If you are pricing up a new bathroom, you will find quotes that range from a few thousand pounds to well over fifteen. Neither end is necessarily wrong, because the final figure depends heavily on the room, the spec and the state of what is behind your existing tiles. This guide breaks down realistic UK costs, with a local view from Leicestershire.
For a straightforward like for like replacement of a standard family bathroom, most UK homeowners pay somewhere between £5,000 and £8,000 including fitting. That assumes the suite goes back in roughly the same positions, the plumbing is sound and you choose mid range fixtures and tiles.
A budget refresh, keeping the layout and using entry level suites and vinyl or basic ceramic tiling, can come in at £3,000 to £5,000. At the other end, a full redesign with the toilet or shower moved, underfloor heating, a walk in enclosure and porcelain or natural stone tiling will usually land between £9,000 and £15,000 or more. In Leicestershire, labour rates tend to sit a little below London and the South East, so local quotes often fall towards the lower half of national ranges.
On a typical job, labour accounts for roughly 40 to 60 percent of the total. A full bathroom refit involves plumbing, tiling, and usually some electrical work and plastering, and it commonly takes two to three weeks from strip out to finish.
The rest is materials, and this is where budgets vary most. A basic close coupled toilet might cost £120 while a wall hung one with a concealed cistern can exceed £600 before fitting. Tiles range from around £20 per square metre for standard ceramics to £80 or more for large format porcelain, and a typical bathroom needs 15 to 25 square metres once walls and floor are covered.
The biggest surprises come from what is uncovered during strip out. Older homes around Wigston and south Leicester often have imperial pipework, tired lead or steel supplies, or walls that need reboarding once the old tiles come off. Blown plaster, rotten floorboards under a leaking bath and outdated wiring for showers are all common finds, and fixing them properly can add £500 to £1,500.
It is sensible to hold back a contingency of around 10 to 15 percent of your budget. Also check whether your quote includes waste removal, second fix items like towel rails and mirrors, and making good any paintwork. Some quotes exclude these, which makes them look cheaper than they really are.
The single biggest saving is keeping the existing layout. Moving a toilet means rerouting soil pipework, which adds labour and often floor work, so leaving fixtures where they are can save £1,000 or more.
Spend where it matters and save where it does not. Waterproofing behind the shower, quality valves and proper tiling preparation are worth paying for, because failures there cause leaks and expensive repairs later. Savings are better made on things that are easy to change afterwards, such as accessories, mirrors and even the tile choice, where a mid priced porcelain fitted well will outlast a premium tile fitted badly.
Most full refits take two to three weeks from strip out to completion. Jobs involving layout changes, structural repairs or drying time for screeds and plaster can stretch to four weeks.
Sometimes, but check with your fitter first. Trade discounts can match or beat retail sale prices, and if a customer supplied item arrives damaged or does not fit, delays and return costs fall on you rather than the installer.
A like for like replacement usually does not need approval. New drainage runs, structural alterations or certain electrical work do fall under building regulations, and electrical work in bathrooms must be done or certified by a qualified electrician.