Last updated on April 14th, 2023
How much does it cost to fit a new bathroom?
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Fast Facts
- Average price of new bathroom is £5,000.
- On average, it take 5 – 10 days for a new bathroom installation.
- Removing your old bathroom ranges between £100 – £200
Doing the work yourself might keep initial costs down, but fitting a new bathroom can be complex. Hiring a bathroom installation expert might be more expensive but it’s a cost worth paying for, due to the skills needed to successfully install all the different bathroom elements.
How much does a new bathroom cost in the UK?
Installing a new bathroom (including materials) will cost between £4,000 – £6,000, with the average price being £5,000.
For a larger/high end bathroom project, you’ll be looking at a price of £10,000+.
| Bathroom installation cost | Average cost range - Low | Average cost range - Medium | Average prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of bathroom renovation (including materials), low/medium end | £4,000 | £6,000 | £5,000 |
| Cost of bathroom renovation (including materials), high end/complex (10 plus days) | £10,000+ | ||
| Toilet installation | £100 | £175 | £150 |
| Basin installation | £100 | £200 | £175 |
| Bath installation | £250 | £400 | £350 |
| Shower installation | £350 | £600 | £500 |
| Shower enclosure installation | £350 | £500 | £400 |
| Heated towel rail installation | £200 | £300 | £250 |
| Radiator installation | £200 | £300 | £250 |
Our costs are ballpark averages – get a local tradesperson to quote now
In this guide, we’ve provided a range of new bathroom costs for low/medium-end projects. Generally, there’s no average upper limit, as some bathroom/ensuite elements can be considerably more expensive.
Installation of luxury or bespoke bathroom fixtures and fittings will cost £10,000+.
When planning your new bathroom installation, it can often be broken down into different elements. Having a bath and shower will be more expensive than just having one or the other. Equally, if you only plan to install or replace parts of a bathroom that will keep the cost down.
Additional costs to consider when fitting your new bathroom
| Task | Average UK cost |
|---|---|
| Ripping out | £300 |
| Electrical work | £600 |
| Wall Tiling | £850 - £950 |
| Vinyl Flooring | £250 - £950 |
| First fix plumbing | £25 - £40 per m² |
| Underfloor heating | £40 per m² |
| Bathroom re-plaster | £1,000 |
| Core drilling for new pipes | £100 |
| Re-configure layout, i.e. new studwork wall | £1,000 |
| Decorator | £400 |
In addition to the main bathroom suite itself (bath/shower, sink and toilet), there are a number of other costs to consider for your new bathroom installation, such as:
- Waste removal
- Extractor fans
- Ceiling lights
- Tiling
- Pipework adjustments
- Flooring (laminate, and wood)
- Finishing
- Underfloor heating
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Cost to install bathroom vanity
The bathroom vanity installation cost will depend on the size, design and quality of the vanity unit itself. Often the vanity installation cost will be included within the total price you pay for the new bathroom installation cost. If quoted separately, the average cost to install a bathroom vanity is around £200 – £300.
Bath tub installation
There are a wide variety of baths to choose from, some fitted and others stand alone. On average, a standard bath installation will cost between £100 – £200.
We’ve broken down the costs of installing different types of bathtubs and any associated costs in our bathtub installation cost guide.
Average time: 3 – 5 hours
Shower installation
Depending on the type of shower you choose for your home, it will cost in the region of £250 – £400 for supply and installation. The price is affected by the cost of the shower unit itself and the labour involved. Installing an electric shower usually costs slightly more than installing a standard mixer shower.
Average time: 2 hours (for replacement) to 8 hours (new installation)
Read our dedicated shower installation cost guide to find out installation prices for different types of showers.
Shower enclosure installation
The biggest factors affecting the cost of installing a shower enclosure are the size and the materials used. Larger showers involve more labour. And bespoke designs are often more complex to make and install, which means a higher price tag.
Supply and installation of an average shower enclosure usually cost between £350 – £600.
Average time: 3 – 5 hours
Basin installation
A simple pedestal basin is probably the most common type of basin and is fairly quick and easy to install.
For a single pedestal basin installation, you’ll be looking at paying between £100 – £175.
Average time: 1 – 2 hours
Toilet installation
The type of toilet unit you choose will be the biggest determining factor of the total price of installing a toilet. Not only for the price of the unit but also the labour that will be involved. Some toilet systems can be more complex to plumb in than others.
A standard toilet installation will cost you between – .
Average time: 2 – 3 hours
Our toilet installation cost guide will guide you through everything you need to know about fitting a new toilet, and the expected costs of installing different types of toilets.
Heated towel rail installation
Towel rails have become an integral part of many modern bathrooms, and come in a range of sizes, shapes and styles. In smaller bathrooms, they can act as a radiator on top of keeping your towels warm and fluffy.
Installing a heated towel rail costs between £350 – £500.
Average time: 2 – 4 hours
Radiator installation
As with many other bathroom elements, the type and size will greatly affect the price you pay to install a new radiator.
On average, the cost of installing a standard radiator is between £200 – £300.
Average time: 2 – 4 hours
How long will my new bathroom installation take?
The time it will take to complete your bathroom installation depends on the amount of work required. If you’re just installing new fittings, you’ll get it done quicker than if you’re completely gutting the room and starting from scratch.
