The bands
These are 2026 planning ranges for bathrooms taken back to structure and rebuilt to a good standard in Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra council areas. Treat them as a guide for budgeting, not a quote.
| Room | Typical range (as a guide) | What that assumes |
|---|---|---|
| Powder room | $14,000 – $22,000 | Toilet and basin, feature finishes, no shower |
| Compact flat bathroom | $26,000 – $40,000 | Under 5 m², shower or shower-bath, strata building |
| Main bathroom, strata flat | $28,000 – $45,000 | 5–7 m², full strip to slab, re-screed, full-height tiling |
| Main bathroom, house or semi | $32,000 – $55,000 | Timber or slab floor, possible joist repairs, ducted exhaust |
| Existing ensuite | $22,000 – $38,000 | Same footprint, improved shower and storage |
| New ensuite from other space | $35,000 – $60,000 | New drainage, framing, ventilation, possible approvals |
| Terrace rear-wing bathroom | $45,000 – $75,000 | Long drainage runs, fragile ceilings, heritage considerations |
| European cupboard laundry | $12,000 – $20,000 | Stacked machines, small tub, doors, waterproofing |
The spread within each band comes mainly from access, the condition of what is found under the old tiles, and the level of finish.
What sits inside a number
Roughly speaking, a renovation divides into three parts:
- Trades and labour — demolition, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tiling, carpentry and fit-off
- Materials and fittings — tiles, tapware, toilet, vanity, glass, lighting, accessories
- Site and compliance — protection, waste removal, asbestos testing, strata requirements, certificates and supervision
In the Eastern Suburbs the third category is noticeably larger than in outer suburbs, because buildings are older and more are shared.
What pushes a job to the top of its band
Access. A third-floor walk-up with no lift and no parking means every bag of rubble goes down the stairs and every sheet of board comes up. Add time for carrying, and costs for parking or loading zone permits.
Concrete demolition. Thick mortar beds with cast-in pipes take far longer to remove than a tiled sheet floor. Noise restrictions in strata by-laws can limit when that work happens.
Relocating drainage. Moving a toilet or shower in a flat can require coring through a shared slab — technically possible, costly, and subject to approval. In a house with a timber floor it is much cheaper.
Joist and substrate repair. In older houses, rotted framing under a shower is repaired before the new floor goes down.
Finish level. Handmade tiles, natural stone, custom joinery, underfloor heating and designer tapware can move a bathroom from the middle of a band to above it.
What costs less than people expect
Full-height tiling. In a small room, extending tile to the ceiling adds relatively few square metres and removes a painted surface that suffers in humid conditions.
A good exhaust fan. Ducting to outside and a properly sized fan is a modest line item that protects the whole investment.
Underfloor heating in a small room. The heated area is small; the running cost is low; the comfort difference in a south-facing flat is large.
What does not save as much as expected
Keeping the bath. Removing a bath and installing a larger shower costs about the same as replacing both. The decision should be about how you live, not price.
Reusing the vanity or toilet. Labour to remove, protect and reinstall old fittings often erodes the saving, and the result mixes old with new.
A smaller room. Fixed costs — demolition, rough-in, waterproofing, compliance — barely shrink when the floor area does.
Strata-related costs
Owners corporation requirements vary, but commonly include lift padding and protection, restricted working hours, waste removal via a designated route, certificates of insurance and a waterproofing certificate on completion. Where a by-law is required, the building's own legal or strata management fees are payable separately.
Deposits and home building compensation
In NSW the maximum deposit is 10 per cent of the contract price for residential building work. For work over $20,000, home building compensation cover must be in place before a deposit is requested, and you should receive the certificate of cover.
Progress payments should follow completed stages — demolition and rough-in, waterproofing, tiling, fit-off — rather than dates on a calendar.
Getting from a band to a fixed price
A measure answers the questions that move the number: building type, floor construction, access, what is known about asbestos, whether drainage can stay, and what finish you want. From that comes a written, itemised quote with fittings named and allowances stated.
See how the renovation runs or the FAQ.
Renovation work is carried out in partnership with Coastal Renovation Group, a licensed NSW builder. Licence and insurance details are provided on request.
Call 02 5121 7922 or send the room details for a measure.