How much does a bathroom renovation cost?

The golden question: how much should you spend on a bathroom renovation? Well, how long is a piece of string? A number of factors come into play when planning a bathroom reno, such as room size, cost of materials, hardware, permits and labour. It can also come down to design specifics: are you installing a bath? Floor-to-ceiling tiles? A custom-made vanity?

According to HiPages, this can mean a range from anywhere between $8000 and $35000, or more. Plus, a 10-20 per cent buffer should be allowed for. However, stats released by the ABS suggest that people are generally spending less, with the value of total building approvals falling 5.9 per cent in March 2023.

Budgeting for a bathroom renovation is no easy task. You need to consider how much money you want to spend, the cost of new bathroom accessories, and how to achieve a look that’s both family-friendly and attractive. And this doesn’t even include organising your tradies and accounting for any issues with your timeline.

After all, bathrooms are no longer just functional spaces. They’re retreats, places for pampering, and some are not unlike day spas in their luxury touches and finishes. So, how much does a bathroom renovation cost? Here’s how to create a bathroom you’ll want to spend time in — whatever your budget.

BUDGET: $2000 to $7000

Put down the tiling tool kit. As you have probably guessed, there is not a lot of room in this price bracket for remodelling and you’ll almost certainly have to keep all of your plumbing and electrics in place. But there are still plenty of affordable updates to try. “You can paint the tiles, change the vanity, update shower accessories and sometimes even paint the bath,” according to Oscar Merhebi from Eternity Kitchens and Bathrooms.

If you want to add some new accessories, go for a new toilet roll holder, mixer taps, a fresh vanity, or a new shower head. It’s also important to pay attention to clean lines and continuity, according to owner of Interiors By Cason, Noelene Cason. “Wall-mounted vanities with drawers create clean lines and provide good storage, while shaving cabinets are good for storage and easy to access,” says Noelene. “Look around for ex-demo showroom stock items for savings.” She also adds that extractor fans and heat lamps are also a must in every bathroom, as are LED downlights, which are reasonably priced these days.

Mid-range bathroom renovation

BUDGET: $8000 to $16,000.

Bigger jobs, such as ripping out old tiles and replacing them with chic new ones, are doable in this price bracket. “What it really comes down to is the accessories you choose, what brand you want to use and how lavish you want to be,” says Oscar. “The cost of accessories are scalable though.”

At this price point you can start to incorporate a little luxury. “Frameless and semi-frameless shower screens create a feeling of clean lines and space,” says Noelene. “Introduce a feature tile for a section of one wall or a whole wall depending on cost, either within the shower or behind the vanity.”

“Wall lights placed either side of the vanity mirror bring elegance to a room, while in-wall cisterns for toilet suites are a great way of creating more floor space,” she adds. “If the room allows for it, standalone or back-to-the-wall baths creates style and luxury.”

Luxury bathroom renovation

BUDGET $16,000 to $45,000+

The luxury bathroom budget is a thing of a beauty, with large demolition projects, total layout changes and complete overhauls now possible.

“You can add more features like heated floors, a spa bath, additional lighting and any other trimmings you think will make your bathroom luxe,” says Oscar. “You can start to look at big brands, such as Dorf, and some higher-end features, such as free-standing baths, which can cost around $12,000 alone.”

This is also the time to opt for luxury materials, such as porcelain or stone tiles or glass mosaics as feature walls, or adding in extras like heated towel rails or underfloor heating. You could also go for custom-designed vanities, with either marble or stone tops and wash basins.

“Built-in LED strip lighting also creates mood lighting and illuminates floors for night lighting,” says Noelene. “Depending on the size of the bathroom and its windows, dressing the window with either sheer curtains, blinds or shutters will bring a feeling of indulgence to the space.”

How much does each trade cost for a bathroom reno?

• PLUMBING: Expect to pay a call out fee of between $60 and $100, and hourly rates between $100 and $150.
• TILING: Tiling can range from between $35 and $120 per square metre – not including the cost of the tiles themselves.
• BATH INSTALLATION Plumbers charge $350 upwards to replace and fit a bath.
• SHOWER SCREEN INSTALLATION A basic shower screen will set you back around $400 for installation, but frameless can cost up to $600.
• WATERPROOFING: This can cost anywhere between $500 and $750 for an average-sized bathroom.