New Bathroom Cost UK: Full 2026 Breakdown by Budget, Size, and Style

A bathroom renovation is one of the most impactful home improvements you can make. It's the second most-scrutinised room after the kitchen when buyers view a property, and a dated bathroom can knock thousands off an offer. Whether you're planning a quick refresh or a full gut-and-redesign, understanding the costs helps you set a realistic budget.

Cost by Budget Level

Budget Bathroom: £3,500–£7,000

A budget refit replaces the suite and refreshes the room without moving plumbing or making structural changes.

| Item | Cost | |---|---| | Bathroom suite (bath, toilet, basin) | £300–£800 | | Taps and shower mixer | £100–£400 | | Shower screen or curtain | £50–£200 | | Wall tiles (half-height, wet areas only) | £300–£800 | | Floor tiles or vinyl | £200–£500 | | Labour (plumber + tiler, 5–7 days) | £2,000–£3,500 | | Accessories, sealant, sundries | £100–£300 | | Skip hire | £200–£400 | | Total | £3,250–£6,900 |

Best for: Rental properties, pre-sale refresh, tight budgets. Suppliers: B&Q, Screwfix, Victoria Plumb.

Mid-Range Bathroom: £6,000–£12,000

A solid renovation with quality fixtures, full tiling, and potentially a new layout.

| Item | Cost | |---|---| | Bathroom suite (quality brands) | £600–£1,500 | | Thermostatic shower valve + overhead | £300–£800 | | Shower enclosure (frameless or semi-frameless) | £300–£800 | | Wall tiles (floor to ceiling) | £800–£2,000 | | Floor tiles (porcelain) | £400–£1,000 | | Heated towel rail | £150–£400 | | Extractor fan (humidity-sensing) | £100–£250 | | LED downlights | £150–£400 | | Labour (plumber, tiler, electrician, 8–12 days) | £3,500–£5,500 | | Skip and sundries | £300–£500 | | Total | £6,600–£13,150 |

Best for: Owner-occupier upgrades, adding an en-suite. Suppliers: Bathstore, Victorian Plumbing, Crosswater, Roper Rhodes.

Premium Bathroom: £12,000–£25,000+

A high-end bathroom with designer fixtures, bespoke tiling, underfloor heating, and possibly structural changes.

| Item | Cost | |---|---| | Designer suite (Duravit, Villeroy & Boch, Laufen) | £1,500–£4,000 | | Walk-in shower with frameless glass | £800–£2,500 | | Thermostatic digital shower system | £500–£1,500 | | Freestanding bath | £800–£3,000 | | Large-format porcelain tiles (walls + floor) | £1,500–£4,000 | | Underfloor heating (electric) | £400–£800 | | Bespoke vanity unit | £500–£2,000 | | Heated towel rail (designer) | £300–£800 | | LED mirror cabinet | £300–£800 | | Labour (specialist bathroom fitter, 10–15 days) | £5,000–£8,000 | | Total | £11,600–£27,400 |

Best for: Master bathrooms, high-value properties, architectural renovations. Suppliers: CP Hart, Alternative Bathrooms, West One Bathrooms.

En-Suite Costs

Adding an en-suite is one of the highest-ROI home improvements, especially in 3+ bedroom homes where a single bathroom creates a bottleneck.

En-Suite in Existing Space (Stealing From a Bedroom)

| Item | Cost | |---|---| | Stud wall and door | £500–£1,000 | | Plumbing (new supply and waste runs) | £800–£2,000 | | Extractor fan and ducting | £200–£500 | | Shower tray, screen, toilet, basin | £600–£1,500 | | Tiling (walls and floor) | £800–£2,000 | | Labour | £2,000–£4,000 | | Total | £4,900–£11,000 |

En-Suite as Part of a Loft Conversion

When added during a loft conversion, the en-suite cost is typically included in the overall quote. As a standalone element within the loft build, budget £3,000–£6,000 for a standard en-suite or £6,000–£10,000 for premium.

Wet Room Costs

Wet rooms are increasingly popular, especially for smaller spaces where a shower enclosure feels cramped.

| Component | Cost | |---|---| | Tanking system (liquid membrane) | £500–£1,000 | | Wet room tray / former | £300–£600 | | Linear drain | £200–£500 | | Floor and wall tiling (non-slip, large format) | £1,500–£3,500 | | Glass screen (optional) | £300–£800 | | Rainfall showerhead + valve | £300–£800 | | Labour (specialist wet room installer) | £2,500–£4,500 | | Total | £5,600–£11,700 |

Important: Wet rooms on upper floors require careful waterproofing. A leak from a first-floor wet room can cause catastrophic damage to the ceiling below. Use a specialist installer, not a general plumber.

What Drives Costs Up

| Factor | Extra Cost | Notes | |---|---|---| | Moving plumbing | £500–£2,000 | New waste runs, soil pipe connections | | Moving the toilet | £500–£1,500 | Soil pipe routing constraints | | Underfloor heating | £400–£800 | Electric mats under tiles | | Structural work (new window, walls) | £500–£3,000 | Lintels, making good | | Bespoke storage / vanity | £500–£2,000 | Built-in niches, floating units | | Large-format tiles | +20–30% on tiling costs | More cuts, more waste, needs larger trowel | | Underfloor drainage rerouting | £500–£1,500 | Especially in ground-floor bathrooms |

Choosing Fixtures: Where to Spend and Where to Save

Spend On

• Shower valve — a quality thermostatic valve lasts 15–20 years and prevents scalding. Budget £250–£800.
• Toilet — a rimless, close-coupled or wall-hung toilet is easier to clean and looks better. Budget £200–£600.
• Tiling — tiles are the backdrop to everything. Spending £30–£50/m² on quality porcelain gives a premium finish for modest cost.

Save On

• Bath — a standard acrylic bath (£100–£300) performs identically to expensive ones. The finish comes from tiling and taps around it.
• Basin — a simple wall-hung or countertop basin (£80–£200) paired with a quality tap looks expensive.
• Accessories — towel hooks, toilet roll holders, and shelves are easily upgraded later.

Bathroom Renovation Timeline

| Phase | Duration | |---|---| | Design and ordering | 2–4 weeks (tiles and sanitaryware lead times) | | Strip out | 1 day | | First-fix plumbing and electrics | 1–2 days | | Tanking / waterproofing (if wet room) | 1 day | | Tiling | 2–4 days | | Second-fix (fit suite, lights, accessories) | 1–2 days | | Silicone and snagging | Half day | | Total (on-site) | 5–10 days |

Critical tip: Order tiles and sanitaryware before your fitter starts. Out-of-stock items are the number one cause of bathroom renovation delays.

Regional Cost Variations

| Region | Adjustment | |---|---| | Inner London | +30–45% | | South East / South West | +10–20% | | Midlands | Baseline | | North West / Yorkshire | −5–10% | | North East / Wales / Scotland | −10–20% |

For a personalised estimate, use our repair cost calculator or browse bathroom costs by city.

Next Steps

1. Set your budget — use the tables above to establish a realistic range
2. Choose your layout — decide if plumbing is moving or staying put
3. Order early — tiles and sanitaryware can take 2–4 weeks to arrive
4. Get 3 quotes — see our guide to builder quotes for what to check
5. Coordinate trades — plumber, tiler, electrician need to work in the right sequence
6. Check our glossary for terms like soil stack, thermostatic valve, tanking, and macerator