As a rough guide
These are deliberately broad 2026 bands for work in Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra council areas. They are here to help you plan a budget, not to price your room — two bathrooms of the same size can land in very different places once access, the floor and the finishes are known.
| Tier | As a rough guide | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Compact rooms | $12,000 – $25,000 | Powder rooms, European cupboard laundries, small refreshes that keep the layout |
| Full bathroom renovations | $25,000 – $55,000 | Main bathrooms and ensuites in flats, semis and houses, taken back to structure and rebuilt |
| Complex projects | $45,000 and up | Terrace rear-wing bathrooms, new ensuites carved from other space, relocated drainage, premium finishes |
The tiers overlap on purpose. Where a job lands depends on the factors below far more than on floor area.
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, storage and 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 moves the price
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. Carrying time, loading zones and parking permits all add up.
What is under the old tiles. Thick mortar beds with cast-in pipes take far longer to remove than a tiled sheet floor, and strata noise by-laws can limit when that work happens. In older houses, rotted framing under a shower has to be repaired before the new floor goes down.
Moving things. Keeping the toilet, shower and floor waste where they are is the single biggest saving. Moving them in a flat can mean coring through a shared slab — possible, costly and subject to approval. In a house with a timber floor it is simpler.
Asbestos. Buildings from before about 1990 are tested before demolition. If asbestos is found, removal by a licensed removalist is priced once the type and quantity are known.
Strata requirements. Lift protection, restricted working hours, designated waste routes, 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 separate.
Finish level. Handmade tiles, natural stone, custom joinery, underfloor heating and designer tapware can move a bathroom from the middle of a tier to the top of it.
What does not save as much as expected
A smaller room. Fixed costs — demolition, rough-in, waterproofing, compliance — barely shrink when the floor area does.
Reusing the vanity or toilet. Labour to remove, protect and reinstall old fittings often erodes the saving, and the result mixes old with new.
Keeping the bath. Swapping a bath for a larger shower is rarely the deciding cost. Decide on how you live, not on price.
Every job is different — a proper quote needs a visit
A band is a starting point for a budget conversation, nothing more. A customised price needs someone on site to see the building type, the floor construction, the access, what is known about asbestos, whether the drainage can stay, and what finish you want. From that measure comes a scaled drawing and a written, itemised quote with fittings named and allowances stated — a fixed price for your room rather than a range for someone else's.
The measure is free and takes under an hour. Book an on-site quote or call 02 5121 7922.
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.
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 book a measure and quote.