Bathroom Renovation Cost Breakdown by Item and Trade
The real answer to what a bathroom renovation costs is that it depends on what goes into it. A small refresh and a full renovation can sit thousands of dollars apart, so one headline number rarely helps. What does help is a clear bathroom renovation cost breakdown: what each fixture costs, what the trades charge, and where the money goes.
I’ve bought and recommended bathroom products for decades, and the question I hear most is whether a quote looks fair. This guide is built to help you check that, item by item. I’ll run through fixture prices, trade rates, per-square-metre logic and the choices that push a budget up or down.
For the full project picture, including planning and renovation stages, read our complete Perth bathroom renovation guide.
What Makes Up the Cost of a Bathroom Renovation
Any useful bathroom renovation cost breakdown starts with where the money goes. A full renovation usually splits into three areas: the trades who do the work, the materials and fittings you choose, and the permits, waste removal and contingency around them. The exact mix shifts from job to job, but the pattern below is a useful planning guide.
| Part of the Job | Typical Share | What It Covers |
| Labour, All Trades | 40–50% | Plumbing, tiling, electrical, waterproofing, carpentry and building work |
| Materials and Fittings | 30–40% | Tiles, vanity, basin, tapware, bath, toilet, shower screen and accessories |
| Permits, Waste and Contingency | 10–20% | Council permits where needed, demolition waste, rubbish removal and a buffer for surprises |
The part that catches most people out is that labour is usually the biggest share of a bathroom renovation budget, not the fittings. Every bathroom needs licensed trades, including a plumber, tiler, electrician and waterproofer, and those costs do not drop much just because you choose budget fixtures. Materials are the part you can control more easily, which is why the rest of this guide breaks down fixture costs in detail.
So, if you are asking what the most expensive part of a bathroom renovation is, it is usually the trades, with material costs close behind. These shares are indicative and will move with the size and specification of the job, but the pattern is common: the more plumbing, waterproofing, tiling and layout changes involved, the faster the budget climbs.
Bathroom Renovation Material Costs by Item
This is the part of the bathroom renovation cost breakdown most people come for: what each fixture actually costs. Every figure below is indicative and comes from our current range or current market guidance. Prices move with size, material and finish, so treat them as a starting point and check the live range before you buy. Each item links through to the matching range.
| Item | Typical Range (Indicative) | What Changes the Price |
| Bathroom tiles | From $20 per m² | Material, size, finish, slip rating and format |
| Porcelain tiles | $25–$70 per m² | Format, rectified edges, finish and tile size |
| Ceramic tiles | From $20 per m² | Size, glaze, range and whether it is for walls or floors |
| Vanities | From $320 | Size, wall-hung or freestanding design, storage and top |
| Basins | $110–$374 | Wall-hung, above-counter, inset or pedestal style |
| Tapware | From $35 | Mixer or full set, finish, sensor options and brand |
| Shower screens | From $200 | Frameless or semi-frameless style, size, layout and hardware |
| Baths | From $280 | Inset or freestanding design, material and size |
| Toilets | From $249 | Suite type, rimless design, projection and seat features |
| Accessories | From $24 | Single accessories, matching sets or heated towel rails |
Tiles cover more surface than anything else, so they set much of the look and a fair slice of the budget. Porcelain costs more than basic ceramic in most cases, but it is a strong choice for wet areas and busy floors. Ceramic still has a clear place on walls, splashbacks and lighter-use areas where you want to manage cost.
A vanity carries your storage and basin, and it is usually the first fixture you notice when you walk in. Larger vanities, wall-hung designs, stone tops and extra storage all raise the price. If the layout allows it, this is one area where a well-priced ready-made vanity can save a lot without making the room feel cheap.
Tapware, toilets and accessories look like smaller decisions, but they add up once you start matching finishes across the whole room. A simple chrome mixer, standard toilet suite and practical towel rails keep costs lower. Brushed finishes, sensor taps, rimless toilets and heated rails sit higher in the range.
Shower screens and baths are the other big visual decisions. A fixed glass panel is usually the leanest screen option, while sliding, corner and larger frameless setups cost more because there is more glass and hardware involved. Inset baths are generally the lower-cost bath option, while freestanding baths add more presence and often more cost.
Bathroom Renovation Labour Costs by Trade
Labour is the part of a bathroom renovation cost breakdown that people tend to underestimate, and it is usually the biggest line on the invoice. We are a supply-only business, so we do not charge for any of this. The rates below are indicative 2026 market rates and most full bathroom renovations need several of these trades.
| Trade or Cost | Typical Rate (Indicative) | Notes |
| Tiler | $55–$120 per m² | Straight lay at the low end, wet areas and patterns higher |
| Plumber | $100–$150 per hour | Rough-in and fit-off; relocation adds the most cost |
| Electrician | $80–$100 per hour | Lighting, power points, exhaust fan, heated rail and switches |
| Waterproofer | Project-based or hourly | Required before tiling; cost depends on wet areas, prep and room size |
| Carpenter | $40–$120 per hour | Framing, niches, doors, trims and screen preparation |
| Painter | $20–$30 per m² | Ceilings and walls above the tile line |
| Builder | $90–$150 per hour | Coordinating trades, structural changes and full strip-outs |
| Demolition and Waste | Varies by scope | Strip-out, skip bin hire, disposal and extra prep if damage is found |
Tiling is one of the trades you will spend the most on because a bathroom has more tiled surface than most rooms and every bit of it needs a skilled hand. Straight lay sits at the lower end, while wet-area work, mosaics and pattern layouts push labour higher. For more detail on what tilers charge per square metre, our tiling costs guide breaks it down.
