How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost in the UK?

How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost in the UK?

A bathroom renovation is one of the most valuable home improvements you can make — but it's also one of the easiest to underbudget for. The price varies enormously depending on how much you're changing, what fixtures you choose, and who carries out the work.

This guide gives you honest, realistic figures for bathroom fitting in Norwich and across Norfolk, along with a clear breakdown of what's included at each price point and what tends to push costs up.

For a standard bathroom renovation including all materials and labour, most UK homeowners spend between £5,500 and £8,000, with an average of around £7,000. High-end or complex projects — particularly those involving a full layout change, luxury fixtures, or specialist finishes — typically come in at £14,000 or more.

Here's a quick breakdown of individual installation costs to help you build a realistic budget:

These figures cover supply and installation. They're a guide, not a quote — your actual costs will depend on the size of your bathroom, the condition of existing plumbing, and the fixtures you select.

A complete bathroom remodel involves more than just fitting a new suite. When you're planning a full bathroom installation in Norwich, it helps to account for every element of the project from the start.

Stripping out the old bathroom

Before any new work can begin, the existing suite needs to come out. Removing the old bath, toilet, basin, tiles, and flooring typically costs £600 to £1,000, depending on the scope. Waste disposal and skip hire may add to this.

Plumbing

The full first and second fix plumbing — pipework, connections, and final fitting of all fixtures — usually runs from £1,500 to £3,000. If your layout is changing significantly, or if pipes need rerouting, expect to be towards the upper end.

Electrical work

Bathrooms need specialist electrical work due to safety zone requirements. Installing or upgrading lighting, extractor fans, shaver sockets, or a power shower circuit typically costs around £900.

Tiling

Wall tiling is usually priced per square metre, with most bathroom projects coming in at £950 to £1,250 for a standard room. The tile choice itself is separate from this.

Flooring

Vinyl flooring — one of the most practical and cost-effective choices for a bathroom — ranges from £250 to £950 depending on quality and room size. Microcement, an increasingly popular finish, costs £100 to £250 per square metre.

Plastering and decorating

If walls are in poor condition, re-plastering runs around £1,500. A decorator to finish the room adds approximately £700.

Underfloor heating

If you're considering it, budget around £100 per square metre for electric underfloor heating.

Two bathroom renovations in the same street can come in at very different prices. These are the main factors that explain why.

Size of the bathroom

More floor space means more tiling, more flooring, more time on site, and potentially more materials throughout. Larger bathrooms cost more across almost every line of the project.

How much is changing

There's a significant difference between refreshing the suite and keeping the layout versus gutting the room and repositioning everything. Moving a toilet or shower to a different wall means rerouting waste and supply pipes — that adds cost.

Your choice of fixtures

A basic close-coupled toilet and pedestal basin cost a fraction of a wall-hung toilet and countertop basin, even before labour is considered. The fixtures you choose have one of the largest single impacts on total project cost.

Age and condition of the property

Older homes often come with surprises once walls and floors are opened up — outdated pipework, damaged joists, damp that wasn't visible before work started. It's worth building a contingency of around 10 to 15 percent into your budget for this reason.

Whether specialists are needed

A complex installation — particularly in older properties or unusual layouts — may require a tiler, electrician, and plumber working alongside the main bathroom fitter. Coordinating multiple tradespeople adds to the overall cost but is often the right approach for a quality result.

Location

Labour rates in East Anglia and Norfolk sit below the national average and significantly below London pricing. As local bathroom fitters in Norwich, our rates reflect what's fair for this area — not inflated metropolitan pricing.

For a full bathroom installation, expect the work to take between five and ten working days. Smaller refreshes or partial renovations can be completed in as little as two days.

As a rough guide:

• Budget bathroom: 6 to 12 days
• Standard bathroom renovation: 7 to 15 days
• Luxury or complex project: 9 to 16 days

These timelines assume continuous working days. If the project requires multiple trades or involves re-plastering and drying time, the overall schedule may extend slightly.

One of the first decisions to make in any bathroom remodel is whether you want a bath, a shower, or both. It's not just a lifestyle question — it has a meaningful impact on cost and layout.

A bath installation runs £250 to £400 for a standard fitted tub. Freestanding baths typically cost more both in terms of the unit itself and the plumbing involved.

A shower installation ranges from £250 to £750 depending on the type. Electric showers sit at the more affordable end; power showers and thermostatic valve systems with multiple outlets sit at the higher end. A shower enclosure adds a further £350 to £800.

Having both in a single bathroom is achievable even in smaller spaces, but it affects the available layout options and adds to the overall project cost. If space is limited and you're unsure what will work, a good local bathroom fitter will be able to advise before any decisions are locked in.

Yes, in a few practical ways — without compromising on the quality of the work.

If you're prepared to source your own fixtures and tiles, you can sometimes find better prices than going through a supplier, particularly if you have time to shop around. Just confirm with your fitter before doing this, as some prefer to supply materials themselves and can offer trade pricing.

Keeping the layout broadly the same as the existing bathroom avoids the cost of rerouting pipework and is one of the most effective ways to manage the overall budget.

If your existing tiles are in good condition and you're not doing a full renovation, you may not need to replace them. Partial renovations — replacing just the suite, or just the shower — are a legitimate option and significantly cheaper than a full refit.

Timing can also help. Spring and early summer tend to be less busy periods for bathroom fitters, which can mean better availability and more competitive pricing.

A bathroom renovation is a significant investment. The quality of the tradespeople you hire has more impact on the outcome than almost any other decision.

When looking for bathroom fitters in Norfolk, it's worth checking:

• That the plumbing work will be carried out by a qualified plumber, not just a general fitter with basic plumbing knowledge
• Whether the company can manage the full project — plumbing, tiling, and electrical — or whether you'll need to coordinate multiple trades yourself
• That you'll receive a written quote before any work starts, itemising labour and materials separately
• Whether they carry liability insurance and can provide references or verified reviews from recent local jobs

At DR Plumbing Solutions, we handle bathroom fitting and plumbing services across Norwich and the wider Norfolk area. Every project gets a clear written quote, honest timelines, and qualified plumbing throughout. Whether you're planning a full bathroom renovation in Norwich or need targeted bathroom repairs, we'll give you a straight answer on what's involved before anything starts.

These are all-in figures covering labour, fixtures, tiling, and associated trades. They assume a standard-sized UK bathroom. Add 10 to 15 percent as a contingency for older properties.

DR Plumbing Solutions are experienced local plumbers and bathroom fitters serving Norwich and across Norfolk. We offer full bathroom installations, bathroom repairs, and complete bathroom remodels — from a straightforward suite replacement to a full room transformation.

Get in touch for a transparent, no-obligation quote.