How much can you expect to pay for new bathroom costs in 2025?

New bathroom costs can quickly escalate if you don't have a good grasp on exactly what to include in your bathroom design. And while there's no doubting the feel good factor of refreshing your bathroom, or the thrill of creating a new one in a new home, costs can vary depending on a variety of factors.

In most instances, your final new bathroom costs will come down to a number of different factors. Small bathrooms by default will naturally cost more. Renovations can involve extra plumbing and labour you may not necessarily expect in modern homes, and choosing premium products will all add expense to your bill.

To help you get your new bathroom costs in hand, we've taken advice from the experts, including quantity surveyor, Tim Phillips. Our guide lays out the average prices you should expect to budget for, together with installation costs and a host of other factors that will influence the final cost of your new bathroom. These factors are key to understanding how and where your budget can be affected and where you can save, or spend, to achieve your dream bathroom.

Tim Phillips

Tim Phillips is an experienced senior quantity surveyor and estimator and has worked in the construction industry for over 35 years. He has worked on many varied projects in this time, as well as managing his rental property portfolio. He has extensive experience of undertaking his own full-scale house renovations. He is also a speaker and expert at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows.

What are the main new bathroom costs to consider?

Fitting a bathroom involves looking at two main areas – the cost of the sanitaryware and associated fixtures and fittings and the labour costs to install them. If you're costing up a new bathroom for a self-build, the associated plumbing and drainage costs will be included as part of the overall budget, as will the costs for contractors such as tilers and electricians.

However, if renovating a house or replacing an existing bathroom, it can be easy to underestimate the associated costs that come with new bathrooms.

"Many homeowners forget to consider the preparation costs associated with home renovation and new bathrooms," says Leigh Price, co-director of Real Tiles & Bathrooms. "These ‘hidden costs’ (or the things you can’t see when the renovation is complete) involve skip hire, ripping out the existing bathroom, waterproofing the room, plastering, painting, downlights, etc. and depending on the scale of the space, this can soon add up," he warns.

"People also often forget to factor in the cost for extras, such as quality accessories and finishing touches that will stand the test of time, such as your toilet roll holder, towel ring, toothbrush holder, etc – all of which can increase your new bathroom costs by a few hundred pounds."

As a guide, expect to factor the following into your new bathroom costs.

• Professional services, such as plumber, tiler and electrician
• Sanitaryware
• Wall and floor tiles
• Shower and brassware
• Plastering
• Decoration
• Design
• Lighting
• Heating and extraction

Leigh Price

Leigh Price, Co-Director of Real Stone, Tile & Bathroom has been in the construction industry for 35 years, and has worked in the tiling and bathroom industry for the past 16 years. His favourite aspect of running the business is guiding a client through the design process for their project, and consequently seeing it come to fruition

Who will fit your bathroom?

Before you begin, consider who will install your bathroom. This will influence how much your final new bathroom costs will come to.

There are a range of tradespeople who will be able to take on the project, with the most common routes to fitting a bathroom as follows:

• DIY bathroom fitting: Many people choose to take on elements of their bathroom installation on a DIY basis — this is a great way to keep a lid on costs and, according to The Home Owners Alliance, could save you up to 60%. Jobs such as tiling walls and floors and decorating are pretty straightforward. Many people also choose to fit their own sanitary ware, such as the bath, basin and even toilet, calling in a plumber to plumb them in once they are in place. Bathroom electrics however are a job best left to the professionals. 
• Plumber: Most plumbers will be familiar with the majority of bathroom installation jobs. If you are having a wet underfloor heating system they will also be able to help with this. If you are installing the bathroom as part of a wider renovation project, there will probably be a plumber on site anyway – or your builder will recommend one. 
• Builder: Many builders are able to take on a whole range of building work, including bathroom fitting. Speak to your builder about what they can and cannot do (some may not be able to self-certify electrical work for example). Your builder will also usually have a good range of contacts they can call on and if they are on site anyway, this can be a cost-effective option. 
• Bathroom design and install company: Depending on where you are buying your sanitary ware, your supplier may offer a fitting service. Sometimes these services will include everything from bathroom design, supply and installation. Although this is a time-saving and very convenient option, it is usually one of the more expensive routes. 
• Specialist bathroom fitter: Alternatively, there are independent bathroom fitters out there, who are able to take on all the fitting, electrical and plumbing work, including tiling and decoration too – again, do get several quotes. 

