A bathroom renovation in Australia costs about $8,000 to $15,000 for a cosmetic refresh, $15,000 to $35,000 for a standard renovation with mid-range fittings, and $35,000 or more for a full redesign with relocated plumbing and premium materials. Renovation companies quote $30,000 to $50,000 for a mid-range job, and the most recent large survey found Australians who renovated a bathroom spent a median of $19,000.
This guide shows what each tier includes, the trade rates behind the totals, and the waterproofing and licensing rules that apply. All figures are Australian dollars. Most consumer cost guides do not state GST, so treat their figures as consumer-facing totals and confirm GST with the builder.
The short answer
| Tier | Range | GST | What it includes | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget or cosmetic | $8,000 to $15,000 | Not stated | Smaller bathroom, budget materials, repainting tiles, new mirror, swapping one or two fixtures, no structural change | hipages brackets via savings.com.au, updated 5 January 2026 |
| Standard or mid-range | $15,000 to $35,000 | Not stated | Average-sized bathroom, mid-range fittings, some structural change; may exclude major plumbing or electrical relocation | hipages via savings.com.au, 5 January 2026 |
| Premium or major | $35,000 and up | Not stated | Full redesign, relocated plumbing and electrics, top-of-range materials | hipages via savings.com.au, 5 January 2026 |
| Mid-range, renovation company | $30,000 to $50,000 | Not stated | New bath, shower, vanity and toilet plus extractor fan, towel rail, tiles, paint and flooring | Refresh Renovations, Australian page, undated |
| Median spend, homeowners who renovated in 2022 | $19,000 | Not stated | Survey of more than 1,500 Australian homeowners | Houzz, 2023 Australia Houzz and Home Study, 1 July 2023 |
Sources: savings.com.au, Cost to renovate a bathroom, quoting hipages, updated 5 January 2026; Refresh Renovations, Bathroom renovation cost estimate Australia, undated; Houzz, 2023 Australia Houzz and Home Study, released 1 July 2023 reporting 2022 spend. Checked 7 October 2026.
The Houzz median is lower than the standard bracket because it includes partial and DIY jobs. The Refresh range is higher because a renovation company prices a complete managed project including design and project management.
Trade rates behind the totals
| Item | Range | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber, hourly | $80 to $200 per hour plus call-out | savings.com.au, 5 January 2026 |
| Tiles, supply | $35 to $120 per m2 | savings.com.au, 5 January 2026 |
| Tiling labour | $50 to $70 per m2 | savings.com.au, 5 January 2026 |
| Painting, average bathroom | $150 to $350 | savings.com.au citing Services.com.au, 5 January 2026 |
A bathroom includes fixtures and trade visits that do not shrink with floor area. A small ensuite with a tiled shower and relocated plumbing can cost more than a larger room with a simpler layout, so compare inclusions before comparing per-square-metre rates.
What changes the price
- Layout. Keeping the toilet, shower and vanity where they are versus moving them. Relocation means new drainage, floor work and often a concrete cut.
- Size and tile area. Floor-to-ceiling tiling on a large room multiplies both supply and labour.
- Fixture tier. Framed versus frameless screens, wall-hung versus floor-mounted vanities, tapware, heated towel rails, underfloor heating.
- Waterproofing and compliance. A compliant membrane system installed by a licensed trade, with certificates at handover.
- Hidden conditions. Water damage, rotten framing, uneven floors and asbestos sheeting behind the old tiles in homes built before 1990.
- Trades and sequencing. Demolition, plumber, electrician, waterproofer, tiler, glazier, painter and plasterer each need a visit, and the sequence drives the programme.
Waterproofing and licensing: check the actual scope
Waterproofing of domestic wet areas is governed by AS 3740:2021, published 23 July 2021 and referenced by the National Construction Code 2022. It sets minimum requirements for materials, design and installation of waterproofing in houses and apartments.
Licensing rules differ by state:
- New South Wales. A contractor licence is required for any residential building or trade work, including waterproofing, valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials including GST. Penalties for unlicensed work are $22,000 for an individual and $110,000 for a company under the Home Building Act 1989. Source: NSW Government, Waterproofing work, updated 23 June 2026.
- Queensland. Waterproofing is a QBCC licence class covering surface preparation and the application or installation of systems that prevent moisture penetration. Source: QBCC, Waterproofing licence class.
- Victoria. Most domestic building work worth more than $10,000 requires a major domestic building contract with a builder registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission. Source: Consumer Affairs Victoria, Laws about home building contracts, updated 8 July 2025.
Ask who will install the waterproofing, which system they use, and what certificates and photos you will receive before tiling covers it.
Fixed price or cost plus
Bathrooms hide their problems behind tiles and plasterboard, which is why some renovators price them on a cost-plus basis rather than a fixed price. Carropat Construction, a renovation builder working across the Gold Coast and the Northern Rivers, publishes that it uses transparent cost-plus pricing contracts, does the investigative scoping before demolition and handles council approvals. Source: Carropat Construction, Home renovations, checked 8 October 2026.
Neither model is wrong. A fixed price carries the hidden-conditions risk inside the number; a cost-plus price carries it outside the number and shows you the margin. Ask which one a quote uses before you compare totals, and ask how variations are approved under each.
Disclosure: Contractor Scale, which operates Bracen, provides marketing services to this builder. The statement is quoted from the builder's own published page, checked 8 October 2026, and is the builder's description of its own pricing or construction method, not a Bracen assessment.
A checklist for comparable quotes
Give each renovator the same room measurements, photos, proposed layout and selection list, and ask for a written inclusions schedule covering:
- demolition, disposal and protection of the rest of the home;
- any floor, framing or lining repairs and how unforeseen work is approved and priced;
- plumbing, drainage, electrical work and ventilation;
- the waterproofing system, preparation, installation and handover records;
- fixtures, tiles, glazing, painting and final cleaning;
- design, approvals and inspections where required;
- GST, provisional allowances, contingency and payment stages.
If the bathroom is part of a wider project, our kitchen renovation cost guide and home extension cost guide cover the adjoining work.
The estimator below this article gives a modelled starting range from your answers, in Australian dollars. It does not inspect your bathroom or replace a priced scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Australia?
About $8,000 to $15,000 for a budget refresh, $15,000 to $35,000 for a standard renovation and $35,000 or more for a premium redesign, according to hipages brackets published by savings.com.au in January 2026. Renovation companies such as Refresh Renovations quote $30,000 to $50,000 for a mid-range job.
What do Australians actually spend on a bathroom renovation?
The 2023 Australia Houzz and Home Study, released 1 July 2023, found a median spend of $19,000 among homeowners who renovated a bathroom in 2022. The median is below the standard bracket because it includes partial and DIY jobs.
Do I need a licensed waterproofer?
In New South Wales, yes for any residential work over $5,000 including GST. In Queensland, waterproofing is a QBCC licence class. In Victoria, work over $10,000 requires a registered builder and a major domestic building contract. In every state, ask for the waterproofing certificate before the tiles go on.
What standard applies to bathroom waterproofing?
AS 3740:2021, Waterproofing of domestic wet areas, which is referenced by the National Construction Code 2022. Your builder should name the membrane system and install it to that standard.
What pushes a bathroom into the premium bracket?
Relocating plumbing and electrics, structural changes to walls or windows, stone or large-format tiles, frameless glazing and high-end fixtures. Hidden conditions in older homes can also move a standard job into premium money.