How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost in London?

The bathroom is typically one of the most used rooms in the house, so it makes sense that it’s often the first in line for renovation. If you’re in the market for a bathroom remodel, you’re in the right place: our bathroom cost guide covers everything from the price of materials to installation estimates, plus offers savvy budgeting and money-saving tips.

Average bathroom installation costs in London

Bathroom renovation costs in London can range from £5,000 up to £20,000 with the average around £8,000. This depends on how much you want to spend and whether or not you’re looking to renovate on a budget, or are intent on high-end finishings. There’s also the cost of the labour to consider, of course.

How much your bathroom installation costs depends on its size, whether you’re aiming for a basic remodel or a full makeover, and the type of materials you want.

If you’re after a designed bathroom then you can add another couple of thousand pounds to that total, while you’ll also pay for having the old bathroom removed. 

It’s also a good idea to add another 20 per cent to your bathroom renovation budget in case there are any unforeseen problems that you may have to fork out for.

Factors that affect bathroom renovation costs

The main factors at play when it comes to the cost of bathroom renovations are:

• The size of your bathroom
• The quality of the fittings
• How much work is required
• Whether or not you need a new plumbing system
• If you’re adding underfloor heating
• Do you need to plaster and tile?
• The state of your current boiler
• Do new extraction fans need to be fitted?
• Whether or not you are willing to do some work yourself

The amount of work required

It can take a number of days to fit a bathroom, depending on it is size and how much work is being done. 

If the bathroom is being tiled, or having underfloor heating added, then this will lengthen the installation period. A standard bathroom renovation should take anywhere from two to three weeks, but don’t be surprised if your timeline looks more like five to six weeks.

Bathroom size

Bathrooms can be small or family-sized. A typical family bathroom in the UK measures 2m x 2m. The bigger the bathroom, the more you’ll inevitably pay for tiling, flooring and paint.

Fortunately, there’s plenty of furniture to fit smaller bathrooms with compact baths as small as 1200mm x 700mm. A master bathroom, on the other hand, can easily take a roll-stop freestanding bath. That’s because your average UK master bathroom is around 2.5m x 3m.

The quality of the desired finish

To get an expert finish it’s always better to hire a professional bathroom fitter. It is possible to attempt to fit your own bathroom DIY-style. But, unless you know what you’re doing it’s really not recommended. The plumbing alone can prove problematic.

Plumbing system

The system depends on your new suite and whether or not the existing system is robust enough. For a basic bathroom renovation, you’re looking at adding in a few pipes. For a bathroom where the location of the sink, shower, bath or loo is being moved, then you’ll need a new system. This could cost up to £1,000. In terms of plumbing costs, you can expect to pay a standard rate of £40 to £60 per hour.

New boiler

You can pay anything from £800 up to £3,500 for a new boiler depending on the type and who is installing it for you.

Bathroom fixtures costs

These are the sort of prices you’re looking at for fixtures and fittings:

Bath cost

You can expect to pay anything from £80 (for a basic acrylic bath) up to £3,000 for a luxury version. Your standard bath, which you will typically find in shops, measures 700 x 1700mm.

The overall cost of the bath depends on what material it is made from, its size and shape (a more unconventional shape will cost more). A roll top bath, for instance, can come in at around £400. Most baths are made of acrylic but it’s also possible to purchase steel baths (which tend to be slower to heat up and retain warmth) at around £120. Other bath materials include composite, stone, timber and cast iron. Expect to pay anything from £600 up to £3,000 in this case.

It’s worth noting that when you purchase a bathroom suite, the bath is not included.

Shower cost

If you’re having a new shower fitted then the cost ranges from £50 for a basic electric model up to £2,000 and more for a power shower with high-end fittings. On average though the cost comes in at anything from £100 up to £500.

It’s possible to buy a hybrid bath/shower if your bathroom is on the small side and you’re keen to keep costs down.

Manual showers are the basic models. They’re fitted with a moveable hose and spray attached to a wall unit and equipped with a temperature control. You can expect to pay around £50 for a basic model.

A Thermostatic mixer shower, which costs from £125, comes with a thermostat built in so that the temperature can adjust itself if water is being used somewhere else in the house.

You can buy a power shower from £150 but this won’t work with a combi boiler. For a more luxurious showering experience, you can pay anything from £250 and more. For this, you’ll get a digital shower fitted with LED lighting and various jet sprays and shower heads.

Shower enclosure

A basic walk-in shower enclosure, with one glass panel and door or a quadrant with double doors, will set you back around £100. You can pay up to £300 for an average version, while a top end shower enclosure can cost from £600 upwards.

A shower tray will add around £60 to the cost (for a basic version).

