Bathroom renovation cost in Australia 2026: what you'll really pay
May 2026
Bathroom renovations are the second most common home improvement project in Australia after kitchens. They're also the project where the gap between online estimates and real-world quotes is widest. Lifestyle media will tell you a bathroom renovation costs $15,000. Your tiler will tell you $35,000. Both can be true, depending on what you're actually building.
This article breaks the numbers down honestly, by tier, by trade, by tile budget, and by state. No lowball estimates, no hidden assumptions, no "from $X" pricing that nobody actually pays.
The three tiers
| Tier | Total budget | Tile budget/m² |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $10,000 to $18,000 | $40 to $80 |
| Mid | $20,000 to $35,000 | $80 to $150 |
| Premium | $40,000 to $80,000+ | $150 to $400 |
Budget: $10,000 to $18,000. A cosmetic refresh. Existing layout retained. Standard fixtures from a major plumbing supplies retailer. Budget-to-mid tile selection at $40 to $80/m². You get new tiles on the floor and shower walls, a new vanity and tapware, a new toilet, and fresh paint on non-tiled surfaces. You don't get layout changes, custom joinery, frameless screens, premium tiles or imported tapware.
Mid: $20,000 to $35,000. A partial or full gut, with the layout staying the same or changing only modestly. Mid-range fixtures, quality tiles in the $80 to $150/m² range, a new shower with a semi-frameless or frameless screen, a new bath if there is one, and good tapware from a recognised brand. This is the most common tier for owner-occupied homes.
Premium: $40,000 to $80,000 and up. A full gut and layout change. Custom joinery for the vanity. Imported tiles at $150 to $400/m². Heated floors. Frameless screens, full-height tiling, premium tapware. This is the spec you see in architecture publications.
Tile cost by m²
| Tile type | Cost per m² |
|---|---|
| Budget porcelain | $35 to $70 |
| Mid-range porcelain (600×1200, marble-look) | $75 to $140 |
| Premium porcelain & stone-look | $140 to $250 |
| Natural stone | $180 to $450 |
| Zellige | $180 to $320 |
| Mosaic | $120 to $280 |
A standard 3×3m bathroom typically needs 35 to 45m² of tile when you tile the floor and all walls to ceiling. Add 10 to 15% for cuts and breakage.
Labour rates by state
Sydney and Melbourne tilers charge $70 to $120/hr, or $50 to $90/m² supply-only. Brisbane and Perth run $60 to $100/hr. Regional Australia is $50 to $80/hr, though good regional tilers can be hard to book.
A standard bathroom tiling job, covering floor, shower and walls, takes one tiler three to five days. Waterproofing is a separate licensed trade. Budget $800 to $1,500 for waterproofing a bathroom.
Where to save vs splurge
Save on floor tiles. Use a quality but simple porcelain. Nobody looks at the floor for long, and the design weight should be on the walls. Save on the niche tile too (a clean white porcelain niche reads as deliberate restraint). Save on grout in cosmetic zones, but spend on epoxy grout where it matters: shower floor and shower joints.
Splurge on shower wall tiles. You see them every morning, full height, well-lit. Splurge on the splashback or feature wall behind the basin too, since it sits at eye level and sets the tone of the room. Splurge on tapware as well. The cheapest-looking thing in a premium-feeling bathroom is always cheap tapware, and it's the easiest tell.
Hidden costs
The line items that don't appear in initial quotes but always appear on the final invoice:
- Waterproofing: $800 to $1,500
- Wet area compliance inspection: $300 to $500
- Old tile removal: $20 to $35/m²
- Substrate levelling: $15 to $30/m²
- Tiler travel to site, particularly regional
- Tile wastage, so order 10 to 15% extra at minimum
- Delivery surcharges for heavy stone or slab tiles
Add 10 to 15% to your tile budget and 5 to 10% to your overall budget for these. They are not optional.
Frequently asked questions
What's the average bathroom renovation cost in Australia in 2026?
Mid-tier renovations sit between $20,000 and $35,000. Budget refreshes start around $10,000 to $18,000, and premium designed bathrooms run $40,000 to $80,000 or more.
How much should I spend on tiles in a $25,000 renovation?
Tiles typically account for 15 to 25% of total budget, so $3,500 to $6,000. That covers mid-range porcelain at $80 to $140/m² across 35 to 45m².
Can I do any of the tiling work myself?
You can demolish, paint and prepare. Waterproofing must be done by a licensed waterproofer. Tiling over wet areas typically requires a licensed tiler, so check your state's regulations.
What's the cheapest way to update a bathroom?
Re-tile the splashback and shower walls, replace the vanity and tapware, leave the floor and bath in place. A focused refresh can come in well under $10,000 if the existing layout works.
Which upgrades add the most resale value?
Layout improvements, high-quality tiles in the shower zone, and frameless screens consistently return the most at sale. Premium tapware also reads immediately at inspection.