Typical UK cost breakdown
Indicative UK ranges for a standard family bathroom of roughly 5–7m², including labour, materials and waste removal. Regional rates and specification will move these figures.
Indicative figures · reviewed August 2026
Published UK refit cost ranges plus Estimo modelling by specification level. Figures are indicative guidance, not a quotation, and actual quotes from tradespeople vary by job, access and specification.
| Cost element | Typical range | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Budget refit, same layout | £3,000 – £5,000 | Like-for-like swap of suite, basic tiling and trade-standard fittings. |
| Mid-range full renovation | £5,500 – £9,000 | The typical UK job: new suite, full tiling, extractor, lighting and some layout tweaks. |
| High specification or moved layout | £9,000 – £16,000+ | Relocated soil pipe, walk-in shower, underfloor heating and premium tiles or stone. |
| Labour only (fitter, 7–12 days) | £2,000 – £4,500 | Usually the largest single line. Plumbing, tiling, electrics and making good. |
| Suite and brassware | £600 – £3,500 | Huge range. Thermostatic showers and wall-hung units cost noticeably more to fit, too. |
| Tiling — materials and labour | £800 – £3,000 | Priced per square metre. Large-format, mosaic and natural stone all increase labour. |
| Electrics and extraction | £350 – £1,200 | Spotlights, shaver point, isolators and a compliant extractor fan with certification. |
| Waste removal and making good | £250 – £700 | Skip hire, plaster repairs and repainting after the fitter leaves. |
Where the money usually goes
On a typical £7,000 refit, expect roughly 45–55% labour, 25–35% suite, tiles and brassware, and the remainder split between electrics, waste removal and making good. If a quote is dramatically cheaper than that shape, something is normally excluded rather than genuinely cheaper — most often making good, waste removal or the electrical certification.
What makes the price move
Whether you move the layout
Keeping the toilet, basin and bath where they are is the single biggest saving. Moving the soil pipe can add £1,000–£3,000 on its own.
Bath versus walk-in shower
A level-access wet room needs tanking, a former and careful falls in the floor — typically £1,500–£4,000 more than dropping in a shower tray.
What's behind the tiles
Rotten floorboards, failed tanking or old lead pipework are only discovered on strip-out, and they are the most common source of mid-job variations.
Tile choice and size
Materials matter, but labour matters more: mosaics, herringbone and large-format slabs all take significantly longer to set than standard ceramics.
Room size and access
A small bathroom is not proportionally cheaper — the same trades still attend. Upper floors and tight stairwells add handling time.
Region
London and the South East typically sit 15–30% above national average fitter day rates.
Hidden costs people miss
- Repairing floor joists or subfloor found rotten once the old suite comes out.
- Upgrading the boiler or fitting a pump if the new shower needs more pressure than the system delivers.
- Plastering and repainting the ceiling and any untiled walls — frequently outside a fitter's quote.
- Delivery and storage of tiles and the suite if the fitter is not supplying them.
- Being without a bathroom for one to three weeks, which matters in a one-bathroom house.
- Trim, sealant, wastes and valves — small items that add up when supplied separately.
How to check a quote for this job
- Is the quote itemised by trade and stage, or one lump sum for "bathroom refit"?
- Does it state clearly who supplies the suite, tiles and brassware — you or the fitter?
- Is strip-out, waste removal and skip hire included?
- Is making good — plastering, painting, flooring — inside the price?
- Are electrical works certificated, and is the extractor fan compliant with building regulations?
- What is the written procedure and pricing if hidden damage is found on strip-out?
- How many working days is quoted, and is there a start date in writing?
- Is VAT included, and is the deposit limited to materials rather than a large share of the labour?
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Estimo gives indicative, AI-generated guidance. Prices vary by region, specification and date — always confirm with a qualified trade before committing.
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