It’s possible to get a frameless fixed shower enclosure from £200 but a wet room enclosure complete with frameless screen can cost from £550. Then you’ll have to pay for the actual wet room equipment which will add another £600 to your bill.

Sink

Your basic ceramic sink measuring 550mm x 400mm comes in at from £50, while a mid-range wall-hung basin or semi-pedestal sink will cost up to £150.

For a high-spec sink – one which sits on top of a vanity unit and is made from glass, stone or even metal – you can expect to pay anything from £300 upwards (this includes the cost of the vanity on which it sits).

Bathroom taps

It’s possible to buy a pair of basic pillar taps (ie individual hot and cold taps) for as little as £30 per pair. A mixer tap comes in at around £45, while a monobloc mixer tap (with both the cold and hot water taps accessed via one level) can cost from £50 to more than £100.

If you’ve opted for a vanity and round basin then you’ll be looking for either wall-mounted taps or taps which can be fitted to the vanity unit itself.

If you’ve opted for a freestanding, roll top bath then you’ll need standing taps.

Toilet cost

Your new toilet can come in at £50 for a basic floor-mounted model, between £200 to £400 for mid-range wall-mounted toilets, and £500 upwards for a quality, contemporary loo seat. Most contemporary toilet seats are wall mounted where the pipework and cistern in concealed.

Materials costs

Tiles

The cost of your tiles depends on what type of tile you have chosen and the size of your bathroom. Generally speaking, expect to pay around £85/m² for standard tiles. Tiles are available in ceramic, stone, vinyl, engineered wood and for the more contemporary bathroom floor, concrete.

Plastering

The cost of plastering a bathroom depends on how big the area is to be plastered. It’s usual to have your bathroom wall skimmed if you’ve just removed old tiles, as sometimes there can be rough parts. Plastering your bathroom walls also means they’re smooth and provide a nice neat surface for your newly purchased tiles. It’s usual for a plasterer to charge up to £80 per square metre these days.

Tile adhesive and grout

Typical grout and adhesive costs are £10 per m2. The total amount depends, of course, on how much tiling you want in your new bathroom.

Other costs

Extractor fan

An extractor fan is an essential piece of bathroom furniture. That’s because it’s necessary to get rid of any moisture following a shower or bath. If not, it could lead to dampness and eventually unhealthy mould. An extractor fan and installation can cost up to around £330.

Flooring

Most people opt for ceramic tiles for their bathroom flooring. These won’t be damaged by water and are easy to wipe clean. They also come in a huge range of colours so you’re bound to find a tile to fit your colour scheme. Expect to pay around £13 per square metre for a ceramic tile.

Luxury vinyl floor tiles are another popular choice for bathrooms. There is an impressive range of patterns these days and they can be purchased as non-slip and waterproof.

If you’re looking for something a little fancier for your bathroom flooring then porcelain tiles are another good option. They are more expensive than ceramic and luxury vinyl, but they are incredibly durable. Just like luxury vinyl tiles, it’s possible to get a porcelain floor tile which resembles wood.

For those who want to push the boat out in terms of bathroom flooring, underfloor heating is an option. Hot water systems can be attached to the boiler or even an air pump to ensure those cold winter mornings underfoot are a thing of the past. Electric underfloor heating is also available.

Heating

Most bathrooms these days have a heated towel rail or a radiator. There are plenty of designer radiators these days but you’ll pay around £400 for a standard radiator and fitting.

A typical hot water heated towel rail and installation costs from £570 up to £700. An electric version is around £100 less. It’s also possible to get a dual-fuel towel rail. These can cost from between £700 up to more than £1000 to buy and install.

Toilet roll holder

Toilet roll holders can vary in price from £15 up to £60, depending on the material and design. Many toilet roll holders are designed to coordinate with other bathroom accessories.

Lighting

Lighting is important in a bathroom, especially if you’re after a spa-bathroom feel. LED downlighters and halogen lamps are the standard bulbs for bathrooms and can be purchased giving a ‘warm’ or a ‘cool’ light for around £20 each. It’s also common to have an extractor light where the extractor fan automatically comes on the minute you switch on the light.

It may be that you want to increase the size of your bathroom window to allow for more natural daylight. Or perhaps you want to add a skylight. These come in at around £100 for a basic model.

You can go to town on your bathroom lighting and add bulbs to an existing mirror to create a Hollywood style look. Alternatively, add a chandelier to give a sense of luxury.

These days many bathrooms are being fitted with sensor lights. These come on the minute you enter the bathroom and go out again when you exit. Some even have reduced lighting for nighttime use. Again, you’ll need an expert for this type of electrical work.

