Bathroom Renovation Cost Guide UK 2026

Bathroom renovation costs depend on the scope of work. Replacing a suite (bath, toilet, basin, shower) with minimal tiling is the cheapest option. A full remodel with new plumbing layout, floor, ceiling, and high-spec finishes costs significantly more.

Suite replacement (£2.5k-£4k)

Replaces your existing bath, shower, toilet, and basin without changing the plumbing layout. The plumber disconnects the old suite, tiles the immediate area around the new bath and shower, and connects the new suite. You keep your existing floor, ceiling, and walls (apart from the tiled areas).

What's included: new suite (£600-£1,500), tiling around bath and shower (£400-£800), plumbing labour (£800-£1,200), waste and disposal (£200-£400).

Partial remodel (£4k-£8k)

Replaces the suite and retiles all walls and floor. Plumbing layout stays the same (toilet and bath in the same positions). You get a completely refreshed bathroom but without the cost of moving soil pipes or rewiring.

What's included: new suite (£800-£2,000), full wall and floor tiling (£1,500-£3,000), plumbing labour (£1,200-£2,000), waste and disposal (£400-£800).

Full renovation (£6k-£15k)

Strips the bathroom back to brick and rebuilds it. You can move the toilet, relocate the shower, change the layout. Includes new plumbing, new electrics (lights, extractor fan, shower circuit), plastering, tiling, ceiling, and floor.

What's included: high-spec suite (£1,500-£4,000), full tiling (£2,000-£4,000), plumbing and electrics (£1,500-£3,000), plastering and ceiling (£500-£1,000), waste, disposal, project management (£1,000-£3,000).

Walk-in showers

Replacing a bath with a walk-in shower costs £1,500-£3,500. Wet-room style showers (floor-level, no tray) cost more because you need to tank (waterproof) the entire floor and lower walls. Budget £2,500-£5,000 for a wet room in place of a bath.

What affects the cost

Room size

Larger bathrooms cost more to tile. A small bathroom (under 5 sq m) needs 15-20 sq m of wall tiles. A large bathroom (over 8 sq m) needs 30-40 sq m. Tiling costs £30-£60/sq m for labour, plus £15-£80/sq m for tiles.

Tiles

Budget ceramic tiles cost £15-£25/sq m. Mid-range porcelain tiles cost £30-£60/sq m. Large-format tiles (600x1200mm or bigger) cost £50-£120/sq m and are slower to lay. Natural stone (marble, travertine) costs £60-£150/sq m.

Moving the toilet

Toilets connect to a soil pipe (large diameter waste pipe). Moving the toilet more than 2 metres from the existing soil pipe adds £800-£1,500 because the plumber needs to run a new waste pipe and maintain the correct fall (gradient). Ground floor bathrooms are easier than first floor (less pipe boxing-in).

Timeline

Suite replacement: 3-5 days. Partial remodel: 1-2 weeks. Full renovation: 2-3 weeks. You can usually still use a second toilet elsewhere in the house during the work.

Sources: Federation of Master Builders, Bathroom Manufacturers Association, RICS Building Cost Information Service.