How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost in Sydney?
It's the first question most Sydney homeowners ask, and it's a fair one. The honest answer is that bathroom renovation costs vary quite a bit depending on the size of the room, the condition of what's already there, the materials you choose, and whether any structural or plumbing changes are involved.
That said, here are realistic figures based on what we see regularly across Sydney in 2026.
Sydney Bathroom Renovation Cost by Size
Small Bathroom or Ensuite (under 5 sqm)
$17,000 to $22,000 for a standard to mid-range finish
This covers a complete renovation: full strip-out, new waterproofing membrane to Australian Standards, wall and floor tiling, vanity, toilet, shower fitout, and all fixtures. It assumes the plumbing stays in the same positions and there are no major structural surprises behind the walls.
Premium tile selections, custom joinery, a frameless shower screen, or a heated towel rail will add to this figure. Moving plumbing adds more again.
Small bathrooms under 5 sqm are common in Sydney apartments and older inner-city terraces. The footprint is limited but the cost doesn't drop proportionally, because labour, waterproofing and trades costs stay similar regardless of size.
Medium Bathroom (5 to 8 sqm)
$20,000 to $30,000 for mid-range finishes
A complete renovation at this size typically includes full demolition, new waterproofing, tiling, vanity, toilet, bath if included, shower, and all fixtures and fittings. Mid-range finishes mean quality tiles, a solid vanity, and decent tapware without going into feature stone or custom joinery territory.
This is the most common bathroom size we work with across Sydney family homes in suburbs like Randwick, Balmain and Chatswood.
Luxury or High-End Finishes
$35,000 to $65,000 and above
Once you're into feature stone benchtops, custom-built joinery, freestanding baths, underfloor heating, frameless glass shower screens with wall-mounted tapware, and LED mirror cabinets, costs rise accordingly. The materials and the installation skill required to do them properly both carry a premium.
We've completed luxury renovations in Mosman, Double Bay and Paddington where the bathroom became the standout room in the home. These projects take more time, more planning and better trades, but the finished result adds genuine value to the property.
What's Included in Our Quotes
When we provide a written quote for a bathroom renovation, it covers:
- Demolition and waste removal
- Waterproofing to current Australian Standards (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, bath where specified
- Compliance certificates for waterproofing, plumbing and electrical at handover
What it doesn't cover is any work outside the agreed scope. If we open up the walls and find something genuinely unforeseen, like failed waterproofing that has caused structural damage, we stop, show you what we found, and give you a clear variation price before anything proceeds. There are no surprise invoices at the end of the job.
What Drives Bathroom Renovation Costs Up
Moving the Plumbing
Keeping your existing plumbing layout in place is the single most effective way to control costs. Every time a toilet, shower waste or vanity drain moves, you're adding plumbing work. Moving the toilet is the most expensive because of the waste pipe and fall required. Budget an additional $2,000 to $5,000 for any significant plumbing relocation.
What's Behind the Walls in Older Sydney Homes
This is where Sydney bathroom renovations can get unpredictable. Pre-1990 homes across the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and North Shore regularly turn up:
Failed waterproofing that has caused timber rot or concrete cancer in the substrate. If the previous bathroom was waterproofed poorly or never properly at all, the damage runs deeper than the tiles. This needs to be fixed properly before anything goes back in, and it adds cost.
Old cast-iron plumbing that can't simply be extended. In some cases it needs rerouting or replacing, which is a licensed plumbing job.
Asbestos in wall sheeting or floor tiles in homes built before 1990. We manage the licensed removal process, but it adds to the project cost and timeline. It's not something to cut corners on.
This is why an in-person assessment matters more than an online quote. We can look at the existing bathroom, ask the right questions about the property's age and history, and factor these risks into your quote properly.
Tile Selection and Format
Standard ceramic or porcelain tiles at $30 to $60 per sqm supply cost are straightforward to work with. Large-format tiles, 600x600mm or bigger, cost more to supply and take more skill to lay correctly. Natural stone requires sealing and specific adhesives. If you're chasing a particular look, we'll tell you what the tile selection actually adds to the budget so there are no surprises.
Strata Approvals for Sydney Apartments
If you're in a strata building, which covers a large proportion of Sydney renovation projects in areas like Waterloo, Surry Hills, Bondi and Neutral Bay, there's an approval process to work through before the first tool comes out. We manage that process and help you prepare the documentation for your owners corporation. It adds some lead time but it's not something that should catch you off guard if it's planned for from the start.
Why Sydney Bathroom Costs Are Higher Than National Averages
Sydney consistently sits at the higher end of bathroom renovation costs nationally. There are a few straightforward reasons for this.
Licensed trade rates are higher in Sydney than in most other Australian cities. Demand for qualified plumbers, waterproofers, tilers and electricians in a market as active as Sydney's keeps rates up.
Sydney's building stock is older than the national average. A high proportion of homes in the inner suburbs were built between the 1920s and 1970s. These properties have more surprises behind the walls: older plumbing systems, limited or non-existent original waterproofing, and in many cases asbestos-containing materials that need professional management.
Compliance requirements in NSW are strict. Waterproofing certification, licensed trade sign-offs, and compliance certificates at handover are legal requirements, not optional extras. They protect you as a homeowner, but they're part of why a properly done Sydney bathroom renovation costs more than a quick tiling job from someone without the right licences.
How to Get an Accurate Figure for Your Bathroom
The only way to give you a reliable number is to see the space in person. We visit your home anywhere across Sydney, measure the bathroom properly, ask the right questions about the property's age and your renovation goals, and provide a written, itemised quote. It takes around 45 minutes and there's no obligation.
We don't give ballpark figures over the phone and then adjust them later. The quote you receive is what you pay, provided the scope stays the same.
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.
You can, and some clients do. The thing to be aware of is that when we supply materials, we're responsible for the quality and ensuring everything arrives on time to keep the job on schedule. If client-supplied materials arrive damaged or are the wrong size, it can hold the job up and affect the trades' schedule. We're happy to discuss this upfront so you know what to expect.
Not automatically, but a quote that's significantly below market rate usually means something isn't included. Common things left out of low quotes include proper waterproofing, compliance certificates, licensed trades for plumbing and electrical, or waste removal. Ask what's included in writing before you compare 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 footprint of the bathroom, affects structural elements, or is on a heritage-listed property may need approval. We'll flag this during the assessment if it applies to your property.
Most small to medium Sydney bathrooms take two to four weeks from demolition to handover. Larger bathrooms, those involving layout changes, or jobs where custom joinery is being made can run four to six weeks. We give you a clear schedule before work starts.
