Highest cost elements of your bathroom renovation

Bathrooms are one of the more expensive areas of your home to renovate, but that doesn’t mean they can't be affordable. By understanding what drives your costs, you can make smart and informed choices that keep your budget on track.

Quality of Materials Used

There is a WIDE range of bathroom materials available today each with its own pros and cons. While we don’t encourage picking the cheapest of everything, the boasted benefits of some more expensive options don’t justify the cost. 

We recommend drawing on the experience and expertise of your contractors to understand what products offer the right level of performance at a reasonable price.

Some materials may be worth splurging on while in other instances the ‘no frills’ option is just as good as any other.

Size of your bathroom

The bigger your bathroom the more materials needed and the more time it takes to install them, however, be mindful in the design stage that sometimes these additional costs are worthwhile to create a more usable space.

For example, the cost difference between the materials and labour of a 0.8m wide toilet room vs a 1m or 1.2m bathroom is nominal, and the space gained makes the room significantly more functional and comfortable.

Smaller bathroom remodeling is often cheaper, but prioritise accessibility and comfort where possible to get the most from your investment.

Quality of fittings & fixtures used

Fixtures and fittings are a common area where the budget gets blown with the huge and impressive range out there it is easy to fall in love with the most expensive shiny option.  Installing a bath or wet shower area can transform a space, but will also impact on your budget. Balancing quality with cost is the secret to ensure the final product stands the test of time without emptying the bank.

While there is a certain standard of quality your bathroom fittings and fixtures should meet, remember a higher price tag does not always mean higher quality. 

Labour costs

One of the significant chunks in your bathroom remodel budget is the labour costs. It takes a variety of professionals from builders through to all the necessary sub-trades and contractors.

The labour costs will vary between these but it's important to invest in quality workmanship - your lead builder will likely have preferred contractors they work with who have a proven track record of high-quality results at a reasonable price.

It pays not to chase the lowest price when sourcing builders and always check they are qualified and registered builders.

Design complexity

Generally the more complex your proposed bathroom design the more expensive it tends to be. Design complexity is an overarching term that takes into account factors such as changing the location of services, creation, and installation of customized fixtures, and use of materials or systems that require specialized professionals to install - tiling being the most common example of this.

Bathroom wet area

A wet area bathroom can either refer to the whole room being waterproofed or just a section of it - typically the shower area. Wet area bathrooms are typically made up of a waterproof barrier system which then has an impervious material such as tile, vinyl, or acrylic laid over top as the wall or flooring material. 

Wet area bathrooms offer practical benefits such as being easy to clean and generally being more accessible. They also offer a sense of luxury - usually incorporating tiles, allowing for larger showers and more open-plan layouts. 

The additional materials and specialized sub-trades (water proofer and tiler etc) are what make these bathrooms typically more expensive. Wet area bathrooms also more likely to require building consent which adds cost and complexity.

Plumbing & electrical work

Plumbing and electrical work will be involved in almost all bathroom renovations - the extent of the work will of course influence the cost. 

The simplest and most affordable route is to replace fixtures ‘like for like’ - such as replacing your vanity tap with a new one that is in the same position and serves the same function. 

Where costs increase is when you significantly move fixtures or add new ones , this will typically involve in-wall work which is much more involved.

Tips to reduce the cost of your bathroom renovation

While it's true bathroom renovations can be on the expensive end of things they don’t have to be. By making smart design decisions, prioritizing where you spend, and reusing or upcycling existing fixtures and fittings, you can still get a big transformation on a small budget.

Be selective with the areas you spend money on

‘You can have anything, but you can’t have everything’ is a great mantra when establishing your renovating budget. 

If you are going to keep costs down, you need to be discerning with what you are willing to fork out for and what works okay as it is. Set your budget first and then prioritize what will fit into it and maximize value where you can. 

Changes like a coat of paint or swapping out your vanity mirror can have a big impact at a relatively low cost.

Expensive fixtures & fittings eat up budget quickly

Fixtures and fittings we agree are the exciting part of a bathroom renovation, flicking through glossy catalogues or flashy showrooms it's easy to get swept up! However, when sticking to a budget it's important to have a firm limit on how much you have to spend on fittings and fixtures. 

Take the time to shop around - double points if you can find a sale or items on clearance. That said beware the “you get what you pay for” mantra when it comes to bathrooms – a lessor quality product in a critical wet area can soon lead to repair costs far more than the difference in price of the poor versus good product.

Don’t change the layout if you don’t need to

Our most effective tip for reducing the cost of your bathroom remodelling is to make as few (ideally none) changes to the layout. This doesn’t mean there won't be a significant transformation. 

When we talk about maintaining your layout this largely refers to keeping walls, doors, windows, and services (drains, taps, shower heads, lighting, and electrical fixtures) where they are or limiting changes as much as possible. 

But a big change can be made by replacing fixtures, changing materials, and adding decor so that your bathroom feels like a brand-new space!

Re-use pieces from your old bathroom where possible 

Often when renovating we get in the ‘everything must go’ mindset but slow down and evaluate each part of your bathroom separately can some things stay? 

Perhaps the shower cubicle is in good condition and a new showerhead is all that’s needed to update the shower. Or your vanity is still perfectly functional so some new handles and tapware will update it to fit with the new aesthetic.

Re-using fixtures can save significant costs and free up budget for other areas such as flooring or additional comfort upgrades.

Bathroom Renovation Cost FAQs