How much are the average costs for a new bathroom?

In general, bathroom design ideas tend to be made up of a toilet, basin, bath and shower, which come in all sizes, shapes, finishes and, of course, costs.

In the case of a bathroom renovation which will usually involve the removal/disposal and replacement of the suite, new radiators, floor and wall tiles, plus new lighting, extractor fan and decorating, according to our experts, you can expect to pay upwards of £5000, including installation. Our top tip for saving on costs in a bathroom renovation? Take care of the removal of old sanitary ware etc. yourself rather than paying someone else to do it.

If you’re self building, as already mentioned, you won’t have any of the costs of removal and disposal and the waste, piping, electrics and structure of the room, will all have been built into your overall build cost/m2. This means your new bathroom costs will mainly be based on the finishes and products you choose.

So how do these costs break down?

"Using the example of a bathroom containing a bath, vanity unit, toilet and shower in a three bed semi-detached home, I would place the average cost for the entire installation between £5,000 - £7,500," says Leigh Price.

"The price breakdown of this would allow for £2,000 - £3,000 on bathroom materials, and the remaining budget (between £3,000 - £5,000) for the fitter to prepare and install the bathroom."

"There is a certain amount of disagreement online when it comes putting a price on a new bathroom, with some sites quoting around £1,500 while others proclaim costs upwards of £10,000," adds James Roberts, director at Sanctuary Bathroom."After comparing several quotes and conducting some research of our own, we settled on a rough average cost of £5,950 for a new bathroom, which includes the price of installation and the removal of any previous fixtures."

But, make sure you consider all the options when pricing up new bathroom costs. Elements such as the following can all impact on your final budget allocation for new bathroom costs:

• Will new soil pipes be required?
• Are you installing underfloor heating? A simple heated towel warmer will be a cheaper option
• Will the walls need replastering? Plastering walls will require the services of a professional plasterer and will add to final costs
• What type of bath are you having fitted? A sunken bath will require structural alterations, while a heavy freestanding model may require floor reinforcement.
• Will new studwork walls be required for wall-hung sanitaryware?
• What type of tiles are you using? Large format heavy stone tiles are best fitted by a professional and may require specialist backing board
• Is the existing pipework usable or does it need updating? Can it stay in place or will a remodel require that it is moved
• Will you need a new boiler as part of your new bathroom project? 

James Roberts

James is one of three directors of Sanctuary Bathrooms, working alongside his father and brother. He joined the company in 2007 having previously studied to become a plumber

How much does plumbing for a new bathroom cost?

When renovating a bathroom, for removing and installing a typical suite to the same layout, you can expect to pay a plumber approx. £1,500 to £3,000 – although these figures can increase if you are replacing you bathroom sanitary ware with something more luxurious.

In the case of self builds, again, the costs of removal won't be a factor and the plumbing costs will depend on the nature and design of your overall build.

Reconfiguring the layout at any point – both on a new build or renovation will also add to costs. While it may seem a good idea to suddenly switch to a freestanding bath, this will all impact on the costs of your pipework, floor and wall finishes and potentially other items such as your toilet. Moving soil stacks can be particularly expensive, adding a few hundred pounds to your plumbing installation costs.

And of course, installing a wet room in any property will also involve extra costs due to the more complicated tanking and waterproofing requirements.

How much should I budget for bathroom electrical costs?

As in any area of your home, the the cost of your electrics will depend on your bathroom design, fixtures and fittings. If you just need a new ceiling light fitted for example, you may only need to pay the average hourly rate for an electrician in your area, but with most modern bathroom ideas incorporating a variety of other electrical options such as the best bathroom extractor fans, power showers, dual fuel heated towel rails, shaver points, under-cabinet, bathroom mirrors with lighting and even waterproof TV screens, costs can quickly increase.

To give you a ballpark figure to work from, the average new bathroom electrics costs will be upwards of £900, although this figure can easily rise if you plan on introducing or moving new or current electrical items, as you’ll have additional electrical costs for chasing out and installation and redecoration costs.