Cabinets

Bathroom cabinets tend to be wall-hung or free-standing. They can be tall, slim and wall-hanging, or robust and positioned on the floor. Prices vary enormously from just over £100 for a basic floor-standing model to £500 for a designer version.

Old bathroom removal costs

You can do this yourself by taking your old bathroom suite to the local tip.

This can prove a messy job though, and cumbersome, especially if you don’t own a van or truck. As a result, most people get their bathroom installer to remove their old suite. This will add a cost on to the overall price of the job since your installer will have to pay a disposal fee.

Another alternative is to hire a skip and have the company that owns it remove the debris. Again, this will cost you though.

Issues that can increase costs

It’s not uncommon to uncover unforeseen problems that need addressing when renovating, particularly if you have an older property. Here are some things that often pop up that can increase the cost of your bathroom remodel:

Plumbing complications

• Pre-existing damage to hidden pipes
• Outdated pipes that require replacing 
• Necessary water pressure or drainage system upgrades
• Uncovering mould or rot issues 

Electrical system challenges

• Upgrading to current safety standards
• Adding new circuits for modern fixtures
• Rewiring older electrical systems

Unexpected structural discoveries

• Water damage behind walls or under floors
• Weak floor supports
• Poor waterproofing that needs redoing

How much a bathroom fitter costs

One of the biggest variables in how much a bathroom fitter costs is down to location. You can expect to pay far more in labour costs for a bathroom renovation in London than you would elsewhere in the UK. This is simply down to the market ie London wages being far higher.

Total costs

According to the large national bathroom company Victoria Plum, the average UK bathroom renovation comes to a final cost of around £7,200. This could be more if, when removing the old bathroom, it is discovered there are problems with the plumbing. It also depends on the size of the bathroom, of course.

Basic bathroom

A basic bathroom in the UK today typically costs around £4,000. That’s because it’s possible to purchase a standard bathroom suite – toilet, basin and suite – for as little as £250. Add in the rest, including flooring and heating, and you’re looking at a budget of around £4,400.

Mid-range bathroom

A mid-range bathroom can set you back around £6,000, depending on the size of your bathroom.

High-end bathroom

Expect to spend £10,000 upwards to renovate a large bathroom and furnish it with high-end, designer, products.

Managing your budget

Before you start your bathroom renovation, create a comprehensive budget spreadsheet that outlines all your potential expenses. This should include materials, labour, fixtures, supplies, and the cost of any permits you might need. It’s best to go to the worst case scenario here (account for additional tiles in case of breakages, for example) and add an extra 20% to the total in case of unforeseen issues that might arise. This way you know you can definitely afford the bathroom you want. 

Next is to break down the costs for each phase of your project. Depending on the scale of your bathroom remodel, this might include ripping the original bathroom out, plumbing, tiling and installation. 

As you move through your renovation, track your actual spending against what you’ve budgeted for each stage. If costs are creeping up too much then it might be time to reevaluate which parts of the renovation are the most important, or get a bit savvier with your money. Many contractors will be able to help you with trade discounts on fixtures or second hand is always an option. 

Money saving tips

With renovations, it pays to think long-term. Choosing to spend a bit more money on an experienced, reputable contractor is likely going to save you money down the line thanks to high quality workmanship. But with products, price doesn’t always equate to quality. Make sure to do your research and compare prices of fixtures and fittings across multiple suppliers, plus keep an eye out for seasonal sales and discounts. 

There are some strategic design choices that can save you money too. Changing the configuration of your bathroom can incur additional plumbing costs, whereas keeping your existing layout is likely more budget-friendly. Is there anything you could refinish rather than replace? If your bathtub works fine but is looking a bit tired, reglazing rather than replacing could be an option. There are also refurbished fixtures on the market that are cheaper than buying brand-new. 

Doing some work yourself can also save you money. While it’s not recommended to take on any of the structural, plumbing or electrical jobs unless you really know what you’re doing, removing tiles or taking on some of the finishing touches, like painting, can be cost-effective.

How to find a bathroom fitter

There are various ways you can find a reliable bathroom fitter that you can trust, try one of the following:

• The Page – You can find a list of trusted bathroom fitters on The Page. Get in touch and we will send you a curated list specific to your needs.
• Online Directories – TrustMark is a government-run scheme which assures all members have been carefully vetted for their qualifications and other information, such as their identity and business practices. Members also sign a code of conduct.
• Facebook Groups – Some groups provide advice on maintenance issues and give recommendations for tradespeople. Local Tradespeople UK is one of these.
• Ask Other People – Friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues may all have had similar work done and can give you an honest review for a particular bathroom fitter.
• Tradespeople – Often a joiner, builder or electrician can recommend a good bathroom fitter that they have worked with in the past.