Cost guide for a bathroom

How much does fitting a new bathroom cost?

The bathroom fitting costs in this article are correct as of 2020

Whether you need a useful space for a quick shower after a workout, or a relaxing room where you can lounge and pamper yourself, our bathrooms are functional and practical spaces that have to cope with a lot. Renovating or adding a new bathroom can be a big project that causes some disruption in your home, but it can make a huge difference and add value to your property. If you’re interested in updating your bathroom, it’s important to go into knowing the average cost of a new bathroom, and how much installation will be before you find the perfect bathroom for your job.

Bathroom installation cost calculator

The price of a new bathroom will be decided by a number of key factors. The most important cost is the value of the new suite being installed – the bath and or shower, wash basin and lavatory. The price of a bathroom suite is dependant on the materials used, quality and specification – a simple acrylic or steel bathtub can be less than £100, whereas a high-end one can run to more than £1,000. On top of this, there is the cost of installation, which will depend on the length of time the job will take and number of people working on it.

Other elements to consider are the cost of removing the old bathroom, replumbing, replastering, tiling, and the cost of additional items such as taps, towel rails and sealant. Many of these can be included in the price of installation if your bathroom fitter covers them. We estimate the average price of a bathroom renovation is between £1,400 and £6,000, though these prices can be more in areas like London and the south east.

How much does tiling a bathroom cost?

Your bathroom installer may tile themselves, in which case the cost of tiling will be part of their overall fee. The tradesman may also be able to purchase tiles on your behalf through their trade accounts which may save you money. A good tip to remember is to purchase more tiles than you think you will need – around 10% more is a good rule of thumb – so you have spares incase some are broken or cut wrong and cannot be used. To see a full breakdown of typical tiling costs, see our dedicated tiling pricing guide.

Other bathroom installation costs

There are several factors that can add in extra costs to a bathroom, such as underfloor heating. The price of underfloor heating can add around £300 to £900 cost depending on what method you use and the size of the bathroom. Other practicalities, such as adding new radiators and installing a new extractor fan through an external wall will add also add additional costs.

How long does it take to fit a bathroom?

The length of time it takes to fit a bathroom will depend on the size of the job, the amount of work being done and the number of people working on it, but typically we have found that between five and ten days is average.

Top Tip

Another cost to consider is the price of having your old bathroom removed, and it’s important you factor it in when you consider a new bathroom installation. Bathroom fitters with a waste carrier license may be able to do this for you for a fee of a few hundred pounds, or you can hire a skip, or take the old suite to a tip yourself.

How to keep your bathroom installation costs under control

There are a number of ways to ensure you’re getting value for money when installing a new bathroom. If you’re buying the bathroom yourself from a store or online, make sure you shop around and compare prices, and look out for deals in sales, which will be held throughout the year. Ensure you hire tradespeople who are reliable and will work to schedule.

You may want to get bathroom installation quotes from a few different tradespeople to see how much they will charge for the job. Also be wary when having your new bathroom delivered, if you will be taking delivery of it – ensure it is exactly what you wanted, and make sure it’s stored in a secure place, where nothing get damaged – everything that needs to be replaced will add more time to the project and ramp up costs.