How much do bathroom renovations cost?

As a place to unwind, reset or even just steal a few moments for yourself, your bathroom is your sanctuary. But when that sanctuary has you feeling more ‘ugh’ than ‘ahh’, it might be time to spruce things up.

Whether you’re looking to settle into your dream home or upgrade and sell, bathroom renovations are one of those big ticket items that help completely transform your home. But how much does a bathroom renovation cost? The ‘piece of string analogy’ really rings true here with bathroom renovation costs varying widely depending on what you need. 

That said, a new bathroom doesn’t always have to break the bank. To help you plan your renovation (and how to pay for it), let’s look at some ballpark costs. 

Bathroom renovation cost guide

Remodelling a bathroom can range from a simple cosmetic renovation to a high-end upgrade with all the bells and whistles. While the average bathroom reno costs about $21,000 according to 2022 data, here’s what you might expect to pay.

A basic makeover: $10,000

If you’re looking to freshen up or modernise a small-size bathroom but don’t need major work done, allow a budget of $5,000 to $15,000. This should cover things like low-cost taps, vanity, toilet, and framed shower screen along with some basic tiling and painting. You’ll be working to your existing layout with off-the shelf, budget-friendly items.

A mid-range revamp: $20,000

If your bathroom is a little larger and you’d like more choice to suit your style, you might be looking at a range of $15,000 – $25,000. Your budget might allow you to include some mid-range fittings, tiling and designer options like a frameless-style shower screen, freestanding bath, or new lighting. However you might not have too much flexibility if you’re looking to alter the layout or moveplumbing and electrical services.

A deluxe upgrade: $30,000+

For a premium upgrade with luxury touches fit for any day spa, you might need to set aside a minimum of $30,000, but the sky’s the limit depending on your tastes. Think high-quality fittings and fixtures; dual, rain and waterfall shower heads; wall-hung vanities; designer tiles; under-floor heating and a sprawling new layout.

Where your money goes

When planning your bathroom reno budget, there are a few different costs to consider. These might include:

• Design
• Trade costs
• Demolition and rubbish removal
• Waterproofing
• Plastering
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Tiling
• Carpentry
• Painting
• Tiles
• Fixtures including bathtub, toilet, sink, shower screen and tapware
• Fittings including mirrors, towel rails and blinds
• Vanity and wall cabinets
• Lighting and electrical
• Paint

Cost for common items you may need for your bathroom renovation include¹:

• Tiles: from $20 to $100 per square metre
• Bath: from $400 to $1,000 or more
• Toilet: from $150 to $750 or more
• Vanity: from $200 to $1,500 or more

How to save costs on your bathroom renovation

Bathroom renovations can quickly get expensive, but there are some clever ways to cut down on costs. Try these budget-friendly bathroom renovation ideas.

• Tackle tasks yourself – while plumbing and electrical need to be demolished by licensed trades, there’s plenty you can do yourself. Once the professionals have done their part, consider whether you can do the leg work to remove walls, floors and fixtures and hauling the lot to the tip.
• Don’t move your plumbing and electrical services – sticking to the same layout is an easy way to save as the more you change, the more you’ll pay.
• Tile to suit – while floor to ceiling designer tiles might look amazing, they’re more of a luxury than a necessity. Instead, you might choose to tile to roughly three-quarters of your wall height and paint the rest. If you have a small bathroom, keep an eye out for leftover clearance tiles available for a limited supply at a fraction of the cost.
• Pick and choose what you love – renovating isn’t all or nothing, so decide where you want to splurge and save. Save on tiles and splurge on your bathtub, or swap out the frameless shower screen for some quality tapware.
• DIY painting and accessories – if you’re handy with a paintbrush and a power drill, take care of the smaller jobs yourself including painting and hanging the towel rail, toilet roll holder and hooks.

How to pay for your bathroom renovation

Once you’ve planned your renovation and got a good grip on your budget, you’ll need to work out how to pay for it. A Plenti renovation loan can help bring your dream bathroom to life, whether your plans are big or small.

At Plenti, we offer personal loans for bathroom renovations up to $50,000. Let’s get started on building your dream bathroom — submit a rate estimate today.