How much does a new bathroom cost in the UK?
As an indicative planning range, a new bathroom fitted like for like with mid-range fittings commonly falls somewhere around £5,000–£9,000, with small cloakrooms below that and layout changes or premium specifications well above. Quotes split into labour, sanitaryware, tiling and services — the labour element is fairly predictable; the fittings are where budgets move most.
A standard UK bathroom refit is commonly a 5 to 10 working day job for a small team, longer where layouts change or walls move.
Moving the WC or the soil connection is the single change most likely to add cost, because it affects drainage falls rather than just pipework.
Roughly speaking, labour tends to be around a third to a half of a bathroom total, with sanitaryware, tiling and materials making up the rest. Where a quote shows one figure only, ask for that split before comparing it with anything else.
Indicative UK cost ranges
QuoteCheck does not hold a live UK pricing feed. The figures below are indicative planning ranges, assembled from commonly published UK ranges and typical job structures, and they are deliberately wide. Treat them as a starting point for questions, not as a valuation. Real prices depend on specification, access, ground conditions, region, season and how each firm prices its own labour and overheads.
| Item | Unit | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| Cloakroom / small WC refitWC and basin, limited tiling. | per project | £1,800 – £4,000 |
| Small bathroom, like for likeAround 4–5m², mid-range fittings. | per project | £4,000 – £7,000 |
| Medium bathroom, like for likeThe most common family bathroom range. | per project | £5,000 – £9,000 |
| Large or higher specificationPremium tiling, fittings or layout changes. | per project | £9,000 – £18,000 |
| Labour onlyPlumber, tiler, electrician. | per project | £2,500 – £5,000 |
| TilingLarge format and mosaic cost more to lay. | per m² | £45 – £90 |
| Sanitaryware setVery wide; specify the exact items. | per set | £700 – £3,500 |
| Electrics and extractorIncludes certification. | per project | £450 – £1,200 |
| Strip out and waste removalOld suite and tiles are heavy; tipping is charged by weight. | per project | £350 – £900 |
What moves the price
- Layout changes
- Moving the WC or soil pipe is the costliest change.
- Tile area and format
- Measure the wall and floor area; large format needs flatter substrates.
- Fittings specification
- Ask for named products, not an allowance alone.
- Substrate
- Tile backer board, tanking and any rotten floor.
- Ventilation
- Extraction is a building regulations matter.
- Making good
- Decoration, door, skirting and flooring outside the room.
Worked example — standard family bathroom (illustrative only)
- Strip out and disposal
- £650
- Plumbing first and second fix
- £2,000
- Tiling, 22m²
- £1,540
- Sanitaryware (provisional sum)
- £1,600
- Electrics and extractor
- £800
- Decoration and making good
- £600
- Indicative total before VAT
- £7,190
Fictional figures. Use the structure, not the numbers, when reading your own quote.
What your quote should show
- Whether the layout is changing
- Tile area in m² and named tile
- Sanitaryware listed item by item or as a labelled allowance
- Electrical work and certification
- Tanking and substrate preparation
- Waste removal
- Decoration and making good
- VAT treatment and duration
Before you agree to the quote
- What is usually excluded
- Decoration outside the bathroom, flooring beyond the room, a new door, replastering of ceilings, and the sanitaryware itself where only an allowance is given. Underfloor heating, niche lighting and bespoke glass are also often extra.
- VAT
- A VAT-registered fitter adds 20%. Where several trades are quoted separately, some may be registered and others not, so compare all figures on the same basis before ranking them.
- Staged payments
- A short job like a bathroom is commonly paid as a materials deposit, an interim payment part-way, and a balance on completion. There is rarely a good reason to pay the majority up front.
- How long a quote should stand
- Tile and sanitaryware prices move, so ask how long the quote holds — 30 days is typical — and whether the named products are still available at that price.
- Unexpected costs
- Rotten floorboards, failed pipework in an older property, walls too far out of true for large-format tiles, and an existing soil connection that limits where the WC can go. Ask how these would be priced if found.
- Comparing quotes
- Line the quotes up as labour, tiling per m², sanitaryware, electrics, waste and making good. If one uses a provisional sum for fittings, use the same sum across all quotes so you are comparing the same thing.
- Questions to ask before accepting
- Which days will the bathroom be unusable? Who supplies and who is liable for damaged items? Is tanking included behind the shower? Who issues the electrical certificate? What happens to the old suite?
Frequently asked questions
How much does a new bathroom cost in the UK?
Indicatively £5,000–£9,000 for a standard refit with mid-range fittings, and more where the layout changes or the specification rises.
How long does a bathroom refit take?
Commonly 5–10 working days for a like-for-like refit. Layout changes, replastering and drying times extend that.
Should sanitaryware be supplied by me or the fitter?
Either works. A fitter's trade discount can offset their margin, but supplying it yourself makes the quote easier to compare. Agree who is responsible for damaged or missing items.
Does a bathroom refit need building regulations approval?
Replacing a suite like for like usually does not, but electrical work in a bathroom, new ventilation and any structural or drainage change are regulated. Ask who is notifying the work and who provides the certificate.
Is a bathroom quote with one total acceptable?
It is common, but it cannot be compared with anything. Ask for labour, tiling area, sanitaryware and electrics as separate lines — most fitters will provide them if asked.
How much does a small bathroom cost to fit in the UK?
Indicatively £4,000–£7,000 for a small like-for-like bathroom of around 4–5m² with mid-range fittings, and £1,800–£4,000 for a cloakroom with just a WC and basin.
How much of a bathroom quote is labour?
Commonly around a third to a half of the total, with sanitaryware, tiling and materials making up the rest. Ask for labour and materials separately so you can see which side of the quote is driving the price.
Is VAT included in a bathroom quote?
Not always. A VAT-registered fitter adds 20%, while a smaller firm below the threshold does not. Check how each quote treats VAT before comparing them, or you may be ranking figures that are not on the same basis.
Can QuoteCheck tell me if my bathroom quote is fair?
QuoteCheck reviews the quote and details you provide and returns an independent second opinion for £9.99 — an estimated reasonable range, questions to ask and a suggested target price. It is an estimate, not a guarantee.
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