The single biggest lever on your labour bill is whether you move the plumbing. Keep the toilet, basin and shower where they are, and the plumber’s job is mostly rough-in and fit-off. Shift any of them and you are into new pipework, more hours and often a knock-on cost for the tiler and waterproofer.
Demolition and waste are also easy to forget. Removing old tiles, a vanity, bath, toilet or damaged sheeting takes time, and disposal has to be allowed for. If the strip-out uncovers water damage, uneven floors or failed waterproofing, the preparation cost can move quickly.
What a Bathroom Renovation Costs Per Square Metre
A lot of people want a single bathroom renovation cost per square metre to sense-check a quote. It is a fair question, but it is the one number I would trust least on its own.
A bathroom does not cost less just because it is small. Waterproofing, plumbing, electrical work and trade call-out fees stay much the same whether the room is 4m² or 10m². Spread those fixed costs over fewer square metres and the per-square-metre rate often climbs, so a compact ensuite can work out dearer per m² than a larger main bathroom.
Use a per-square-metre number as a rough cross-check, not as the budget itself. A better approach is to price the fixtures, tiles and trades line by line, then allow a contingency for what the strip-out might reveal.
How to Keep Your Bathroom Renovation Costs Down
The good news in any bathroom renovation cost breakdown is that plenty of the budget is within your control. Labour is the biggest share, so that is where the real savings sit, and a few smart choices on materials make up the rest.
Keep your fixtures where they are. Moving the toilet, basin or shower is one of the most expensive changes you can make. It means new pipework and more hours for the plumber, tiler and waterproofer. Plan around the existing plumbing points where you can.
Choose stone-look over natural stone. A porcelain tile that mimics marble or natural stone gives you the look at a lower price and is easier to maintain in a wet area. The same thinking applies to vanity tops and feature finishes.
Tile smart. Ceramic on the walls and porcelain on the floor is a value-friendly mix because walls take less wear. A straight lay also trims tiling hours compared with herringbone, diagonal or mosaic-heavy layouts.
Do the unskilled work yourself. A capable homeowner can often help with demolition, strip-out or rubbish removal. Leave plumbing, electrical and waterproofing to licensed trades because mistakes there cost more than they save.
Buy your materials direct. Buying tiles, the vanity, tapware and fixtures from us rather than through a builder’s markup keeps that margin in your pocket. If you are looking for one of the bigger savings, start with affordable bathroom vanities and build the rest of the room around that choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Each Part of a Bathroom Renovation Cost?
Each part of a bathroom renovation costs a different amount, which is why a line-item breakdown is more useful than one headline figure. Tiles can start from $20 per m², vanities from $320, tapware from $35, baths from $280, toilets from $249 and accessories from $24. Labour is usually the biggest overall share.
How Much Does Labour Cost in a Bathroom Renovation?
Labour in a bathroom renovation usually makes up 40 to 50 per cent of the total budget. A tiler may charge $55 to $120 per m², a plumber $100 to $150 an hour and an electrician $80 to $100 an hour, with waterproofing and prep on top. These are indicative 2026 market rates.
What Is the Most Expensive Part of a Bathroom Renovation?
The most expensive part of a bathroom renovation is usually labour, not the fittings. Licensed trades such as plumbers, tilers, electricians and waterproofers make up the largest share, especially if you move plumbing or change the layout. Material costs are close behind and depend on the fixtures and finishes you choose.
How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost Per Square Metre?
A bathroom renovation cost per square metre is hard to rely on because small bathrooms often cost more per m² than larger ones. Fixed costs like waterproofing, plumbing and trade call-outs stay much the same, so they spread across fewer metres in a compact room. Use per-square-metre rates as a cross-check only.
How Can I Reduce the Cost of a Bathroom Renovation?
You can reduce the cost of a bathroom renovation by keeping fixtures where they are, choosing stone-look porcelain over natural stone, using ceramic tiles on walls, doing safe demolition yourself and buying fixtures direct. The biggest saving usually comes from avoiding plumbing relocation because it affects several trades at once.
What Hidden Costs Should I Allow For?
The hidden costs in a bathroom renovation usually sit in demolition, waste removal, damaged walls or floors, old plumbing, waterproofing preparation and layout changes. A contingency gives you room to deal with those issues without cutting back on the visible fixtures at the end of the job.
Build Your Bathroom Renovation Budget, Item by Item
The honest answer to what a bathroom renovation costs is the sum of its parts. That is why a line-item bathroom renovation cost breakdown beats a single headline figure. Price your tiles, vanity, tapware, bath, toilet and accessories, then add the trades that sit on top.
Remember, labour is usually the biggest share, and moving plumbing is the change that makes a budget climb fastest. Materials are where you have the most choice, so compare product ranges carefully and choose the items that give you the best mix of price, function and durability.
When you are ready to put real numbers to it, browse our bathroom products or come into Ross’s and we will help you price it out.
