How to Quote a Bathroom Renovation in Australia
A bathroom is a small room hiding a lot of trades. Here's how to quote a bathroom renovation so waterproofing, plumbing and the hidden nasties are all priced before you commit to a number.
A bathroom is the smallest room in the house and the easiest one to lose money on. Demolition, waterproofing, plumbing, tiling, electrical and fit-off all crammed into a few square metres, plus whatever's rotting behind the old wall sheet. The quotes that hurt are the ones that priced the tiles and forgot the rest. This guide covers what a bathroom quote should include, what it costs in 2026, and the mistakes that quietly eat your margin.
What a good bathroom quote covers
A bathroom touches more trades than almost any room its size. Before you price anything, make sure the scope lists every one of these:
- Demolition and waste removal — stripping the old room out and getting the rubble off site.
- Waterproofing — a compliant membrane to AS 3740, priced as its own line, not buried in the tiling.
- Tiling — floor and walls, with the tile, adhesive, grout and waste factor spelled out.
- Plumbing — rough-in and fit-off, plus any relocation of the toilet, shower or vanity.
- Electrical — lighting, exhaust fan, power points and often a heated towel rail.
- Fixtures and fittings — vanity, toilet, shower screen, tapware and accessories.
- Structural and sheeting work — any framing repairs, new wall sheet or gyprock.
Write the quote as line items with clear inclusions and exclusions. A bathroom is where a vague 'supply and install bathroom' turns into an argument at handover — spell out exactly what the client is getting.
Bathroom renovation costs in 2026
A standard bathroom renovation in Australia lands between $15,000 and $35,000, driven by size, finish and how much the plumbing moves. Quote materials at today's prices — tiles, membrane, adhesive and tapware all move, and last month's numbers will cost you.
| Tier | Typical cost | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $10,000–$15,000 | Like-for-like layout, standard tiles and off-the-shelf fixtures |
| Mid-range | $20,000–$30,000 | Some relocation, quality tiles, framed screen and a decent vanity |
| High-end | $40,000+ | New layout, premium tiles and tapware, frameless screen, feature lighting |
Add a 10% waste factor on tiles and adhesive — cuts, breakages and pattern-matching all eat into the box count, and running short mid-job means a second delivery and a stalled tiler.
Working out labour
The cleanest way to price bathroom labour is by trade and by day, then total it. A typical mid-range bathroom runs to roughly two working weeks once you allow for drying time between stages:
- Demolition — 1–2 days to strip and cart away.
- Plumbing rough-in — around a day, more if you're relocating fixtures.
- Waterproofing — a day to apply, plus curing time before anyone tiles.
- Tiling — 2–4 days depending on tile size, floor prep and wall coverage.
- Plumbing fit-off and electrical — roughly a day and a half combined.
- Finishing — silicone, screen, accessories and the final clean.
If you're subcontracting the plumber, tiler or sparky, add your margin on top of their price — you carry the coordination, the risk and the callbacks, and that's worth charging for.
Waterproofing and compliance
Waterproofing is where a bathroom either lasts twenty years or leaks in two, and it's the compliance line most likely to bite you. Price it properly and put it in writing.
- Wet areas must be waterproofed to AS 3740 — this is not the place to cut corners or blend the cost into tiling.
- In many states waterproofing must be done or certified by a licensed applicator; check your local requirements before you quote.
- Allow for the membrane to fully cure before tiling — that drying time is real days on the program, not a pause.
- Homes built before the late 1980s can hide asbestos in sheeting and old floors; factor testing and licensed removal where it's a risk.
Common mistakes that eat your margin
- Under-pricing the waterproofing. Compliant membrane and a licensed applicator cost real money. Buried inside a tiling rate, it quietly comes out of your margin.
- Underestimating demo and waste. Stripping a bathroom back to frame is slow, and skip bins and tip fees add up. Price the demolition and the rubbish removal as their own lines.
- Missing plumbing relocations. Moving a toilet or shower a metre means new rough-in and often floor work. Confirm the layout before you price, not after.
- Quoting off last month's tile prices. Tile, adhesive and tapware prices move. Pull current supplier pricing the day you quote so the numbers still hold when the job starts.
- No contingency for hidden damage. Rotten framing, old wiring and asbestos live behind the wall sheet. A 5–10% contingency line covers the surprises without a difficult variation conversation.
Pro tips for a bathroom quote that holds
- Always inspect the existing bathroom in person before you quote — you're pricing what's behind the tiles as much as what's on them.
- Break the quote into sections: demo, waterproofing, tiling, plumbing, electrical and fixtures.
- State inclusions and exclusions plainly so there's no argument over who's supplying the tapware.
- Add the 5–10% contingency as a visible line, not a hidden buffer.
- Pull current material prices the day you quote.
- Include payment terms and a realistic timeline that allows for curing days.
ServiceYak keeps your tiling, waterproofing, plumbing and fit-off rates in a reusable kit, so you can build an itemised bathroom quote on site and send the PDF before you've left the driveway.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Australia?
A standard renovation runs $15,000–$35,000 supplied and installed. Budget like-for-like jobs start around $10,000–$15,000, while a high-end bathroom with premium tiles, tapware and a new layout can push past $40,000.
Does the waterproofing have to meet a standard?
Yes — wet areas must be waterproofed to AS 3740, and in many states the work must be done or certified by a licensed applicator. Price it as its own line and allow curing time before tiling.
How long does a bathroom renovation take?
Most mid-range bathrooms run around two working weeks. The trades themselves are quick, but demolition, waterproofing cure time and drying between stages stretch the program more than people expect.