It's the question we get asked more than any other: how much is a new bathroom going to cost me? The honest answer is that it depends — but that's not very helpful when you're trying to work out whether your budget is realistic. So here's what we actually see in 2026, broken down by budget level and by individual item, so you can get a proper handle on the numbers before you start talking to fitters.
The Rough Figures First
| Budget Level | Typical Total Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic refresh | £1,500 – £3,000 | New taps, accessories, regrouting, paint — no full strip-out |
| Standard renovation | £4,500 – £8,000 | Full new suite (bath/shower, toilet, basin), new tiles, professional installation |
| Mid-range renovation | £8,000 – £12,000 | Higher-spec fixtures, vanity units, walk-in shower or freestanding bath, quality tiling |
| Luxury renovation | £12,000 – £20,000+ | Premium fixtures, designer brands, underfloor heating, bespoke storage, full design service |
The national average for a full renovation of a standard family bathroom sits around £6,500 – £7,000 in 2026. If you're in London or the South East, add roughly 20–30% across the board.
Where the Money Actually Goes
Labour — usually the biggest line item
Labour consistently takes up 40–60% of most bathroom budgets, which surprises a lot of people who've been focused on choosing tiles and taps. A typical bathroom involves a plumber, a tiler, and an electrician — sometimes the same person covers more than one trade, but not always. In London, day rates for experienced tradespeople run at £300–£400+. Outside the capital it's generally lower, but still significant.
The other thing that affects labour cost more than anything else is whether you're moving anything. Keeping the toilet, shower, and bath in the same positions as they are now? Costs stay reasonable. Wanting to shift the toilet across the room or put the shower where the bath was? That means new pipework, potentially a new soil pipe run, and the bill goes up fast.
Sanitaryware
This is your toilet, basin, and bath or shower — the core suite. At the budget end, a basic set of all three comes in at £400–£600. Quality mid-range products from established UK brands — the sort that will look good and last — typically run £1,000 to £3,000 for the full suite. If you're after designer brands like Duravit, Hansgrohe, or AXOR, sanitaryware alone can reach £5,000–£10,000. Most people end up somewhere in the middle, and that's usually the sweet spot.
Tiling
Tiles catch a lot of people out because the material cost and the labour cost are separate, and both add up. A standard bathroom needs roughly 20–30m² of tiles for walls and floor. Budget tiles start at £15–£25 per m²; mid-range ceramic or porcelain is £30–£60 per m²; large-format or natural stone can easily reach £80–£150 per m². Then add tiling labour on top — typically £30–£50 per m², more if you're doing intricate patterns or very large tiles that need more cutting.
Furniture and storage
A vanity unit makes a real difference to how a bathroom looks and functions day-to-day — it hides the pipework and gives you somewhere to put things. Budget vanity units start around £200; a good mid-range unit from a reputable brand is £400–£1,000; bespoke or premium options go higher. Don't forget a mirror cabinet either — often overlooked in the budget but one of the most used things in the room.
Shower enclosures and trays
A basic quadrant enclosure with a tray starts around £200–£400. Step up to a semi-frameless or frameless enclosure and you're looking at £400–£800 for something that feels noticeably more premium. Walk-in shower panels — which have become the default choice for anyone doing a mid-range renovation or above — start from about £600 and can reach £2,000 for large frameless designs. Worth spending here if the shower is going to be your main daily fixture.
Strip-out
Pulling out the old bathroom costs £300–£600 for a standard room, including labour and taking the waste away. It's usually a day's work for two people. Always check that your fitter has included this — it's often listed separately in quotes and can catch people off guard.
