How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Australia?
Most full bathroom renovations in Australia cost $15,000 to $35,000, and industry figures put the average at around $26,000. A cosmetic refresh can come in under $15,000, while a premium bathroom with a new layout often passes $35,000. Size, tiles and whether the plumbing moves make the biggest difference.
A bathroom renovation is one of the biggest single jobs most Australian homeowners take on, and the quotes can be hard to compare. One builder says $18,000, another says $32,000, and both describe the job as “standard”.
This guide breaks the price down the way a quote should: by level of finish, by city, and line by line. Use the estimator further down to get a range for your own bathroom, then check any quote you receive against the item costs.
Bathroom renovation cost by level of finish
Most quotes fall into one of three levels. The jump between them comes from how much is ripped out, how much plumbing moves, and how expensive the tiles and fittings are.
| Level | What it usually includes | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | New vanity, tapware, toilet, mirror and paint. Tiles and waterproofing stay as they are. | $8,000 – $15,000 |
| Full renovation | Strip to the frame, new waterproofing, floor and wall tiles, vanity, shower screen and toilet. Layout stays the same. | $15,000 – $35,000 |
| Premium | Layout change, custom vanity, large-format or feature tiles, freestanding bath, heated towel rails, designer tapware. | $35,000 – $55,000+ |
A cosmetic refresh is only a good deal if the waterproofing underneath is sound. Signs of failure include loose or drummy tiles, mould along the skirting, swollen door frames and stains on the ceiling below. If you see any of these, budget for a full renovation.
Bathroom renovation cost by city
Labour is the biggest part of a bathroom bill, so prices follow local trade rates. Sydney and Canberra sit at the top, Adelaide and Hobart lower. Pick your city to see typical ranges.
| Level | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | $9,000 – $17,000 |
| Full renovationMOST COMMON | $17,000 – $40,000 |
| Premium | $40,000 – $63,000+ |
Where the money goes: cost of each part
Labour usually makes up 40 to 50 per cent of the total. The rest is materials and fittings. These are typical supply-and-install prices for each part of a full renovation, so you can see which lines in a quote look high.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Tiling, floor and walls (supply and lay) | $3,000 – $7,500 |
| Plumbing rough-in and fit-off | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Freestanding bath (installed) | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Demolition and rubbish removal | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Vanity (supply and install) | $500 – $3,500 |
| Frameless shower screen (installed) | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| Waterproofing | $500 – $3,500 |
| Toilet (supply and install) | $500 – $1,000 |
| Heated towel rail (installed) | $500 – $1,000 |
| Floor and wall tiles (materials only) | $35 – $120 per m² |
| Tile laying (labour only) | $50 – $70 per m² |
| Plumber labour | $80 – $200 per hour plus call-out |
What changes the price
Room size
More floor and wall area means more tiles, more waterproofing and more labour. A small ensuite with the same layout often costs $15,000 to $30,000.
Moving the plumbing
Keeping the toilet, shower and vanity where they are is the biggest single saving. Moving drains means cutting slab or floor joists and new rough-in work.
Tiles and layout pattern
Tile price ranges from about $35 to $120 per m², and herringbone, mosaics or large-format tiles take longer to lay.
Waterproofing
Done properly it is a small line item. Done badly it is the most expensive one, because failure means ripping the room out again.
Fixtures and fittings
A vanity can cost $500 or $3,500. Tapware, screens and baths swing the same way, so set a fixtures budget before you shop.
Age, access and building type
Older homes can hide rotten floors or old wiring. Upstairs bathrooms and apartments add time for access, lifts and strata rules.
Estimate your bathroom renovation cost
Choose the options closest to your job. The range updates straight away. It is a starting point for budgeting, not a quote.
Full renovation. Adjusted for Sydney prices.
Do you need a licensed builder or council approval?
Renovating a bathroom inside an existing house usually does not need council approval if you keep the same room and do not change the structure. You will need approval for structural changes, extensions, or homes with a heritage listing, and apartment owners need strata approval before work starts.
