Complete Cost Breakdown for a Full Bathroom Renovation in Melbourne
21st
Oct
A full bathroom renovation in Melbourne is not one price. It is strip-out, waterproofing, tiling, electrical and a plumbing package that changes every time a pipe moves. We put this breakdown together so homeowners, landlords and property managers can see where the money goes before anyone lifts a tile.
Published 2026 guides put a typical Melbourne bathroom near $23,600, according to goingrate.com.au. Small rooms often fall between $18,000 and $28,000. A standard full renovation commonly sits between $25,000 and $40,000, and large or high-specification bathrooms run $40,000 to $70,000 or more, as set out by hrebuilt.com.au. Other local guides, including builtbyjt.com.au and servicetasker.com.au, place a full remodel somewhere between $18,000 and $50,000 or higher once size, finishes and pipe moves are counted. These are market ranges in Australian dollars, not a Desi Plumbers price list. We price your room after we see it.
If you want the wet-area work scoped before you lock a layout, start with our bathroom renovation plumbing. We cover Melbourne and Brisbane, and we put the estimate in writing first.
What a full renovation actually means
A new tap and a painted ceiling are a refresh. A full renovation usually includes:
- Strip-out of tiles, vanity, toilet, bath or shower screen, and old silicone
- Repairs to the floor and walls, and sometimes a concrete slab cut
- New waterproofing, with certification where the standard requires it
- Plumbing rough-in, then fixture connection after tiling
- Electrical for lights, an exhaust fan and any heated towel rail
- Tiling, a vanity, tapware, a toilet and a shower or bath
- Rubbish removal and a final clean
supertrades.com.au notes that labour and materials often take about 40% to 60% of a bathroom budget, with plumbers commonly charged at $110 to $160 an hour in market guides, and a 10% to 20% contingency treated as sensible. An hourly rate is a weak way to fund a renovation. Access, old pipe and a layout change move the hours. We would rather give you an itemised figure for the plumbing scope than leave you multiplying a rate by a guess.
Melbourne cost bands for 2026
Use this table to plan, then adjust for your house. Figures are indicative and drawn from the guides linked above.
| Scope | Indicative total | What that band usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Small bathroom or ensuite | $18,000 to $28,000 | About 3 to 5 square metres, existing layout, standard fittings |
| Standard full renovation | $25,000 to $40,000 | Full strip-out, some services adjusted, solid everyday fittings |
| Large or high-specification | $40,000 to $70,000+ | Layout change, stone, underfloor heating, premium tapware |
| Bathroom and laundry combined | $35,000 to $60,000 | Both rooms, often with wastes reconfigured |
A basic refresh that keeps every fitting where it is can land lower, sometimes $8,000 to $15,000, if you are replacing ware rather than rebuilding the room. That is not a full renovation. Once a strip-out, a new membrane and new tiles are in the job, most Melbourne guides start nearer $18,000.
The spread is wide because two bathrooms of the same size can hide different pipes. A 1980s ensuite on a slab is not a weatherboard bathroom with a timber floor and a handy access panel.
Plumbing: the line that moves the total
Plumbing is one of the biggest cost components, and one of the most commonly underestimated. flownowplumbing.com.au published this 2026 split:
| Renovation type | Plumbing estimate | Wider reno guide |
|---|---|---|
| Basic refresh, same layout | $1,500 to $3,500 | $8,000 to $15,000 |
| Mid-range renovation | $3,500 to $7,000 | $15,000 to $30,000 |
| Full renovation, layout change | $6,000 to $12,000+ | $25,000 to $50,000+ |
| Smaller ensuite | $2,000 to $5,000 | $10,000 to $25,000 |
On a value-focused job we try to keep you in the same-layout column. That is usually the difference between a plumbing bill near a few thousand dollars and one that clears $6,000 before the fittings get interesting.
The plumbing work itself splits into two visits.
Rough-in, or first fix, happens before the tiler starts. We set water supply pipes, drainage and waste connections in their final positions. Published rough-in ranges sit around $1,500 to $4,000, depending on complexity and whether the layout changes.
Second fix happens after tiling. We connect the toilet, vanity, shower, bath and taps, then test. Market guides put that visit around $800 to $2,500, based on how many fixtures you have and how awkward the connections are.
Ask for both visits in the same quote. A price that only says plumbing, without naming which fix it includes, is how budgets drift.
What individual fittings cost to fit
Mid-range supply and install bands, again from that 2026 plumbing guide, look like this. Labour-only figures assume you have already bought the fitting.
| Fixture | Labour only | Supply and install, mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Wall-faced toilet | $200 to $400 | $600 to $1,200 |
| Shower, head, arm and valve | $300 to $600 | $800 to $2,000 |
| Vanity and basin tap | $250 to $500 | $700 to $2,500 |
| Freestanding bath and floor tap | $400 to $800 | $2,000 to $6,000+ |
| Electric heated towel rail | $150 to $300 | $400 to $1,000 |
A freestanding bath is the fitting that surprises people. The bath itself may be on special. The floor tap, the waste position, the hot and cold balance and any slab cut are not. If you want the look without the slab work, a back-to-wall bath that uses the existing waste is often the better value.
