How Much Does a New Bathroom Cost in the UK? (2025 Complete Guide)

"How much does a new bathroom cost?" is the first question every homeowner asks — and unfortunately, it's the hardest to answer simply. A bathroom renovation in the UK can cost anywhere from £1,500 for a budget refresh to £25,000+ for a high-end bespoke project. The difference comes down to what you're changing, what materials you choose, and where in the country you live.

This guide breaks down the real costs you'll face in 2025, based on typical UK pricing. No vague ranges — we'll show you what you're actually paying for, item by item, so you can set a realistic budget before getting quotes.

What Determines Your Bathroom Cost?

Before looking at specific figures, it's worth understanding the four main factors that determine the final bill:

• Scope of work — Are you keeping the existing layout and just swapping fixtures, or are you moving the soil stack, waste pipes, and completely reconfiguring the room? The latter can easily double the cost.
• Supply only vs supply and fit — Buying your own bathroom suite online can save money on materials, but some fitters charge a premium if they're installing products they haven't sourced (because they can't guarantee compatibility or quality).
• Materials quality — The gap between a budget toilet and a premium wall-hung model can be £400+. The same applies to tiles, taps, shower valves, and vanity units.
• Location — Labour rates in London and the South East are typically 20–30% higher than the Midlands or North of England. Scotland and Wales generally sit between the two.

Cost Breakdown by Bathroom Type

Here's what you can realistically expect to pay in 2025 for each type of bathroom project, including both labour and materials:

Itemised Cost Breakdown: What You're Actually Paying For

Understanding where the money goes helps you make informed decisions about where to spend and where to save. Here's how a typical mid-range bathroom renovation (£4,000–£6,000) breaks down:

Labour Costs

Labour typically accounts for 40–60% of the total bill. Here's what the individual trades charge in 2025:

Some bathroom fitters work as multi-trade specialists, handling plumbing, tiling, and basic carpentry themselves, which can reduce the overall labour cost. Others subcontract the tiling and electrical work — that's perfectly normal, but make sure they're managing and coordinating those subcontractors for you.

Materials: What Things Actually Cost

• Complete bathroom suite (toilet, basin, bath or shower tray): Budget £250–£500 | Mid-range £500–£1,200 | Premium £1,200–£3,000+
• Shower valve and head: Budget £80–£200 | Thermostatic mixer £200–£600 | Digital/smart shower £500–£1,500
• Wall and floor tiles: £15–£30/m² (budget) | £30–£60/m² (mid-range) | £60–£150/m² (premium/designer)
• Tile adhesive and grout: £50–£120 depending on area
• Vanity unit and basin: £150–£400 (freestanding) | £400–£1,200 (wall-hung designer)
• Heated towel rail: £60–£300 (plumbed or electric)
• Taps: £30–£80 (budget) | £100–£300 (mid-range) | £300+ (designer/brass)

Often-Forgotten Costs

• Skip hire and waste removal: £150–£300. An old bathroom generates a surprising amount of waste — tiles, plasterboard, the old suite, packaging.
• Plastering: £200–£400 for a full bathroom. Old walls often need skimming once tiles are removed.
• Floor preparation: £100–£250. If the existing floor is uneven or rotten (common in older properties), it needs levelling or replacing before tiling.
• Boxing in pipework: £80–£200. Neat boxing around waste pipes and copper pipes is a finishing touch that separates a professional job from a bodge.
• Silicone, sealant, and sundries: £30–£80. Small cost, but poor silicone work is the number one reason bathrooms look tired within two years.

Supply and Fit vs Supply Only

Should you buy your own bathroom suite and tiles, or let your fitter source everything? Both approaches have merits:

Buying Your Own (Supply Only)

• Pro: You can shop around online and at showrooms, often finding better deals on tiles and fixtures than your fitter's trade price.
• Pro: You get exactly what you want — no compromise on style or brand.
• Con: If anything arrives damaged, is the wrong size, or needs returning, that's on you — and delays cost you labour days.
• Con: Some fitters won't guarantee work on products they haven't supplied, particularly shower valves and toilet frames.

