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How much does a bathroom renovation cost?

Most bathroom renovations cost about $10,000 to $15,000 for a cosmetic refresh, $20,000 to $35,000 for a standard full renovation and $35,000 to $50,000 for a high-end one.

Cosmetic refresh, same layout, no plumbing or wiring changes:$10,000–$15,000 per bathroom

Updated 19 October 2026 · 2 min read · GST basis not confirmed by sources. Check GST on every quote.

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On this page
  1. How a bathroom renovator works out the price
  2. What it costs, by scenario
  3. What changes the price
  4. What's usually included, and what isn't
  5. Metro and regional differences
  6. Licensing and compliance
  7. Before you accept a quote, check
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Sources and method

How a bathroom renovator works out the price

A bathroom renovator usually quotes one fixed price for the whole job, built from the trades involved: demolition, plumbing, waterproofing, tiling, fixtures and finishing. Labour is a large part of it, and one renovator's cost page puts labour at 40 to 60 per cent of the budget. The hourly rate has to cover more than wages. The Fair Work minimum for a Level 3 employee under the Building and Construction General On-site Award is $29.45 an hour from 1 July 2026, and the price also pays for tools, insurance, licences and paperwork.

  1. Demolition, removal of the old bathroom and disposal
  2. Plumbing rough-in, and any move of pipes or waste points
  3. Waterproofing of the floor and wet areas, with time to cure
  4. Tiling, supply and lay, for the floor and walls
  5. Fixtures and fittings: vanity, toilet, shower, screen, bath and tapware
  6. Electrical work, painting and finishing
  7. Contingency and GST on the total

Worked example: Mid-point component prices from one compiled national guide, for a bathroom with a moved shower (illustrative, not a quote)

Demolition and disposal
$1,800
Plumbing rough-in
$3,000
Waterproofing
$1,400
Tiling, supply and lay (floor and walls)
$5,000
Vanity, supply and install
$1,500
Frameless shower screen, installed
$1,500
Toilet, supply and install
$700
Total
$14,900 for these parts (illustrative). A full job also adds electrical work, tapware, painting, a bath if wanted, permits and a contingency.

What it costs, by scenario

Low, typical and high prices. Built on 19 October 2026 from two compiled cost guides (Canstar and a national price guide), a tile retailer's cost page, a renovator's blog, an older marketplace guide, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Each range stays inside figures that at least two of those publishers' ranges share. The sources disagree on GST, so the basis is unconfirmed.

  • Cosmetic refresh, same layout, no plumbing or wiring changes (per bathroom)

    Canstar, a tile retailer and a renovator's blog all start this tier at $8,000, while the national guide starts at $10,000. We start where all four agree. The typical figure is the middle of that shared range.

    Low
    $10,000
    Typical
    $12,500
    High
    $15,000

  • Standard full renovation, new fittings, minor plumbing and wiring changes (per bathroom)

    Canstar, the tile retailer and the renovator put this tier at $15,000 to $35,000. The national guide puts it at $20,000 to $35,000, so we use the shared range. About $26,000 is the Housing Industry Association average quoted by two of the sources.

    Low
    $20,000
    Typical
    $26,000
    High
    $35,000

  • High-end renovation, premium finishes, layout changes (per bathroom)

    Three sources start this tier at $35,000. The tile retailer stops at $50,000 and says 'plus', and the national guide runs to $55,000. The typical figure rests on one source.

    Low
    $35,000
    Typical
    $42,000
    High
    $50,000

  • Waterproofing only, average bathroom (per bathroom)

    A tile retailer gives $500 to $900 and the national guide gives $700 to $3,500, so we keep to the overlap. The typical figure is the middle of it. Moving walls or a larger room costs more.

    Low
    $700
    Typical
    $800
    High
    $900
Low, typical and high prices by scenario
ScenarioLowTypicalHigh
Cosmetic refresh, same layout, no plumbing or wiring changes (per bathroom)Canstar, a tile retailer and a renovator's blog all start this tier at $8,000, while the national guide starts at $10,000. We start where all four agree. The typical figure is the middle of that shared range.$10,000$12,500$15,000
Standard full renovation, new fittings, minor plumbing and wiring changes (per bathroom)Canstar, the tile retailer and the renovator put this tier at $15,000 to $35,000. The national guide puts it at $20,000 to $35,000, so we use the shared range. About $26,000 is the Housing Industry Association average quoted by two of the sources.$20,000$26,000$35,000
High-end renovation, premium finishes, layout changes (per bathroom)Three sources start this tier at $35,000. The tile retailer stops at $50,000 and says 'plus', and the national guide runs to $55,000. The typical figure rests on one source.$35,000$42,000$50,000
Waterproofing only, average bathroom (per bathroom)A tile retailer gives $500 to $900 and the national guide gives $700 to $3,500, so we keep to the overlap. The typical figure is the middle of it. Moving walls or a larger room costs more.$700$800$900

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What changes the price

  • Waterproofing. Waterproofing is a separate trade step, and a larger floor, a hob-less shower or a repair to old membrane adds time and cost.
  • Plumbing moves. Keeping the toilet, basin and shower where they are is cheapest. One renovator's page puts relocating plumbing at $3,000 to $7,000 or more.
  • Tiles. Tile choice and the pattern drive both the material cost and the laying time. Large format and mosaic tiles take longer to lay.
  • Fixtures and tapware. A standard vanity and toilet cost hundreds of dollars. A freestanding bath or custom shower costs thousands.
  • Size and access. A bigger room needs more tile and membrane, and a bathroom up a flight of stairs takes longer to strip out and refit.
  • Hidden conditions. Rotted floor, old pipes or asbestos in an older home can add work once the walls are opened. Ask for a contingency line in the quote.

