Real Melbourne bathroom renovation quotes, explained
The same Melbourne bathroom can be quoted at $16,500 by one builder and $38,000 by another — and both can be fair. Here are three real Melbourne quotes, broken down line by line, so you can see exactly what moves the number.
Three real Melbourne bathroom quotes
The same Melbourne bathroom can be quoted at $16,500 by one builder and $38,000 by another — and both can be perfectly fair. The difference is almost never dishonesty; it's scope, spec and the builder's overheads. Here are three real Melbourne quotes, broken down, so you can see exactly what moves the number.
Quote 1 — Budget refit, Footscray (6 m², $16,500)
Keep the existing layout, mid-range porcelain tiles, a semi-frameless screen, a standard floor-standing vanity and builder-grade tapware. No bath, no relocations. This is the honest floor price for a full strip-and-replace main bathroom: nothing fancy, but proper waterproofing, licensed trades and a compliance certificate all included.
| Line item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Demolition, plumbing & electrical (same layout) | $7,200 |
| Waterproofing + tiles (supply & lay) | $5,100 |
| Fixtures (vanity, toilet, screen, tapware) | $2,600 |
| Painting, PM + contingency | $1,600 |
| Total | $16,500 |
Quote 2 — Mid-range, Preston (7 m², $24,000)
A minor layout tweak, quality large-format tiles, a frameless screen, a freestanding bath, a wall-hung vanity and a heated towel rail. This is where most Melbourne main-bathroom renos land, and the jump over the budget quote is almost entirely fixtures, tiling spec and the bath — not extra labour for its own sake.
Quote 3 — Premium, Brighton (8 m², $38,000)
A full reconfigure, feature and large-format tiling floor to ceiling, a double vanity, underfloor heating, a freestanding bath, premium fittings and some custom joinery. Here the spend is in the finish and the reconfiguration — moving plumbing, more tiling labour, and fixtures several times the budget-quote equivalents.
Why two quotes for the "same" job differ so much
Three things drive almost all of the gap. Fixtures and tiles: a vanity can be $400 or $4,000, and that choice alone can swing a quote by $5,000. How much plumbing moves: keeping fixtures where they are is cheap; relocating the toilet or shower means new rough-in. Overheads and margin: an established builder with insurance, warranties and a project manager prices differently to a sole operator. None of that makes the dearer quote a rip-off or the cheaper one a bargain — it makes them different products.
How to read a bathroom quote
A good quote is itemised, not a single lump sum. Look for who supplies the fixtures and tiles, and watch for prime cost (PC) or provisional sums — placeholders for items you haven't chosen yet, which rise if your selections cost more. Check that waterproofing and the compliance certificate are explicitly included, that rubbish removal and making good are in there, and that exclusions are stated in writing. A clear payment schedule and a rough timeline round it out. Anything vague is usually where a cheap quote later turns expensive.
Frequently asked questions
Why are bathroom quotes so different in Melbourne?
Mostly fixtures and tiles, how much plumbing moves, and the builder's margin and overheads. Two honest quotes can differ 40% on spec alone, so compare what's included rather than just the bottom line.
What's a PC or provisional sum on a quote?
A prime cost (PC) sum is a placeholder the builder includes for items you haven't chosen yet — tiles, tapware, a vanity. If your final selections cost more, the quote goes up. Pin down the PC amounts before you sign so there are no surprises.
How many quotes should I get for a Melbourne bathroom?
Three is the sweet spot — enough to spot an outlier, not so many you stall. Make sure each one is quoting the same scope, or you're comparing apples with oranges.
What should be in a bathroom renovation quote?
A line-by-line scope, who supplies fixtures and tiles, the waterproofing compliance certificate, what's excluded, the payment schedule and a rough timeline. Anything vague is where a cheap quote turns expensive.
Why is the cheapest quote risky?
A lowball often leaves out waterproofing certification, tile supply or rubbish removal, or assumes nothing goes wrong behind the walls. In older Melbourne homes something usually does, and the cheap number frequently lands higher than the mid quote once variations hit.
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