex-display items. Just confirm dimensions with your fitter first.
- Go half-height on tiling. Tiling to 1.2m with paint above cuts tiling costs by 40–50%. Use a moisture-resistant paint (bathroom-specific emulsion) and it looks great — especially in larger bathrooms.
- Choose ceramic over porcelain. A good-quality ceramic tile at £25–£35/m² looks almost identical to a £60/m² porcelain once it's on the wall. Save the premium tiles for the floor where hardness matters more.
- Shower over bath instead of separate shower. A bath with an overhead shower and glass screen costs £800–£1,500 total. A separate walk-in shower enclosure adds £1,500–£3,000. If space is tight, the combined option saves money and space.
- Do your own demolition. Stripping out the old bathroom yourself saves £300–£600 in labour. It's not skilled work — just be careful around pipes and electrics. Turn the water off at the mains first.
- Ex-display and end-of-line items. Bathroom showrooms clear out display models at 40–60% off. Brands discontinue ranges and retailers sell remaining stock at heavy discounts. A £2,000 vanity unit for £800 is a real possibility if you're flexible on design.
What Should Be in a Bathroom Fitter's Quote
A comprehensive quote for a bathroom renovation should include:
- Strip-out and disposal — removing old suite, tiles, and fittings; disposing of waste
- Plumbing — hot and cold supply, waste connections, new valves, toilet connection
- Electrical work — lighting, fan, heated towel rail, shaver socket (must be Part P certified)
- Floor and wall preparation — boarding, levelling, waterproofing where needed
- Tiling — walls and floor including adhesive, grout, and edge trims
- Suite installation — bath/shower, toilet, basin, shower valve, taps
- Accessories — towel rail, toilet roll holder, shower screen, mirror
- Decoration — ceiling paint, any non-tiled wall areas
- Sealant and finishing — silicone around bath/shower, caulking, grout finishing
Watch out: Some fitters quote for labour only and expect you to supply all materials. Others include everything. A "supply and fit" quote is easier to compare but make sure you know which tiles and sanitaryware are included in the price.
Hidden Costs to Budget For
Rotten Joists or Subfloor
Only discovered when the old floor comes up. Decades of minor leaks around the toilet or bath cause rot. Joists may need sistering or replacing.
Asbestos Removal
Artex ceilings, old vinyl tiles, or pipe lagging in pre-2000 bathrooms may contain asbestos. Licensed removal is a legal requirement if it's disturbed.
Building Regulations
Required if you're making significant electrical changes. Your electrician should self-certify under Part P, but if not, you'll need a building control inspection.
Replastering
Old plaster behind tiles is often damaged and needs skim-coating or re-boarding before new tiles go on. Budget for this — it's extremely common.
Boiler Pressure Issues
Older combi boilers may not deliver adequate flow to a new thermostatic shower. A pump (£200–£400) or boiler upgrade may be needed.
Redecoration of Adjacent Rooms
Plumbing work often means drilling through walls and lifting floorboards in adjacent rooms. Budget for patching and redecorating the landing or bedroom next door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get a Free Bathroom Quote
Tell us about your bathroom project and we'll get back to you within 24 hours with a detailed estimate.
Related Cost Guides
Our Bathroom Services
We handle complete bathroom renovations from strip-out to final sealant — plumbing, tiling, electrics, and every detail in between.