The 2026 bands
| Room | Typical range (2026 guide) | What that usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Powder room | $10,000 – $17,000 | Toilet and basin, new floor and wall finishes, lighting, fan |
| Ensuite | $18,000 – $32,000 | Back to frame, new membrane, shower, vanity, toilet, tiling, ventilation |
| Main bathroom | $27,000 – $45,000 | As above, plus bath or larger shower, more tiling, more storage |
| Small apartment bathroom | $22,000 – $36,000 | Compact room with strata conditions, access and certification |
| Laundry | $10,000 – $25,000 | Cabinetry, bench, sink, tiling and waterproofing; more for relocation |
| Main bathroom + ensuite together | $42,000 – $70,000 | Shared set-up, skip, waterproofing and delivery costs |
All figures are indicative planning ranges in Australian dollars, including GST as a planning assumption. They are not quotes or offers.
What sits inside a main bathroom budget
- Strip-out and waste, including skip or trailer removal
- Asbestos testing, and removal where confirmed (quoted separately)
- Repairs to framing and floor structure found behind old tiles
- Plumbing and drainage rough-in and fit-off
- Electrical — lighting, fan, power points, heated rail
- Exhaust ducting to outside
- Sheeting, screed and falls
- Waterproofing membrane and curing time
- Tiling labour, adhesive, grout and trims
- Fittings — vanity, toilet, tapware, screen, mirror, accessories
- Making good, sealing and cleaning
What pushes a Northern Beaches job up
Asbestos. Fibro beach cottages and many pre-1990 homes and units.
Rotten timber. Old showers on timber floors often hide rotten joists, bearers and studs.
Strata and access. Walk-up stairs, lift bookings, common-area protection, and restricted hours in apartment bathrooms.
Layout changes. Moving the toilet or shower waste, especially on a slab.
Level-entry showers. Setting down a floor or recessing a slab.
Premium tiles and patterns. Large-format, handmade or herringbone layouts take more labour.
Coastal-grade fittings. Better finishes cost more up front and last longer near the ocean.
External changes. A bigger window or skylight — and on bushfire-prone land in the forest district, a window that meets bushfire construction requirements.
Difficult sites. Steep cliff-top blocks, narrow Manly streets, busy Pittwater Road frontages.
What keeps a job down
- Keeping wastes in their current positions
- Choosing tiles within the stated allowance
- A shower screen with a fixed panel rather than a custom enclosure
- An off-the-shelf vanity in moisture-resistant materials
- Locking selections before demolition so nothing waits
- Renovating the bathroom and laundry, or two bathrooms, in one program
Partial upgrades
Not every bathroom needs a strip-out. If the waterproofing is sound and the tiles are intact — common in homes built from the 2000s onward — new tapware, a vanity, a screen, lighting, a better fan, and regrouting and resealing can transform the room for a fraction of these figures. Where there are signs of leaking, a partial upgrade is money spent twice.
Payments in NSW
The maximum deposit is 10 per cent of the contract price. For work over $20,000, home building compensation cover must be in place before a deposit is requested. Progress payments should follow completed stages — strip-out, rough-in, waterproofing, tiling, fit-off — not dates.
From band to price
A free measure turns a band into an itemised written quote with fittings named, a tile allowance stated and the membrane system specified. See how a renovation runs and the FAQ.
Call 02 4705 5289 or send the bathroom details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
What does a bathroom renovation cost on the Northern Beaches in 2026?
As a guide: powder room $10,000–$17,000; ensuite $18,000–$32,000; main bathroom $27,000–$45,000; small apartment bathroom $22,000–$36,000; laundry $10,000–$25,000; main bathroom and ensuite together $42,000–$70,000. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
Why do apartment bathrooms cost so much for their size?
Because much of the cost is not the room. Strata approval, insurance documentation, stair carries in walk-ups, protection of common areas, restricted working hours, waterproofing certification and careful demolition over an occupied unit below all add time.
How much does asbestos removal add?
It depends on the amount and type of material. Testing is relatively inexpensive. Removal by a licensed asbestos removalist is quoted separately once testing confirms what is there, and can add from a few thousand dollars upward in a fibro-lined bathroom.
What deposit is allowed in NSW?
The maximum deposit on a residential building contract in NSW is 10 per cent. For work over $20,000, home building compensation cover must be in place before a deposit is requested.