How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost?
Written by James Walker · Last reviewed 15 August 2026
James Walker has 2 degrees in construction (BSc (Hons) Building Surveying · MSc Environmental Design of Buildings) and an extensive background in issue resolution, resolving over £4 billion of consumer issues.
The short answer
- A standard full refit typically costs £5,000–£10,000.
- A cosmetic refresh is £3,000–£5,000; reconfiguring the layout takes it to £12,000–£26,000.
- Labour is usually the larger share, not the suite.
- Moving the soil pipe is the single biggest cost jump in most bathrooms.
- Prices last updated August 2026.
On this page
Cost by scope
| Scope | Typical range | Mid-point |
|---|---|---|
| Cloakroom or cosmetic refresh | £3,000–£5,000 | — |
| Full like-for-like refit | £5,000–£10,000 | £7,500 |
| Premium refit or wet room | £10,000–£20,000 | — |
| Reconfiguration into adjacent space | £12,000–£26,000 | — |
Cost by item
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Sanitaryware and suite | £600–£2,500 |
| Tiling materials | £25–£100 per m2 |
| Tanking / waterproofing | £250–£400 |
| Layout change (moving WC, bath or shower) | £800–£2,500 |
| Extractor upgrade | £150–£300 |
| Trade day rate | £150–£250 per day |
What pushes the price up
Moving the soil pipe. Keeping the WC where it is costs a fraction of moving it. Relocating it means lifting floors, altering falls, and sometimes structural work. If you are working to a budget, this is the first thing to leave alone.
Floor build-up and joists. In older properties the joists may not carry a tiled floor and a filled bath. Strengthening work is invisible in the finished room and significant in the quote.
Tanking. Proper waterproofing in a shower or wet room costs money and is not optional. A quote that is cheaper because it skipped this is not cheaper.
Tile size and format. Large-format tiles need a flatter substrate and more preparation. Small mosaics take much longer to lay. Both cost more than a standard tile, in different ways.
Electrical work. Bathroom zoning rules restrict what goes where, and much of it is notifiable. Adding lighting or an extractor to a room with limited existing circuits can require more than expected.
Property age. Solid walls resist chasing. Old pipework often needs replacing rather than reconnecting. Lath and plaster complicates everything behind the finish.
How long it takes
5–10 days for a standard refit, longer where layout changes.
Regional differences
| Region | Labour multiplier |
|---|---|
| London | ×1.20–1.35 |
| South east | ×1.15–1.25 |
| Midlands | ×1.00 |
| North | ×0.85–0.95 |
| Scotland | ×0.85–0.95 |
| Wales | ×0.85–0.95 |
| Applies to labour, not materials. Sources cluster on London +20-35% and North -10-15%. Damp proofing sources gave a narrower London premium of +15-25%. |
How to stage the payments
Completion payment set aside, kick-off of 15-20% against the suite and tiles, then strip out and first fix, waterproofing complete and photographed, tiling, and second fix and commissioning. Hold the final 10% until the bathroom has been used for a week or two, leaks show up in use, not at handover.
Keeping the cost down
- Leave the soil pipe where it is
- Keep the suite standard and spend on tiling and fitting instead
- Choose a straightforward tile format
- Do not compromise on tanking, ever
How it works
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