On average, it could take between 5 – 10 days for a new bathroom installation, while smaller renovations can be completed in as little as two days.
In general, a small budget bathroom may take 6 – 12 days to install. A standard bathroom could take 7 – 15 days, while a luxury bathroom could take 9 – 16 days to complete.
Things to consider when installing a new bathroom
As with all home improvement projects, there are usually a number of factors that will affect the price you pay.
With bathroom installations, this is particularly true, as there are so many different types and sizes of bathrooms, all with different elements that directly affect the overall cost of fitting your new bathroom.
The majority of your new bathroom installation costs will be affected by:
- Any electrical work that needs doing (eg. installing a power shower or a dual fuel heated towel rail)
- Plumbing work (and access to plumbing)
- The choice of bathroom suite (size, any special features etc.)
- Size of your bathroom
- Location
- Age and condition of the property
- If specialists are required (for more complex installations)
Pre-planning your bathroom layout is essential, you need to consider where existing pipes and waste disposal are, however, many of these can be relocated by a professional, but of course, that will add to your new bathroom costs too.
Many Checkatrade bathroom designers provide a free planning service, and we most certainly recommend making the most of this service and then discussing your ideas with your fitter, in advance of work starting.
Old bathroom removal cost
If you’re planning to renovate your old bathroom, remember that you’d need to factor in the costs of removing the old one first. Depending on how much of it you want to change, your bathroom removal costs would include removing the bath and shower, toilet, sink, flooring, wall tiles, etc.
But, as we said earlier, you can keep costs down by replacing only the parts of the bathroom that need replacing. So, depending on the scale of the renovation, your old bathroom removal cost will fall between £100 – £200.
You may also need to hire a skip, which will come with its own hiring cost.
Here’s a checklist for you to help plan and budget:
- Decide on your budget upfront, this will help guide your choice of bathroom components within your budget.
- Speak with a local bathroom expert for advice on the best approach for your bathroom, some bathrooms have limitations that will dictate layouts and fixtures you can use.
- Remember to factor in all the associated bathroom installation costs, not just installing the bathroom suite and tiling.
- When hiring a professional tradesperson, always choose someone with proven experience and has the appropriate qualifications/accreditations.
- Always shop around with local suppliers and bathroom specialists to get fair and competitive prices for your bathroom installation.
Tradespeople only get our tick of approval if they pass up to 12 of our rigorous checks
FAQs
How long does it take to install a bathroom?
A standard bathroom installation will usually take between 5 – 10 days. However, this will be affected by the size and complexity of the bathroom.
Can I install a bathroom myself?
If you’re an accomplished DIY enthusiast with experience dealing with complex home improvement projects then you might want to attempt to install your new bathroom yourself.
To install a bathroom you’ll need to be confident dealing with electrics, plumbing, tiling, painting and decorating. Otherwise, we would highly recommend hiring a professional bathroom fitter to carry out the installation work.
How can I save money with my new bathroom installation?
Disposing of your old bathroom suite yourself could help you save some money. You could also consider selling it and make yourself some additional pennies to go towards the taps you want.
Do you have any bathroom tiling tips?
It’s worth hiring a professional bathroom tiler. They will ensure a consistently high-quality finish in a fraction of the time.
Also, there is nothing worse than accidentally dropping a bathroom tile into your new ceramic bath and chipping it before you’ve even used it.
Best time of year to re-do your bathroom?
From experience, we know from September to December is a hectic time for families to consider having a new bathroom. Good bathroom fitters are at their busiest, and so planning it in for spring and summer could prove better for you and mean you get the fitter you want.
What is a 3 piece bathroom suite?
A bathroom suite invariably consists of a toilet, sink or vanity unit and bath with a separate shower being optional.
Nowadays you can buy all items independently too, meaning you can mix and match to suit your own needs and tastes. Baths come in an array of sizes to suit all bathroom sizes, from compact narrow ones to large two-person baths too.
Is electrical work in a bathroom needed?
Often we forget that bathrooms can have electrics too, from shaving sockets to under unit lighting and extractor fans. When installing a new bathroom that requires additional alterations to existing circuits, work could be notifiable to your local building control officer to meet the correct safety standards. Generally, any work carried out to the circuit within a specific zone close to the bath or shower unit is considered notifiable.
Simple ways to meet the requirements is to use a registered contractor with the Competent Person Scheme. To find out detailed information on why you should use a Competent Person please download and read the scheme’s booklet. A Competent Person can self-certify the work and notify the local building control department on your behalf. It’s worth noting that all electricians on the Checkatrade site are certified.
Don’t forget when considering electrical work, the bathroom lighting type and quality you decide on will affect your budget too.
Get some bathroom ideas and inspiration
If you’re exploring your options and you need some inspiration, check out these bathroom ideas:
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Claims are sourced from a survey conducted by Deep Blue Thinking on a nationally representative UK sample in November 2021. *8 out of 10 people would choose a trade endorsed by Checkatrade compared to one that isn’t endorsed.
Claims are sourced from a survey conducted by Deep Blue Thinking on a nationally representative UK sample in November 2021. *8 out of 10 people would choose a trade endorsed by Checkatrade compared to one that isn’t endorsed.
Steve
Thank you for providing these valuable insights. Great article, and nicely written.