Bathroom Renovation Cost Sydney 2026: What a Renovation Really Costs
A bathroom renovation in Sydney costs about $11,500 to $23,000 for a basic renovation, $23,000 to $40,250 mid-range and $40,250 to $63,250 premium on current market ranges, GST included (whatsthedamage.com.au, prices verified September 2026). Those are market figures, not Mr Splash prices. Below: what each trade costs, what moves the total, the NSW rules that protect you, and how a fixed quote works.
thequoteyard.com.au (NSW guide, published 8 September 2026) puts a small bathroom under 4 square metres at $15,000 to $25,000 and a standard 4 to 8 square metre bathroom at $25,000 to $45,000. Not Mr Splash prices. A Mr Splash renovation is quoted as one fixed price, GST included, in a written contract before any work starts.
Bathroom Renovation Prices in Sydney by Tier, 2026
Whether you searched for bathroom renovation cost, small bathroom renovation cost or the average cost of a bathroom renovation in Sydney, these are the current market ranges from two independent cost trackers, with the source and date beside each figure. They are not Mr Splash prices, and the two trackers are shown separately because they measure differently.
| Renovation | Market range | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Basic renovation, Sydney | $11,500 to $23,000 | whatsthedamage.com.au, prices verified September 2026, GST included |
| Mid-range renovation, Sydney | $23,000 to $40,250, average about $29,900 | whatsthedamage.com.au, prices verified September 2026, GST included |
| Premium renovation, Sydney | $40,250 to $63,250 | whatsthedamage.com.au, prices verified September 2026, GST included |
| Luxury renovation, Sydney | $63,250 to $92,000 and above | whatsthedamage.com.au, prices verified September 2026, GST included |
| Ensuite | Typically 20 to 30 percent cheaper than a main bathroom | whatsthedamage.com.au, prices verified September 2026 |
| Cosmetic refresh, NSW | $8,000 to $15,000 | thequoteyard.com.au NSW guide, published 8 September 2026 |
| Small bathroom under 4 square metres, NSW | $15,000 to $25,000 | thequoteyard.com.au NSW guide, published 8 September 2026 |
| Standard bathroom 4 to 8 square metres, NSW | $25,000 to $45,000 | thequoteyard.com.au NSW guide, published 8 September 2026 |
| Premium renovation, NSW | $45,000 to $80,000 and above | thequoteyard.com.au NSW guide, published 8 September 2026 |
What Each Part of a Bathroom Renovation Costs
The total is the sum of eight or nine trades and supply lines. These are the Sydney market ranges per component, so you can see where the money goes and which lines a cheaper choice actually moves.
| Component | Low | Typical | High | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing rough-in | $2,300 | $3,450 | $5,750 | whatsthedamage.com.au, verified September 2026 |
| Waterproofing | $1,150 | $2,075 | $4,025 | whatsthedamage.com.au, verified September 2026 |
| Tiling, floor and walls | $2,300 | $4,025 | $6,900 | whatsthedamage.com.au, verified September 2026 |
| Demolition and disposal | $1,150 | $2,075 | $3,450 | whatsthedamage.com.au, verified September 2026 |
| Vanity, supply and install | $575 | $1,725 | $4,025 | whatsthedamage.com.au, verified September 2026 |
| Frameless shower screen | $920 | $1,725 | $2,875 | whatsthedamage.com.au, verified September 2026 |
| Freestanding bath | $1,725 | $3,225 | $5,750 | whatsthedamage.com.au, verified September 2026 |
| Toilet, supply and install | $460 | $805 | $1,375 | whatsthedamage.com.au, verified September 2026 |
| Plumbing, like-for-like layout, NSW | $4,000 | $8,000 | thequoteyard.com.au NSW guide, 8 September 2026 | |
| Waterproofing, NSW | $2,500 | $5,000 | thequoteyard.com.au NSW guide, 8 September 2026 | |
| Tiling labour per square metre, standard tiles | $65 | $120 | thequoteyard.com.au NSW guide, 8 September 2026 (large format or stone $100 to $180) |
What Moves a Bathroom Renovation Price Up or Down
Keeping or Moving the Layout
Reconnecting fixtures where they were is the cheapest plumbing outcome. Moving the toilet or shower means new drainage through the floor, and on an upper floor or a slab that is real work.
Size and Tile Area
Tiling is priced by the square metre, so a bigger bathroom and floor-to-ceiling tiles cost more in labour before a tile is chosen. Large-format and stone tiles are slower again.
Finish Level
The gap between basic and premium is almost all fixtures and finishes: the vanity, the tapware, the screen, the bath and the tiles. The trades cost about the same either way.
What Is Found Under the Old Bathroom
Failed waterproofing, rotten framing, old galvanised pipes and asbestos sheeting are found when the tiles come off. A contingency of 10 to 15 percent is normal for an older home.
Strata and Access
Apartments add strata approval, protection of common areas and the hours you can make noise. Carrying materials up stairs or through a lift adds time.
