Bathroom Renovation: How Much Does It Cost? 2026
Once you’ve connected all the sanitaryware, turn on the water supply and check for leaks. Once the floor is laid and dry, you can install the various items that need to be connected to the water supplies and drains. All floor coverings need to be laid on a solid, flat and clean floor surface. Depending on your choice of covering, you may also need to apply a levelling compound. If you opt for ceramic tiles or vinyl, you may need to prepare the floor first. To tile your walls properly, you’ll need to do the job in several steps, using suitable tools and materials (tile cutter, adhesive spreader, grinder, adhesive, grout, etc.).
How Much Does a New Bathroom Cost in the UK?
A full strip-out and refurbishment of an existing bathroom — replacing bath, shower, toilet and basin with a new suite, fully retiling walls and floor, and updating plumbing and electrics. Cost is driven primarily by sanitaryware and tile specification rather than room size. A cloakroom renovation — Quora typically containing just a toilet and basin — is the most affordable bathroom project. Creating a new cloakroom from scratch (e.g. under the stairs) involves new soil pipe routing and potentially structural work, which adds cost.
Basically, the choice is between waterproof paint and wall tile. Refer to your plans and work out exactly where you need to install new drains. To remove or relocate old drain pipes, use a PVC pipe cutter to get rid of the pipes and fittings you don’t need any more. Assemble your new PVC pipes and fittings to make your new drainage system. It’s important to draw plans of your existing bathroom and your future bathroom. This will help you see what changes you need to make to the electrical wiring and plumbing.
- Any time you use a Competent Person (electrician, Gas Safe, etc.), they should notify building control and give you a certificate.
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- Overall, the average labour-only cost of installing a new bathroom in the UK is £ £4000.
- Full strip-out and refurbishment of a standard family bathroom.
- On the other hand, adding a shower to a bathroom that doesn’t already have one can take a whole day’s worth of plumbing, so the cost for shower installation can range from £250 – £750.
- With an idea of the schedule in mind, the first steps towards getting your bathroom renovation ideas right and keeping your bathroom renovation costs in check are preparation and planning ahead.
Full project budgets separating labour, sanitaryware, tiles and additional works — not a single blended figure. Experience in bathroom renovations, particularly with projects similar to yours in scope and style. Modern bathrooms are often designed not just for functionality but also to provide a relaxing, spa-like experience. Heated floors, walk-in showers, and freestanding bathtubs are popular features that elevate a bathroom’s design and comfort. Our local, trusted installers can take care of everything, from plumbing to fitting, gas to electrics, lighting to tiling.
How can I renovate a bathroom on a budget?
In vertical piping, the cold pipe goes on the right and the hot one goes on the left. In horizontal piping, the cold pipe goes underneath and the hot one goes on top. When removing the bath, remove the surround and the taps before removing the bath itself.
She’s just completed her second kitchen renovation project and bathroom renovation, armed with an ever-growing knowledge of homebuilding advice and design inspo (and a Pinterest board or two, of course). A bathroom renovation is a really exciting project that will transform the way you use and feel about your home. If you are worried about new bathroom costs, do think about carrying out some of the work on a DIY basis – there is plenty you can do to help your budget go further. As well as affecting your electrical requirements, a great bathroom renovation is nothing if you can’t see in the space or it’s overly glaring and bright.
Do bear in mind however that wall hung sanitaryware often needs reinforcement work to ensure it’s fixed securely so may impact your budget. Concealed cisterns, wall mounted taps and wall-hung toilets require stud walls to fit in the workings so they’re hidden from view. Sometimes they will fit into the cavity of a stud partition wall but often a stud partition will have to be built, which will increase your costs. Another reason why bathroom installation costs can vary is due to the location or region in which you live. However, for those living in London, where weekly earnings are £152 higher than the UK average, you can typically add an extra 10%–20% to our estimated bathroom installation costs.
A new bathroom will also make your property more attractive the day you sell it. A cosmetic update can be a great choice if your bathroom is in good condition and you just want to give it a facelift. It is, however, not recommended if you have an older bathroom, or one in need of repair. A must-have in any bathroom, towel warmers not only hold and dry your towels but also help heat your bathroom.
Deciding on the best bathroom layout
When trying to estimate your bathroom remodel costs, it’s important that you accurately measure the area you plan to overhaul first. This is because prices can fluctuate massively depending on the size of your space and the materials you’re working with. Renovating an existing en-suite is similar in cost to a small bathroom. Creating a new en-suite from bedroom space adds £2,000–£5,000 for partitioning, soil pipe routing and ventilation — on top of the bathroom fit itself.
Although your bathroom lighting ideas will naturally form part of your bathroom renovation, it’s also important to ensure you will be creating a safe environment. It may well be that your entire property needs rewiring if it hasn’t been touched in many years, in which case your bathroom electrics will be updated at the same time. You can expect the installation of a standard heated towel rail or radiator to add about £200-£450 to your total bathroom remodel costs, depending on the size.
Moving water supply or waste pipes is labour-intensive and costly. When renovating a bathroom, always check the condition of the wiring and sockets you intend to leave in place. Old and new sections of the electrical system must both conform to the relevant standards. Once you’re satisfied, you can adapt the circuit and move the cables as you need, to create new sockets, switches and light fittings. As Operations Director at KES Lighting, James is perfectly placed to offer expert guidance on all aspects of home lighting. However, if you are planning on a larger bathroom renovation, you will also need to make sure that your current walls and floors are able to deal with your new plans.
Expect your average tiling job to take anything between 6 hours to 3 whole days of work, depending on the size of the space and the complexity of the job. Ask a specific question about your bathroom renovation project. A member of our editorial team will answer Exmouth kitchen designers and publish it (your email is never shown). Wet rooms cost more because they require full tanking, gradient screed, linear drainage and waterproof wall membranes — add £1,500-3,000 vs a comparable conventional bathroom. Opting for mid-range materials rather than high-end finishes can also yield significant savings without compromising quality.
Take your time to figure out what you want to do, what you can afford and what options are available. This makes the whole project run more smoothly and enables you to spot ways to save money. If you have an older bathroom, it is much better to do a complete renovation. Yes, this is more expensive, but in some cases it will be necessary.