Insights · Updated August 2026
How Much Does a New Bathroom Cost in 2026? (UK)
A new bathroom costs roughly £3,000–£8,000 in 2026 for most refits, and £8,000–£15,000 or more for a large or high-end room. A small budget refit starts near £3,000, a standard family bathroom lands around £5,000–£8,000. Labour is the biggest single cost, followed by the suite, tiling and any pipework you move. The final figure turns on the size of the room, the spec of the fittings, how much tiling you want and your region. Here is the full 2026 breakdown.
Most refits £3k–£8k High-end £8k–£15k Updated August 2026
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New bathroom cost by type (2026)
| Bathroom | Typical cost (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cloakroom / WC (small) | £1,500–£3,500 | WC and basin, minimal tiling |
| Small budget refit | £3,000–£5,000 | Like-for-like swap |
| Standard family bathroom | £5,000–£8,000 | New layout and better fittings |
| Large or high-end / en-suite | £8,000–£15,000 | Premium suite, feature tiling |
| Wet room conversion | £6,000–£12,000 | Fully tanked, level access |
Ranges assume a competent fitter, a standard-to-mid suite and full tiling of the wet areas. London and the South-East typically sit 15–25% above these figures.
Where the money goes
| Element | Share of budget | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Labour (fitter, 5–10 days) | 40–50% | The biggest single line by far |
| Suite & brassware | 15–25% | Bath, WC, basin, taps, shower valve |
| Tiling (supply & fit) | 15–20% | More for large-format or mosaic |
| Plumbing & electrics | 10–15% | Rises if you move the suite |
| Plastering & sundries | 5–10% | Making good, waterproofing, waste |
New bathroom costs at a glance — 2026
Typical finished totals by room type, plus the London uplift.
Standard-to-mid specification, finished. Source: BestBuilders 2026 quote data · 519 UK towns
Full 2026 rate card
| Item | Typical cost (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small budget refit | £3,000–£5,000 | Like-for-like swap, standard suite |
| Mid-range full refit | £5,000–£8,000 | New layout, better fittings |
| High-end / large room | £8,000–£15,000 | Premium suite, feature tiling |
| Bathroom suite (bath, WC, basin) | £400–£2,500 | Budget to premium |
| Walk-in shower enclosure | £500–£2,000 | Tray, screen, thermostatic valve |
| Tiling (supply & fit, per m²) | £40–£100 | Large-format and mosaic cost more |
| Plumbing / moving pipework | £500–£1,500 | Relocating soil and waste runs |
| Electrics (lights, extractor, shaver) | £300–£800 | Part P certified |
| Underfloor heating (electric mat) | £400–£1,200 | Warm floor, dries quickly |
| Plastering & making good | £300–£700 | After first fix |
| Labour (fitter, 5–10 days) | £2,000–£4,000 | The biggest single line |
| Waterproofing / tanking (wet areas) | £300–£900 | Behind tiles in showers |
Regional price differences
| Region | Against UK average |
|---|---|
| London | +20–30% (labour, access, parking) |
| South East and commuter towns | +10–20% |
| Southern and Eastern England | +5–15% |
| Midlands | Around the average |
| North West, Yorkshire | −5–10% |
| North East, Scotland & South Wales | −10–15% |
The same family bathroom priced at £6,000 in the North East can pass £7,500 in outer London before any change of spec. Judge quotes against local rates, and see our bathroom cost calculator to size your own project.
How the job runs (1–2.5 weeks on site)
- Strip out — remove the old suite, tiles and any damaged plaster (1–2 days).
- First fix — move or renew plumbing and electrics for the new layout (1–3 days).
- Boarding & waterproofing — new plasterboard, backer board and tanking to the wet areas.
- Tiling — walls and floor tiled and grouted (2–4 days depending on size).
- Second fix & finish — suite, shower, taps, extractor and lights fitted, sealed and snagged.
Where the budget goes wrong
- Moving the suite on a whim — relocating the WC or bath adds £500–£1,500 in pipework. Only move it if the layout really needs it.
- Under-tiling — skimping on waterproofing behind a shower leads to damp and re-work within a couple of years.
- Cheap extractor or none — poor ventilation causes mould; a decent humidity-sensing fan is cheap insurance.
- Designer suite on a small budget — the fittings can quietly double the price; a good standard suite looks great fitted well.
- No contingency — hold 10–15% back for hidden damage found on strip-out.
Choosing the fitter: checklist
- Two recent bathroom refits you can see or call about — not just general work.
- £2m+ public liability insurance, verified.
- A Part P registered electrician for the lights, extractor and shaver point, and a Gas Safe engineer if the heating or boiler is touched.
- The quote itemises suite, tiling, labour and making good separately, not one lump sum.
- A written stage-payment schedule — never more than 10–15% up front — and three itemised quotes on the same spec.
FAQs
Most new bathrooms cost £3,000–£8,000 in 2026. A small budget refit starts around £3,000, a standard family bathroom is £5,000–£8,000, and a large or high-end room runs £8,000–£15,000 or more.
Labour is usually the single biggest cost, at roughly 40–50% of the total for a fitter working five to ten days. After that come the suite, the tiling and any plumbing changes if you move the bath, WC or basin.
A straightforward like-for-like refit takes about one week. A full refit with a new layout, moved pipework and full tiling usually takes one and a half to two and a half weeks, plus a day or two for plastering to dry.
Yes. Keeping the suite in the same position keeps plumbing simple, while relocating the WC, bath or basin means new soil and waste runs and adds £500–£1,500. A new layout is worth it for a better room, but budget for the extra pipework.
Keep the suite where it is, choose a good-value standard suite over a designer one, tile the wet areas fully and part-tile elsewhere, and get three like-for-like quotes on the same specification so you are comparing the same job.
Related guides
- Bathroom cost calculator
- How to plan an accessible wet room
- Do I need planning permission for a bathroom?
- More home improvement insights
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Reviewed by the BestBuilders editorial team on 4 August 2026 · Next scheduled review: November 2026 · See our editorial standards.
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