How we estimate bathroom renovation cost
Every estimate combines a national price for each part of the job with a local labor adjustment for your state. Here is exactly how that works and where the numbers come from.
The formula
For each line item we multiply a quantity (driven by your bathroom floor area in m2, scope of work, finish level, and whether a tub is converted to a walk-in shower) by a national unit cost, then apply a quality-grade factor. A regional labor multiplier is applied to the labor portion only — materials are priced nationally. We show the itemized result as a ±25% range.
National unit costs
| Line item | National unit cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition & disposal | $350.00 / m² | ref |
| Toilet, faucets & fixtures | $3,000.00 / m² | ref |
| Tub / shower & surround | $8,000.00 / m² | ref |
| Tile & flooring | $900.00 / m² | ref |
| Vanity & countertop | $3,500.00 / m² | ref |
| Electrical & lighting | $2,300.00 / m² | ref |
| Plumbing rough-in & relocation | $6,000.00 / m² | ref |
| Painting & finishing | $1,200.00 / m² | ref |
| Permit & inspection | $1,500.00 / m² | ref |
Regional labor multipliers
Each state's labor multiplier is its private-sector all-industry full-time adult ordinary-time weekly earnings relative to the national private-sector mean, from ABS Average Weekly Earnings (November 2025, Table 14, by state) — used as a disclosed proxy for bathroom-trade labour because Australia publishes no by-state plumber, tiler, or waterproofer earnings series in public form. Multipliers are bounded to a sane range and applied to the labor share of each line item, so materials stay nationally priced while labor tracks local wages.
Data vintage & limitations
Compiled June 2026 from public cost aggregators and government wage data — these are derived estimates, not live contractor quotes. Local prices vary with project complexity, access, and material availability; always confirm with a licensed contractor before budgeting.