Bathroom Renovation Cost Sydney: 2026 Price Guide

How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Sydney?

As of October 2026, a standard full bathroom renovation in Sydney typically costs about $15,000 to $40,000. Premium or complex jobs can go past $60,000. These prices are indicative only. They are drawn from What’s The Damage’s Sydney cost guide and hipages figures reported by Savings.com.au.

The sources do not agree exactly. What’s The Damage (updated October 2026) gives these Sydney ranges, including GST:

• Basic renovation: about $11,500 to $23,000
• Mid-range renovation: about $23,000 to $40,250
• Premium renovation: about $40,250 to $63,250
• Luxury renovation: about $63,250 to $92,000

The hipages figures quoted by Savings.com.au cover all of Australia, not just Sydney. They put a cosmetic update at $8,000 to $15,000, a standard renovation at $15,000 to $35,000, and a major renovation at over $35,000. The Sydney-only guide runs higher than these national figures.

Use these numbers to plan your budget, not to judge a quote. Only a written quote after a site visit can tell you what your bathroom will cost.

What drives the cost of a bathroom renovation

Every bathroom is different. These are the items that move the price most. The dollar figures are typical Sydney ranges from What’s The Damage.

• Layout changes: keeping the shower, toilet and vanity where they are is usually cheaper than moving them. Plumbing rough-in alone runs about $2,300 to $5,750.
• Waterproofing: this sits under the tiles, so you never see it. It is still one of the most important jobs in the room. Expect about $805 to $4,025.
• Tiling: floor and wall tiling costs about $3,225 to $8,600. Large, patterned or natural stone tiles can take longer to lay.
• Fixtures and fittings: a vanity costs about $575 to $4,025 supplied and installed. A frameless shower screen is about $920 to $2,875. A toilet is about $460 to $1,375.
• Extras: a freestanding bath runs about $1,725 to $5,750 installed. A heated towel rail is about $400 to $1,375.
• Strip-out and rubbish removal: about $1,150 to $3,450.
• Hidden problems: water damage, rotten timber or old wiring may only show up once the old tiles come off.
• Your building: apartments can add costs for lift bookings, parking, protecting common areas and set work hours.

What a bathroom quote usually includes, and what it may leave out

Quotes are often set out differently. Ask each tradie to mark every item as included, excluded or an allowance. The NSW Government suggests giving every contractor the same information so you can compare quotes fairly.

Items that are often included:

• Removing old tiles, fixtures and rubbish
• Plumbing and electrical work by licensed trades
• Waterproofing of the shower and other wet areas
• Floor and wall tiling, grout and silicone
• Fitting the vanity, toilet, tapware and shower screen

Items that are often left out, or shown only as an allowance:

• Tiles, tapware and fixtures you have not chosen yet. These may appear as a “prime cost” (PC) item, which is a placeholder amount for something not yet selected.
• Repairs to floors, wall frames or ceilings found after the strip-out
• Asbestos testing and removal
• Painting, mirrors, shelves and accessories
• Strata, council or certifier fees
• A temporary toilet or shower if it is your only bathroom

How to save money without cutting corners

• Keep the layout: leaving the plumbing where it is avoids one of the bigger costs.
• Choose fittings before you get quotes: firm choices mean fewer placeholder amounts and fewer surprises later.
• Spend where it matters: put money into waterproofing and good workmanship. Save on items that are easy to swap later, like mirrors and towel rails.
• Pick standard tiles: common sizes and simple patterns are usually quicker to lay.
• Compare like with like: use the same written brief for every quote, so the prices cover the same job.
• Check whether you need a full rebuild: if a tradie confirms the tiles and waterproofing are sound, a smaller update may do. A leak needs its cause found first.
• Keep some money aside: hidden damage is common in older bathrooms.

NSW rules that apply to bathroom renovations

Licences: in NSW, a contractor licence is needed for residential building work worth more than $5,000 including GST. This includes waterproofing. Plumbing and electrical work need a licence no matter how small the job is.

Licence check: look up the person or company on the NSW Government’s online licence check (verify.licence.nsw.gov.au). It shows the licence holder’s name, licence categories, expiry date and current status. Make sure the name matches the business on your quote and contract.

Written contract: your tradie must give you a written contract if the job is worth more than $5,000 including GST. Jobs over $20,000 need a more detailed contract, and you get a cooling-off period of five clear business days.

Deposit: the most you can be asked to pay as a deposit is 10 per cent of the contract price.

Home Building Compensation insurance: for work worth more than $20,000, the contractor must take out this insurance before asking you for any deposit or payment. It protects you as a last resort if the contractor can’t finish the job or fix defects because they have become insolvent, died, disappeared or lost their licence. Ask for the certificate.

Warranties: NSW law gives you statutory warranties on home building work. The period is 6 years for major defects and 2 years for other defects.

Apartments: under NSW strata rules, bathroom renovations and any changes that need waterproofing are “major renovations”. They need a special resolution of the owners corporation before work starts.

Approvals: some internal work can go ahead as exempt development if it meets set standards. Structural changes may need approval. Check the NSW Planning Portal or ask a certifier.

Asbestos: homes built or renovated before 1990 may contain asbestos, including behind tiles. Asbestos NSW warns not to sand, cut or drill suspected asbestos. Ask about testing before the strip-out.

Questions to ask your tradie

• What is your licence number, and which business name will be on the contract?
• Who will do the plumbing, electrical work and waterproofing, and are they licensed?
• Which waterproofing product will you use, and will I get a certificate when it is done?
• Which items in the quote are allowances, and how were those amounts worked out?
• What happens if you find water damage or asbestos after the strip-out?
• How long will the job take, and will I have a working toilet during that time?
• How will variations be priced and agreed in writing?
• What warranties come with the work and with the products?

Get matched with local bathroom renovators

Ready to price your own bathroom? Describe your job to MyTradeCrew. Tell us the size of the room, what you want to change and any timing needs. We will match you with vetted, licensed and insured local trades who can visit, check the space and give you a written quote.

Frequently asked questions