Licensing is where most homeowners get caught out. Each state sets a dollar value above which the work must be done by a licensed or registered trade, and waterproofing is licensed work in its own right in New South Wales and Queensland.
A contractor licence is needed for residential building or trade work, including waterproofing, worth more than $5,000 (labour and materials, including GST).
NSW GovernmentA QBCC licence is needed for waterproofing work worth more than $3,300, counting labour and materials.
business.gov.auDomestic building work worth more than $10,000 must be done by a registered builder, or it won’t be covered by domestic building insurance.
Victorian building regulatorWA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT have their own thresholds. Check the licence number on your state regulator’s website before you pay a deposit.
Whatever your state, ask for the waterproofer’s certificate when the membrane is done. You may need it for insurance or when you sell.
How long a bathroom renovation takes
A full renovation usually takes 2 to 5 weeks of work on site, after a few weeks of design and quoting. A cosmetic refresh can be done in under a week. Here is the usual order of trades.
- 1Design, quotes and orderingMeasure up, choose tiles and fittings, compare three itemised quotes, order long-lead items.1–6 weeks
- 2DemolitionStrip tiles, fittings and sheeting back to the frame, and remove the rubbish.1–2 days
- 3Plumbing and electrical rough-inNew pipes, drains and wiring before the walls are closed up.2–3 days
- 4WaterproofingMembrane applied to the floor and wet walls, then left to cure before tiling.1–2 days plus curing
- 5TilingFloor and wall tiles, grout and silicone. The longest single stage.3–6 days
- 6Fit-off and handoverVanity, toilet, tapware, screen and lights installed, final clean and defects check.2–3 days
How to save money on a bathroom renovation
Keep the layout. Leaving the toilet, shower and vanity where they are avoids new drains and can save $2,000 to $5,000 in plumbing alone.
Tile to half height. Full-height tiles in the shower, then wet-area paint above a half-height tile line on the other walls.
Choose standard tile sizes. Common sizes in a simple stack or brick bond lay faster than herringbone, mosaics or very large slabs.
Buy some fittings yourself, carefully. Ask your trades first. Some won’t warranty items they didn’t supply, and the wrong rough-in height can cost more than you saved.
Compare three itemised quotes. A lump-sum quote hides where the money goes. Itemised quotes let you compare tiling, waterproofing and plumbing line by line.
Keep 10 to 20 per cent aside. Old bathrooms often hide rotten floors, cracked slabs or old pipes. A contingency stops a surprise from stalling the job.
Bathroom renovation cost: common questions
How much does a small bathroom renovation cost?
A small bathroom or ensuite with the same layout usually costs $15,000 to $30,000 for a full renovation. A cosmetic refresh of a small bathroom can start around $8,000 if the tiles and waterproofing are in good condition.
What is the average cost of a bathroom renovation in Australia?
Industry figures put the average full bathroom renovation at around $26,000. Most quotes for a standard-size bathroom with mid-range fittings land between $15,000 and $35,000.
How long does a bathroom renovation take?
Expect 2 to 5 weeks of work on site for a full renovation, plus time for design and quotes beforehand. Waterproofing has to cure before tiling, which is why the job can’t be rushed.
Do I need a licensed tradie for waterproofing?
In NSW waterproofing worth more than $5,000 needs a licensed contractor, and in Queensland waterproofing worth more than $3,300 needs a QBCC licence. Other states have their own rules, so check before you hire.
Can I renovate a bathroom in stages?
You can split cosmetic work, like a new vanity now and new tapware later. A full renovation is best done in one go, because waterproofing, plumbing and tiling depend on each other.
Is it cheaper to do a cosmetic refresh?
Yes, often by half or more, but only if the existing waterproofing is sound. Retiling over failed waterproofing just hides the problem until it gets worse.