Shower-only work can also stay smaller than a full room rebuild. Our shower renovation service suits bathrooms where the rest of the room can stay. If water is escaping but the tiles are still sound, ask about a seal and save repair. That option only fits some leaks. We confirm which one you have before anyone talks about a strip-out. Ongoing drips are also covered under shower leak detection and repair.
Moving a toilet, shower or basin
The single largest cost variable is whether plumbing is relocated. builtly.com.au puts the added cost at $2,000 to $8,000 or more per relocated fitting. Each move means opening floors or walls, shifting pipe, remaking connections and reinstating the surface. A licensed plumber has to do that work. It is not a cosmetic tweak.
Toilets cost the most to move. A toilet needs a soil connection with enough fall, meaning a steady downward slope so waste actually leaves. On a ground-floor concrete slab, moving it can mean cutting the slab and reworking drainage under the floor. hrebuilt.com.au flags the toilet as the most expensive fixture to relocate for that reason. Slab cutting on its own is often $500 to $2,000 or more.
Shower wastes follow the same fall rules. A basin move is usually cheaper, because the pipe is smaller, but it still needs a graded, vented connection and a trap you can reach later.
If the existing layout works, even if it is not the one in the brochure, keep the plumbing where it is and spend the difference on tiles, a sturdy vanity and tapware you can still buy parts for. A marginally different layout is rarely the best use of a tight budget. We will say that on site, even when a moved shower would mean a larger plumbing invoice.
Older Melbourne pipes, slabs and access
Inner suburbs and many period homes still have galvanised iron or outdated copper. That pipe often needs replacement before new fixtures can be connected. Finding it during rough-in is annoying. Finding it as a leak behind brand new tiles is worse.
Other cost drivers we see, and that the plumbing cost guides list, include:
- Concrete slab cutting when a ground-floor drain must move
- No access panel, or a bathroom sitting over a finished ceiling
- A stack or waste buried in a party wall
- A change of mind after rough-in, which means paying to move pipe that was just set
Apartments add time even when the layout stays. Lift bookings, hour limits and the need to protect the unit below slow the job. A weatherboard house with underfloor access is usually simpler to re-pipe. Newer slab-on-ground homes are simple only if nothing moves.
Brisbane has its own version of this. Many Queenslanders give us room under the floor, which can make a drain repair more direct. Slab homes in newer estates do not. We price the access we can see, not a generic bathroom rate.
Waterproofing and licensed work
In Victoria, plumbing and waterproofing on a renovation are licensed trades, and waterproofing should be certified. goingrate.com.au notes that expectation for Melbourne homes. sedconplumbing.com.au makes the cost point plainly: waterproofing failure is a common defect, and it is the most expensive to put right once tiles are down.
Put these items in the budget and leave them there:
- A licensed plumber for supply and sanitary drainage
- Certified waterproofing to the shower and to floors where the standard requires a membrane
- A licensed electrician for lights, fans and electric towel rails
- Making good after any opening in a wall or floor
Cutting the membrane allowance to save a few hundred dollars is a false economy. Tiles come off, the substrate is repaired, the membrane is redone and the tiles go back on. That sequence costs more than doing the wet area properly while the room is already stripped.
Our licensed team handles the plumbing side of that work in Melbourne and Brisbane. Desi Plumbing & Gas Pty Ltd is the company behind Desi Plumbers. You can read more about how we work on our about page.
Drains you should prove before the new floor goes down
A new bathroom on a failing drain wastes the renovation. Slow waste, a recurring blockage or a smell at the floor waste should be diagnosed first.
Blocked drain clearing is more useful when we know the cause. We run a CCTV drain inspection to find tree roots, broken joints, debris build-up and collapsed sections. Where a cable is not enough, we clear the line with hydro jetting and camera it again so you can see the pipe, not take our word for it. If the survey shows cracks or heavy root intrusion, repair or replacement belongs in this budget, not in next year’s.
Related work we do alongside renovations:
- CCTV drain inspection before tiling
- Blocked drain clearing when the line is already sluggish
- Drain tree roots in older suburbs with mature street trees
- Drain repair and replacement when the camera shows real damage
- Leak detection when water is moving under tiles or into a ceiling
Leak detection Melbourne clients often find the source is a supply pipe, a roof or a gutter, not the shower they were about to demolish. Sometimes the stain blamed on the bathroom is a roof or gutter leak. A camera survey and a proper leak trace cost far less than a second renovation.
