The average Australian bathroom renovation costs between $20,000 and $35,000 for a standard-sized room. That's a serious chunk of money, and most homeowners accept quotes without fully understanding where it goes. Knowing the breakdown helps you make smarter decisions about where to splurge, where to save, and where you absolutely cannot cut corners.
Full budget breakdown: where $25,000 goes
Here's how a mid-range bathroom renovation typically divides up. These figures are averages from our pricing data across 12 Australian cities. Your numbers will shift depending on location, material choices, and the condition of your existing bathroom.
Demolition and disposal — $1,500–$2,500
Everything old has to come out before anything new goes in. Demolition covers stripping tiles (floor and walls), removing the old vanity, toilet, shower screen, and any built-in fixtures, pulling out old plumbing and electrical fittings, and carting it all away. Disposal costs depend on your council area and the volume of waste — expect $200–$600 for skip bin hire or tip runs.
Plumbing — $3,000–$5,500
Plumbing is typically the single largest cost in a bathroom renovation, and it's also where the biggest cost surprises hide. The work includes rough-in plumbing (setting pipe positions for the new layout), relocating water supply lines and waste pipes, installing new fixtures (toilet, basin, shower, bath), connecting hot water, and ensuring all drainage complies with Australian plumbing code.
The expensive trap: moving fixtures. Every fixture connects to a waste pipe that needs a specific fall gradient to drain properly. Move a toilet even 500mm from its current position and you may need to modify the floor to achieve the required drainage fall — which can mean jackhammering a concrete slab.
| Plumbing task | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Like-for-like fixture replacement (no relocation) | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Relocate toilet (modify drainage) | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Relocate shower (new supply + waste) | $800–$2,000 |
| Add second basin / double vanity | $500–$1,200 |
| Install freestanding bath (new supply + waste) | $800–$1,800 |
| Install underfloor heating (hydronic) | $1,500–$3,000 |
Waterproofing — $1,000–$2,000
This is the single most important line item in your bathroom renovation. Not the most glamorous, not the most expensive, but the one that will cost you the most money if done poorly.
Australian Standards (AS 3740) require waterproof membranes in all wet areas: the entire shower recess (floor and walls to a minimum height), the bathroom floor (extending 150mm up walls), and any area where water may contact the substrate. The waterproofer applies a liquid membrane in multiple coats, allows it to cure, and tests it before tiling can begin.
Planning a bathroom reno? Check what others in your city are paying first.
Check Bathroom Renovation Costs in Your City →Electrical — $1,500–$3,000
Bathrooms have some of the strictest electrical regulations in the home due to the proximity of water. All electrical work must comply with AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules), which defines specific zones around baths and showers where certain fittings can and cannot be installed. Common electrical work includes new lighting (downlights, vanity sconces), exhaust fan (essential for moisture control), heated towel rail, power points (must be outside wet zones), underfloor heating (electric mat type — $800–$1,500), and new circuit for high-draw items.
Tiling — $3,500–$6,000
Tiling is the most visible cost in your bathroom and the one with the widest price range. Labour accounts for 60–70% of the total tiling cost — the tiles themselves are often the smaller part.
| Tile type | Material per m² | Labour per m² |
|---|---|---|
| Basic ceramic (300×300) | $25–$40 | $50–$65 |
| Mid-range porcelain (600×600) | $40–$70 | $55–$75 |
| Large-format porcelain (600×1200) | $50–$90 | $65–$85 |
| Natural stone (marble, travertine) | $80–$150 | $70–$90 |
| Mosaic / feature tiles | $60–$120 | $80–$110 |
Floor-to-ceiling tiling in a standard bathroom covers 20–30m². At mid-range prices, that's $2,500–$4,500 for materials and labour combined. Add the shower niche, edge trims, and any feature walls, and the total climbs quickly.
Fixtures and fittings — $2,000–$5,000
This category covers everything you touch and see daily: toilet, vanity basin, tapware, shower head and mixer, towel rails, toilet roll holder, robe hooks, and mirror. The price range is enormous because material choices span from functional to luxury.
Budget-friendly ($2,000 total)
- Back-to-wall toilet — $350
- Vanity unit (off-shelf 900mm) — $500
- Basin mixer — $150
- Shower mixer + head — $200
- Shower screen (semi-frameless) — $500
- Mirror + accessories — $300
Mid-range ($4,500 total)
- Wall-hung toilet — $800
- Custom floating vanity — $1,200
- Designer basin mixer — $400
- Rainfall shower + diverter — $600
- Frameless shower screen — $900
- Backlit mirror + accessories — $600
Where to save and where to spend
After analysing hundreds of bathroom renovation outcomes, here's the consensus on where your money makes the most difference:
| Item | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Waterproofing | Always spend. Cheapest insurance you'll buy. |
| Tapware (mixers, shower) | Spend. Cheap mixers fail in 2–3 years. Quality lasts 10+. |
| Tiler quality | Spend. Bad tiling can't be fixed without demolition. |
| Tile material | Save. A $35/m² porcelain looks great with a good tiler. |
| Vanity | Save. Off-the-shelf vanities are excellent value. |
| Shower screen | Save. Semi-frameless saves 30–40%, looks nearly identical. |
| Accessories | Save. Towel rails and hooks are easy to upgrade later. |
| Exhaust fan | Spend. Moisture causes mould. A good fan prevents it. |
The renovation timeline
Understanding the sequence helps you plan and spot delays early:
-
Demolition — Days 1–3
Strip everything out. Asbestos testing should be complete before this begins. Skip bin arrives.
-
Plumbing rough-in — Days 3–5
Pipes repositioned for new layout. This is the point where moving fixtures gets expensive.
-
Electrical rough-in — Days 5–6
New wiring for lights, fan, heated towel rail, power points. Done while walls are open.
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Waterproofing — Days 7–9
Membrane applied and cured. Must pass flood test before tiling starts. Compliance certificate issued.
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Tiling — Days 10–17
Floor first, then walls. Grouting follows. This is the longest phase and drives the timeline.
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Fixture installation — Days 18–21
Vanity, toilet, shower screen, tapware, mirror, accessories. Final plumbing and electrical connections.
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Painting and finishing — Days 22–23
Ceiling, non-tiled walls, touch-ups. Silicone sealing around fixtures. Final clean.
For city-specific bathroom renovation pricing, see our Bathroom Renovation Cost Guide.