How much does a bathroom renovation cost?

There are a lot of older homes in Australia with bathrooms crying out for an upgrade. Lacklustre showers, bath sizes patently unfit for purpose, towel rails that fall off if you’re too firm, there’s lots of ways for a rubbish bathroom to ruin your day. Fixing these problems is a priority for many Aussie homeowners.

Doing up your bathroom isn’t cheap though - according to tradie booking platform Hipages, a bathroom renovation can cost anywhere from $8,000 to over $35,000. 

A new shower or structural upheaval?

The scale of your renovations is likely to be the biggest determinant of cost. If you’re completely redesigning your bathroom - a rainwater shower, clawfoot bathtub, 'his and hers' vanity and enough storage for a small army - it’s going to be more expensive than a fresh paint job and a few new tiles.

Hipages breaks down bathroom renovations into three categories.

• Budget or cosmetic: $8,000 to $15,000

• Standard: $15,000 to $35,000

• Major: Over $35,000

This encompasses all costs including labour, materials, and so on.

Budget/cosmetic bathroom renovation

Lets say you’re happy with structure of your bathroom, but just want it to look a bit more modern. You might repaint the tiles, replace the mirror or change the tiles. On the more expensive end, you might be swapping out one or two major appliances (sink, shower head, etc). James Coupar, WA State Manager at The Grout Guys, says if you’re trying to stick to a tight budget the thing to avoid is structural changes to the bathroom.

“It can be tempting to change the layout of your bathroom, particularly if the current layout is not the best use of the space but if you can avoid taking out walls and moving electrical wires and pipes, you will save thousands on materials and labour,” Mr Coupar told Savings.com.au in 2022.

Some luxury products might also be out of reach if you’re looking to keep things under the $15k mark. According to Hipages, you’ll also probably have to stick to a framed shower screen, a standard back-to-wall toilet and floor-mounted vanity.

Standard bathroom renovation

Hipages say that most bathroom renovations in Australia fall between $15,000 and $35,000. Having a budget over $15k expands the range of products to choose from, gives more flexibility on shower screens and bathtubs, and allows for some structural change. However, major plumbing or electrical alterations could still be out of budget.

Major bathroom renovation

If your budget exceeds the $35,000 mark, you’re looking at a major bathroom renovation project. This means you can change the existing plumbing and electrics. If you’ve got enough cash you can move the position of your sink, your shower, or whatever your heart desires.

You can choose from the best-quality tiles for your walls and floor, have that porcelain clawfoot bathtub you’ve longed for, install a frameless shower screen, or even one of those fancy Japanese toilets.

1. Savings.com.au’s two cents

Renovating your bathroom isn't just about having more enjoyable showers. A new bathroom can majorly boost your property's value - real estate company LJ Hooker estimate returns in capital growth could be as much as $4 for every $1 spent. There's no guarantee though, you'll need to be strategic with both the design of your renovations and the construction process to give yourself the best chance of a strong return.

How much do bathroom features cost?

How much does a shower cost?

The cost of buying and installing a showerhead varies depending on the type and size, whether it’s new or a retrofit, waterproofing, fixtures and so on. Shower installation costs can also vary depending on which capital city you live in, but you can generally expect a plumber to charge between $80 and $200 per hour, plus a callout fee. According to Oneflare, the average shower is about 81 cm squared and prices will start at about $700. Generally speaking, the larger the shower, the larger the bill.

There’s also big variation in shower screen prices. Hipages estimate the total cost can be anything from $200 to $700, depending on the type of screen:

• Framed shower screen: About $250
• Semi frameless/frameless: Anything from $200 to $700

Mr Coupar said that while framed screens seem a bit outdated, they often tend to be the most durable as well as the cheapest option.

“[Frameless shower screens] provide a full enclosure of glass panels in a sturdy aluminium frame and because they come in a range of configurations, you’re likely to find one that fits your bathroom layout perfectly. If you really are against the look of a fully framed shower screen, semi-frameless shower screens are also a good option, as they have a more subtle frame,” he said.

How much does a bath cost?

Again, the cost of a new bath will depend on the type and size, whether it also includes a shower, labour costs, and plumbing. It’s also more expensive if you’re installing a bath in your bathroom for the first time as opposed to replacing an old bath with a new one, because you will probably need to install new plumbing, alter the existing structure and so on. Hipages say you should expect to pay $350 minimum for a plumber to install, while baths themselves typically start at $400, but the most expensive are several thousand. As a general estimate, Oneflare said the average cost of installing a bathtub to be between $500 to $5,000.

Mr Coupar says that acryllic tubs are lightweight, have a high sheen finish, good heat retention and are cheaper to install than other alternatives.

How much does a toilet cost?

According to Hipages, the cost of a new toilet can range from $150 to $750. This will depend mainly on the type of toilet, whether you’re having it replaced or relocated, and labour costs. An easy installation can cost between $150 to $250 but, on average, you’ll be looking at a $300 to $400 bill. A good quality china toilet typically sells between $275 and $400.

Mr Coupar’s recommendation as far as toilets are concerned is that splashing out on a one piece toilet rather than a cheaper two piece is often worth it.

"[Choose a] one-piece toilet if you can afford it, as there are no gaps between the bowl and tank, making one-piece models easier to clean and very sturdy."

How much does a sink cost?

Though you may need to install the sink and vanity separately, or you could technically just replace one or the other, we’ll group these two costs together. Chances are, if you’re doing a solid bathroom renovation, you will be replacing both.

The cost of installing a bathroom vanity can vary from around $500 to $1,400 according to Hipages. This will depend on the type and size of vanity, design of your bathroom, and whether you need a carpenter/cabinet maker or just a plumber to install it. Having a bathroom vanity can provide you with more storage, hide any ugly pipes and, of course, hold your sink.

Again, Mr Coupar says acryllic will likely hold up best in a high traffic bathroom.

"Vanities that come with an acrylic or ceramic benchtop that have an integrated basin are a great choice for high traffic bathrooms, as they are durable and easy to wipe down."

He says that while stone and wood benchtops may be more stylish, they require more maintenance and cleaning, and tend to be pricier.

Installing a new sink can be a relatively cheap project ranging from $160 to $250 according to Hipages. But costs can vary greatly depending on the type of sink:

• Basin: $150 to $1,600

• Taps: $100 to $1,500

How much do bathroom tiles cost?

There are a number of bathroom tile styles you can choose from. Depending on your bathroom renovation budget, you could look at spending anywhere from $35 to $120 per square metre on tiles, according to Hipages. You’ll generally also need to spend around $50 to $70 per square metre for laying the bathroom tiles. Costs can also vary depending on whether the tiles are for the floor or walls.

Mr Coupar recommends porcelain tiles if you can afford them, because of the higher density compared to ceramic tiles. Higher density means less water absorbency, so they’ll generally last longer.

How much does it cost to paint your bathroom?

You’ll usually find that painting a bathroom is cheaper than painting most other rooms in your home, as it’s smaller and there’s less wall to actually paint when sinks, mirrors, and tiles take up much of it. You can usually expect to pay between $150 to $350 to paint your average 70 square foot (6.5 sq m) bathroom according to Services.com.au.

Mr Coupar stresses how vital it is for homeowners to only use wet area paint specified for bathrooms.

"Acrylic wet area paints are best, as they include a mildew-resistant additive, are resistant to water streaks and allow walls to be wiped down with ease," he said. "While wet area paint costs more than standard paint, it is well worth the outlay."