How much will I have to pay for sanitaryware?

The true answer to this lies in whether your personal tastes lean towards premium products or if you are happy to consider more affordable fittings. It's the area where your preferred aesthetics will dictate your new bathroom costs. When working out your costs, as a starting point, sanitaryware is considered as your bath, toilet, sink and shower.

And while there are cheap bathroom suites out there costing as little as a couple of hundred pounds, there are also those that will set you back thousands.

"As a guide, a very basic acrylic bath for example can start at around £200," explains Leigh Price, "but as you begin to factor in bespoke elements, premium materials, etc., a top-of-the-range luxurious statement bath (such as a freestanding stone resin bath) can end up being priced anywhere from £2,000 upwards."

"You need to ask yourself whether you want to splash out or save," says James Roberts. "As an illustration of how these price points can differ, we combined the cost of the most expensive products available on our website as a test and the total price came to over £21,000."

What should I budget for a shower?

When considering bath vs shower, or both, you really need to think through how to choose a shower first. While electric showers might be the cheapest option, they may well not quite hit the mark in terms of what you need.

"There are many things to consider when choosing a shower," says brand development director of Homebuilding & Renovating website and magazine, Claire Lloyd. "What plumbing system do you you have? Do you want a walk-in or over-bath shower? What kind of water pressure do you have?"

Leigh Price also points out that your choice of valve will also alter your costs.

"For your shower installation costs, it depends on whether you’re having a concealed or exposed valve," he explains. "The main difference between concealed and exposed shower valves is that a concealed option has been built into the wall, and appears far more neat and modern." However, the type of valve and the quality will also matter.

"A basic exposed shower can start at around £150," says Leigh, "and for a premium exposed valve digital shower, you can expect to pay upwards of £1,000."

Choosing a concealed option could also come with longer term costs if you make the wrong purchasing choice, warns Leigh.

"If you’re having any concealed elements in your renovation, such as a wall hung cistern or shower valve, I would strongly recommend investing in premium quality products to ensure optimum performance for the long term," he says.

"Why? Because concealed elements are built into the wall, making them harder to access for repairs, so for this reason I always suggest customers choose a brand that provides a long-term product guarantee, as longer guarantee means better quality and less risk of the parts breaking down quickly and needing repair or replacement."

Don't forget to factor in costs for a shower enclosure or shower screen too, depending on whether you're going for a shower over bath idea or a walk-in shower idea. Expect to pay upwards of at least £300 for a basic enclosure.

Claire Lloyd

Claire is the brand development editor of Homebuilding & Renovating and has been a member of the team for more than 15 years. An experienced homes journalist. She has a particular interest in green homes, and interior design is a passion too; she has undertaken qualifications in this area. After finishing a major renovation of a period cottage, she is now onto her next project: overhauling a 1930s property in the Shropshire countryside.

How much should I allow for bathroom furniture?

In general, when referring to bathroom furniture, this can be something as simple as a vanity unit for a countertop sink, or fully fitted units.

"Again for bathroom furniture, the price is dependent on whether you’re looking for something standard with basic materials, or a bespoke product which allows for far more choice in design," says Leigh Price.

"Standard vanity units can start at around £300 but will offer limited choice in colours and materials. As your budget increases, so does the variety of colours and finishes to choose from," he explains.

"Premium vanity units start at around £2,000," he says, "and there is no real ceiling on cost, as customers can incorporate an endless range of elaborate features and materials."

Bathroom furniture to consider in your new bathroom costs

How much do bathroom tiles cost?

"When it comes to tiles, generally the larger the tile’s format, the more expensive it will be," says Leigh Price. "To use an example, a basic ceramic tile with minimal design will be around the £20 per metre mark.

"Moving up in the market, a larger format tile (120 x 120 cm) will start, on average, at £60 per metre. Your higher end tile is a large format porcelain (240 x 120 cm), which usually starts at £100 per metre."

As with your sanitaryware, the cost of tiles can really vary depending on the material you choose and the supplier you opt for. Basic ceramic tiles can cost from as little as £5/m2, but if your budget permits, you can also pay over £160/m2 for designer glass tiles.

