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Project guide

How much does it cost to renovate a bathroom in the UK?

A bathroom renovation is several jobs at once: the suite, the tiling, the decorating, and the plumbing and electrics. This guide sets out what moves the materials bill, what is on the list, and how to price the floor tiles yourself.

Updated Based on manufacturer guidance, sources below

The short answer

There is no single bathroom renovation cost. The bath, basin, WC and taps are their own shopping list, and this page does not price them. The finishes you can measure are the floor tiles, the wall tiles and the paint on anything you leave untiled. Plumbing and electrical labour sits on top of that, and it varies by area.

A 2.4 x 1.8m floor is 4.3 m², so buy about 5 m² of tiles, one 20kg bag of adhesive and one 5kg bag of grout. The bathroom tiling guide covers the walls, and the paint guide covers the ceiling.

Labour is not priced on this page. It is quoted separately and varies by area, so ask locally. The suite is not priced here either. The button prices the floor tiles from live supplier feeds. Wall tiles and paint are separate lists, linked below.

Work it out for your job

Change the measurements and the quantities update straight away.

Floor area
4.3 m²
Tiles
53 at 300 x 300mm
Adhesive
18.3 kg
Grout
1.5 kg

Your list

  • 5m² of tiles including 10% (buy whole boxes)
  • 1Flexible tile adhesive, 20kg bags
  • 1Tile grout, 5kg bags
Price the bathroom floor tiles

Opens the bathroom floor tiling project in SmartBuild with your measurements filled in. Every item is priced from supplier product feeds where we have them, ranked by price. Wall tiles, paint and the suite are separate.

How the numbers are worked out

The formula

  • Materials to plan = suite and taps + wall tiles + floor tiles + adhesive, grout and silicone + tanking on wet areas + paint and making good
  • Floor tiles (m²) = length x width x 1.1 for a straight layout (x 1.15 for diagonal), rounded up to whole boxes
  • Labour, skip hire and any moved pipework are quoted separately and are not in the materials list

Worked example

A like-for-like refit of a 2.4 x 1.8m bathroom, same position for the toilet, basin and bath:

  • Suite and taps: choose them yourself. They are not in the calculator
  • Floor: 2.4 x 1.8 = 4.3 m², so 5 m² of tiles, 1 bag of adhesive and 1 bag of grout
  • Walls: tile the wet areas and any full-height walls. A worked wall list is on the tiling guide
  • Ceiling and untiled wall: emulsion, after any making good
  • Labour: a plumber and, for a new circuit, a registered electrician. Get that quoted locally

Materials checklist

  • Floor tilesSlip-resistant floor tiles, bought by the box. Divide the m² by the coverage on the box and round up.
  • Flexible floor adhesiveA cement-based adhesive rated for floors, in 20kg bags. Wet rooms and underfloor heating need a flexible one.
  • Floor groutCement-based grout in 5kg bags. Silicone, not grout, where the floor meets the bath.
  • Wall tiles, adhesive and groutUsually a larger area than the floor. Price them with the wall tiling project, not this floor list.
  • TankingA waterproof layer behind tiles in a shower or wet room. It is extra materials the tile calculator does not add.
  • Bathroom emulsionFor the ceiling and any wall you are not tiling. Use a finish made for kitchens and bathrooms.

You'll also need

  • A plumber if the suite, wastes or pipework move
  • A registered electrician for a new circuit, shower or extractor
  • Silicone and backer board or primer where the maker asks for them
  • Skip or rubble bags for the old suite and tiles

Step by step

  1. Set the scopeDecide whether the toilet, basin and bath stay where they are. Moving them adds plumbing, and sometimes a new waste run.
  2. Measure the finishesMeasure the floor, the walls you will tile and the ceiling you will paint. Note the door, the window and the bath panel.
  3. Separate the listsShop the suite on its own. Use the calculators for floor tiles, wall tiles and paint so each materials list is clear before you ask for labour quotes.
  4. Get written quotesAsk for itemised labour quotes that say whether they include removal, making good, connections and waste.
  5. Keep a contingencyOnce the old tiles are off, the wall behind them may need board or plaster. Allow for that before you commit the last of the budget.

Tips from the manufacturers

  • Keeping the same layout is the change that most often keeps the labour quote down: the wastes and the water stay put.
  • BAL quotes a lower coverage on floors than on walls, because a floor needs a solid bed. Do not buy floor adhesive using a wall figure.
  • Buy all the tiles for the room from the same batch, and keep a few spares. A second batch later can be a different shade.
  • New electrical work in a bathroom, such as a new circuit for a shower or extractor, should be done by a registered electrician or notified to building control.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Budgeting for the suite only, and forgetting tiles, tanking, paint, removal and labour.
  • Treating one figure you saw online as a quote. Labour varies by area, and the suite you pick changes the materials bill.
  • Tiling straight onto a wall that needs making good, then paying twice.
  • Grouting the joint along the bath instead of sealing it with silicone.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a bathroom renovation cost in the UK?

There is no single figure on this page. The bill is the suite, the tiles and paint, then labour, and labour varies by area. Price the floor tiles in the calculator and shop the suite separately.

Does this include fitting?

No. Plumbing, electrical work and tiling labour are quoted separately. They vary with the job and with where you live.

What materials do I need to renovate a bathroom?

A suite and taps, floor tiles with adhesive and grout, wall tiles for the wet areas, silicone, tanking if you are building a shower, and emulsion for the ceiling. Add board or plaster if the walls need making good.

Is it cheaper to keep the same layout?

Often, because the wastes and pipework stay where they are. The materials for the suite and tiles can still change a lot with what you choose.

Can I do the tiling and painting myself?

Many people tile and paint, and leave the plumbing and any new electrical circuit to registered trades. Price those finishes in the calculators before you decide.

Sources

Quantities are estimates for typical jobs, using the coverage figures above. Products vary, so check the data sheet for the product you buy, and talk to a professional for structural, electrical or gas work. SmartBuild is independent and not affiliated with any of the manufacturers listed.

How many floor tiles do I need for a bathroom?Bathroom floors are small but full of cuts: round the toilet, the basin pedestal and the bath panel. Measure the floor, add the waste allowance and buy whole boxes from one batch. Tiling a wall or splashback: tiles, adhesive and groutMeasure the wall, take off anything you are not tiling, add an allowance for cuts and work out adhesive and grout from the tile size. How much paint do I need for a room?Measure the walls, take off the doors and windows, then allow for the number of coats.

Get the full priced list

Open SmartBuild with your measurements and see a total from up-to-date prices where we have them, plus links to check other suppliers. Free, no sign-up needed for DIY.

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