Bathroom renovation
Two bathroom quotes with the same total can be different jobs. One may include waterproofing, a licensed plumber and electrical, and the other may be fixtures only. The figures below are council schedules for estimating the cost of development. They are not a quote for your house.
Blue Mountains City Council's July 2023 calculator has a line for a new or refurbished bathroom. City of Newcastle's September 2025 guide has a minimum rate per room, and that estimate excludes GST. A quote can sit either side of those rates. Write down what stays and what goes: bath or shower, location of the toilet, tiles, and whether the layout changes.
Published figures
New or refurbished bathroom, council estimating rate, not a quote
$18,375 AUD each
Council estimating rate, not a quote. Blue Mountains City Council building cost calculator, line 'Dwelling: New/Refurbish Bathroom'. The PDF is a unit-cost table for estimating building work. It does not say whether GST is included.
Source: Blue Mountains City Council, Building Cost Calculator Costings, July 2023 (opens in a new tab). Source checked Published July 2023. Checked 22 October 2026.
Bathroom renovation, minimum estimating rate, not a quote
$32,960 AUD per room
City of Newcastle guide, line 'Bathroom renovations / All'. The guide's rates are minimum rates for estimating development cost for development applications, construction certificates, complying development and principal certifier appointments. The estimated development cost excludes GST and is meant to reflect market value, including labour. The council says its indicators draw on sources including the Rawlinsons Australian Construction Handbook. This is not a quote.
Source: City of Newcastle, A Guide to Estimated Development Cost, Version 6, September 2025 (opens in a new tab). Source checked Published September 2025. Checked 22 October 2026.
What changes the price
- Layout. Keeping the toilet, shower and basin where they are is a smaller plumbing job than moving them.
- Waterproofing and tiling. Wet areas need a membrane and falls to the drain. Ask who does that work and whether it is in the price.
- What you supply. A quote that excludes the toilet, tapware, shower screen and tiles cannot be compared with one that includes them.
- Hidden condition. Rotten flooring, a failed membrane or old pipework is often found after demolition. Ask how variations will be priced.
- Making the room usable again. Electrical for a fan and lights, a licensed plumber, and rubbish removal should each be a yes or a no on the quote.
Questions to ask
- Is the layout staying put?
- Who supplies the fixtures, tiles and shower screen?
- Is waterproofing included, and who does it?
- Are plumbing and electrical labour included?
- How do you price extra work found after the old lining comes off?
- What is the expected sequence, and how long is the bathroom out of use?
Common questions
Are the council rates a quote?
No. They are published estimating rates for development cost. Newcastle states a minimum and excludes GST. Blue Mountains does not say whether GST is included. Compare written scopes for your layout, not the council line on its own.
Who should I search for?
Start with bathroom specialists, and ask who the plumber, waterproofer and electrician will be if they are not the same business.