Hot water, gas and the items left off thin quotes
A bathroom figure that ignores the heater is incomplete. If the unit is undersized, leaking or well past its reliable years, replace it while trades are already on site. We repair and install hot water systems, including gas units that need compliant gas plumbing. Scope and options are on our hot water installation page.
Other lines that shift a quote:
- A rain head that needs balanced pressure and a valve the mixer can support
- A floor waste that sits too high or too low for the new screed
- An exhaust fan ducted outside, not into the roof space
- Isolation valves, so a later repair does not shut the whole house down
- A toilet bidet, if you want one while the wall is open
Toilet bidet installation, with backflow protection
A bidet is cheaper to add during the renovation than as a later retrofit. We supply and install the unit, and we fit atmospheric vacuum breakers (AVB) so the connection has proper backflow protection. A bidet ties into the drinking-water supply. We do not leave that connection without the safety device.
Our toilet bidet installation page covers the Brisbane work in detail, and we fit the same compliant setup on Melbourne renovations. Tell us before rough-in whether you want a bidet seat or a separate pan. The water point, and the waste if you choose a pan, are not the same. Changing that after tiling is one of the surest ways to add cost.
What pushes plumbing costs up
Five issues show up again and again:
- Moving the toilet or shower after the plan felt nearly right.
- Old or non-compliant pipe that has to be replaced once the wall is open.
- Slab cutting on a ground-floor bathroom.
- Poor access, including no panel, a solid floor, or a stack you cannot reach without opening another room.
- A layout change after rough-in. You pay to set the pipe, then pay to move it.
A 10% to 15% contingency is a practical buffer for what the wall may hide. On a $30,000 renovation, 15% is $4,500. That money covers cracked framing, an undersized waste, or a shower rose that does not match the new valve. It is not a slush fund, and we do not spend it without telling you.
The part you can control is the fifth item. Mark fixture positions and keep them. If you are unsure, we would rather do an extra walk-through with a marked plan than open a finished wall.
Where a value budget should go
We work with budget-conscious clients. Value here means spending on the parts that are miserable to redo, and saving on layout changes that do not make the room work better.
Spend on:
- Correct fall and compliant wastes
- Certified waterproofing
- Tapware and a toilet you can still get parts for in Australia
- A hot water unit sized for the people who actually live there
- Drain repairs the camera has already proved
Save on:
- Moving plumbing for a small visual gain
- Unusual imported fittings that are harder to connect and harder to service
- Stone and underfloor heating, unless the structure and the membrane are already funded
- Rebuilding a shower that only needs a leak repair
Australian-standard fittings are the practical choice on a budget. They connect cleanly, and the next plumber can service them without hunting for a one-off cartridge.
If the kitchen is in the same project, kitchen renovation plumbing can sometimes share a visit with the bathroom. One trip to site is usually kinder to the invoice than two separate setups months apart.
Landlords, property managers and commercial bathrooms
A rental bathroom and a shop bathroom do not cost the same, but the weak points are similar: wastes, membranes, and fittings that get used hard.
Landlords usually get the best return from a same-layout refresh. New toilet, vanity, shower mixer, waterproofing and tiles that will survive tenants. Property managers often need the work staged so the property is offline for as few days as the job allows. Tell us the lease dates when we quote, not the week we are due to start.
Commercial rooms add after-hours access, more fixtures and heavier use. Our commercial plumbing services cover maintenance as well as renovation plumbing for businesses in Melbourne and Brisbane. A blocked staff toilet on a Monday is a different job from a six-week home renovation, and we schedule it that way.
For houses and units, domestic plumbing covers the smaller faults that show up after handover: a weeping joint, a slow basin, a toilet that will not shut off. There is a blocked toilet service if the pan itself is the problem, which is separate from a full sewer fault.
Emergencies while the bathroom is open, or before it starts
Renovations are planned. Leaks and blockages are not. If a ceiling starts dripping the week before strip-out, or a sewer backs up while the floor is open, you need a team that will turn up.
We provide 24/7 emergency plumbing, including weekends, with no weekend surcharge. We are the plumber Melbourne residents call when the renovation and the urgent repair need to be the same licensed team. Need an emergency plumber Brisbane residents can reach at night? Our emergency plumber Brisbane service follows the same rule: we come, and weekend work does not attract an extra charge. Day-to-day Brisbane bookings also sit on our plumber Brisbane page, and Melbourne urgent work starts at emergency plumbing.
How we quote, and what happens after
Before we start, we walk the bathroom, check access and, where it will change the price, camera the drain. You receive a detailed estimate split into parts: rough-in, second fix, fixture connections, any drain repair, hot water, and bidet work if you want it. Materials are listed. If something behind the wall changes the scope, we stop and tell you before extra work goes ahead.
