RenovatingRenovating a bathroom yourself or hiring tradespeople
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Renovating · 3 min read
Bathroom renovation costs: a breakdown by job
Budget for each part of your bathroom and check whether every price includes labour, materials and VAT.
RenovatingFinances
The cost of your bathroom depends on the layout, sanitaryware and work the room needs. Use indicative prices to assess each part of your quotes.
Price lists vary widely. In April 2026, Homedeal quoted €3,500 to €15,000 for a complete nine-square-metre bathroom, with an average between €5,000 and €10,000. Other lists give higher figures. A basic renovation costs less than a luxury specification.
The figures below come from public price lists consulted in September 2026. They are separate estimates and do not add up to a budget. Some exclude materials or VAT, while others do not say. Do not add the rows together to get a total.
| Item | Indicative price | What affects the price |
|---|---|---|
| Stripping out and waste removal | €500 to €1,500 | Access and the amount of rubble determine the price |
| Pipework and drainage | €1,000 to €3,500 | Moving the toilet and shower has a particular impact |
| Electrics | Around €100 to €1,000 | Additional circuits and cable routes determine the price |
| Waterproofing and surface preparation | Ask for a separate item in the quote | There is no reliable price range for this |
| Ceramic tiles | Around €30 to €80 per m² for materials | Natural stone costs more |
| Tiling and grouting | Around €40 to €85 per hour or €25 to €90 per m² for labour | Some price lists exclude VAT and materials |
| Toilet | Around €450 to €900 | Check whether fitting and the cistern are included |
| Bath | Around €750 to €3,000 for materials | Taps, enclosure and fitting may be separate |
| Shower screen or tray | Around €250 to €1,900 | This is not a complete walk-in shower |
| Complete walk-in shower | Around €1,500 to €5,000 | The drain channel, glass and concealed taps affect the price |
| Basin and vanity unit | Around €200 to over €1,000 | Bespoke work and fitting may cost more |
| Underfloor heating | Around €600 to €1,500 | The system and floor build-up determine the price |
| Ventilation | From a simple adjustment to around €5,500 | Ductwork and system changes make the difference |
Ask for labour, materials and VAT to be specified for each item in your quotes. Compare the same work each time. Otherwise, a quote may look cheaper because it includes less. What a bathroom quote does not cover explains which items are commonly excluded.
Which choices make a bathroom renovation more expensive?
A different layout changes the pipework, drainage and floor build-up. Those costs rise faster than the price of a more expensive tap. Decide how much you want to move before choosing the sanitaryware. Moving a toilet requires a large waste pipe. A shower on the other side of the room needs a fall, the gentle slope towards the drain, and space within the floor or a wall lining. Large tiles give a calm finish, but need a flat surface and are heavier to work with. Tiling, waterproofing and ventilation covers the technical work involved.
Set aside money for problems revealed after stripping out, such as rot, old pipes or a poor floor. That stage is part of the order of the renovation. Referring to Nibud, BouwGarant recommends reserving 5% of the renovation budget for unexpected costs. That is a starting point for planning, rather than a guarantee that every risk is covered. How much you set aside depends on the condition of the property.
What to do now
- divide your budget into sanitaryware, tiling, technical work, labour and a reserve
- ask which of those five items each quote includes and excludes
- decide in advance which choice you will drop if the budget becomes tight
Sources4 sources
Checked on September 16, 2026. Livio provides information, not personal advice. Ask your adviser, notary or estate agent what applies to you.
Trade press
- 1Werkspot, Bathroom renovation costs in 2026 (September 16, 2026)
- 2Werkspot, New bathroom costs including fitting (September 16, 2026)
- 3BouwGarant, Ten tips for keeping renovation costs under control. Referring to Nibud, it recommends reserving 5% for unexpected costs (October 6, 2026)
- 4Homedeal, Bathroom renovation costs (September 16, 2026)
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