How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost in Sydney?
Guide prepared by Ali, licensed builder, NSW Builder Licence No. 387501C, 15+ years renovating Sydney bathrooms. Last updated: August 2026.
Most Sydney bathroom renovations with Aussie Bathroom Renovations cost between $17,000 and $65,000, depending on the size of the room, the finish level chosen, and whether any plumbing or structural changes are involved. A small ensuite under 5 sqm typically starts around $17,000, a standard family bathroom sits between $20,000 and $30,000, and luxury finishes can run from $35,000 to $65,000 or more.
The exact figure for any individual job depends on the condition of what's already there, the materials selected, and what turns up once the walls are opened, which is why we always provide a written, itemised quote after an in-person assessment rather than a ballpark figure over the phone.
Sydney Bathroom Renovation Cost by Size
| Bathroom Size | Typical Cost Range (AUD) | What's Typically Included |
|---|---|---|
| Small Bathroom or Ensuite (under 5 sqm) | $17,000 – $22,000 | Full strip-out, new waterproofing membrane, wall and floor tiling, vanity, toilet, shower fitout, all fixtures |
| Medium Bathroom (5 – 8 sqm) | $20,000 – $30,000 | Full demolition, new waterproofing, tiling, vanity, toilet, bath if included, shower, all fixtures and fittings |
| Luxury / High-End Finishes | $35,000 – $65,000+ | Feature stone benchtops, custom-built joinery, freestanding baths, underfloor heating, frameless glass, wall-mounted tapware, LED mirror cabinets |
Small bathrooms under 5 sqm are common across Sydney apartments and older inner-city terraces. The footprint is limited, but we find the cost doesn't drop proportionally, since labour, waterproofing and trade costs stay similar regardless of room size. Medium bathrooms are the size we work with most often across Sydney family homes in suburbs like Randwick, Balmain and Chatswood, while our luxury projects have taken us into suburbs including Mosman, Double Bay and Paddington, where the bathroom becomes a standout room in the home.
For pricing specific to your area, see our dedicated guides for the Eastern Suburbs, Bondi and Botany, or get in touch if your suburb isn't listed yet.
What's Included in an Aussie Bathroom Renovations Quote?
Every written quote from Aussie Bathroom Renovations covers:
- Demolition and waste removal
- Waterproofing to AS 3740
- Licensed plumbing rough-in and fit-off
- Licensed electrical rough-in and fit-off
- Wall and floor tiling
- Supply and installation of all nominated fixtures and fittings
- Vanity, toilet suite, shower screen, and bath where specified
- Compliance certificates for waterproofing, plumbing and electrical work at handover
What the quote doesn't cover is any work outside the agreed scope. If we open up the walls and find something genuinely unforeseen, such as failed waterproofing that has caused structural damage, we stop, show the homeowner what we found, and provide a clear variation price before anything proceeds. There are no surprise invoices at the end of the job.
What Drives Bathroom Renovation Costs Up in Sydney?
Four factors most commonly push a Sydney bathroom renovation above the baseline figure: moving the plumbing, what's found behind the walls in older homes, tile selection, and strata approval requirements for apartments.
Does Moving the Plumbing Increase Renovation Cost?
Keeping the existing plumbing layout in place is the single most effective way to control costs, and how much moving it adds depends heavily on whether the bathroom sits on a concrete slab or a suspended timber floor. On a concrete slab, relocating plumbing typically adds $3,000 to $8,000, since the concrete must be core drilled or jackhammered open to reroute the waste pipes underneath. On a suspended timber floor, the same relocation is usually cheaper, typically $800 to $2,500, since a plumber can access the subfloor void directly.
Moving the toilet is consistently the most expensive single relocation on either floor type, due to the waste pipe diameter and the precise fall required toward the sewer connection.
What's Commonly Found Behind the Walls in Older Sydney Homes?
Pre-1990 homes across the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and North Shore regularly turn up issues that affect renovation cost once the walls are opened. Failed waterproofing that has caused timber rot or concrete cancer in the substrate needs to be fixed properly before anything goes back in. Old cast-iron plumbing sometimes can't simply be extended and needs rerouting or replacing. Asbestos in wall sheeting or floor tiles is common in homes built before 1990, and we manage the licensed removal process as part of the job.
This is why an in-person assessment matters more than an online quote, since it lets us identify these risks and factor them into the quote properly.
How Does Tile Selection Affect Bathroom Renovation Cost?
Standard ceramic or porcelain tiles at $30 to $60 per sqm supply cost are straightforward to work with. Large-format tiles of 600x600mm or bigger cost more to supply and take more skill to lay correctly, and natural stone requires sealing and specific adhesives. We'll always confirm what a particular tile selection adds to the budget before it's included in the final quote.
Do Sydney Apartments Need Strata Approval for a Bathroom Renovation?
Sydney apartments in strata buildings, common across areas like Waterloo, Surry Hills, Bondi and Neutral Bay, require an approval process before work begins. We manage this process and help prepare the documentation required for the owners corporation. It adds some lead time to the project but shouldn't cause delays if it's planned for from the start.
Why Are Sydney Bathroom Renovation Costs Higher Than the National Average?
Sydney bathroom renovation costs sit consistently above the national average due to three factors: higher licensed trade rates, older building stock, and strict compliance requirements. Licensed trade rates for plumbers, waterproofers, tilers and electricians run higher in Sydney than in most other Australian cities due to sustained demand.
Sydney's building stock also skews older than the national average, with a high proportion of inner-suburb homes built between the 1920s and 1970s, meaning more surprises behind the walls in the form of older plumbing, limited original waterproofing, and asbestos-containing materials requiring professional management. NSW compliance requirements, including waterproofing certification and licensed trade sign-offs, are legal requirements rather than optional extras, and are part of why a properly completed Sydney bathroom renovation costs more than an unlicensed tiling job.
How Do You Get an Accurate Bathroom Renovation Quote?
The only reliable way to get an accurate figure is an in-person assessment. We visit the property anywhere across Sydney, measure the bathroom, ask the right questions about the property's age and renovation goals, and provide a written, itemised quote, typically within 45 minutes and with no obligation.
The quote we provide is what gets paid, provided the scope stays the same, with no ballpark figures adjusted later.
Call Ali on 0414 802 755 or use the quote form to book your in-home assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bathroom Renovation Costs in Sydney
Yes. All figures we provide are inclusive of GST.
Yes, and some clients do. When we supply materials, responsibility for quality and on-time arrival sits with us to keep the job on schedule. If client-supplied materials arrive damaged or are the wrong size, it can hold up the job and affect the trades' schedule, which we discuss upfront so expectations are clear.
Not automatically, but a quote significantly below market rate usually means something isn't included. Common omissions in low quotes include proper waterproofing, compliance certificates, licensed trades for plumbing and electrical, or waste removal. It's worth asking what's included in writing before comparing prices.
Most standard bathroom renovations in Sydney are classified as exempt development under the NSW planning framework and don't need council approval. Work that changes the bathroom's footprint, affects structural elements, or involves a heritage-listed property may need approval, which we'll flag during the assessment if it applies.
Most small to medium Sydney bathrooms take two to four weeks from demolition to handover. Larger bathrooms, those involving layout changes, or jobs with custom joinery can run four to six weeks, and we give a clear schedule before work starts.