- A complete Brisbane renovation by a licensed team is usually $25,000 to $40,000.
- The wider Brisbane market runs about $20,000 to $35,000 for a standard job, more for premium.
- Inner-city and character homes can cost 20 to 30 percent more than newer outer suburbs.
- Waterproofing, tiling, and plumbing are the biggest single line items.
- Moving plumbing, and hidden issues like asbestos, are the main things that push a quote up.
How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost in Brisbane?
A complete bathroom renovation in Brisbane by a licensed team usually costs $25,000 to $40,000. Across the wider Brisbane market, a standard renovation runs about $20,000 to $35,000, with budget refreshes from around $10,000 and premium projects past $55,000. Older Queenslanders and inner-city homes cost more, and this guide breaks the price down by tier, by trade, and by suburb so you can read a Brisbane quote properly.
Key takeaways
Cost is the first question every Brisbane homeowner asks, and it is a fair one. The honest answer is a range, because a compact ensuite in a newer Chermside home and a full renovation in a raised Queenslander in Paddington are very different jobs. What we can do is give you real Brisbane numbers, show where the money goes, and explain what moves the price, so you can compare quotes on scope rather than just the headline figure.
How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Brisbane?
Based on our own completed work, a full bathroom renovation in Brisbane usually costs between $25,000 and $40,000 for a complete job by a licensed team. That sits in the standard-to-premium part of the wider market.
Across Brisbane generally, independent cost data puts a standard renovation at around $20,000 to $35,000, with budget refreshes from about $10,000 and premium projects past $55,000 (per What’s The Damage). The national average sits near $26,000 (reported by Canstar), and Brisbane tracks close to it, a little below Sydney and Melbourne thanks to lower labour rates.
Brisbane cost by tier
| Tier | Typical Brisbane cost |
|---|---|
| Budget refresh | $10,000 to $20,000 |
| Standard renovation | $20,000 to $35,000 |
| Premium renovation | $35,000 to $55,000 |
| Luxury renovation | $55,000 and up |
(Tiers per What’s The Damage, Brisbane, 2026.)
Get a fixed quote for your Brisbane bathroom A range only goes so far. We give you a free site visit and a fixed, itemised quote for your actual home. Book yours at xbathrooms.com.au/contact.
What does each part of the job cost?
A full renovation is around ten trades in sequence, and it helps to see where the money goes. These are typical Brisbane ranges for the main line items on a standard bathroom.
| Item | Typical Brisbane range |
|---|---|
| Demolition and disposal | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| Plumbing rough-in and fit-off | $2,000 to $5,000 |
| Waterproofing | $1,000 to $3,500 |
| Tiling (floor and walls) | $2,000 to $6,000 |
| Vanity (supply and install) | $500 to $3,500 |
| Toilet (supply and install) | $400 to $1,200 |
| Frameless shower screen | $800 to $2,500 |
| Freestanding bath (installed) | $1,500 to $5,000 |
(Trade figures per What’s The Damage, Brisbane, 2026.) Tiling runs roughly $400 to $1,200 per square metre depending on the tile and pattern, and relocating plumbing points typically adds $2,000 to $5,000 or more.
What makes a Brisbane renovation cost more?
Two bathrooms the same size can be thousands of dollars apart in Brisbane, and the reasons are usually local.
- Older homes and Queenslanders. Raised timber homes often need sub-floor or structural work, and the plumbing runs through the timber sub-floor rather than a slab. Renovation guides suggest budgeting an extra 10 to 15 percent for these homes.
- Asbestos. Homes built before 1990 can contain asbestos in wall sheeting or floors. If it is found during demolition, removing it safely adds a few thousand dollars. Hidden issues like this appear in roughly one in four renovations.
- Moving fixtures. Relocating the toilet, shower, or vanity means new waste and water lines, which is real plumbing cost.
- Finish level. Floor-to-ceiling tiling, feature tiles, stone, and premium tapware add up quickly.
- Access. Narrow inner-city blocks limit skip and material access, which adds labour time.
Bathroom renovation cost by Brisbane suburb
Where you are in Brisbane changes the number, mostly because of the age of the housing stock. These are typical suburb ranges (per What’s The Damage).
| Area | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Inner city and river (New Farm, Paddington, Teneriffe, West End) | $28,000 to $50,000+ |
| North side (Chermside, Nundah, Aspley, Stafford) | $18,000 to $35,000 |
| South side (Mount Gravatt, Holland Park, Carindale, Sunnybank) | $20,000 to $38,000 |
| Western and outer (Kenmore, Chapel Hill, Ipswich corridor) | $18,000 to $32,000 |
The pattern is consistent: inner Brisbane runs 20 to 30 percent higher than equivalent work in the outer suburbs, because of the older homes, timber sub-floors, access, and asbestos risk.
Where can you save, and where should you not?
Keep the existing layout where you can, choose mid-range tiles laid to a standard height, and pick quality but standard fixtures. Never save on waterproofing, certification, or licensed trades, because that is where the expensive failures start. The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest job, it usually just has scope left out that reappears as a variation.
How our Brisbane pricing works
We give you a fixed, itemised quote after a free site visit, so you can see exactly what is included, line by line. Our range of $25,000 to $40,000 is for a complete renovation by a licensed team, allowing for the realities of your home, whether it is a newer slab home or an older Queenslander. For the record, our QBCC licence number is 15482767.
Frequently asked questions
A small Brisbane bathroom uses the same trades as a larger one, so it sits at the lower end of the $25,000 to $40,000 range. The saving comes from less tiling and fewer fixtures, not from skipping waterproofing or certification.
Pre-1990 homes can contain asbestos, and raised Queenslanders often need sub-floor or structural work that slab homes do not. Guides suggest budgeting an extra 10 to 15 percent for these homes.
Tiling runs roughly $400 to $1,200 per square metre in Brisbane, depending on the tile and the pattern. Large-format tiles cost less to lay than mosaics or herringbone.
Slightly. Brisbane tracks close to the national average of around $26,000, a little below Sydney and Melbourne for equivalent work, mainly because of lower labour rates.
Usually tiling and waterproofing together, followed by fixtures and plumbing. Moving plumbing points adds the most on top of a standard scope.
Want a real number for your Brisbane bathroom? Book a free site visit and we will give you a fixed, itemised quote with a full written scope. Complete the form below to book your free site visit.
About the author
Fineas Pintilie is a co-founder of xBathrooms, a QBCC licensed bathroom renovation company (licence 15482767) and Master Builders member working across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Fineas and the team have completed more than 50 bathroom renovations, designing, supplying, and installing each one under one roof.