- Savings.com.au, cost to renovate a bathroom (hipages price brackets and item costs), updated January 2026
- Three Birds Renovations, bathroom renovation cost 2026 (HIA average, labour share, contingency), January 2026
- What’s The Damage, bathroom renovation cost Australia (item costs, timeframes), October 2026
- What’s The Damage, bathroom renovation cost by tier and city (city price levels), verified October 2026
- OpenAgent, how much does a bathroom renovation cost (renovators’ published starting prices by city), checked 16 October 2026
- NSW Government, waterproofing work licence
- business.gov.au, Queensland waterproofing licence
- Victorian building regulator, engaging a builder
A bathroom renovation is one of the biggest single jobs most Australian homeowners take on, and the quotes can be hard to compare. One builder says $18,000, another says $32,000, and both describe the job as “standard”.
This guide breaks the price down the way a quote should: by level of finish, by city, and line by line. Use the estimator further down to get a range for your own bathroom, then check any quote you receive against the item costs.
Bathroom renovation cost by level of finish
Most quotes fall into one of three levels. The jump between them comes from how much is ripped out, how much plumbing moves, and how expensive the tiles and fittings are.
| Level | What it usually includes | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | New vanity, tapware, toilet, mirror and paint. Tiles and waterproofing stay as they are. | $8,000 – $15,000 |
| Full renovation | Strip to the frame, new waterproofing, floor and wall tiles, vanity, shower screen and toilet. Layout stays the same. | $15,000 – $35,000 |
| Premium | Layout change, custom vanity, large-format or feature tiles, freestanding bath, heated towel rails, designer tapware. | $35,000 – $55,000+ |
A cosmetic refresh is only a good deal if the waterproofing underneath is sound. Signs of failure include loose or drummy tiles, mould along the skirting, swollen door frames and stains on the ceiling below. If you see any of these, budget for a full renovation.
Bathroom renovation cost by city
Labour is the biggest part of a bathroom bill, so prices follow local trade rates. Sydney and Canberra sit at the top, Adelaide and Hobart lower. Pick your city to see typical ranges.
| Level | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | $9,000 – $17,000 |
| Full renovationMOST COMMON | $17,000 – $40,000 |
| Premium | $40,000 – $63,000+ |
Where the money goes: cost of each part
Labour usually makes up 40 to 50 per cent of the total. The rest is materials and fittings. These are typical supply-and-install prices for each part of a full renovation, so you can see which lines in a quote look high.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Tiling, floor and walls (supply and lay) | $3,000 – $7,500 |
| Plumbing rough-in and fit-off | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Freestanding bath (installed) | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Demolition and rubbish removal | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Vanity (supply and install) | $500 – $3,500 |
| Frameless shower screen (installed) | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| Waterproofing | $500 – $3,500 |
| Toilet (supply and install) | $500 – $1,000 |
| Heated towel rail (installed) | $500 – $1,000 |
| Floor and wall tiles (materials only) | $35 – $120 per m² |
| Tile laying (labour only) | $50 – $70 per m² |
| Plumber labour | $80 – $200 per hour plus call-out |
What changes the price
Room size
More floor and wall area means more tiles, more waterproofing and more labour. A small ensuite with the same layout often costs $15,000 to $30,000.
Moving the plumbing
Keeping the toilet, shower and vanity where they are is the biggest single saving. Moving drains means cutting slab or floor joists and new rough-in work.
Tiles and layout pattern
Tile price ranges from about $35 to $120 per m², and herringbone, mosaics or large-format tiles take longer to lay.
Waterproofing
Done properly it is a small line item. Done badly it is the most expensive one, because failure means ripping the room out again.
Fixtures and fittings
A vanity can cost $500 or $3,500. Tapware, screens and baths swing the same way, so set a fixtures budget before you shop.
Age, access and building type
Older homes can hide rotten floors or old wiring. Upstairs bathrooms and apartments add time for access, lifts and strata rules.
Estimate your bathroom renovation cost
Choose the options closest to your job. The range updates straight away. It is a starting point for budgeting, not a quote.
Full renovation. Adjusted for Sydney prices.
Do you need a licensed builder or council approval?
Renovating a bathroom inside an existing house usually does not need council approval if you keep the same room and do not change the structure. You will need approval for structural changes, extensions, or homes with a heritage listing, and apartment owners need strata approval before work starts.
Licensing is where most homeowners get caught out. Each state sets a dollar value above which the work must be done by a licensed or registered trade, and waterproofing is licensed work in its own right in New South Wales and Queensland.
