Planning a Sydney bathroom renovation budget

Build the budget around the room

Start with a measured room, a clear list of retained items and a decision about whether the layout stays in place.

The budget examples below are planning scenarios, not measured Sydney averages, contractor offers or promises that a particular room can be delivered at that price.

Existing condition, building access, product selection and the quoted scope determine the amount you'll actually pay.

Keep a separate contingency that suits the information available about the property, and ask the renovator to identify the assumptions that still need site investigation.

If you're comparing a renovation before selling, explore your own cost and sale-price assumptions with the bathroom ROI scenario calculator.

$15,000: define a focused scope

At this planning amount, start by pricing a limited refresh with retained layout and carefully selected stock products.

Ask which parts of the room can be retained after inspection and separate cosmetic work from a complete wet-area rebuild.

If new waterproofing, extensive repairs or new drainage are needed, request a revised scope and budget before ordering finishes.

$20,000: prioritise a compact room

Use this scenario to investigate a compact room with a simple layout, readily available fittings and restrained tile selections.

Keep the quote specific about demolition, substrate preparation and the shower screen, because these remain real project costs even when the floor area is small.

Compare a complete written scope with a staged improvement plan if the site quote exceeds your allowance.

$30,000: balance the main-room priorities

A useful planning exercise is to allocate this budget across a full room, with storage, lighting and easy maintenance as the starting priorities.

Ask for a retained-layout option alongside any plumbing relocation so you can see what the design change adds.

Decide which items warrant an upgrade and keep the remaining fixtures within an agreed product schedule.

$50,000: price the design details

At this illustrative budget, investigate custom joinery, more detailed tiling or a higher specification of fixtures while keeping construction work fully costed.

Request separate prices for each upgrade, including the installation consequences of large tiles, a recessed cabinet or a wall-hung toilet.

The total still depends on the room and building, so establish the construction scope before treating the remaining allowance as a finishes budget.

$75,000: document a more individual brief

Use this scenario for a larger or more bespoke bathroom where detailed design, custom fabrication or coordinated structural work may be part of the brief.

Have drawings and product specifications resolved sufficiently for comparable quotations, and check lead times before setting the construction date.

Ask whether design, approvals, installation and project coordination are included in the total you're comparing.

Small bathrooms and ensuites

Floor area alone isn't a reliable way to price a bathroom because the room still needs plumbing, waterproofing, electrical work and several separate visits.

In an ensuite, compare a single functional vanity and a comfortable shower with more ambitious layouts before choosing products.

For an apartment, show the contractor the access route, lift restrictions and building requirements so those costs are included early.

Waterproofing and tiling allowances

Ask for waterproofing as a defined system and scope, including preparation and the records supplied at handover.

Compare tiling with the measured wall and floor areas, tile size, pattern, trims, niches and substrate preparation stated separately.

A supply price per square metre doesn't describe the full installed cost, and a membrane product price doesn't describe the completed waterproofing work.

Include the costs around the room

• Approval advice, drawings and building or strata administration where needed.
• Parking, delivery handling, lift protection and permitted working hours.
• Testing and specialist assessment where the building condition requires it.
• Floor or wall repairs that are priced after inspection.
• Temporary washing facilities and any accommodation you choose to arrange.
• Product freight, storage, final painting and cleaning.