How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost on the Northern Beaches?
A basic bathroom renovation in Sydney typically costs $11,500 to $23,000, a mid-range one $23,000 to $40,250 (about $31,050 typical), and premium bathrooms $40,250 to $63,250. An ensuite on the same layout is $17,250 to $34,500. Waterproofing alone is $805 to $4,025. These are published Sydney figures, GST included, not our quotes.
Updated November 2026
Sydney bathroom renovation price ranges
The standard we ask of every renovator we refer you to
The renovator does the work, not us. Ask for each of these in your written quote and contract.
- A renovator licensed in NSW for the work, with public liability insurance (certificate on request)
- Waterproofing by a licensed waterproofer to AS 3740, with a certificate you keep
- Plumbing and electrical done by licensed plumbers and electricians
- A written, itemised quote: demolition, waterproofing, tiling, fixtures and labour listed
- A written contract for any job over $5,000, with a deposit of no more than 10%
- Home Building Compensation cover for jobs over $20,000, before any deposit
- Photos of the waterproofing before it is tiled over, and a walk-through at handover
Photos of the waterproofing, and a written scope
Waterproofing is hidden under the tiles once the job is done. You get photos of the membrane before tiling and the waterproofing certificate, plus a written scope before anything starts.
Licensed, insured renovator, public liability certificate on request
What changes the price?
Size of the room
More floor and wall area means more tiles, more waterproofing and more labour. But a small room still needs every trade, so the price doesn't shrink in line with the size.
Moving the layout
Keeping the toilet, shower and vanity where they are is the biggest saving. Moving them means new plumbing, and in a unit it can also need extra strata approval.
Tiles and fixtures
Budget, mid-range and premium fittings are what separate a $17,000 bathroom from a $48,000 one. Large-format or natural stone tiles also take longer to lay.
What's behind the tiles
Rotten framing, a failed membrane or a timber floor that needs stiffening is only found once demolition starts. A good quote says how that would be priced.
Units and access
Strata conditions, lift bookings, limited working hours, parking and stairs all add time. Steep blocks around Avalon and the escarpment add labour too.
Who supplies what
Some renovators supply everything; others let you buy your own tiles and fittings. Check the quote says which, so you compare like with like.
NSW rules that protect you
- Residential building work over $5,000 (incl. GST) needs a licensed contractor and a written contract, with a deposit of no more than 10% (NSW Government). Kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation is its own licence category (NSW Government).
- Over $20,000, the contractor must take out Home Building Compensation cover before taking a deposit (Service NSW).
- Waterproofing work over $5,000 needs a waterproofing licence (NSW Government), and domestic wet areas should be waterproofed to AS 3740.
- In a unit, a bathroom renovation is a major renovation under strata law and needs a special resolution of the owners corporation (NSW Government).
- You can check any renovator's, plumber's or waterproofer's licence on Service NSW.
A bathroom done properly, by licensed trades
A bathroom that looks good but leaks behind the tiles means paying twice. That's why every job we pass on goes to a licensed, insured Northern Beaches renovator who agrees to this standard before they get the work.
Licensed for the job
In NSW, bathroom renovation and waterproofing work over $5,000 needs a contractor licence, and plumbing and electrical work need a licence at any price. Jobs only go to renovators who hold the right licences and insurance.
Waterproofing done properly
Waterproofing is the cheapest part of a bathroom and the most expensive to get wrong. It is done to AS 3740 by a licensed waterproofer, flood-tested where appropriate, and photographed before it is tiled over.
An itemised price first
You get the scope and price in writing, broken down by stage, before work starts. Under NSW law, any variation to the contract should be agreed in writing.
Contracts and insurance
A written contract for jobs over $5,000 with a deposit capped at 10%, and Home Building Compensation cover over $20,000, as NSW law requires.
Strata handled up front
In a unit, a bathroom renovation needs owners corporation approval. The renovator should help with the paperwork your strata manager asks for.
A realistic timeline
You get a start date and a stage-by-stage timeline, including curing time for waterproofing, so you know how long you'll be without a bathroom.
Left clean
Ask for demolition waste to be taken away, dust controlled, and the house left clean at the end of each day and at handover.