That is the same habit across our services. Clear numbers make it easier to choose between a same-layout refresh and a full move of the suite.
We warranty parts and labour on the work we complete. If a problem shows up after the renovation, call us. We also offer ongoing maintenance so a minor weep does not become a ceiling stain. You should not have to chase a different company for a fitting we installed.
A planning sheet you can fill in
| Line | Same layout, value fittings | Layout change |
|---|---|---|
| Room works other than plumbing | Balance of an $18,000 to $28,000 job | Balance of a $25,000 to $50,000+ job |
| Plumbing rough-in and second fix | $1,500 to $7,000 | $6,000 to $12,000+ |
| Extra per moved waste or supply | $0 if nothing moves | $2,000 to $8,000+ per fitting |
| Slab cutting, if needed | $0 | $500 to $2,000+ |
| Hot water replacement | Price separately | Price separately |
| Bidet with AVB | Optional | Optional |
| Drain repair shown on camera | Only if the survey finds damage | Only if the survey finds damage |
| Contingency | 10% to 15% | 10% to 15% |
On a standard Melbourne bathroom that keeps its layout, a working all-in plan is often $25,000 to $40,000, with plumbing around $3,500 to $7,000 if the pipes are in fair condition. Add a toilet move and old galvanised pipe, and both numbers rise together. builtly.com.au is direct about the trade-off: if the layout functions, invest in finishes and fixtures rather than relocating plumbing for a small gain.
Prices move with materials and with how busy the trades are. Treat every figure in this article as a 2026 planning guide, then get a site-specific estimate.
A note on Brisbane
The dollar bands above are Melbourne guides. The method is the same in Brisbane. Fall, waterproofing, access and fixture choice still decide the bill. Storm season adds another check: a blocked storm pipe or a roof leak can look like a bathroom failure. We separate those before anyone prices a strip-out. Quoting stays itemised in both cities.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a full bathroom renovation cost in Melbourne?
Most 2026 guides put a small bathroom or ensuite at $18,000 to $28,000 and a standard full renovation at about $25,000 to $40,000. A commonly cited typical figure is $23,600. Large or high-specification rooms often reach $40,000 to $70,000 or more. Plumbing alone is commonly $1,500 to $3,500 on a same-layout refresh and $6,000 to $12,000 or more if the layout changes.
What costs the most to move?
The toilet. It needs a soil pipe with enough fall, and on a slab that can mean concrete cutting plus new drainage. A shower waste is next. A basin is usually the cheapest relocation, and it is still not free. Keeping fixtures in place is the clearest saving in the cost guides we have used here.
Can you give a detailed estimate before work starts?
Yes. We break the estimate into parts so you can see labour, materials and any drain or hot water work. If the scope must change after we open a wall, we tell you before we continue.
Will we be without a bathroom for weeks?
You will be without that bathroom while it is stripped and waterproofed. We plan the sequence, tell you the dates, and keep mess and noise as low as the work allows. If you have a second bathroom, we schedule around it. If you do not, say so when we quote so downtime stays as short as the job allows.
Should the drains be camera-inspected before tiling?
If you have had repeat blockages, root problems, slow drainage or a smell, yes. A CCTV drain inspection shows whether you need clearing, a local repair or a replacement before the new floor goes down. That costs less than opening finished tiles to reach a broken junction.
Can a bidet be added during the renovation?
Yes. Toilet bidet installation is simpler while the wall is open. We fit atmospheric vacuum breakers for backflow safety and test the connection. Tell us if you want a bidet seat or a separate pan before rough-in, because the pipe positions differ.
Do you charge extra on weekends?
No. Weekend service carries no surcharge. We are available 24/7 for urgent plumbing, including leaks and blockages that cannot wait for a weekday.
Do you only renovate home bathrooms?
No. We handle domestic plumbing, work for landlords and property managers, and commercial plumbing services in Melbourne and Brisbane. Kitchens can be plumbed in the same schedule when that saves a second trip.
What if the shower leaks and a full renovation is not in the budget yet?
Ask us to inspect it. Some shower leaks can be repaired without removing every tile. Others need a strip-out and a new membrane. We will tell you which one you have after we look, rather than defaulting to a rebuild. Our shower leak repair page sets out that repair path.
Get an itemised quote before you commit
If you are pricing a full bathroom renovation in Melbourne, or the same kind of job in Brisbane, start with the layout and the drains. We will inspect, explain what should stay and what has to move, and send a clear estimate before tools come out.
Call 0414 787 855, email desiplumber09@gmail.com, or go through our contact page. You can also review the wider service list.
Weekday, weekend or late at night, the standard stays the same. No weekend surcharge, a straight explanation, and plumbing you can service later, not just a room that looks finished on handover day.