Fitting a bathroom is an exciting time – the chance to get a really important part of your home exactly how you like it, from tiles to tub. But, as with any building work, bathroom fitting costs can quickly add up, so it pays to do plenty of research first.

In this article we'll take a detailed look at everything from the cost of bathroom tiles, to the hidden extras you might not have thought of. So you can plan your perfect bathroom with peace of mind.

How much does it cost to fit a bathroom?

Here at Local Heroes, our tradespeople install every type of bathroom, for every type of home. In 2021, the average bathroom costs around £4,500 to install. But this can vary enormously depending on exactly what you want done. In order to work out a more accurate estimate, we'd recommend considering the following:

Your bathroom suite

First things first, what do you want in your new bathroom? The cheapest option is to buy a complete package which usually consists of a bath with overhead shower, toilet and basin. For this, you can expect to pay between £600 and £1,000 for a standard suite and a further £1,000 to have it professionally installed.

Removal costs

Before any work can begin on your new shiny new suite, the old one will need to be dismantled and disposed of. Prices for this start from around £400 and can increase to nearer £800 if flooring and tiles also need to be removed.

Additional Plumbing work

It's much cheaper to install bathroom suites in exactly the same spot as the old units. This means a qualified plumber can connect everything up to the existing pipes quickly and easily.

However, if you're looking to move things around, or even install a bathroom in a new room entirely, you will need to factor in additional days of labour.

Electrical work

The same goes for electrical work. New bathroom lights or wiring up an extractor fan will require a professional electrician. The average cost for an electrician is £50 an hour but this depends where you live and exactly what you want doing.

Bathroom installation cost guide

If you want to choose individual pieces for your bathroom, the following costs can give you a rough estimate. Although it's worth noting this will also depend on the tradesperson you choose for the job, as well as the spec you go for.

Bath installation costs

Installing a new bath takes around four hours and will cost approximately £100.

Baths range in price hugely, with acrylic being the cheapest option, starting at £100. At the other end of the scale, a cast iron bath could set you back as much as £1,000.

Shower installation costs

For a standalone walk-in shower, you can expect to pay an average of £1,100 for installation with labour usually taking five hours.

The shower itself can cost anywhere from £500 to £2,000 for a top of the range power shower.

Basin installation costs

Installing a new basin takes about two hours and should cost between £80 and £130. Basins usually start from £40.

Toilet installation costs

Installing a toilet takes between two and five hours and will cost £150 - £250. Toilets usually start at about £50.

Tiling costs

Tiling a medium-sized bathroom costs between £800 and £1,000.

The cost of the tiles varies hugely depending on the look and finish you're after. If you're after something quite simple, it's possible to pay as little as £15 per metre square for plain white rectangular tiles.

Tap installation costs

Top tip - lots of bathroom units don't come with taps… which is a bit strange as nobody could have a bath or wash their hands without them!

Installing Sink and basin taps doesn't normally take more than an hour and will cost £50 – £80. The taps themselves start from £30.

Underfloor heating

In the last few years, underfloor heating has become increasingly popular. Features like this can undoubtedly make a big difference to the comfort of your bathroom but will increase the overall cost.

Dry underfloor heating, which uses electricity rather than water to heat up the pipes, starts from £50 per m². And you can expect to pay around £100 per m² to install it.

Wet underfloor heating systems, which warm up more like radiators using water from your boiler, cost nearer £2,000 for a whole system, including installation. However, it's worth noting these are considerably cheaper to run than dry underfloor heating. So, although the initial cost is higher, you could save in the long run.

How long does it take to fit a new bathroom?

Installing a new bathroom suite into a standard size bathroom will usually take between ten days and two weeks. However, if your bathroom is big enough for a team of workmen to work together it can take less.

How can I save money on a new bathroom?

Aside from the obvious ways, such as choosing a cheaper bathroom suite or waiting until the January sales, there are a few things you can do to keep the cost of your new bathroom down.

Firstly, you could dispose of your old bathroom suite yourself. Hiring a skip starts from around £150! Alternatively, if your bathtub and basin are still in good nick you could try selling them on local Facebook pages or Ebay.

How to choose a bathroom fitter

There's one thing that's arguably more important than choosing your bathroom suite - finding the right bathroom fitter. An experienced, reliable plumber can make installing your new bathroom stress-free and lengthen the life of your new kit.

So, when you're ready to discuss your new bathroom with a professional, why not try Local Heroes?

One of the big advantages of finding tradespeople through Local Heroes is that all the professionals on our books have been personally vetted by us. On top of this, all the work they do comes with a 12-month guarantee backed by British Gas.

Just tell us what needs doing and we'll match you up with a local tradesperson. Whether you want to compare quotes or ask them any questions, it's all just a click away.

Book a visit with one of our bathroom fitters today.