Full Cost Breakdown: Standard Family Bathroom
This is a realistic line-by-line estimate for a full renovation of an average family bathroom (around 5–6m²), same layout as before, quality but not designer fixtures:
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Strip-out and waste removal | £400 – £600 |
| Plumbing labour | £800 – £1,500 |
| Electrical work (extractor fan, lighting) | £300 – £600 |
| Tiling labour | £600 – £1,000 |
| Bath or shower tray + enclosure | £300 – £800 |
| Toilet | £150 – £500 |
| Basin and vanity unit | £200 – £700 |
| Taps and shower valve | £150 – £500 |
| Wall and floor tiles (materials) | £500 – £1,200 |
| Heated towel rail | £100 – £400 |
| Mirror or mirror cabinet | £80 – £400 |
| Accessories (toilet roll holder, hooks, etc.) | £50 – £200 |
| Total (estimated) | £3,630 – £8,400 |
London and the South East: add 20–30%. Always get at least three itemised quotes before committing to a fitter.
What Individual Fixtures Cost
If you're doing a partial update rather than a full renovation, here's what to budget for specific items.
Toilets
Close-coupled toilets start from around £100 for a basic model, with solid mid-range options sitting between £200 and £500. Wall-hung toilets — which look great and make cleaning the floor much easier — cost £300–£800 for the pan, plus you'll need a concealed cistern and WC frame on top of that, typically £150–£400. Browse our full range of toilets.
Baths
A standard single-ended acrylic bath starts from £150–£300. Shower baths and double-ended baths run £250–£600. Freestanding baths start from around £500 and can go well past £2,000 for stone-resin models. See our range of baths here.
Basins
Pedestal and semi-pedestal basins are the most straightforward option — £80–£250 for a quality ceramic. Countertop and under-counter basins for vanity units are £100–£400+. Wall-mounted basins fall in a similar range and suit contemporary bathrooms and en suites well. Browse all our basins.
Taps
Basin mixer taps from quality brands: £80–£300. Bath fillers: similar. Budget more carefully for your shower valve — a good thermostatic valve is worth it, particularly if you have young children or fluctuating water pressure. Expect to pay £150–£500 for a reliable thermostatic option. See our bathroom taps here.
Shower enclosures
Framed quadrant and rectangular enclosures from reputable brands: £200–£400. Semi-frameless and frameless designs start at £400 and go up to £1,200–£2,000 for large walk-in configurations. Browse our shower enclosures.
How to Keep Costs Down
Don't move the plumbing if you can help it. Leaving the toilet, bath, and shower in their existing positions is the most impactful decision you can make for the budget. Moving a soil pipe is expensive and disruptive — avoid it unless there's a compelling reason.
Supply your own products. Buying sanitaryware, tiles, and fixtures yourself — rather than letting the fitter supply them — almost always saves money. Tradespeople mark up materials; it's how they make margin. Get your quotes on a labour-only basis and source products yourself. That's exactly what we're here for.
Spend on what you use most. Taps get touched dozens of times a day. The shower valve controls your water temperature every morning. The toilet flush gets pressed hundreds of times a year. These are not places to cut costs. The things you barely notice — like bath panel options or the style of your towel ring — are where you can trim without feeling it.
Get proper quotes, not ballparks. A vague estimate over the phone is not a quote. Get three written, itemised quotes from fitters who have visited the bathroom. It takes longer but you'll quickly see what a realistic market rate is — and what's missing from the cheaper ones.
Build in a contingency and actually use it. Once tiles come off walls, things appear. Damp behind panels, old pipework that needs replacing, a floor joist that's seen better days. Budget 10–15% over your estimated total and treat it as part of the project cost, not a worst-case scenario.
Will a New Bathroom Add Value?
Generally, yes — a well-done bathroom renovation adds roughly 4–5% to a property's value in the UK. In London that's not an insignificant number. What matters is that it looks like a considered finish, not a cost-cut one. Estate agents and buyers notice cheap taps and grout that's already discolouring. A mid-range renovation done properly will almost always return most of what you spent when you come to sell — and in the meantime, you get a bathroom you actually enjoy using.
If you're at the planning stage and want to get a sense of what products fit your budget, come and see us at 135–139 Long Lane, Finchley, London N3 2HY — or browse online across toilets, baths, shower enclosures, taps, bathroom furniture, and mirrors. We're open Monday to Friday 8am–5pm and Saturday 8:30am–2pm.