A contractor licence is needed for residential building or trade work, including waterproofing, worth more than $5,000 (labour and materials, including GST).
NSW GovernmentA QBCC licence is needed for waterproofing work worth more than $3,300, counting labour and materials.
business.gov.auDomestic building work worth more than $10,000 must be done by a registered builder, or it won’t be covered by domestic building insurance.
Victorian building regulatorWA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT have their own thresholds. Check the licence number on your state regulator’s website before you pay a deposit.
Whatever your state, ask for the waterproofer’s certificate when the membrane is done. You may need it for insurance or when you sell.
How long a bathroom renovation takes
A full renovation usually takes 2 to 5 weeks of work on site, after a few weeks of design and quoting. A cosmetic refresh can be done in under a week. Here is the usual order of trades.
- 1Design, quotes and orderingMeasure up, choose tiles and fittings, compare three itemised quotes, order long-lead items.1–6 weeks
- 2DemolitionStrip tiles, fittings and sheeting back to the frame, and remove the rubbish.1–2 days
- 3Plumbing and electrical rough-inNew pipes, drains and wiring before the walls are closed up.2–3 days
- 4WaterproofingMembrane applied to the floor and wet walls, then left to cure before tiling.1–2 days plus curing
- 5TilingFloor and wall tiles, grout and silicone. The longest single stage.3–6 days
- 6Fit-off and handoverVanity, toilet, tapware, screen and lights installed, final clean and defects check.2–3 days
How to save money on a bathroom renovation
Keep the layout. Leaving the toilet, shower and vanity where they are avoids new drains and can save $2,000 to $5,000 in plumbing alone.
Tile to half height. Full-height tiles in the shower, then wet-area paint above a half-height tile line on the other walls.
Choose standard tile sizes. Common sizes in a simple stack or brick bond lay faster than herringbone, mosaics or very large slabs.
Buy some fittings yourself, carefully. Ask your trades first. Some won’t warranty items they didn’t supply, and the wrong rough-in height can cost more than you saved.
Compare three itemised quotes. A lump-sum quote hides where the money goes. Itemised quotes let you compare tiling, waterproofing and plumbing line by line.
Keep 10 to 20 per cent aside. Old bathrooms often hide rotten floors, cracked slabs or old pipes. A contingency stops a surprise from stalling the job.
Bathroom renovation cost: common questions
How much does a small bathroom renovation cost?
A small bathroom or ensuite with the same layout usually costs $15,000 to $30,000 for a full renovation. A cosmetic refresh of a small bathroom can start around $8,000 if the tiles and waterproofing are in good condition.
What is the average cost of a bathroom renovation in Australia?
Industry figures put the average full bathroom renovation at around $26,000. Most quotes for a standard-size bathroom with mid-range fittings land between $15,000 and $35,000.
How long does a bathroom renovation take?
Expect 2 to 5 weeks of work on site for a full renovation, plus time for design and quotes beforehand. Waterproofing has to cure before tiling, which is why the job can’t be rushed.
Do I need a licensed tradie for waterproofing?
In NSW waterproofing worth more than $5,000 needs a licensed contractor, and in Queensland waterproofing worth more than $3,300 needs a QBCC licence. Other states have their own rules, so check before you hire.
Can I renovate a bathroom in stages?
You can split cosmetic work, like a new vanity now and new tapware later. A full renovation is best done in one go, because waterproofing, plumbing and tiling depend on each other.
Is it cheaper to do a cosmetic refresh?
Yes, often by half or more, but only if the existing waterproofing is sound. Retiling over failed waterproofing just hides the problem until it gets worse.
- Savings.com.au, cost to renovate a bathroom (hipages price brackets and item costs), updated January 2026
- Three Birds Renovations, bathroom renovation cost 2026 (HIA average, labour share, contingency), January 2026
- What’s The Damage, bathroom renovation cost Australia (item costs, city price levels, timeframes), October 2026
- NSW Government, waterproofing work licence
- business.gov.au, Queensland waterproofing licence
- Victorian building regulator, engaging a builder