Bathroom renovation cost by state in 2026

A full mid-range bathroom renovation for a typical 5 m² room costs around $22,000 across Australia in 2026, including GST, with most jobs between $17,100 – $28,500. Where you live changes that figure, though less than many people expect. In our model the ACT, Western Australia and the Northern Territory sit at the top, and South Australia and Tasmania at the bottom. Tiles, tapware and toilet suites cost much the same nationally; what moves the price between states is the cost of the trades.

Mid-range bathroom cost by state

The table shows the typical mid-range price for the same bathroom in every state and territory, most to least expensive. Select a state to see the full breakdown and the budget and premium options.

Region	Mid-range
Australian Capital Territory	$23,000
Western Australia	$22,400
Northern Territory	$22,200
New South Wales	$22,100
Queensland	$21,800
Victoria	$21,800
South Australia	$21,200
Tasmania	$20,700

What the price covers

Every figure prices the same job, so the states are directly comparable:

• Full strip-out: old bath, toilet, basin and all wall and floor tiles removed, rubbish carted away
• New hot and cold water lines and waste pipes inside the bathroom, with isolation valves
• The old built-in bath replaced by a walk-in shower with a shower base
• Waterproofing over the whole floor and the shower walls to about 2 m
• Walls re-rendered flat, then 300 x 600 porcelain tiles on the floor and walls to 2.2 m
• New close-coupled toilet suite, basin with chrome mixer, vanity unit and mirror
• In-wall shower mixer, rail shower and a shower screen
• Three light points, two double power points and a sealed LED ceiling light
• Ceiling and the wall band above the tiles painted

Not included: moving the toilet or the waste stack, a new exhaust fan, replacing the door, and repairs to rotten floor framing found once the old tiles come up. Nationally, a budget reno with basic tiles and fittings comes to about $16,600, while floor-to-ceiling tiles, a stone floor and a rain shower take it to around $29,600. See every line and change the room size in our Bathroom renovation.

How we work out state prices

We build each estimate from the job: the hours each trade needs (plumber, tiler, electrician, waterproofer, labourer), multiplied by the going labour rates in each state, plus materials and fittings. We then check the results against market prices and real quotes.

Demolition, rough-in plumbing, waterproofing, screeding, tiling and fit-off each need a different trade, often in sequence with drying time in between. That labour is where state differences show up. Materials and fittings, which cost broadly the same from Darwin to Hobart, make up much of the rest of the bill, which is why the gap between states is real but moderate.

Why prices differ between states

• Labour rates. Trade rates follow wages in each state. Canberra and Perth have high wages across the economy, and tradies there price accordingly. Rates in Hobart and Adelaide are lower.
• Resources-sector demand. In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, skilled trades are in demand from mining and construction, which pushes up what homeowners pay.
• Distance and travel. Not in our state figures, but real: outside the capitals, and especially in remote areas, travel time, fewer local trades and freight on materials add to the price, even where hourly rates are similar.
• Housing stock. Older homes in inner suburbs often have uneven floors, old galvanised pipes and asbestos-containing sheeting in wet areas. Removing asbestos is specialist work and is not in our figures.

Across the big eastern states, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland sit close together in the middle of the table. The clearest gap is between the ACT at the top and Tasmania at the bottom.

What this means for your budget

• Use your state's figure, not the national one. The differences are moderate, but on a job this size they are worth knowing when you judge a quote, particularly in Canberra, Perth or Darwin.
• Save on labour where it is dear. Keeping the toilet, shower and vanity where they are, and avoiding moving the waste, saves hours from several trades. Each hour saved is worth more in the expensive states.
• Materials are where you control the spec. Because tiles and tapware cost roughly the same across the country, choosing a cheaper tile or a simpler shower screen saves a similar amount wherever you live.
• Check who does the waterproofing. It is the part of a bathroom you cannot see afterwards and the most expensive to fix if it fails. Make sure it is done properly and certified.

Licensing and GST

Plumbing and electrical work must be done by licensed tradespeople under state licensing. Ask for licence numbers on the quote and for compliance certificates when the job is finished. Quotes to households include 10% GST, and so do our figures.

Is your quote in line?

Once you have a written quote, compare it with typical prices in your state using our "Is my quote fair?" tool: Is my quote fair?. It uses the same state figures as the table above.