What's usually included, and what isn't

Usually included

  • Demolition of the old fittings and tiles, and removal from site
  • Plumbing, waterproofing and tiling for the agreed layout
  • Supply and installation of the fixtures listed in the quote
  • Electrical work for lights, fan and power points where the quote lists them
  • Clean-up at the end of the job

Often extra

  • Council or certifier fees, where a permit is needed
  • Asbestos testing and removal in older homes
  • A freestanding bath, heated floor or other upgrades that are not in the quote
  • Repairs to the floor frame, walls or pipes found once the room is opened
  • A contingency for surprises, which you should hold back separately

Metro and regional differences

Metro: Capital cities have more renovators, so there is more competition, but wages, parking and travel time push labour rates up. The national guide we used shows higher totals for Sydney and Melbourne than for Adelaide and Darwin.

Regional: Our sources do not give a firm regional range, so treat the figures as a national guide. Outside the cities, a longer drive and fewer trade workers can add to labour and delay the job, while materials sometimes arrive from further away.

Licensing and compliance

A bathroom renovation usually needs several licensed trades, so ask for each licence number and check it on the regulator's register.

New South Wales: Building Commission NSW says you need the right licence or certificate to do plumbing, draining or gasfitting work, and NSW Fair Trading rules (page updated 29 April 2026) require a written contract above $5,000 including GST and home building compensation cover above $20,000.

Victoria: Energy Safe Victoria licenses electrical workers, and a registered electrical contractor or licensed electrician must give you a Certificate of Electrical Safety.

For plumbing and building, the regulator is the Building and Plumbing Commission, and from 1 July 2026 Home Warranty insurance applies to work worth more than $20,000 on a home of three storeys or less (it was $16,000 before that date).

Queensland: the QBCC licenses a Waterproofing class (apply, install and repair waterproofing) and a Builder restricted to kitchen, bathroom and laundry class, and it says building work valued over $3,300 needs a licence.

Plumbers and drainers register notifiable plumbing work with the QBCC.

Western Australia: only people with plumbing licences from the Plumbers Licensing Board may do plumbing work, and Building and Energy says home indemnity insurance is needed for residential building work valued over $20,000.

The ACT: Access Canberra inspects building sites and licenses plumbers, and the Construction Occupations Registrar licenses builders.

South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory: we could not open the plumbing or electrical regulator pages for these, so we have not stated their rules here.

Check the licence with the state or territory regulator before work starts.

We only confirmed the waterproofing licence class for Queensland.

Ask your renovator which licence covers the waterproofing in your state.

Before you accept a quote, check

  • Does the quote list demolition, plumbing, waterproofing, tiling and fixtures as separate lines?
  • Is waterproofing included, and who is licensed to do it?
  • Which fixtures and tiles are supplied, and are allowances stated for any you will choose?
  • What happens to the price if hidden damage is found once the room is opened?
  • Does the quote say whether GST is included?
  • Will you receive the plumbing and electrical certificates the law requires?
  • How much is the deposit, and is home warranty or compensation cover in place where your state requires it?

Frequently asked questions

How much does a basic bathroom renovation cost in Australia?

Sources put a basic or cosmetic bathroom renovation at about $8,000 to $20,000. We use $10,000 to $15,000, the range all four of our price sources share.

What is the average cost of a bathroom renovation?

Two of our sources quote the Housing Industry Association average of about $26,000. Canstar quotes a wider $8,000 to $35,000 range from hipages. Your price depends mostly on size and how much plumbing moves.

How much of the cost is labour?

One renovator's cost page puts labour at 40 to 60 per cent of the budget, and another renovator puts it at 40 to 50 per cent. Treat that as a guide, since both are businesses that sell renovations.

Can I replace just the waterproofing?

Waterproofing is usually done when the floor and walls are stripped, because it sits under the tiles. A tile retailer puts it at $500 to $900 for an average bathroom, and the national guide at $700 to $3,500.

Should I keep a contingency?

Yes. Two sources suggest holding back an extra 10 to 15 per cent and 10 to 20 per cent, since hidden damage or pipe problems can appear once the walls are opened.

Is a council permit needed?

It depends on the work and your council. The tile retailer lists council permits at $250 to $1,500 or more, and the renovator's blog lists building permit fees of $500 to $1,000 for a basic bathroom. Ask your renovator or council before work starts.

Sources and method

Built on 19 October 2026 from two compiled cost guides (Canstar and a national price guide), a tile retailer's cost page, a renovator's blog, an older marketplace guide, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Each range stays inside figures that at least two of those publishers' ranges share. The sources disagree on GST, so the basis is unconfirmed. How we calculate our guides.

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