How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost in Australia?
Real 2026 numbers, a breakdown of where the money actually goes, and the traps that turn a 25,000 dollar bathroom into a 45,000 dollar one.
Prices checked 21 October 2026. Ranges are for Sydney metro, mid-range finishes, supply and install, including GST.
What a bathroom actually costs in 2026
Most full bathroom renovations in Sydney land between $22,000 and $40,000. The number that decides where you sit in that range is not the tiles or the tapware, it is how much of the room gets opened up.
| Job | Typical range | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh, no plumbing moved | $6,000 to $15,000 | New vanity, tapware, tiles over existing screed, paint, new mirror and lighting |
| Standard full renovation | $22,000 to $40,000 | Strip out, new waterproofing, new tiles, new suite, new vanity, new shower screen, same plumbing positions |
| Full renovation with plumbing moved | $35,000 to $55,000 | As above plus relocated toilet, shower or bath, which means new falls, new waste and often new slab cutting |
| Premium finish | $45,000 to $75,000 | Large format or natural stone, custom joinery, frameless screens, underfloor heating, high end fittings |
| Small ensuite or second bathroom | $12,000 to $25,000 | Tight footprint, limited storage, one shower and one toilet |
As a sanity check, budget $1,800 to $4,000 per square metre for the renovated area. A standard 5 square metre bathroom at $2,500 per square metre is about $12,500 in trade work, and the fixtures and tiles sit on top of that.
Where the money goes
| Job | Typical range | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Strip out and disposal | 4 to 8% | Demolition, skip bin, tip fees, protection of the rest of the house |
| Waterproofing | 3 to 5% | The single item most worth paying for properly. Ask for the certificate |
| Plumbing and drainage | 10 to 20% | Higher if anything moves, much higher on a concrete slab |
| Electrical | 4 to 8% | New circuits for heated towel rails, exhaust fans, downlights and shaver points |
| Tiling labour | 12 to 20% | Large format tiles and herringbone patterns cost more to lay than standard |
| Tiles and materials | 8 to 15% | Cheap tiles are the fastest way to move the number, and the fastest way to make a good job look average |
| Fixtures and tapware | 10 to 18% | Toilet, basin, shower, bath, tapware, accessories |
| Vanity and cabinetry | 8 to 15% | Custom joinery doubles the price of an off the shelf unit |
| Shower screen and mirrors | 4 to 7% | Frameless glass is a premium item |
| Painting, silicone and make good | 3 to 6% | The last 5% of the job that some quotes forget entirely |
What pushes the price up
- Moving the plumbing. Every centimetre the toilet or shower moves costs money. Keeping the waste where it is saves thousands.
- Concrete slab floors. Cutting and re pouring to move a drain is slow, dusty work.
- Asbestos. Homes built or renovated before 1990 can have asbestos sheeting behind tiles, in the eaves or in the floor. It must be tested and removed by a licensed contractor, and that is a real line item, not a surprise you want discovered on day two.
- Tile format. Big tiles look calm and cost more to lay. So do mosaics, herringbone and anything with a lot of cutting around a small room.
- Access. A second floor bathroom with no lift means every piece of waste and every sheet of tile board goes up and down stairs by hand.
- Strata and heritage. Approvals, waterproofing inspections and working hour limits all add time, and time is the biggest hidden cost in a renovation.
The five things that go wrong
- No waterproofing certificate. Waterproofing is the part you cannot see and the part that ruins the house below. Ask for the certificate before the tiles go on, not after.
- A quote built on allowances. "PC sum" and "allowance" mean the price is not fixed. Ask what the allowance buys and what happens when you go over it.
- A deposit bigger than 10%. Under NSW law a deposit for residential building work cannot exceed 10% of the contract price. Anyone asking for 30% up front is asking you to fund their cash flow.
- No written contract. Residential building work over $5,000 needs a written contract with the required consumer notes attached.
- No insurance above $20,000. Residential work over $20,000 needs home building compensation cover. If the builder cannot produce a certificate, the job is not insured.
All five are checkable in ten minutes. Our NSW licensed trades guide shows exactly where to look.
The short version
Get three written quotes on the same scope. The gap between the cheapest and the dearest is usually not profit, it is what each one left out. Use the ranges above to spot a quote that is too low to be finished properly.
Common questions
How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Australia in 2026?
A standard full bathroom renovation is typically 22,000 to 40,000 dollars in Sydney, with a cosmetic refresh at 6,000 to 15,000 dollars and a premium finish at 45,000 to 75,000 dollars. Regional areas usually run lower on labour.
Is it cheaper to renovate a bathroom or move house?
Almost always renovate. Stamp duty, agent fees and moving costs on a Sydney property usually exceed a full bathroom renovation, and the renovation adds usable comfort immediately.
How long does a bathroom renovation take?
Three to five weeks for a standard bathroom with no surprises. Add one to two weeks if plumbing moves or asbestos is found. Tiling and waterproofing curing time cannot be rushed.
Do I need council approval to renovate a bathroom?
Usually no, because the layout and the use of the room do not change. You do need approval if you move structural walls, change the external footprint, or the property is heritage listed or in strata.
Why is my quote so much cheaper than the others?
Either something is missing from the scope, or the allowances are unrealistically low. Ask for a line by line breakdown, a fixed price, a waterproofing certificate and confirmation of home building compensation cover.