Compliance
Waterproofing must be done by a licensed waterproofer and plumbing by a licensed plumber, with compliance certificates. It is part of the price, not an optional extra.
The NSW Rules That Protect You on a Bathroom Renovation
Bathroom renovations are residential building work under the NSW Home Building Act, and the rules are worth knowing before you sign anything. Work worth more than $5,000 including GST needs a written contract, and the contract must include the licence number of the contractor. A deposit is capped at 10 percent of the contract price. Where the contract price is more than $20,000 including GST, the contractor must take out Home Building Compensation Fund insurance before taking any money or starting work, and give you the certificate.
Every trade on the job must hold the right licence: the plumber, the waterproofer, the electrician and the builder or trade contractor running the job. You can check any licence on the NSW Fair Trading licence register before you sign. Mr Splash Plumbing holds NSW Lic 306457C.
Two practical protections on top of the law: a fixed price contract with a written scope, so the number does not move unless you change the job, and a schedule of progress payments tied to stages you can see, never to dates.
How a Mr Splash Bathroom Renovation Is Quoted
Mr Splash renovates bathrooms across Sydney with its own licensed plumbers on the rough-in and fit-off, which is the part of a renovation that most often goes wrong when it is subcontracted. The quote starts with a site visit: the layout you want, what is staying, what is moving, and a look at the drainage and water points that will be reused.
You get one fixed price, GST included, in a written contract that lists the scope, the fixtures allowed for and the stages. If something is found under the old floor, work stops, you get an explanation and a fixed price for the extra before anything continues. Workmanship carries a lifetime guarantee.
The renovations page shows recent Mr Splash bathrooms, and the small bathroom renovations page covers ensuites and compact bathrooms where layout matters most.
How to Get an Accurate Bathroom Renovation Quote
- Decide what stays and what moves. Keeping the toilet, shower and vanity where they are is the single biggest saving on any renovation.
- Measure the room and note the wall height you want tiled. Tiling is priced by the square metre.
- Pick a finish level before you pick products. Basic, mid-range or premium sets the fixture budget; the exact vanity can come later.
- Photograph the existing bathroom, including under the vanity and around the base of the toilet, where water damage shows first.
- Ask every quote the same questions: is it a fixed price, does it include GST, what is the contingency for hidden damage, who does the waterproofing, and which licence numbers are on the contract.
- Get the contract, the licence numbers and the insurance certificate in writing before paying a deposit, which by law is no more than 10 percent.
Bathroom Renovation Cost Questions, Answered
How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Sydney?
Sydney market trackers put a basic renovation at $11,500 to $23,000, mid-range at $23,000 to $40,250 (average about $29,900) and premium at $40,250 to $63,250, GST included (whatsthedamage.com.au, prices verified September 2026). thequoteyard.com.au NSW guide (8 September 2026) puts a standard 4 to 8 square metre bathroom at $25,000 to $45,000. Those are market ranges, not Mr Splash prices; a Mr Splash renovation is one fixed price in a written contract.
How much does a small bathroom renovation cost?
thequoteyard.com.au NSW guide (8 September 2026) puts a small bathroom under 4 square metres at $15,000 to $25,000 and a cosmetic refresh at $8,000 to $15,000, and whatsthedamage.com.au (verified September 2026) notes an ensuite is typically 20 to 30 percent cheaper than a main bathroom. Market figures, not Mr Splash prices.
What is the most expensive part of a bathroom renovation?
Tiling and plumbing. Sydney market ranges put tiling at $2,300 to $6,900 and the plumbing rough-in at $2,300 to $5,750 (whatsthedamage.com.au, verified September 2026), and both rise sharply when fixtures move or the tile area grows. Fixtures and finishes are what separate a basic bathroom from a premium one.
Do I need a written contract for a bathroom renovation in NSW?
Yes for any residential building work worth more than $5,000 including GST. The contract must carry the contractor's licence number, the deposit is capped at 10 percent, and above $20,000 the contractor must hold Home Building Compensation Fund insurance and give you the certificate before taking money or starting.
How long does a bathroom renovation take?
A straightforward renovation that keeps the layout typically runs two to four weeks on site, with waterproofing cure times and tile delivery the usual reasons it stretches. Moving fixtures, structural repairs or custom joinery add time. A fixed schedule of stages in the contract is the protection.
Can I save money by keeping the toilet and shower where they are?
Yes, and it is the biggest saving available. Reconnecting fixtures in the same positions keeps the plumbing at the low end of its range; moving them means new drainage through the floor, which on an upper floor or a slab is a substantial job.
Are the prices on this page Mr Splash prices?
No. Every figure is a published Sydney or NSW market range from an independent cost tracker, named and dated beside it. A Mr Splash renovation is quoted as one fixed price, GST included, in a written contract before any work starts.
Related: Bathroom renovations · Small bathroom renovations · Toilet cost guide · Plumber prices Sydney