Letting Your Fitter Supply Everything

• Pro: They know what works reliably and fits properly. They'll often get trade pricing that's competitive with online.
• Pro: If something's faulty or wrong, it's their problem to sort — one point of accountability.
• Con: Some fitters mark up materials by 15–30%, which you won't always see in an itemised quote.
• Con: You may have less choice if they stick to specific suppliers or brands.

What Pushes Costs Up Unexpectedly

Even well-planned bathroom renovations can go over budget. Here are the most common surprise costs:

• Moving waste pipes or the soil stack: This can add £500–£1,500 to the job, depending on how far pipes need to move and whether floor joists need notching or drilling.
• Tanking for wet rooms: Full tanking (waterproof membrane applied to walls and floor) adds £800–£2,000 to the cost of a standard shower installation. It's essential if you're creating a true wet room.
• Damp and rotten timber: Once you strip old tiles and plasterboard, you sometimes find damp patches, rotten joists, or crumbling plaster. Remediation can cost £200–£1,000+ depending on severity.
• Asbestos: In properties built before 2000, there's a chance of asbestos in old ceiling tiles, floor tiles, or pipe insulation. Licensed removal costs £300–£800+ for a bathroom.
• Out-of-square walls: Old houses rarely have perfectly square rooms. This means extra cutting, shimming, and time for the tiler — which adds to the labour bill.
• Electrical upgrades: If your bathroom doesn't have an existing fan or the wiring doesn't meet current Part P regulations, you'll need an electrician to upgrade circuits. Budget an extra £150–£400.

How to Save Money Without Cutting Corners

There are smart ways to reduce your bathroom renovation cost without compromising on quality or safety:

1. Keep the existing layout. The single biggest cost-saver. If your toilet, basin, and bath/shower can stay in the same positions, you avoid expensive plumbing rework.
2. Shop tiles online. Tile showrooms look beautiful but charge premium prices. Online tile retailers like Walls and Floors, Tile Mountain, or even B&Q's range can save 30–50% on identical or comparable products.
3. Choose a standard suite size. Non-standard bath sizes, offset shower trays, or unusual basin dimensions all cost more — both for the product and the labour to fit them.
4. Plan everything before your fitter starts. Changes mid-job are the number one cause of budget overruns. Finalise your tile layout, fixture positions, and accessories before day one.
5. Consider a bathroom fitter who handles multiple trades. A multi-skilled fitter who can plumb, tile, and do basic carpentry is often cheaper overall than coordinating three separate tradespeople.
6. Time your project carefully. January–March tends to be quieter for bathroom fitters, so you may get better rates than during the spring and summer rush.

Regional Price Differences

Bathroom renovation costs vary significantly across the UK. As a rough guide:

• London and South East: 20–30% above national average. Higher labour rates, skip permit costs, and parking challenges all contribute.
• South West, East Anglia: Roughly national average, sometimes slightly above in cities like Bristol and Cambridge.
• Midlands: Slightly below average. Good value for quality work, especially outside Birmingham city centre.
• North of England, Wales: 10–20% below London prices. Excellent value, though material costs are roughly the same nationwide.
• Scotland: Similar to Northern England pricing. Some remote areas in the Highlands may have higher delivery surcharges on materials.

What to Look For in Your Quotes

When you receive quotes from bathroom fitters, look for these details:

• Itemised breakdown: Labour, materials, and sundries should be listed separately. A single lump-sum figure makes it impossible to compare quotes fairly.
• Timeline: The quote should state how many days the work will take and when they can start.
• What's included and excluded: Does the price include skip hire? Waste removal? Plastering? Electrical work? Decoration after fitting? If any of these are excluded, you'll need to budget separately.
• Payment schedule: A standard arrangement is 25–50% deposit to secure materials, with the balance due on satisfactory completion. Never pay 100% upfront.
• Guarantee: What guarantee do they offer on their workmanship? 12 months is standard minimum; some offer 2–5 years.

Get at least three quotes for any bathroom project over £2,000. Be wary of the cheapest quote (it often means corners will be cut on waterproofing or finishing) and equally suspicious of a price that drops significantly when you mention you've had lower quotes elsewhere — a reputable fitter prices based on the work, not on what they think you'll pay.

Ready to Get an Accurate Quote?

Every bathroom is different, and the only way to get a truly accurate price is to have a professional assess your specific space. Fill in the form below to receive free, no-obligation quotes from vetted bathroom fitters in your area.