Really think through your bathroom floor tile ideas too when choosing your final finishes. The more complex the tile laying pattern, the longer it takes to complete, pushing labour costs higher than for the same area with a simpler pattern.

If you’re tiling a large area, costs will naturally rise, but you can save money by choosing larger format tiles, as they are quicker to fit. Patterns such as herringbone will also need a lot more cuts, so wastage allowances should be increased from 10-15% to 20%.

Don't forget to account for labour costs if you plan on using a tiler. If you want to fully tile your walls for example you can expect to pay upwards of £950 depending on the size of your bathroom.

How much will bathroom heating cost?

The two most common ways of heating a bathroom tend to be heated towel rails or underfloor heating. If you’re introducing underfloor heating, the costs, installed, for a wet system in a self build are around £55 to £80/m2 for an average sized house. This is usually included in the build process and it’s the least expensive/best time to install it.

On renovations, the costs will be higher to retrofit and will be impacted by the nature of your existing floor. It can be expensive if floors need to be taken up and even the lowest profiles will require costly adjustments to doors and skirting. Electric underfloor heating can be more cost-effective solution if you are just looking to install it in a bathroom.

Don't forget to add the cost of a decoupling membrane to prevent your new tiles cracking if you’re tiling on new concrete screeds or suspended floors.

Simple heated towel rails are the cheapest option to add to your new space, although if you are choosing a metal finish, opting for a more expensive product will likely give you better value in the long term. I've found that some of the cheaper chrome effect ones don't always react well to cleaning products.

FAQs

How else can I save money on my new bathroom costs?

If you're keen to keep a lid on your new bathroom costs, Leigh Price recommends the following.

"One way to save on your bathroom installation is by asking if your chosen showroom has any ex-display products. Ex-display products are likely to be significantly reduced in price, and will still be of brand new quality. You can also ask if your showroom has any end of line tile batches, as you can usually secure a great discount on products that are soon to be discontinued.

"In terms of finding cheaper alternatives to products, I would suggest against this however," he says. "This is because any product you place in the bathroom needs to be able to withstand constant exposure to moisture, and products that aren’t bathroom rated are likely to deteriorate.

"If you’re on the hunt for cost-friendly brassware for example, "it is extremely important to ensure that your chosen product is WRAS approved. This ensures that the product has been thoroughly tested for dangerous chemicals such as lead, and the water running through your tap/shower is clean and safe."

Will taps be included in the cost of a sink?

Different types of sink will require different types of taps, which means your taps are a separate cost.

At the very cheapest end of the price scale lie basic pillar taps (a set of two taps), that can be picked up for as little as £30. That said, most people these days want one mixer taps rather than one for hot and one for cold.

Sanctuary Bathrooms suggest budgeting between £100-£200. Remember you will need taps for your bath too if your bathroom layout includes one, and if you've opted for a freestanding bath, you may need a floor-standing tap too.

Are there any hidden new bathroom costs?

"I would advise customers to check the condition of their boiler before they begin planning their bathroom renovation," recommends Leigh Price, "as this can significantly impact the overall cost of a new bathroom. If a boiler is outdated and inefficient, it is worth investing in a new one to ensure it is up to the task."

How long will a new bathroom take to install?

"I’d say once you have a date booked in with your bathroom fitter, a new bathroom generally would take 2 weeks to complete," says Leigh Price. "Once ordered, products will usually arrive within a few days, unless you choose something bespoke, which can take a number of weeks, or even months if it's being built from scratch."

Along with the costs of all the individual items that go towards making up a bathroom, and the fees charged by the trades that will need to be involved, some people choose to enlist the help of a bathroom designer or interior design professional.

Obviously this adds to the cost of fitting a bathroom but if this is an option that appeals, what can you expect to pay?

"Commissioning an interior designer can take some of the stress out of planning the layout of your new bathroom, but their services come at a premium price," says Sanctuary Bathrooms' James Roberts. "While an initial consultation could cost a couple of hundred pounds, for complete design plans you can expect to pay between £500 and £2,500 depending on the size and scale of the remodel."

Look out for companies providing free, no-obligation bathroom designs if you want to minimise costs.