What does a bathroom renovation cost? The answer to this question will largely depend on the size of the room, the amount of renovation work required and the level of specification you are aiming for.
However, on average a new bathroom will cost upwards of around £3,000. The factors that will impact on this figure include:
- the quality of the fittings you choose
- whether you are starting from scratch and need an entirely new plumbing system
- the size of the space
- how much of the work you will be doing yourself.
If you are hoping to keep costs down, you should be pleased to hear that some suppliers sell complete suites for under £200. However, it is important to clarify exactly what is included in these impressively low prices and thoroughly check their quality — it is often a case of getting what you pay for.
How Much do Baths Cost?
- Low end: from £80
- Average cost: from around £200
- Top end: upwards of £500
Baths tubs tend not to be included in the price of a ‘complete bathroom suite’ (usually this only includes the WC and basin).
The cost of a bath will depends on the material it is made from and whether it is a standard (700 x 1700mm) or more unusual size.
The very cheapest baths are usually made from thin acrylic and come ready to be built in to a frame, which can then be tiled or finished with a purpose-made bath panel.
These cheap acrylic baths cost from around £80, but can be flimsy and easily crack, so do give them a thorough check before buying.
Not all acrylics baths are cheap though and those made from thicker, fibreglass-reinforced acrylic are of a much better quality. Acrylic also keeps the water warm for longer than steel.
Steel baths are perfect for those on a budget who want durability without the hefty price tag. They tend to be more hardwearing than very low-cost acrylic baths and often cost little, if any, more — starting from around £120.
Once you start looking at cast iron, timber, composite and stone, the prices rocket. However, if you want to make a statement in the bathroom this is the way to go.
(MORE: The complete guide to bathroom design)
The Cost of a New Shower
- Low end: £50
- Average cost: £60 – £500
- Top end: £500 – £2,000+
Electric showers are the cheapest option here and are ideal for those looking to carry out a quick, low cost bathroom update.
Electric showers have a connection to just the mains cold water supply and heat water on demand. This means that they struggle to reach the level of power provided by power showers and those using stored hot water, although choosing one with a higher kilowatt rating will help.
On the plus side, they are economic to run, installation is straightforward and they start at around £50.
Bath/shower mixers are another good option for those looking to keep their bathroom renovation costs low, with prices from £50.
The shower hose and head are combined with the bath mixer tap and this is how the temperature is adjusted They are easy and cheap to fit, but the pressure can be lacking and getting the water temperature right can be fiddly.
A manual shower mixer (from £60) has the hose and spray coming out from a wall unit, with a temperature control to adjust the temperature.
Thermostatic mixers are similar to manual mixers but have a built-in thermostat that automatically adjusts the water temperature (but not the pressure) if a tap elsewhere in the house is being used. They start at £125.
Power showers start at £150 and are connected to an integral pump to boost flow rate. However, they are not compatible with combi boilers as they need a supply from both a cold water cistern and a hot water cylinder.
These are just the basic shower types. Digital showers, shower towers, columns and cabins all offer a luxury showering experience, with a multitude of sprays and jets — at a cost of course, from £250 upwards.
(MORE: Designing the perfect family bathroom)
How Much do Shower Enclosures Cost?
- Low end: from £100
- Average cost: £120 – £300
- Top end: £550+
The cost of a shower enclosure depends on its configuration and materials.
Basic shower enclosures featuring one glass side panel and a door, or a quadrant enclosure with double doors, can cost as little as £100.
Don’t forget, however, that you still need to factor in the cost of a shower tray, which will cost from £60 at the lowest end.
A complete ‘wet room‘ style enclosure, complete with walk-in tray and frameless shower screen will cost from £550. A frameless fixed enclosure, with no door, will start at around £200.
Wet room kits can also be purchased. These come complete with everything you need to form a platform, drainage and waterproofing equipment (but excluding tiles) — they cost around £500-£600.
New Basin Prices Explained
- Low end: from £50
- Average cost: £60 – £150
- Top end: £300+
From as little as £50 you can pick up a ceramic pedestal basins.These are also convenient in that all pipework can easily be concealed behind the pedestal.
If you are after a more contemporary basin, consider a semi-pedestal or wall-hung basin. These basis cost from around £60. Remember that a wall hung basin will require a stud wall to be constructed from which to hang it and conceal the pipework.
Basins designed to sit in or on top of a vanity unit (including freestanding basins and semi-recessed models) allow for useful storage beneath. These basins cost from £90, but remember to factor in the cost of the unit they sit on or in, too.
While most basins are ceramic, glass, metal and stone are all options but cost more. The most common basin size is 550mm x 400mm.
How Much Does a WC Cost?
- Low end: From £50
- Average cost: £200 – £400
- Top end: £500
Floor-mounted, low-level WCs cost from £50. Traditional-style high-level toilets are another option, as are more modern-looking wall-mounted WCs — here the cistern and pipework is typically concealed within a frame in a studwall.
How Much Will New Taps Cost?
Pillar taps (taps with a separate tap for hot and for cold) are the cheapest type of tap, costing from £30 per pair. Mixer taps that have separate controls for hot and cold flow tend to be next up the scale, from around £45, with monobloc mixers (where flow and temperature are both controlled from one lever) usually at the top, from £50 up to the low £100s.
Your choice of sanitaryware will affect which taps you can have. Counter-top, bowl-style basins, for example, will require wall-mounted taps or those set into a vanity unit, while freestanding baths will need wall- or floor-mounted taps. These can be more costly than simple mixer taps located on the bath or basin, both to buy and fit.
How Much Will it Cost to Fit a Bathroom?
When you are budgeting for your new bathroom, don’t forget labour costs, tiles, heated towel warmers, lighting and frames for baths to be built in to.
A plumber should be able to retrofit a bathroom in two or three days, as well as removing the old one — this would cost around £1,000.
To tile an average size bathroom would take one to five days. Costs of around £65/m² can be expected, although these prices will vary depending on the tiles and sanitaryware you specify.
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