A bathroom is the most expensive room in the home per square metre, by a wide margin. Every trade meets inside six square metres, and each is on site for only a day or two — so the cost of turning up is spread over a small area. That is why a shower room of six square metres does not cost half of one at twelve.
Ranges by level
As of 2026, for a standard bathroom of 4 to 8 m², materials and labour included:
- ILS 18,000–25,000 — basic. Standard tile, off-the-shelf fittings, stock screen, no change to services.
- ILS 25,000–35,000 — the common level. Full pipe replacement, large-format tile, a niche, bespoke vanity, made-to-measure screen.
- ILS 35,000–60,000 — high specification. Natural stone or very large porcelain, linear drain, underfloor heating, architectural joinery, upper-range brassware.
How it breaks down
- Strip-out and disposal — 5–8%. More on an upper floor with no lift.
- Plumbing — 12–18%. Relocating outlets raises this sharply.
- Electrics and ventilation — 5–8%.
- Building, screed and preparation — 8–12%.
- Waterproofing — 5–8%. The cheap item, and the one not to touch. See bathroom waterproofing.
- Tiling labour — 15–20%.
- Tiles, material — 10–25%. The most variable item.
- Sanitary ware and brassware — 10–20%.
- Shower screen — 5–12%.
- Joinery and mirror — 5–15%.
What raises the price most
- Relocating plumbing. Moving a WC one metre is not a one-metre item — it is breaking screed, a new drain line at the right fall, and making good.
- Large tiles in a small room. Waste of 25% and up, and double the labour on cuts.
- A bespoke screen. Two to three times an off-the-shelf model, on a four-to-eight-week lead time that has to start early.
- Linear drain and level access. Adds ILS 3,000 to 8,000, and is sometimes impossible on height. See converting a bath to a shower.
- Surprises behind the wall. Lead pipework, old damp, poor concrete. In a flat over thirty years old, budget 15% contingency.
What lowers it without hurting the result
- Do not move the plumbing. The single largest saving available.
- A common tile size. 60×60 or 60×120 saves material, labour and waste.
- Concentrate the luxury. One impressive wall with the rest basic reads as more expensive than a whole room done to a middling level.
- Close the selections in advance. A change mid-works is the costliest item that appears in no quotation.
- Do not save on waterproofing, ventilation or services. See saving on a renovation.
Comparing two quotes
A 40% gap between quotes is almost never a gap in price — it is a gap in scope. Check that every quote explicitly includes: strip-out and waste disposal, screed and falls, waterproofing and a flood test, tile quantity including waste, whether fittings are supplied or only installed, the screen, and VAT. A quote that comes down to one line is not a quote. See bill of quantities and finishing works cost.
FAQ
Two bathrooms at once — is there a saving?
Yes, usually 10–15% on the second, because setting up, deliveries and trade attendance are shared.
How much contingency?
10% in a relatively new flat, 15–20% in one over thirty years old.
When are payments made?
Against milestones: a deposit of up to 20%, a payment after waterproofing and the flood test, and a final payment after the snagging list is closed.
How we work
We price against a detailed bill of quantities, so every item can be compared against any other quote. See shower renovation and finishing works. Get in touch.