The short answer
A new bathroom typically costs £3,000–£6,000 for a budget refit, £6,000–£12,000 mid-range and £12,000–£25,000+ at the high end in 2026. The suite you choose, the amount of tiling, and whether you keep the existing layout are the main variables. Of that total, fitting labour usually accounts for £2,000–£5,000. See the fitting labour cost guide for a line-by-line breakdown of where the money goes.
A bathroom is one of the bigger home-improvement projects most UK households take on, and the spread of prices online — from a couple of thousand pounds to well over twenty — can make it hard to know what is reasonable. This guide sets out realistic 2026 figures for budget, mid-range and high-end refits, explains what drives the differences, and flags the choices that push costs up so there are no surprises in a quote.
New bathroom costs at a glance
- Budget refit (suite, tiling, fitting) £3,000–£6,000
- Mid-range refit £6,000–£12,000
- High-end refit £12,000–£25,000+
- Fitting labour (within the total) £2,000–£5,000
- Small bathroom or ensuite £3,000–£8,000
- Wet room (full tanking) £5,000–£15,000
What a new bathroom actually includes
A typical bathroom quote covers three big blocks: the products (the suite, taps, shower, tiles and any furniture), the labour (several trades across one to two weeks), and the materials that hold it all together (adhesive, grout, waterproofing, pipework and waste fittings). Budget refits keep the existing layout, use entry-level suites and standard ceramic tiles, and minimise tiling area. Mid-range jobs upgrade the suite, tile floor-to-ceiling and may move a fixture or two. High-end bathrooms involve premium suites, natural stone or large-format porcelain, underfloor heating, bespoke joinery and sometimes structural change such as a new ensuite or wet room. Because the labour element is fairly fixed across these tiers, much of the price difference comes from the products and the amount of tiling.
| Tier | What it typically includes | Total (supply & fit) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Existing layout kept, entry-level suite, standard tiles, minimal tiling | £3,000–£6,000 |
| Mid-range | Upgraded suite, full tiling, new shower, possible minor layout change | £6,000–£12,000 |
| High-end | Premium suite, stone/large-format tiles, underfloor heating, layout change | £12,000–£25,000+ |
Where the budget goes
It helps to think of a bathroom budget as roughly three parts. The suite and fittings — bath, basin, WC, taps and shower — commonly account for 25–40% of the total, depending on how premium you go. Tiling, including both the tiles and the labour to fit them, is often the single largest line on a mid-range job once you tile floor and walls; see our tiling cost guide for the per-square-metre detail. The remaining labour — plumbing, electrics, plastering and the strip-out — makes up the balance and is covered in our fitting labour cost guide. The exact split shifts with the room: a heavily tiled wet room is tiling-led, while an ensuite with long plumbing runs is labour-led.
What pushes costs up
Several choices reliably move a bathroom above the typical ranges:
- Moving the WC or soil stack — relocating the toilet or the waste run is the costliest plumbing change because it affects drainage and falls. See our planning guide before committing to a new layout.
- Converting to a wet room — full waterproof tanking and a new drainage point add significantly. Our wet room cost guide explains the extra work involved.
- Premium tiling — natural stone, large-format porcelain and intricate patterns cost more in both material and labour. See the tiling cost guide.
- Underfloor heating — electric mats or a wet system add material and time, plus electrical work under Part P.
- Structural change — a new ensuite, a loft bathroom or knocking through requires extra trades and possibly building control sign-off. See our planning permission guide.
Regulations that affect the cost
Some of the cost of a proper bathroom is regulatory rather than cosmetic. Electrical work in a bathroom is notifiable under Building Regulations Part P and must respect strict IP-rated zones around the bath and shower; this typically means a registered electrician and a certificate. Mechanical extract ventilation is required under Part F to manage humidity, and soil, waste and drainage must comply with Part G and Part H. A quote that ignores these is not a complete quote. Our building regulations guide sets out what is notifiable and what is not, and our ventilation guide covers extract requirements.
Does the spend come back?
A tired, dated bathroom can drag a house sale, and a clean, modern bathroom is one of the higher-return improvements you can make — but only up to a point. Spending in line with the value and style of the property tends to pay back; luxury over-spec in a modest home rarely returns fully. Our guide on whether a new bathroom adds value looks at the evidence in more detail. This page is general information; the actual cost depends on your room, the products you choose and the quotes you receive, and all electrical work must be carried out by a competent, registered person.
Compare new bathroom quotes
Prices vary significantly between installers for the same job and products. Use our service to compare itemised quotes from a bathroom installation specialist in your area.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a new bathroom in the UK?
A mid-range new bathroom typically costs £6,000–£12,000 supply and fit in 2026, with budget refits from around £3,000 and high-end projects reaching £25,000 or more. The range reflects the suite, the amount of tiling and whether the layout changes. These are typical illustrations, not quotes.
How much of the cost is labour?
Fitting labour typically accounts for £2,000–£5,000 of the total, spread across 7–12 working days because several trades are involved — plumber, tiler, electrician and plasterer. See our fitting labour cost guide for the breakdown.
Why is a wet room more expensive than a standard bathroom?
A wet room needs the whole floor and lower walls fully waterproofed (tanked) and a new drainage point with the correct falls, which adds material and labour. Wet rooms typically cost £5,000–£15,000. The waterproof tanking is the key extra over a standard bathroom.
Can I save money by keeping the existing layout?
Yes. Keeping the bath, basin and WC in their current positions avoids re-routing pipework and drainage — especially moving the soil stack, which is the costliest plumbing change. A like-for-like refit is generally the most economical way to renew a bathroom.
Sources & further reading
- KBSA (Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association) — consumer guidance on bathroom projects and choosing a member
- CIPHE (Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering) — plumbing and installation standards
- GOV.UK / Building Regulations Approved Documents P, F, G and H — electrics, ventilation, sanitation and drainage
- TrustMark — finding a vetted tradesperson for home improvement work
This is general information, not advice for your specific property or installation. Costs, timescales and outcomes vary with your home, layout and chosen specialist. Bathroom Answers is an independent information and introduction service, not an installer. Electrical work in a bathroom must be carried out by a competent, registered person.