Bathroom Renovation Cost UK: 2026 Price Breakdown
Bathroom renovations are one of the highest-impact home improvements you can make — and one of the easiest to overspend on. Here's a no-nonsense 2026 breakdown of what UK bathrooms genuinely cost, where the money goes and where you can save without making cheap-looking choices.
Average bathroom renovation cost in the UK (2026)
Three rough tiers cover most UK bathroom projects in 2026. The numbers below assume a typical British 2.5m × 2m bathroom, with all the right tradespeople (plumber, electrician, tiler, fitter) involved and proper certification.
| Tier | Total cost (2026) | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Budget refresh | £4,500 – £7,500 | Mid-range fixtures, ceramic tiles, like-for-like layout, basic lighting |
| Mid-range refit | £7,500 – £14,000 | Better fixtures (Roca, Hansgrohe), porcelain tiles, recessed lighting, electric shower upgrade |
| Premium / wet room | £14,000 – £30,000+ | Designer fixtures, large-format tiles, walk-in shower / wet-room conversion, underfloor heating |
Where the money actually goes
Most homeowners are surprised by how much of a bathroom budget is invisible — strip-out, waste, plumbing first fix, plastering, tile prep. Here's how a typical £10,000 mid-range UK bathroom breaks down in 2026.
| Line item | Typical cost | % of budget |
|---|---|---|
| Strip-out and waste removal | £400 – £700 | 5–7% |
| First-fix plumbing & electrics | £800 – £1,400 | 10–14% |
| Plastering / making good | £500 – £900 | 5–9% |
| Tiling labour | £1,200 – £2,200 | 15–22% |
| Fitting (toilet, basin, bath, shower) | £800 – £1,500 | 10–15% |
| Sanitaryware (toilet, basin, bath) | £700 – £1,800 | 8–18% |
| Shower & enclosure | £500 – £1,500 | 5–15% |
| Tiles and adhesive | £600 – £1,800 | 8–18% |
| Taps, accessories, lighting | £300 – £900 | 4–9% |
| Project management / contingency | £400 – £900 | 5–9% |
Wet room conversion cost
Converting a standard bathroom into a wet room costs £10,000–£18,000 for a typical 2.5m × 2m space in 2026. The big extras vs a normal bathroom are: tanking the entire space, installing a sloped sub-floor, upgrading drainage and adding under-tile heating. It's not a DIY job — getting tanking wrong leads to leaks and ceiling damage downstairs.
Small bathroom & cloakroom costs
A small downstairs cloakroom (just toilet + basin) costs £1,800–£3,500 for a refit. A compact en-suite shower room runs £3,500–£6,500. Smaller doesn't always mean cheaper per square metre — you still need full first-fix plumbing, an extractor and tiling, just in a smaller area.
How long does a bathroom renovation take?
- Day 1: Strip-out and waste removal
- Days 2–3: First-fix plumbing and electrics
- Day 4: Plasterboarding and plastering (1 day to dry)
- Days 5–8: Tiling — walls, then floor
- Days 9–10: Second fix — toilet, basin, bath, shower, taps
- Day 11: Silicone, snagging, deep clean
Most UK bathrooms finish in 8–12 working days. Wet rooms add 2–4 days for tanking and drying. Anyone promising 'a brand new bathroom in 5 days' is either skipping steps or has a four-person team — ask which.
Should you hire a single firm or separate trades?
There are two main approaches in the UK market:
- Bathroom showroom packages — supply and fit, all under one roof. Easiest for the homeowner; usually 15–30% more expensive because of marked-up fixtures.
- Direct hire — you employ a fitter / project lead, who brings in their plumber, electrician and tiler. You buy fixtures yourself. More work for you, typically £1,000–£3,000 cheaper.
Costly mistakes to avoid
- Buying tiles before measuring properly. Add 10% for cuts and breakages — running short halfway through a job adds days and re-orders.
- Skipping the extractor. Building Regs require mechanical ventilation. A tradesperson skipping it is cutting corners.
- Choosing the cheapest shower valve. Pressure-balancing thermostatic valves last 10+ years; sub-£60 valves often fail within 2.
- Not waterproofing properly under shower trays. A small extra cost upfront, a £5,000 ceiling repair if it leaks.
- Forgetting access panels. Boxing in concealed cisterns and shower valves with no access turns small fixes into wall-removal jobs.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a bathroom renovation in the UK in 2026?
A typical 2.5m × 2m UK bathroom renovation costs £4,500–£7,500 for a budget refresh, £7,500–£14,000 for a mid-range refit, and £14,000–£30,000+ for a premium or wet-room conversion in 2026. Labour usually accounts for 50–60% of the total.
How long does a bathroom renovation take in the UK?
Most UK bathroom renovations take 8–12 working days for a like-for-like refit. Wet-room conversions and layout changes typically add 2–5 days for tanking, drying and additional plumbing.
What's cheaper — supply-and-fit or buying fixtures yourself?
Buying fixtures yourself and hiring a fitter directly is typically £1,000–£3,000 cheaper than a showroom supply-and-fit package, but it means more time managing the project. Real-time bidding marketplaces let you compare both options for the same job.
How much does a small bathroom cost in the UK?
A downstairs cloakroom refit costs £1,800–£3,500, and a compact en-suite £3,500–£6,500 in 2026. Per square metre, smaller bathrooms are often more expensive because the fixed costs (first-fix plumbing, extractor, lighting) are spread across less space.
How much should I budget for tiles?
Mid-range porcelain wall tiles cost £25–£45 per square metre in 2026, large-format and rectified tiles £50–£90/m². Tiling labour is typically £40–£70 per square metre on top. For a standard UK bathroom, budget £600–£1,800 for tiles plus £1,200–£2,200 for tiling labour.
Do I need planning permission for a bathroom renovation?
Most internal bathroom renovations don't need planning permission. Building Regs apply to drainage, ventilation and electrical work. Adding a bathroom to a listed building, or installing a new soil pipe externally on a listed/conservation property, may need consent — check with your local authority.
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AllSorted Editorial Team
Home services research & UK trades industry analysis
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