How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Australia?

What’s The Damage, an Australian cost guide, gives these typical ranges for a bathroom renovation (updated October 2026):

• Sydney: $11,500–$40,250
• Melbourne: $10,500–$36,750
• Brisbane: $10,000–$35,000
• Perth: $10,500–$36,750
• Adelaide: $9,200–$32,200

These are published estimates, not quotes.

1. Whether the layout moves. Keeping the toilet, shower and basin where the pipes already are is the biggest single saving. Moving a toilet means moving the waste pipe, often through the slab.
2. Waterproofing. A full renovation means stripping back and re-waterproofing the wet areas. It is not where to save money — failed waterproofing is the most expensive bathroom problem there is.
3. Tiles: how many and which. Floor-to-ceiling tiling roughly doubles the tiled area, and large-format or natural-stone tiles cost more to lay.
4. Fixtures. A freestanding bath, wall-hung toilet or custom vanity each add materials and labour; a wall-hung toilet needs a frame inside the wall.
5. How many trades. A full bathroom usually needs a plumber, waterproofer, tiler and electrician, often a carpenter or plasterer too. One company coordinating them costs more but saves you the scheduling.
6. What’s behind the walls. Rotten framing, old galvanised pipes or asbestos in older homes add cost once the room is opened up. Ask how surprises will be priced before work starts.
7. Where you live. Labour rates differ between cities and regional areas.

• Get at least three written quotes for the same scope: same tiles to the same height, same fixtures.
• Check each quote says who does the waterproofing and whether a certificate is provided.
• If the job is big enough to need a licensed builder in your state, check the licence (see our guide to checking a tradie’s licence).